Between the Barn and the Stage

10

After my shower, all of the dye was out and my hair was a flat black. I put the tank-top on and pulled her jean jacket over it. Her only choice for me in legwear was skirts, because I was curvier and taller than her.

I stepped out of the bathroom and bit my lip. It was tight, and I hated it. At least the skirt was flowing and longer than knee-length. Nana squealed and said, "Yes! You are keeping that!"

"But it's way to small, and I'm still growing."

"Still? You should have stopped by now."

"Yeah, well, I haven't. Height doesn't even run in my family either, they're all average. I tower above all of them by five inches at the most."

"Maybe you have that giant's disease thing."

"I would be, like, eight feet tall if that were true."

"Oh. Um, yeah, right. Oops."

"Well, my phone." I said, holding my hand out. She gave it to me, and I checked for any messages. I sighed in relief. None so far.

I stepped into the hallway, and followed Nana into her kitchen. Her parents smiled, her father asking, "You brush your teeth twice a day, right?"

"Yes." I said.  A lie, I brush only in the mornings, but he's a dentist so he'd force me into buying mouthwash or something. I sat down at the table filled with pizza. They order a lot of junk food and manage to stay skinny af, and I still don't know how or why. Or why Mr. Level allows it.

I grabbed six slices and began shoving them in my mouth. I ate each slice in one bite, which yes is possible and yes is a safety hazard because I almost choke every time. As I shoved my seventh slice in my mouth, my phone buzzed. I wiped my hands and answered the FaceTime.

Chatham's eyes budged and he muttered, "You look different."

I rolled my eyes and slowly chewed. Nobody at the table cared I had my phone out, they all did too for different reasons. Yeah, a real social family the Levels are. I swallowed the last bit and wiped my mouth. "How is Sam? Wait, hold on, I can barely hear you and I'm with my friends." I said, and I excused myself and went into the hallway and turned my in-call volume up. And heard the screaming. I quickly turned it down and glared at a pale Chatham. "What is going on?!" I whisper-shouted, and he glanced behind him. "Your brother woke up a few minutes ago--"

"And you didn't tell me?!"

"Well, he didn't ask and seemed happy, so--"

"Chatham, it doesn't matter if he asked or not. If he wee older, than maybe this would be fine but he's still a toddler! Toddlers throw tantrums! And with the added fact with what he hates, it amplifies it! Okay, I'm sorry for yelling you probably have no idea how to handle this. Is he hiding and screaming or trying to hit you and screaming?"

"Um...hitting my bodyguard. Sam got a little angry when I said you were in the bathroom and then Daniel tried to calm him down and after he said kiddo Sam blew up."

"Oh. I...ugh. Why? I'll be there ASAP. Which is at the most ten minutes." I said, and hung up. I ducked in the kitchen. "Something came up, I gotta go. Bye!"

They all grunted in reply, Gwen the only one bothering to wave. I shoved my phone in the jean-jacket pocket and dashed out the door. The rain had stopped, and the clouds were giving way to an almost-sunset sky. I dashed down the driveway and the road, pushing myself to get there quickly. I was out of breath and sore half-way, but I treated this like I did swimming: I pushed harder.

I slipped in the mud, and scrambled up before dashing to my house. It was in my sights, and I ran to the barn. I pushed the doors open, and collapsed in exhaustion. Screams stopped, and Sam's face was in my view. "Sissy?"