When you wish upon a star

Chapter 3

I followed my family through the hot river of humans to a more empty area with picnic tables.
"Okay. you kids can each have ten dollars to go get whatever you like to eat. be back at this table as fast as you can." My father said as he pulled his wallet from the back pocket of his cargo shorts.
"Thanks!" my brother practically yelled as he held up the money before dashing off to find a vendor.
I took the bill from my fathers hand and walked off.
I'd seen a stand selling cheesesteaks and sodas on our way into the festival. i would go there.
When i finally caught up to the place i was disappointed in finding that the line was extremely long.
"Oh well, less time i have to spend with my family." i sighed and stuck my hands in my pockets.
Music still playing through my earbuds, i stood on my tip toes and stared around at all the people walking by.
I decided on two more things i highly disliked about coming to the festival.
Sluts, Jesus Christ there were so many.
And couples. not that i had anything against love, or the people in general, but it was like a constant reminder that they were in love and happy and i was not.
"I wish i could be like them..." i whispered to myself. staring down at my feet as the line moved slowly along and i began to practically bake under the sun.
"Are you okay miss?" a deep voice from behind me asked.
I pulled my earbuds out feeling a little annoyed because i'd worn my 'i'm not okay.' shirt and sometimes people who didn't know the band took it to seriously.
"It's a band reference sir. My Chemical Romance. I'm not okay is one of the songs they wrote." i said and pointed to my shirt before looking up at him.
It was the man who'd hit me with a door earlier.
"Are you following me?" I asked and frowned then immediately felt bad for being impolite.
"No dear. just a random happening of events. and i know the shirt is a band reference." he smiled warmly. "you just seemed a bit uneasy so i figured i would be polite and ask if everything was okay." he explained.
I nodded and smiled faintly so i didn't seem too unfriendly. "i'm alright. thank you for asking." i lied. if i couldn't even tell my closest internet friends, real life friends or my family that i felt unhappy constantly i sure wasn't going to tell a stranger.
"Are you sure? nobody's listening and i'm better at keeping secrets than your average old man." he chuckled.
I took advantage of the line moving ahead a bit and thought about my answer.
I did kind of want to confide in someone.
"I just wish i was loved. maybe then i could be happy." i said quietly.
The man opened his mouth to speak but i interrupted him.
"And if you're going to say, 'oh but your friends and family love you' then save it. i've heard that one before and thats not what i mean. i'm sure they do. but what i mean is i really want to be one persons favorite person." i said then snapped my mouth shut and looked away.
"I think deep down inside we all want that. whether we'll admit it or not."
He smiled at me and suddenly looked very sympathetic.
"Why am i even telling you anything?" i asked after paying for my food.
"Because you wanted someone to confide in and who can i tell that it would matter?" he shrugged.
"Yeah well i regret saying the lot of it." i sighed and grabbed my cheesesteak from the edge of the vendor.
"Nice meeting you." i nodded curtly to the man.
"The same to you." he said but instead of looking at me he looked down at his shirt.
"Remember to keep wishing." he called after me.
I'm not sure he meant for me to hear that but i did.

"What took you so long?" my dad huffed and scooted over giving me room at the picnic table once i'd made my way back.
"Long line." i said quickly and unwrapped my food.
"That looks good." my mom said and smiled. i think she was trying to be enthusiastic and, make me want to eat?
"Yeah." i shrugged and forced myself to down a few mouthfuls.
It tasted wonderful but i wasn't hungry so i didn't enjoy it as much as someone else would have.
"When are we going home?" i asked.
I could always use talking as an excuse for not eating.
My mom gave me a look that could have turned me to stone.
"When we're all done eating. why?" she replied coldly.
"Just asking." i shrugged and took another small bite.
"If K doesn't finish her food can i have it?" My brother asked after hurling his trash over my head into the trash can behind me.
"Watch it!" i snapped.
"Can i!?" he shook my mom's shoulder.
"No. she needs to finish all of it." my mother said but looked me up and down instead of turning to face her son when she spoke to him.
"He can have it. i can always just eat leftovers from the fridge at home if i get hungry." i said and pushed the partially eaten cheesesteak across the picnic table.

My mom just frowned at me then pulled her ipad out and started going through pictures, showing some from that day to my dad.
Adults are weird.
One minute they'll be yelling at you for using technology too much and not living the way you were supposed to and another they would be on their own electronics completely ignoring you. my favorite part had to be when one of my parents couldn't figure something out and had to as me or my brother for help. no, i hated it. but it was funny.

Ron tossed my cheesesteak wrapper over my head again. narrowly missing the opening on the trashcan he'd aimed for.
"You done Ron?" my mom asked and shut the case on her ipad.
"Lets go!" my dad whacked the table with both hands and stood up.