✨It Doesn't Even Matter✨

Four Perspectives

Dad: Allie, I hope you're having an amazing first day of school! What class are you in now?

"Who's that?" Josh asked.
"My Dad. What time does the school fall and tell your parents that you're absent?!"
"9:45."
"Excuse me, how do you get to the 3 train platform!?" Mina asked this lady. Luckily, she was going there so we got to follow her.
"You guys look pretty young, where are you going?"
"To school, we're running really late." Leila replied.
"Well, good luck to you guys!" She walked further down the platform and I let out a sigh of relief. We might actually make it there in time.
^^^^^^^^^^^
The Main Office
"Name, please?" An office worker asked Joy and I.
"Allison Hermann."
"Joy Berns."
"You guys are just on time. Why are you guys so late?"
"We had to catch a bus and that took a while because of the traffic."
"Alright...leave the house earlier next time."
"We will! Thank you!" We left the office and sighed.
"Should we wait for everyone else?"
"No, it'd look too suspicious. Come on, we both have PE right now. They're going to kill us for not making it down for their tiring speech in time."
*******************
Chelsea (Manhattan) (Mariska's Perspective)
"My god, it's so hot today."
"We still have like 3 weeks of summer." Chris pointed out. He handed me a towel and I smiled.
"Thanks."
"So, it was Allie, Amaya, and Andrew's first day today? I saw the photos."
"Yup! They're getting so big."
"You dropped them off?"
"I wish. Peter got them ready this morning. Just another thing that I miss out on."
"Have you and Peter been okay?"
"What makes you ask that?"
"Well, every time I mention him you don't get all perky like you do."
"I do not get perky when I talk about my husband."
"Oh yes, you do. But seriously, what's going on?" We were on a short break from filming, so I couldn't avoid this question.
"You know how Peter got offered that job?"
"That one in Toronto?"

Last Night......
I decided to take refuge in the guest room. We've tried our hardest to keep this from the kids, but I think they're beginning to put two and two together.
"Mama, Andrew won't stop thumping on the wall. Can I just sleep here with you?"
"No Amaya, you need to get a good night's rest. In your room." She folded her arms.
"But aren't you going to be lonely in here? You're not sleeping with Dad. I could keep you company." She told me.
"It's okay Mymy."
"No, it's not. You guys are fighting. You never fight." Peter came to the door.
"Amaya, it's bedtime. Let's go, sweetheart."
"Okay, night Mama." She hugged me and left quietly.
"Peter."
"No, no. You do not get to Peter me. It was time for her to go to bed."
"What is wrong with you?! The kids are already picking up on our arguing. What are we now? The parents who fight and nitpick over every little thing. If you're so miserable being here take the job and go to Toronto for a year. Because we can't have this energy in the house."

"Yep, he wants to take it."
"That's great...so what's the problem."
"He wants the kids to come with him too."
"He can't just film and visit from time to time?"
"That's what I suggested. Then, it turned into this full-blown argument about how I'm more successful and I should support him because this is really big." Chris sighed.
"I get both sides."
"Seriously?"
"It must be hard, being in the shadows of you. You, who will always have more popularity than him. This is his chance to shine and make a bigger name for himself. But at the same time, it isn't fair of him to disrupt the kids' life for that dream."
"So then what do we do?"
"Well, you said it yourself. He splits time between here and Toronto. Stay firm on your opinion but hear him out." Stay firm.
******************
Lunch (The Café) (1:45 PM) (Amaya's Perspective)
"Ooo, look! It's KitKat." So, my friends and I have gone around calling all the people we think are cute these weird nicknames.
"Look at him, he's so cute." Lila said while smiling.
"Amaya, have you seen anyone that you think is cute? I haven't heard you say any nicknames." Harper said. Well maybe I should've clarified, it's more like my friends have given boys that they think are cute nicknames. To be honest, I don't really know who's "cute" to me. We just got here.
"No, not yet." I said while looking down at my lunch.
"We're giving you till the end of the week to come up with something! There are too many cute boys here for you not to have a little something for someone." I winced internally. I don't know if I'm ready for all of that.
"Guys, I'm coming right back!" I said. God, where's Allie when you need her? I walked all over the cafe looking for her and finally found her towards the back.
"Allison??" She let go of Joshua and tilted her head.
"What's on your face?" She asked while making room for me at the table.
"Makeup..duhh." She studied it.
"Girl, if you were gonna put in makeup you could've told me so I could show you how to do it better than this. Where's the lipstick?!?" She fixed my makeup and her friends judged it.
"Wayyyyy better." Joy said.
"Also, you know Dad's gonna crucify you, right?"
"Huh??"
"He hates the makeup-wearing in 6th grade. Take it off before you step in the house."
"Okay, but Allie where were you?!? You were supposed to help Andy and me."
"We have this assembly and stuff. I'm sorry, but I'll help you tomorrow I promise. So what brings you here?"
"My friends keep talking about boys and stuff and I feel like it's a lot. What do I do?"
"You just nod and listen. Just say nobody really appeals to you at the moment. If they get upset about that, then they're not really your friends." Claire told me.
"Yeah, I mean y'all shouldn't even be focusing on that anyways. You just got here."
"I guess you're right. Well, I'm gonna go. Bye guys."
*********************
Joshua's House (4:30 PM) (Allie's Perspective)
"You have something on your cheek." I wiped it off and Joshua kept being so annoying about it.
"Eww! Stop trying to lick me!" He liked my face and we both laughed.
"You're like a dog." I said before kissing him again. After school, Josh and I decided that we'd hang out at his house and do some...homework! At least that's what we were going to say when our parents asked.
"Hey, what time is it?" I asked him.
"4:35."
"Wait. 4:35?!?" I fixed my shirt and got up.
"What's wrong?!" He asked frantically.
"I was supposed to walk Amaya and Andrew home from school! Mom and Dad are already fighting, this is just going to make things worse. I've got to go!"
"Allie? Wait-"
^^^^^^^^^^^
(Home) (5:15 PM)
"Allison, where have you been???" Dad asked angrily.
"I was at the bookstore talking to my friends, I'm really sorry."
"You had one job. One job and it was to look out for your siblings and take them home."
"I'm sorry, I forgot. I'm not really used to having them at school." I said, tears welling up in my eyes.
"I don't care, it was highly irresponsible of you to leave them like that." He slammed his phone against the counter.
"I'm sorry, I'm really sorry. It won't happen again."
"I know it won't, give me your phone."
"But Dad-"
"Give me the phone Allison."
"You're being so unfair! I just made one mistake! Just because you and Mom are arguing doesn't mean you have to take it out on me!" I ran upstairs to my bedroom and locked myself in the bathroom. I wish they'd stop arguing.
*********************
Allison's Bedroom (10:45 PM) (Mariska's Perspective)
"Allie?" I knocked softly on her bathroom door.
"Can you come out please?"
"Is Dad there?"
"No, it's just me." She opened the door and slid out.
"Have you been in here all evening?" She nodded.
"I heard you and Dad arguing again. Over me."
"I know. I'm sorry."
"Are you mad at me too?"
"No, I know you wouldn't purposely leave your siblings behind. You're an amazing older sister. Amaya told me that you were really helpful to her today. I'm so proud of you for stepping up like that. But next time, just remember to walk home with Amaya and Andrew. Set a reminder if you need it. Just until they get it packed down. Okay?"
"Okay." I hugged Allie.
"Why are you crying, Mom?" She asked me.
"Peter and I made a vow, a vow for you guys to never see or hear us fight and argue. We've broken that, and it's like you guys are walking on eggshells in your own house. It shouldn't be that way." She stared at her feet for a moment before responding.
"It's okay."
"No, it isn't Allie. And you know that."
"No, not that."
"What? What is it, ladybug?"
"I mean, it's okay to fight. Just not the way you are. You know how sometimes we hash out our problems with each other in family therapy. Maybe you guys should try that." Why is my 12-year-old making so much sense right now?

To be continued~