Snowfall *EDITING*

CHAPTER FIVE

Sara had wandered upstairs a few minutes after our serious talk and told August he had to sleep on the couch until we figured everything out. He hardly cared as he mumbled something rude before traveling downstairs again. I couldn't help but wonder if he ever forgot about the 24th stair, like I did.

I was left in August's old room then and thousands of memories of our childhood swirled in my head. Never in my life have I wanted to rewind time more than I did right now. It was scary, to want to change everything and have a second chance. It seemed so appealing right now though. For a split second I wondered what I had done that was so horrible that my life had resulted in this.

I sat down on the bed, my weight causing it to lightly dip. For months I had slept in this bed, August's old one. Of course we had changed the sheets, gotten new pillows and even decorated the headrest, but now it seemed wrong and unnecessary to sleep in here when August was just downstairs. Like I was criminal but he was the one getting charged. Where was the justice in that? 

"Dinner time." Sara's head poked in with a soft knock on the door, a smile stretched on her lips.

"I'm not really hungry." My stomach grumbled loudly at that moment though, breaking through any truth that sentence had.

"C'mon, don't let him get you down. He's just going through a lot right now, don't worry about his rudeness, I'll take care of it. Already have actually. So come down sweetie."

"I guess..." I trailed off, lost in my mind. Sara looked at me lovingly before shutting the door with a soft click. I heard her retreating footsteps walk down the stairs and I collapsed on the bed. Tonight was going to be a long night, I could tell.

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After five minutes of laying down in mine - August's - bed I finally built up enough courage to face the Armstongs at dinner. It was funnt how eager I use to be for our families to collide and have huge dinners, and now I was afraid of the 24 stairs that seperated me from the Armstrongs.

Now I was sitting at the kitchen table, with Sara beside me smiling away like a true mother, August and his dad opposite. August had on a forced smile that didn't meet his eyes while his father's was real as he smiled with Sara. My lips tilted up, trying to smile but with August sitting right in front of me it was difficult. 

This boy use to make me laugh till I bursted out in tears, smile until I couldn't anymore and now I was unable to even fake a smile in his presence. It's funny how much your life can change in just a small amount of time.

"Can you pass the salad, Madison?" Sara's voice drifted into my head, straying me away from my thoughts. 

"Of course." I mumbled, lifting up the bowl that was overflowing with green leaves, carrots, dressing and cheese. I passed it to Sara's open hands with a small smile that even she knew wasn't real. 

The rest of the dinner was ate in an awkward silent as everyone tried to maintain a peaceful ground with one another. As if a few wrong words could turn our dinner into World War 3, and right now I wasn't surprised they were thinking that. I felt explosive from all the thoughts and emotions swirling around in my head like a lollipop.

Sara took all our plates away to the kitchen to wash them and August left to 'unpack' though I doubt that was what he was doing at all, you never know with that boy. Well, if he was the same as before anyways and so far it doesn't seem like it so who knows, maybe he was really unpacking.