Complicated

Chapter 5

 As I enter our house, I squealed like a little girl receiving a fluffy pony for Christmas. My parents and my little sister all stare at me, and I, unaware of their presence, stare at them wide-eyed. I usually go home and find out that I am once again, alone. But why did this situation come up on the wrong day?

 "Good evening, Avery" Mom says, even though I hate that name. "Mom, stop calling me that." I say grumpily. "Sorry, I just can't help it. I love that name." she answers back. "So, how was school?" Mom adds quickly, as she always does. " Fine. I got a few achievements today, Mom. So don't worry." I say. "That's my girl!" dad, suddenly, says. I smile, and in these moments, I truly enjoy their company. I mean, I'm lucky since I have a family like them. Some other's don't. 

 "Why are you late?" Mom asks over dinner. "I hanged out with Tom. It was mostly lollygag." I answer. "No wonder. You and Tom are like siblings." dad says, and I smile. But then inside, I frown. I don't want Tom to think of me as a sibling, yet I don't know what I want his opinions to be about me. "Yes, you've been best friends since, what grade? 3rd grade? See, he's practically family." Mom says. "yeah, I guess." I answer back. "Mom, please pass the mashed potatoes." says my little sister, Astrid, says. "Oh, Astrid, how's school?" I ask. "Fine. I won in the essay writing contest." she answers. "Well, you are a writer in you school newspaper." Mom says. Astrid, at the age 13, is a successful writer of a novel on an online site. She's in 7th grade, and we somehow share a close bond.

 After dinner, I talked to Astrid. It's normal for sisters to be close with each other, but I just can't seem to understand why Astrid and I are not. "Astrid?" I say as I knock on the door of her bedroom. "Oh, uh, the door is open" she says at the other side of the door. I open it and find her fiddling with her cellphone and her laptop at the same time. "I just wanted to know what's up. So, what's up?" I ask. "Ok, who are you and what have you done with Ave?" she jokes. "I AM Ave. I just discovered that we don't talk much." I answer. "Yeah, sure. So, whaddaya want to talk about?" she says as she got up from her bed. "I don't know. Do you have a crush?" I asked. "Well, that escalated quickly. Well, actually, yeah."  she replies. 'REALLY?! WHO IS IT?!" I ask enthusiastically. "W-well..... It's kind of embarrassing." she says awkwardly. "Fine. Here's the deal. Tell me yours and I'll tell you mine. Deal?" I say. "Sure. Deal." she agrees. "Let's just write it down on paper. I mean, it's too embarrassing to say, am I right?" I ask. "OH MY GOSH. VERY. I fully agree to that. Let's do this!" she says happily. I can clearly see that she's pumped up. "Ok. 3, 2, 1, GO!" I say. Then I quickly turn around and write Tom's name on the piece of paper. "Are you ready? Are you done?" Astrid asks. "Yup. How about you?" I ask. "Yup. Ready." she answers.

 I turn around to face Astrid and she does the same. We exchange papers and I see a name that I'm somehow familiar with. I just couldn't seem to remember who it is.