Worth It

House Party

"So, you understand all the rules? Mrs. Sweet is going to be responsible for you for the next three days, you do know this right?" I nodded mechanically. My mom kept drilling me on the rules that I already knew by heart and I just wanted to leave.

"Mom, I understand. I can't call you and I can't co back home if I get homesick because you won't be there. I will behave like I usually do at home and yes..." I added before she did. "...I will help Alice with the chores that she usually does. Can I go now?" I said impatiently.

"I love you honey. Have fun and be safe." My mom kissed my forehead as I pulled away and hopped out of our mini-van. Alice ran up to me as I waved goodbye to my mom.

"I still can't believe she's letting you skip your family vacation to stay with me." Alice shook her head in bewilderment.

"I don't believe it either, but let's go inside before she changes her mind." We ran into Alice's house, her carrying my backpack and me, my suitcase.

"So you brought books right?" she asked hopefully.

"I brought everything you asked me to, and more. Trust me, I may not be that smart, but I have enough smarts to know not to get on your bad side. Your wrath is scary and I don't want to risk it seeing as how I'm staying at your house for three days." She shrugged, not denying it.

"True." She smiled evilly to prove my point. "Except for the part about you not being smart. Not a world in this crazy, twisted universe exists where you aren't passing all your classes."

"Whatever you say. Wow, I love your room." I stared at the red, black and white theme that seemed popular with her. "Can we switch places?" I joked.

"Gladly." She said. "You'd beg for your life back after a week with my brothers." I rolled my eyes at her idea of a problem.

"No. You'd be begging for your life back, not the other way around. One day with my mother acting like she isn't ruining my life, is equal to a year with your brothers. And then, when I think the torture is over, the next step in her plan is worse than the last."

"Well..." said Alice, trying to lighten the mood. "...you're here now and in three days, we'll see how you feel about that. Okay?" I laughed with her.

"Sure." I flopped onto her bed like a fish out of water and I likely looked very unattractive doing it. Alice soon joined me. "Are your brothers that bad?" I asked out of genuine curiosity.

"Oh yes." She nodded. Just then, as if by coincidence, her youngest brother Zachary knocked on the door.

"Ally!" He called.

"Not now Zachy. Go play with Danny." I heard his footsteps go into the room next door and Danny's muffled voice talking to his younger brother.

"Your house always seems so busy." I said while imagining my quiet, organized family.

"Wait until Austin and Caylee get back from their playdates. If you think this is bad, that is much worse."

The entire first day at Alice's house was awkward. I had to admit, I was almost allergic to people. In situations with lots of people I froze up and became mute as I wished that I had stayed at home. The only thing that even made me go to Alice's house instead of on vacation was that it was the better deal. Over in Mexico, relatives awaited that I hoped to avoid for the rest of my life.

"Ava?"

"What? Sorry, I wasn't...I was thinking about something and I guess I dozed off. What did you say?" Alice looked at me strangely, but let it go. It was dinnertime and everyone was staring at me as they sat and ate.