Time Will Tell

Chapter Three

Parker's POV

"What time is it?" Alice asks me.

I sigh dramatically and turn half of my body to look at her. "Late. Go back to sleep."

"But I'm not tired," she whines.

"I don't care. You have school to go to," I mumble, half asleep.

She giggles. "I don't go to school, silly," I can hear her sit up on her mattress.

"True, but I still need to teach you.. things," I sit up with her, the bed creaking with me. "To prepare you for when you do go to school."

My job doesn't pay much, so I had to buy the cheapest apartment that I could find. That's why me and Alive share a bedroom and bathroom. Our kitchen has limited space, but we work with it. Not like we have a choice.

"What's your timer at?" She asks me through the dark.

If there's one thing that my sister understands the most, it's this whole timer-watch thing. She agrees with me that we should be able to make our own decisions, but also believes that it's nice to know who your soul mate would be or is. She's more mature than I am at times.

"It's uh.. It doesn't matter," I stutter.

"Why not?" I can hear the confusion and accusation in her voice, but I ignore it.

"Because I said so. Go back to sleep.. We can talk about it in the morning," I lay back down and, even when she tries to avoid going to sleep, I don't get back up. Soon I drift into a deep sleep.

I never have dreams for some reason, but I know Alice does. I see it in the small shifts- the twists and turns- she makes while sleeping, and when she mumbles incoherent words to no one in particular.

She usually has nightmares about our mom, but I sing a little lullaby to tire her into going back to sleep. "Parker... will you sing that song thing to me again? I had another nightmare about mommy," She had said one night to me.

"Of course. How does it go again...

'Go to sleep, little sister,
You have nothing to fear.
These things you're afraid of?
They're not as scary as they appear.

Monsters better think twice,
Before going after you.
You've got me, they don't stand a chance,
They'll cry to their mom's, 'Boo Hoo'.

I'll clean up all of your wounds,
Every tiny blister.
You're more than monster food,
You're my little sister.'

Yes, I made that up by myself. Amazing, right? Yeah, it's not as good as the ones my mom used to make, but I tried.

"Alice, get up." I tell her once I've already gotten up.

"I'm.. Up.." She says through her blankets.

"Yeah, it looks like it. Come on, let's go. It's already-" I check the clock. "Noon."

She thinks for a moment. "You should be at school, then, right?"

"I should. I stayed home because you're sick," I quickly pull on a hoodie, rubbing my arms to get some warmth.

"I'm not-"

"Yes, yes you are. Now let's go get you some... Medicine. Right."

"But I'm not-"

"Outside now, Alice! Or no medicine for you!" I yell.

"But I don't want medicine! I'm not sick!" She yells back.

"Oh for Christ's sake, Alice, it's a.. Surprise. Just go out to the car, we're going somewhere special. You'll like it," I sigh.

"Oh.." The realization in her voice. "But-"

I sigh dramatically and go outside to warm my car up, telling Alice to meet me in the car when ready. She soon meets me out there and hops into the car, and I drive off.

"So, where are we going?" She asks me for about the umpteenth time.

"A place," I roll my eyes and turn up the radio. She stops asking questions after that, but I can see her anxiousness.

"We're here."

"Where is 'here'?"

"Just look."

She sighs loudly and looks out the window, but soon looks back at me, wide eyed.

"Is this..." She stops and looks back out the window at the cemetery.

"Yep," my smile turns into a sad one. "We're visiting mom."
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Okay, sorry this story is getting really horrible and boring. All the good stuff will probably be later on.... If I continue with this. Thanks for reading, all who are, and sorry for such a long wait.. I couldn't figure out how to place the story. Any ideas? I'll gladly take them.

Sorta long chapter to make up for the long wait. Forgive me?

Press that star down there (depending on what kind of device you're using) just bc snowmen ⛄️⛄️⛄️⛄️⛄️)

~ Mikaila ⛄️ ~