[ C H A N C E S ]

❛ family before anything else ❜

           AFTER MY LITTLE OUTBREAK BETWEEN MY PARENTS, it's been a few moments after I sat down on my bed and cried silently. I could hear my brothers' footsteps following me upstairs. My door creaks signaling someone opening it "I can hear you come in, you know?" I laugh, even though my tears were in the way of me being happy. My brothers all sit on my bed.

"Haha! Hey, we tried to be quiet," Thomas chuckles but then he got serious.

"You know we'll always be there for you no matter what," Thomas adds.

"We didn't even know mom and dad were gonna show up," Max says hugging me from the side, Carter comes up from behind and sits on my lap.

"Look, I didn't mean to burst like that or anything but they were never there... How could I look at them and just pretend like everything's alright like as if they didn't miss out on half of Carter's life!" a tear falls onto my pants as I explain my outburst.

"But hey, you know we've always stuck together and that's never gonna change whether mom and dad stay or go," Thomas says.

"I really love you guys," I cry hugging all of them.

The boys eventually left after our little moment. I had gotten a text "Meet at the bridge! I think I found a way to switch back," Jack texts. I run down the stairs and start heading towards the bridge with my bike.

—

I had arrived before Ellie, so it was just me and Jack standing there hoping that Ellie would come soon "Hurry! You guys only have one minute left!" I yell, they switch phones in a blink of an eye.

"Ready? Let's do this!" Jack says as they both start texting their wish. After they text their wish they both end up on the ground yet again.

"Is everyone okay?!" I ask breaking the silence, they get up and start patting themselves down making sure it was real. We all look at each other giving the biggest smiles knowing it worked! Jack goes on his phone and looked at himself.

[ A U T H O R ' S  N O T E ]

Everything is back to normal now!

"Hey, it's me! Look at you, varsity!" Jack says as Ellie steals the phone to admire herself being back to normal.

"Oh! I love you, I love you! I promise I will never leave you again!" Ellie squeals hugging herself.

"And you!" Jack points at me.

"Thank you for being there," Jack adds as he lifts me off my feet giving me the biggest hug ever with the biggest smile I've ever seen on him. I was set down and they both hug each other.

"Hey, what am I wearing under here?" Ellie asks.

"Uh, couple layers of clothing and a bathing suit underneath that," Jack informs.

"Weirdo," I mutter as I playfully nudge him.

"Come on, let's go!" Jack says running, so we follow.

We run down the stairs to see Porter and his cool ride "Hey, where you going, tracksuit?" Porter asks.

"See you later, Porty!" Ellie waves running back to where she came from.

"So, uh, you good to take me back right?" Jack asks.

"Yeah, sure. But, dude, can you loosen your grip this time? I mean, we're buds and all, but a guy needs his space," Porter chuckles.

"Got it but we'll be right back, okay?" Jack informs but was already running and dragging me with him so we couldn't hear Porter's comment.

Jack and I had run all the way back to the river. "So, why are we—" I get interrupted by Jack pulling me towards his chest, we were so close that we could practically feel each other's hearts beating.

"Um.. uh, uh... suh," Jack starts.

"Could you form words I might actually understand," I chuckle biting my lip so I wouldn't laugh any harder. His hands start moving up towards my cheek, I felt like my mind was taking over my body, my hands start moving to the back of his neck. He slowly starts leaning, like very slowly so I giggle kind of ruining the moment.

"Ruining the moment like always huh, Amber?" Jack laughs.

"Just kiss me, you varsity idiot!" I pull him towards me, kissing him felt like fireworks exploding during New Years.

"So..." Jack starts after he pulls away.

"What does this mean for us?" he adds.

"What do you what it to mean?" I ask.

"I want to be able to do that every day and also this," he suddenly grabs me and hugs me super tight.

"And also this..." he then picks me up and I wrap my legs around him.

"And, I want to be able to say that you, Amber Elizabeth Morgan is my girlfriend," he finishes as he gives me another kiss. I smile into the kiss and so did he, but soon after we pull away. He grabs my hand and starts heading towards Porter.

After our little moment, we run back to Porter, we were holding hands and just awkwardly stand there until I decide to say bye. I was on my way home riding my bike and just thought about the past few days and how amazing they have been! I got closer to Ellie and Jack. Jack and I had a moment, which I never expected especially with that outcome.

—

I enter my home and call out for my brothers, "We're in here honey!" my mother yells from the living room, so I follow the voice that came from the living room and saw my brothers and parents sat down so I decided to join.

"Is this another family meeting or something?" I ask annoyed

"Indeed, it is," my father says setting down his tea and newspaper, I huff and practically buried myself into the sofa.

"So, your father and I have decided to take a break from these trips and to start becoming a real family," my mother informs.

"Are you serious?" I ask softly.

"Of course, honey! We've missed so much of your life and we don't want to miss any more of it," my mother exclaims.

"And we mean it this time guys. No more business trips. From now on, it's family before anything. I've even been learning to make some new recipes for dinner," my father laughs, tears drop onto my redden cheek, I might have hated the fact that my parents were always gone but now they're here and they were willing to see that family should come before anything.

"But what about your jobs?" Thomas asks "Well, honey, your father and I have decided to work at home instead. There is no need to do all that traveling anymore," my mother says. Carter jumps up from where he was sitting and went up to hug mom and dad.

"Come on guys!" my dad invites us to join in the group hug.

"We love each and everyone one of you guys. Don't ever forget that," my mother says giving all of us a kiss on the head.