"Mom, I'm home!" I called out, as soon as I entered our house. School had just ended and Ben had given me a ride home; as per usual.

I could hear the sound of little feet scramble upstairs and a small, high-pitched squeal coming from the only possible culprit in the house. Alissa Thompson.

Alissa was basically the only reason why I was who I was, she gave me joy in life. She inherited my Dad's dark brown, wavy hair and light green eyes, while I got my Mom's straight, dirty blonde hair and dark blue eyes. I was always so jealous of her; although I loved my Mom's features, they looked best on her, rather than on me. I looked almost unoriginal, which was something I just could not have.

There was even a time when I was fourteen or fifteen when I dyed my hair a red colour, which wasn't actually one of the permanent dyes and washed off the next day. Then after the red, I tried blue, but it somehow ended up a mucky green colour. I also tried purple, but my hair turned bright yellow because Alissa had been playing with the dye boxes and mixed up the purple and yellow with each other, now that I think about it, I wasn't really sure why I bought a yellow dye.

The little footsteps got louder and soon a small, 6 year old girl came running down the stairs, charging at me with arms wide open. She was giggling. "Rissa! You're home!" On the last step of the stairs, she decided that it would be a perfect time to jump into my arms, which she did. Thankfully, I was standing by the landing so it wasn't difficult for me to catch her safely in my arms.

"Lissa! I nearly dropped you!" I adjusted her slightly so I could hold her comfortably. I spun us around for a number of seconds, almost tripping over my discarded school bag a couple times. This got a giggle out of her.

"But you caught me, so it's okay!" She giggled some more. I rolled my eyes playfully. Her laughter gone down, she looked at me with amused eyes. "Rissa, what are you--"

But she was cut off mid sentence when I pretended to drop her. She screamed and burst out in fits of giggles again.

"Okay, guys please. If you want to play, then out in the garden is the best place to go. I'm really tired and Jeremy Kyle is on right now," a voice called out from the living room. My mother came out of the room with her arms crossed and wore and unimpressed look on her face. I stopped immediately.

I didn't want her to get angry. If she got angry and I would be the reason for her doing so, then Dad would kill me. Well not really, since that was pretty much illegal, but he would get pretty mad. Did I mention my Mom was pregnant?

They baby was due in a couple months and unluckily for us, Mom was at the peak of her moody, hormonal stage. The slightest thing would piss her off. For example, I left a finger print on the glass of the back door and she had a cow. I had to give her a foot massage to compensate.

It was really painful, on my part, considering she had a sweaty foot problem and they smelled like fish.

"C'mon Lissa, let's say sorry to Mom." I carried her to the sitting room where my Mom had made herself comfortable around multiple blankets and pillows on the recliner. I had made the mistake of turning towards the T.V where I was greeted with a woman, well at least I thought it was a woman, with a balding head, no front teeth, an almost completely tattooed face and a number of face piercings. Yikes.

The 'woman' was fighting with another woman who looked equally as bad, only with a triple chin and no tattoos, over a man who was practically a first cousin of those people from the 'Wrong Turn' franchise.

I never completely understood why Mom was such a big fan of the show. All it did for me was give me sleepless nights and unimaginable nightmare of the people. I guess sometimes it was slightly entertaining.

"Mommy," Alissa interrupted, "we're sorry." This got me out of my daze. Mom's eyes softened.

"Aw, my baby I'm sorry too," she cooed, opening her arms wide for a hug. I walked us over to her, Alissa still in my arms, and went in for the hug. I could see my Mom's eyes watering. She was really bi-polar sometimes.

Next thing I knew, she was full on sobbing on my shoulder, tears and probably snot on my shirt. I did my best not to be disgusted, it was really difficult to ignore the dampness.

The front door suddenly opened and closed loudly with a bang. Dad was home. Oh no. Mom snapped out of her emotional self and didn't look one bit happy.

"How are my girls?" Dad greeted us with a big smile. Mom was angry, really angry.

"Paul! Didn't you see that we were in the middle of a hug? Why on earth would you interrupt us with your loudness? So selfish," she muttered as her eyes turned to slits.

"I-I'm sorry, dear." He looked weary and I felt sorry for him. This was us for the last couple months.

He reached into the plastic bag that I had just noticed him carrying and brought out a tub of Ben & Jerry's cookie dough ice cream, her favourite. Mom's eyes brightened instantly and she smiled. Then I noticed her smile falter and soon she was wailing.

"P-Paul, you a-are the best h-husband ever!" she managed to say in between sobs. He walked over to her crying self and engulfed her with a heartfelt hug. Her arms snaked around his neck as he kissed her temple lovingly.

Even though my parents were far from normal, they had a great relationship. They were still both so in love that it was enough to keep me going each day. I wanted that, what they had. I really did.

******************

I was on my final sum in Maths, which also happened to be the last subject I had homework in, when I thought I heard my name being called downstairs. I shrugged it off and continued with my work. When I didn't answer, footsteps began to make loud marching sounds on the stairs, getting louder every second.

I suddenly became quiet and I thought it had finally stopped, but suddenly, my bedroom door opened unexpectedly, courtesy of Alissa. "Rissa! I was callin' you for ages," she said, emphasising the 'a' in ages. "Why you did not answer? My throat hurts now." She pouted. I moved my desk chair over to her; yes I had one of those fancy chairs with wheels. I kissed her cheek and apologised.

"Mama wants you, she said somethin' 'bout a gross store." I chuckled at her interpretation of a grocery story.

"Okay, let's go see what Mama wants." And so we went down to the kitchen where both our parents were seated at the kitchen island talking about things, things I didn't really care about. Mom seemed to have calmed down and was finishing the remaining contents of her ice cream tub. Dad was eating a low fat yoghurt; he was on a diet.

"Hey Mom, you wanted me?" I said, as soon as I stepped into the room. I could hear Alissa's little feet trailing behind.

"Oh yes, I need you to go to the grocery store and buy somethings. I have a list for you here." It was only half past five and I needed to get out for some fresh air anyways, so I took the list with no hesitation. It was still bright outside and normally I would have taken my Dad's car - yes I have my license, no I don't have a car- but I wanted to enjoy the beautiful autumn weather while it lasted.

Autumn, or Fall, was my favourite season. It was when all the leaves on the trees had begun to change into gorgeous shades of red, oranges, yellows and browns and it was the perfect time of the year to take walks in parks and around town. Our town was filled with vegetation; the mayor had them planted a few years back, because he thought they made the town look friendlier and nicer, I agreed with his decision.

I took my bike out from our little garage and placed a small shopping bad into the basket of my bike. For my fourteenth birthday, my parents had gotten me one of those old fashioned bikes with the baskets, since I had been dying to get one. I've had it since and I always look for the chance to use it whenever I could. I tucked the list and money into the pocket of my jeans and tightened the scarf, which I had grabbed quickly from my room, around my neck. Although the sun was shining, there was a light breeze and the air was cold.

I cycled all the way to the nearest grocery store, which was in the middle of town. I cycled out of our neighbourhood and past Oak Avenue, which was filled with fallen leaves of autumn colours on the ground. I smiled at the sight in front of me before cycling off again. I turned into Creek Road, where the cherry blossoms grew and cycled on once more. I made one last detour into Auburn Lane, where most of the town's bakeries, confectioneries and cafés were located.

I could smell the different aromas, which made my stomach growl. I'll buy something on my way home, I told myself. Once I reached the store, I quickly did all my shopping, said a quick 'hi' to a few of the workers I was acquainted with and paid.

I returned to Auburn Lane and decided to visit one of my favourite cafés, Amélie's. School wasn't far from here and sometimes, after my last class, I'd go here for some peace and quiet. That and Amélie made the best hot chocolate in town. She sometimes got me to try her new creations, when the day was going slow, and every single one tasted like heaven.

She was like a second mother to me, a friend. I would tell her everything and she would listen. Sometimes it was the opposite. She was a wise woman, in her early forties, beautiful, French and for some odd reason, single. She had told me once that the one she loved did not love her back, which was absurd since she was gorgeous, and so she decided to persue her dream of opening up a café and here she was.

After locking my bike to the nearest bike rack, I entered the shop and was welcomed with a warm smile on Mel's elegant face. I returned it with a smile of my own. "Hi Mel!" I greeted.

"Ah! Ma chérie! Ça va? I have not seen you in so long. Look at you, très joli comme toujours." I blushed at her words.

"But Mel I came here last week. I haven't changed at all," I chuckled, "So, do you have any new creations for me?"

Her eyes sparkled at the mentions of the word 'creation' and she quickly went behind the work counter and quickly whipped me up a hot beverage. Once it was finished, she handed it to me with excitement.

"Tu le bois. Drink up!" I took a sip and flavours of melted hot white chocolate with a hint of peppermint danced on my tongue. It was delicious. I took out some money to pay for the drink, but she tapped my hand away.

"Non! It is on me. No need to pay."

"But Mel--"

"Non, I will not accept." So since she wouldn't let me pay. I placed a five dollar bill into her tips jar.

She sighed, but a smile played on her lips. "Tu es une idiot, ma chérie. So, have you any news for me? How is that Ben boy? Ah, il est très beau, non?"

"Ben is doing fine, actually I wanted to talk to you about something." We took a seat by the window. By now it was already half past six and the last customer had left, so Mel closed the shop early.

"Oui, bien sûr."

"Well there's this guy I like and --- "

"Oh no, do not tell me that you have made up another one of your 'plans'. Oh Carrie, you know how those do not work." I stayed quiet for a bit.

"Donc," she continued, "you like Ben, huh?" My eyes widened. Why would she think that?

"No! I mean, no I don't like him. It's this other guy. His name is Wyatt. And I really like him. Like, a lot."

She gave me a look I couldn't read. "Parfois, nous pensons que nous aime quelque personne mais, nous ne voyons jamais le personne devant nous, le personne que donnes tout son aim à nous. Il t'aime." (A/n: sorry if this doesn't make sense, I'm not great at French.)

"I understood none of that, Mel." She chuckled.

"You know, ma chérie, I have another new flavour for you to try."
"Oh no thank you, Mel, this is enough for me. This is just fine." I lifted my cup a little.

"Carrie, sometimes, we say we want something, but we do not realise what we could be having instead; something that is better." She was being all cryptic again. I opened my mouth to speak but I was cut off from the buzzing of my phone. It was a text from my Mom. I hadn't noticed that it had already gotten so late.

"Oh I'm so sorry Mel but I have to go. My parents will wonder where I amand it's gotten so dark already. I'll visit you again soon. I can't wait for another one of your new flavours." And then I was off.

I heard her soft voice murmur an 'à bientôt'.

I still had some of the drink left, in fact it was still half full. I had been so occupied that I hardly touched my drink. Climbing onto my bike, I began to cycle. My cup was placed in the basket, along with all my groceries.

I was going downhill and I tried to slow down but my brakes weren't working. If anything, my bike went faster. I was headed for a tree and I started screaming.

I began to say prayers in my head, closing my eyes slightly, getting ready for the impact. But then, something grabbed hold of me, preventing the crash. Although, I didn't crash, the person who stopped me wasn't so gentle and everything went flying. Even my hot, well now warm, chocolate.

The only thing was that the chocolate went flying at me and all its contents spilled onto my hair.

"God Carrie, are you okay? I saw you rolling down and I ran after you." Soon, arms were wrapped around my shoulders, even though I was sticky from the chocolate.

Uh oh.

"I'm so glad I caught up to you, otherwise, you would have been so badly hurt. Hey, are you okay?"

"Hmm? Uh yeah, I-I'm okay."

"That's good. None of your groceries were destroyed," he chuckled, "at least you don't have to go for more."

I hummed in response. The groceries were the least of my worries. What was on my mind, however, was that I was covered in sticky white chocolate in front of Wyatt Burkes.

*************

A/n

Hey guys! I'm sorry for not updating in a while. As you can tell, I'm not very good at keeping up with my story. I'm just really busy right now with school and I hardly find any time for myself, let alone writing.

I promise that I'll try to update more frequently. Oh and sorry if the French doesn't make much sense, I'm not that great at it.

On a side note, have you guys seen the music video for Melanie Martinez's song Mrs. Potatohead? I love it! Tell me what you think of it in the comments.

As always, comment|vote|share|fan and all that jazz.
Love you lots like jelly tots ❤️

AFallenSilverRose xx