Stonebrook High School

Chapter 40

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Also, this chapter is 2600+ words long, hence why it took a bit longer to update despite all the quick ones recently. (Those were mostly 1500+.) Keep in mind, this is a flashback!

Now, continue reading :)

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A beautiful animal, a wonderful friend, and a loyal pet. Reuben.

The end of winter, 2013. February 23– a Saturday. Jess and Jay were going back to the farm for the weekend, disappointed by their loss in the Endercon Building Competition a few days earlier.

None of them were in a mood to talk. Gloomily, they leaned against the car windows, bouncing every time they hit a pothole. This happened every year.

They would try their hardest, spend months preparing for the competition, and then lose to that stupid group of wannabe-greasers. It had been 5 years already, and all of them were the same. No matter what they did, the same result would occur.

It didn't help that they were now currently unstable adolescents, almost about to end sixth grade. Jess could feel the tears welling up in her eyes as she recalled the podium passing out the medals. Jesse was a little more in shock, distraught and unable to move.

As they arrived home, their parents cooed over them as they hugged, gently whispering, "Maybe next time," while they stroked circles over their backs. They excused the kids to their rooms, understanding that they needed some time.

Jesse sat on his bed, hands gripping the edge. Jess threw her bag onto the mattress and leaned against the bedframe. She sighed, shakily breathing out, "What do we do?"

"I... I don't know."

Silence settled in as they stayed in those positions, not moving or blinking their eyes, but staring off into the distance.

Half an hour passed and their mother walked up the stairs, knocking on the cabinet nearby. "Kids... would you like some cookies?" She smiled weakly as no one answered and let out a small exhale of sadness. "Well, I'll bring some upstairs if you'd like to eat any."

They watched as their mom went back down and looked at each other. Jesse finally spoke up.

"We shouldn't make them worry. Not after Mom lost the lawsuit."

Jess nodded. "Yeah."

The tender woman came back into the room, carrying a hot tray of macadamia cookies with a pair of oven gloves. Setting down a cork heat trivet, she carefully placed the tray on top and dipped her head. The twins stood up and hugged their mother, eliciting a small squeak from her.

"Sorry for making you worry, Mom," Jess murmured, snuggling her face into her mother's apron. Jesse didn't say anything but wrapped his arms around her tightly.

The warm lady smiled. She ruffled their hair slowly, saying, "It's alright. I know there are struggles along the way, but I'm proud of you two. Even though you haven't won, you're still going. Isn't that important? Perseverance and the need to improve?"

They looked up at the brown-haired matriarch, blinking. Both had no idea whether to cry or to smile.

"You'll be okay."

The low mumble clicked in their hearts and the twins gripped the apron tighter, pools of water slowly leaking down their cheeks. Their mother laughed softly and she bent down slightly to hold them closer, still ruffling their heads. She whispered things to calm down, telling them "Everything is alright", "You're amazing", and every other sentence she could think of that applied to her beautiful children.