Ava's POV:
"You're working with Luke and Landon for the Fall Festival?" Mary asked me.
I nodded, pushing the popcorn into my mouth. Right now, we are watching a movie at my house. I exhaled, "Whatever. I'll just do my part."
She nodded, "Well, at least Mr.Nocella is there," which doesn't make the situation any better. The man is on the verge of a breakdown because of his marriage.
Her phone ding, and she quickly grabbed it. I watched from the corner of my eyes as she giggled and replied to the message.
"What got you in such a happy mood?" I asked.
She tucks a strand of hair back, "It's nothing. Just Eli being Eli." There it is, that uncomfortable sensation once more.
"You guys are texting?"
She began playing with the phone, "Well, we kind of have to. We're our class representative for our booth at the Fall Festival."
"Oh. That's cool," I said, placing another piece of popcorn into my mouth. "So-" I began chewing, "just the two of you?"
"Yeah. No one was going to do it, so the teacher did a random drawing and picked both of us." She sighs, "I'm just glad it's someone I know, so working together wouldn't be so awkward."
I nodded, looking back at the screen, "That's good," I mumbled, hearing Mary's thumbs typing furiously on her cell phone screen.
I roll my phone on the side of my lap and click on the power button to see a blank screen.
We spent the evening together until Mary went home.
"Hey," Trevon said, entering the living room. "Mar left?"
I nodded, slumping my body further down as my feet rested comfortably on the couch, "That...she did."
He slumps down beside me, "What got you so down under?"
"Nothing. Just...relaxing."
"I heard you got stuck with Landon and Luke for the Fall Festivals."
"Yup." I smack my lip before glancing at him, "I heard Eli and Mar are your class representatives."
He scratches his head before pulling a leg upward, "Yeah. They got picked. Sucks to be them."
I ran my tongue across my cheek, "Why aren't you doing it with them?"
He scoffs, "And waste time preparing when I could be gaming?"
I tuck my lip over my teeth. "Well, isn't our teenage years all about hanging out with friends and making memories? You shouldn't hide in your room."
"Who is hiding in the room?" Mom and dad entered the living room.
"Ava told me I spend too much time in my room. Can you believe that?" Trevon threw an arm in the air.
"Well, son, you do," dad said, and mom nodded along.
"No. I do not," Trevon rebuttal.
"Yeah, he does," I said, feeling mom hand wack me on the ankles, telling me to remove my legs. I remove it and criss-cross them in front of me. "He wouldn't even help out Eli and Mar with the Fall Festivals."
"That's because they got chosen as the class representatives! Not me!"
Dad hummed slightly, causing his lip to thin. He settled himself down on the armchair across from us, and mom sat on one of the armchairs, resting her head against his arm. "You know, son."
"Please, father, don't son me."
"When I was your age-"
"Yes, I know. Dinosaurs still roam the street, and you had to hunt them down till extinction to save humanity," Trevon clicked his tongue.
"Pushing that sarcasm and disrespect that would've gotten you grounded aside. When I was your age, I would go out with my friends all the time! Make memories!"
"I do go out. I hang out with Eli and Ben all the time."
"Yes, and the three of you hole yourselves in a room, gluing your eyes to the tv screen," mom said, and I nodded along.
"That's it." Dad smacks mom's lap causing her to giggle. "I'm calling your teacher. You are going to participate in the Fall Festival with Mary and Elijah as a representative."
Trevon stood up and stomped his leg, "What? Dad! That's unfair!"
"Oh, talking about unfairness. You're also grounded for two weeks."
"Why?"
"One. You called me old when I'm clearly young and driven." He glanced at mom and tugged his brows, causing me to swallow the vomiting sensation lurking inside my throat. "Two. Daddy don't do disrespect."
Mom giggled, "Oh, daddy."
He pats her butt and smirk, "Yeah, baby?"
"Oh, ew," Trevon and I said while feeling mutual disgust towards our parents. Sometimes, they can be too much.
Trevon glare at me, "See what you did?" He threw his arms in the air and stomped out of the room. "It'll be fun, they say! Having a twin is so much fun, they say! Someone who can understand you is the best thing in the world they say!"
I bit my lower lip to hold back the smile that somehow wants to emerge. Taking a few blinks, my eyes met with my mom, who tugs a brow, "Mind helping me with dinner, sweetheart?"
"But I'm tired," dad whined, wiggling his body, causing it to slide downward. He looked up and pouted at mom.
"My other sweetheart," she clarified.
"Oh, have fun, girls." He waves us goodbye before we leave.
Mom smacks his head before standing up and gesturing me into the kitchen. Tugging my shirt down, I slowly follow her from behind. Silently, we began cooking, "So-" mom decided to break the silence.
"Yes?" I extended the word, as the knife in my hand continued chopping the lettuce.
"Elijah and Mary are your brother class representatives for the Fall Festivals."
"That...they are."
"Elijah is such a good boy."
"That...he is."
"Mary is such a sweet girl."
"That...she is."
"They would make such a good couple. Don't you think?"
I put the knife down and lean an elbow against the counter. "Mom. Why don't you just tell me what you really think instead of playing this mind game?"
"Do you like Elijah Wood?" she bluntly asked.
"N-No."
"Sweetheart. You can tell me the truth. I'm your mother."
"Eli is Trevon's friend, mom. I don't see him that way." I, once again, drew the same dense line.
She continued stirring the food in the pot. "That's too bad." She blew the sauce and licked the spoon for a taste before grabbing some ingredients. "Because I'm certain, the boy got a thing for you."
"Don't ever say that again." I resume my chopping.
"Why not?" she began sprinkling salt into the pot.
"Mom. Eli is Trevon's friend."
"You know. I thought you were better than this." She places the lid on the pot.
"What do you mean?"
"Using your brother's best friend excuse."
I stop chopping momentarily before resuming my actions. "I love Trevon, mom. I don't want to do anything to hurt him."
Mom settles herself beside me, lacing her arm around my shoulder. "Are you sure it's only because Eli is Trevon's friend, or is there something else bothering my little girl heart?"
"Nothing is bothering my heart."
"Nothing? Including Luke Parker?"
I drop the knife on the board. "Mom. We talk about him. I'm done with Luke Parker."
"If you're done with him. You wouldn't react like this." I bit my inner cheeks and look away from her accusing eyes. Mom places her hand on my cheek and steadily pulls my view back towards her. "Sweetheart. I'm saying this because I care. One summer should not change you this much." She tucks a small strand of hair back, "What happened?"