What We Lost In The Winter

Chapter 11 (Part 2)

I shut my phone off and lay down on my back. It buzzes again, but I don’t check to see who it is. Let’s be honest: I’m not in any mood to talk to people. The day was stressful enough. I talked to a lot of people. I usually don’t have that many people in my life. It’s always just been the Crew, and now it’s the whole world of Redo Middle School. Teachers, classmates, neighbors, family. That completely beats my old life where it was just family and my few friends.

I fall asleep eventually, the day wore me out more than I’d expected it too. At 6:30, Mom opens my door to wake me up. It was already time for dinner. That went by fast, I suppose. To celebrate the Kingser Girls’ rearrival into public schools, we ordered Chinese food. I love that about my family. We don’t need some huge elaborate meal at a fancy restaurant for a big occasion. We don’t need loads of people at our house. We don’t even need to cook always. Ordering from a tiny little place down the street is enough for us.

The five of us sit around the kitchen table eating excitedly. Chinese food is exceptionally good. Lily pours way too much soy sauce on her rice, creating this sticky, soggy, salty sort of blob. She eats it anyways. I laugh at her delight towards her concoction. Mom and Dad just sigh, but I hear Alaina stifle a laugh as well. I try not to show my shock. My older sister just laughed. I don’t think this has ever happened before. Today was the first for a lot of things (first day of school, first time I lit a Bunsen Burner, first time I voluntarily fell asleep midday, etc.) and this was just another to add to that list. However, this one stood out like the lone star in a midnight sky. Alaina laughed.

Hey, so I'm not going to be uploading any more of this until after Novemeber. However, I will still be writing it. You can prepare for a spam after that. This chapter wasn't too exciting, but whatever. It was important.

Because I'm going to be leaving for a bit, I have THREE Question of the Chapters.

Please answer them, because it seriously means a lot when you do.

Question 1: Teagan wanted Becca's number, was it a good choice to let Camden give it to her?

Question 2: Now that Becca's moved away, will her relationship with Jackie start to fall apart?

Question 3: This is the first time Becca's seen Alaina laugh. Is it really the first time? Does this mean Alaina will become more of a presence in her life?