Once again at five in the morning Ellie and I rolled out of bed and went downstairs then out into the garden, our Mom looked up from her spot among the flowers. “Good morning, my sweetlings, sleep well?” She asked.

Ellie gave a sleepy grunt as she rubbed at her raccoon eyes and took her seat. Guess she forgot to wash off her make-up.

“Morning Mom, kinda cold huh?” I chimed in response rubbing my arms.

She laughed. “It is, but it'll help wake you up!” She said with a good natured poke at Ellie. “Come on, let's do our stretches.”

And we followed her as she led us through today's stretches.

Our mother, Amare Mark the beautifully charming, always happy woman in this otherwise sleepy town. I have literally never seen her anything but happy unless however it came to us or a plant of hers died.

Her eyes were the palest hazel, they were either green, blue or a combination of the two. We got our raven black hair from her, though at the moment hers had fading yellow tips.

She was really breathtaking and eye catching always standing out in the crowd of like pretty people. I kinda envied her and her seemingly never ending happiness.

Mom blinked up at me from her pose with a tilt of her head. “You alright?”

“Yeah just noticed that the yellow of your hair is fading.”

She straightened and took a strand between her fingers. “Huh you're right. Guess it's almost time I redyed it. Have to stay hip with you kids.”

Ellie and I groaned with facepalms. She laughed and stood indicating we were done then pulled us into a tight hug.

“I'll get started on breakfast, go get ready for school.”

Ellie gave me a gentle shove in the shoulder before running back inside with me right behind her.

“Bet I can be ready before you!”

We laughed because there was no way she'd win that bet.

But I still called out. “You're on!”

We ran to our rooms and I was thankful for my own bathroom. I hopped in the shower letting the hot water cascade over me. A pleased sigh left me as my muscles began to relax.

Lathering up my loofah I washed myself with the oatmeal scented soap, a nice soft scent, one of my many favorites. Then went about washing my hair as my thoughts drifted.

Today I would start my first day as a Junior in high school. It wasn't a struggle or anything to get here but balancing my studies, being Vice President of Student Council and helping out at the Shop after school, it was tiring. 

Thankfully Ellie and my friends Kamila and Jamie were in Student Council with me and they worked here too, so we all carried the burden. Hopefully this new year wouldn't be all that bad.

I washed out my hair as my mood soured. But that meant they would be there, which meant another year of that again.

There was a knock at the door. “Breakfast is ready! Hurry before it gets cold.” My Mom called out.

“I'll be there in a moment!”

I quickly finished then came out wrapping my towel around my body. I glanced up at my mirror pushing up my ever slipping glasses. Messy hair standing up in odd angles no matter what I tried, always giving me a bed head look. My bangs hung in my blue eyes almost hiding them from view, pale skin slightly flush from my shower was sprinkled with a lot of freckles. 

Over all I looked and felt average. A typical background teenager. Nothing special, nothing outstanding, nothing noticeable- just me.

With a huff and shake of my head, I grabbed my settled on outfit. A pair of blue jeans, a white collared polo shirt with my favorite grey hoodie pulled over it. The hoodie was large on my lanky body, the sleeves draping over my knuckles. But it was perfect, warm and comforting.

I slipped on my shoes and headed downstairs to the kitchen. Gave my Mom a kiss on the cheek and took my seat. “Thanks for breakfast.”

Sitting in front of me was white chocolate french toast, my Moms special start the day off right meal. Accompanied by her homemade raspberry syrup, a side of different fruits, a plate of sausage and crispy bacon.

“Tea or coffee?” My Mom asked as the kettle whistled.

“Coffee. I have a long day ahead of me. Need to be caffeinated.”

As she was pouring my drink, Ellie came down cat headphones resting around her neck, an outfit similar to yesterday's on. She barely acknowledged my full mouthed good morning as she made a beeline to Mom's side, taking the coffee that was put into her waiting hands.

Ellie kissed Mom's cheek with a sigh of happiness.

“Breakfast looks so good, thanks. But it looks like Dad forfeits-”

We all looked up when the back door opened and Dad walked in. Mom was at his side in an instant when she noticed blood. I hopped up getting and wetting a washcloth and handing it to him as he sat at the table.

“Agápi mou, what happened?” Mom asked with clear concern.

“Yeah Dad, you alright?” Ellie questioned wide eyed.

He patted Mom’s hand and ruffled Ellie's hair. “Sorry for worrying you guys. It looks worse then it is, trust me.” He thanked me and held the cloth to his head. “There was a fight at Alloy's bar, so us lucky cops were called in to break it up. Someone just got a good punch in when I wasn't looking.” He explained all the while giving Mom a look, one he normally gave whenever he came home hurt.

“But hey I'm here and I can take you up on that arm wrestling match, Ellie.”

Ellie snorted a choked up giggle and held out her hand as Dad followed suite.

Mom sighed then leaned in and pressed a soft kiss to his temple and you could just see the way Dad physically relaxed then returned the kiss. Seeing that there wasn't any immediate danger we returned to our food.

Nicholas Mark our father, caring and loyal to a T. Hair a dark brown styled in an undercut, eyes the same blue as ours though his and mine were a more cornflower blue. Around the house he had a carefree happy expression but out of the house he was a decorated Sheriff always ready to answer the call, but above all else he was a father. Muscular, fit and a role model to the town, this was our Dad. My hero.

Dad “won” and got to keep his breakfast. Mom placed his food in front of him earning another kiss and a fake gagging noise from Ellie. My family laughed making me smile.

Ellie and I finished our meals grabbed our lunches and school bags and went to Ellie’s mini van.

“Have a great day you two! Take care of each other!” Mom called waving from the door of the shop as we pulled the van around.

Dad waved too. “Have fun, and tell Kamila and Jamie we said hi!”

We waved and started the drive over to Kamila’s house first.

Kamila Silk, tall 5’8 and still wore heels, long auburn hair braided down her slender back. Bright green eyes that matched her bubbly- outspoken- personality, she was clingy and nosy but always ready to help brighten up your day.

And then our other friend Jamie Poko, on the shorter side but still a head taller than me, crazy out of control curly reddish brown hair that he normally slicked back with a plain headband so you could actually see his hazel eyes. He was my nerd in crime ever since we met on the playground back in pre-K, always with a joke or something up his sleeve to make people laugh and lower their walls.

Ellie plugged in her phone and some electric jazz began to play softly. Ellie glanced at me. “You should drive your car more.”

“Why? Don't like driving me around?”

She snorted. “Ha! I love it, we bicker over what music plays, the A.C. and my car rules.” She laughed poking my arm.

“Then it has to do with mystery person from yesterday, doesn't it?”

She blushed and I had my answer. She had a crush and didn't want me to know who they were. But why?

“Do you not want them to meet me?” I asked quietly.

Her head swiveled to face me, before snapping back to the road. “What! No! Get rid of all those depressing thoughts. They would love you-”

“So there is someone?”

“Wha- no hush!”

I laughed as we pulled up at Kamila’s apartment only to spot Jamie standing there too.

Ellie giggled with a wiggle of her eyebrows. “Wonder why they're here together? Lumir, do you know if they're an item?”

I almost choked on my spit. “What! Ew! No I don't think so. Why do they have to have a thing? Why can't they have just been considerate of you not having to drive another block the other way?”

She laughed. “Sure you just don't want to think about your best friends dating and not telling you.”

I flicked her cheek. “Shut up, don't try and get back at me and pick them up already.”

“Fine, fine don't get your rainbows in a twist.”

I mentally flinched, sinking down in my seat as my friends climbed in.