Youthfulness

Chapter Five

(Note: My writer account is finally alive! Sorry for the late update, I just finished my final exams and my parents just lifted the computer ban!)

"Claire, wake up, you are going to be late if you don't," Yvette gently shook Claire's shoulder.

"I don't care," Claire mumbled under her breath, and pulled the quilt to her face.

Yvette smiled. She knew just the way to make her wake up immediately in this situation, and spoke, or rather threatened, softly in her ears, "How about if you are late and the crazy boys come to our home and -"

"I am awake!" Claire quickly threw off the quilt and pranced out of the bed. Yvette has to press her lips together to keep herself from not laughing out loud. Her trick always worked on a sleepy Claire that was not yet fully awake.

Claire speedily dressed up in school uniform without Yvette's help and walked down to the dining room. She shared a smile with Alexander, and they finished their breakfast in silence.

***

"Hey, Alex." Claire tapped Alexander's shoulder when they were seated in the car.

Alexander jerked under her touch, "What?"

"Something bothering you?"

An uncomfortable silence filled the car, and a sigh from Alexander broke it, "My pronoun today ... I think it is a 'her' day. I hate feminine days." They, no, she, banged her head on the side window, frustrated.

Claire rubbed the back of her twin gently, and Alexander, no, Alexandra slowly relaxed, head raising up once more and took a deep breath. She exhaled and gestured the driver to start driving.

***

After another day of boring school, she walked to the nearest bakery and bought a mini caramel cake for Alexandra before her twin arrived to pick up her, as she knew Alexandra would be frustrated and upset in the feminine days.

"Alex, look!" Claire held up the white box carrying the caramel cake to show Alexandra once she dodged the gifts and chocolates from the mobs of boys and got into the car safely, "I have a gift for you."

"Really?!" Alexandra's eyes sparkled with surprise and joy, "Thanks, sis! I don't deserve so much care from you." Her eyes showed remorse as she kissed her twin chastely as a token of thanks.

Suddenly angry and annoyed at her twin's words, Claire pushed Alexandra away, "You are my only sibling. Why shouldn't you deserve care from me?" She felt tears prickling her eyes as she told her twin.

Surprised, Alexandra pulled out a tissue and wiped away her sister's tears gently, "Hush, hush, don't cry, my dearest sister." Seeing Alexandra's frightened expression, she chuckled involuntarily.

"What?" Alexandra was momentarily confused.

"You still don't know what to do when girls cry, right?" Claire smiled conspicuously.

"Yes," answered Alexandra, looking down, not noticing Claire's smile was slightly lesser due to hurt and remorse.

"There, there, I must teach you, then. I should cry more."

"No!" Alexandra was horrified, "I will die of anxiety induced heart attack if you ask me to comfort more than one crying girl! Even if they are a hundred of you!"

"Then I must coach your skills," Claire smiled, trying to cover for her ache in her heart that almost made itself appear on her mask of happiness. She knew Alexandra couldn't comfort a girl because of her disability to have a masculine instinct to protect a girl. She was the one that should be protected by nature.