The Ride of a Lifetime

2. Invitations

The last page of the book was flipped and I stare wide eyed at the back cover. It was silent for a few seconds.

I blinked.

And then I take a sharp intake of breath, throwing the novel onto the other side of the couch. It bounced helplessly once, twice, before finally laying still.

"Goodness, gracious, grippling fuck." I muttered, standing from my chair and wandering shakenly to my kitchen. Hours of reading sure did something to those knees. And eyeballs.

I jumped, the glass cup almost sliding from my grip, when the front door was yanked open. In came my mother just as I hear my brother's footsteps trotting down the stairs. Scrunching my face up, I calmed the pulsing heartbeat from the almost glass shattering experience and proceeded to take greedy gulps of water.

"Luna. Come bring the groceries in." Her command was unnecessary as I had already reached the door, picking up heavy bags of oranges and apples. Ew. Apples.

"Apples are disgusting." I know my mother would flip her shit at any criticisms made at her purchases.

"Didn't say they were for you, did I?" She snapped and I grinned innocently.

"They're obviously for me, Loony." My brother pipes, taking the bags from my hands. I couldn't decide whether to strangle him or thank him, so I settled with a death glare. Seems like our entire family is known to pick at each other's nerves.

"Will dad be coming home tonight?" I asked tentatively.

My mother just washed her hands hastily under the sink, ignoring my question. I lowered my eyes. The onions I was cutting were really starting to prick some stinging tears. I wiped them dry with my shoulder, Max giving me a raised brow from his sprawl on the couch.

I pretended not to see the provocative glance.

Soon, dinner was to be served. The steak and salad caught Max's attention from his phone. I rolled my eyes as he scrambles over, helping to set the table.

"None for you." I said.

He feigns an expression of shock, already seated and prepared. "What?"

"Only those who actually helped cooking can eat." I explained as if it were obvious.

"I did help!" He crosses his arms immaturely, blowing at this fringe. Sometimes I wondered who was born a year earlier than who. And who I'd trade this piece of shit for any day.

But admittedly, I wouldn't offer anything to replace his fierce protection.

He also made me laugh. So much so, he'd laughed at me when I pissed myself from his jokester stories. While changing my soaked pants, of course.

My mother comes to take a seat, chuckling at our banter.

"Come on, no one deserves to be hungry, even those with no decency to contribute."

I stuck my tongue out at Max who mirrored the gesture. Dinner was always a good time; with a family- minus one- like mine, it was undeniably the best part of any day.

Monday mornings come way too fast. That's a given.

I chucked on the winter skirt and dragged the zip up the side. Making sure I had everything I needed packed in my backpack, my bedroom door swings open just as Max's does opposite me. His ragged hair and untucked shirt screams the 'just woke up' look. What girls at school find so appealing in him I'd never know. And then I imagined someone like him, minus the blood relation part. Ok, maybe I do know. But stroking his ego? Never.

He gave me a one handed salute, sleepy eyes still intact. I rolled my eyes, motioning at my jaw.

"Huh?"

"Do you brush your teeth sleeping?" I asked, walking past him and down the stairs. I smirked at the groan behind me.

The beeping of a car sounded from outside. Shit.

Max and I both hastily made it out the front door. I quickly locked the door and practically ran towards my mother's Toyota. Our angry, got-work-to-do mother handled impatience very well. By very well I mean she chucked apples at us as a 'good morning' when we both slept in due to a late night story-telling session.

Apples are evil.

Hopping into the backseat, I gave Max a slap on the head for stealing my shotgun day. He whips around, about to give me an earful.

"Quit it, you two."

We make a face at each other before becoming obedient teenagers. The quiet hum of the radio filled in the silent gaps the entire way to school.

"Come with me to the festival?" Jayden's question perked at my attention. I had just been mentally working out whether I did the final question on the Math's test correctly.

"Where?" I asked, sipping on my iced coffee milk.

"Hell yeh, I'm in." Colten said, voice always slightly too loud. He was the guy who was literally constantly ready to fight someone even in a church. He's also the guy to self invite if need be.

"It's going to be on the street with that disgusting Fish and Chips place." Jesus, the mere image of the man serving us a box full of soggy chips, pale fish and most likely his drool sent a shudder down my spine.

I mimicked a thoughtful expression. In truth, I knew I would agree. Festivals = food. Actual, drool-free food. You wouldn't have to ask me twice. But watching the hopeful expression on Jayden's cute face was more than enough to make me keep up the act for a few more seconds. Giving up, I burst into laughter.

"Of course, as long as there is a rightful amount of space dedicated for food stalls, I'm in."

"Typical." Colten says, throwing a grape in the air and catching it in his mouth. I ignore him, not without a glare, before gauging Jayden's eyes brighten like fairy lights.

And still, even in moments like these- reserved for happiness, the subtle, unnerving gnawing in my chest wouldn't leave me alone.

Occasionally, I would wonder whether I would be permanently cursed with the odd discomfort of pure.. Emptiness.