Chapter 1: All Stories Begin Somewhere - fWhip's Perspective

fWhip and Gem were walking down the road during mid-January.

"Hey sis," fWhip said as they entered a bookstore, "Do you ever think about how mom used to be?"

Gem walked up to a shelf and started scanning it, looking for a book, "Yeah, sometimes."

She grabbed a textbook, flipped through it, and put it back.

"Do you remember how she used to tell us bedtime stories?"

Gem nodded.

"All the time."

fWhip and Gem were siblings, twins actually, and they got along really well. They were 15 and in 11th grade (their birthdays in June). They both had ginger hair, Gem's was normally in a braid that was tied together by a purple bow. Their mother passed away when they were starting middle school, so talking about her didn't cause that much pain anymore.

But it brings back memories of the way their family used to be.

Their father has been going to therapy to get over what had happened. He's been getting better and has been doing everything he can to make sure that they live their best lives.

"Do you remember that song she would sing along with, and it would be really off key?" fWhip asked.

Gem looked up from the book she had grabbed, "All the time." She whispered.

She then wiped her eyes and fWhip gave her a side hug, "Didn't mean to make you tear up!"

Gem laughed as she continued to grab books.

"What're you looking for?" fWhip asked, changing the subject.

"A book."

fWhip rolled his eyes, "No dip sherlock."

Gem sighed, "Nope not that one. We might have to ask for assistance."

Gem made her way up to the front counter to find an employee to help her with whatever she was searching for.

"Excuse me, could you please help me- "

Gem cut herself off when the employee turned around.

The employee was none other than their good friend, Mythical Sausage.

"Mythical J. Sausage at your service!" Sausage said proudly, "How may I help you out, dear amigos?"

"Hey Sausage," Gem smiled, "I'm looking for a Spanish textbook. Can you help?"

Sausage acted like he was offended, "I can't believe you, Gem! Have I taught you NOTHING?!"

fWhip and Gem laughed.

"But yes, I'll help!" He then said, leading them into the store.

"Thanks- "

Sausage interrupted Gem, "I think you mean gracias."

Gem rolled her eyes, "Sure, gracias."

"De nada." Sausage responded before grabbing a book off the shelf.

"Here we go! English to Spanish textbook!" Sausage said proudly, handing the book to Gem.

"Oh, thanks Sausage!" Gem said, taking the book.

"fWhip, do you need anything?" He then asked.

fWhip wasn't really paying attention so he was caught off guard.

"Uh, what?" He smiled, embarrassed.

"I was just wondering if you needed any- "

"No, he's just here with me." Gem explained.

"Oh, okay! Well, if that's all, then I can help you check out."

-

"Since when do you not pay attention to what Sausage was saying?" Gem asked as they left the store, "You always listen intently to him."

fWhip turned red, "I DO NOT!"

Gem laughed and elbowed her brother softly, "I'm just messing. But seriously, what's up?"

fWhip looked at the sidewalk and paid attention to the way he was walking, "I guess I was just thinking about mom."

Gem then gave fWhip a side hug, "Aww, come on. She's still with us."

Gem then grabbed fWhip's right hand and pointed to the ring he had on his finger, "She's still with you, in here."

It was a silver ring that had red gems on it.

Their mother left them both gifts so then she'd always be with them.

Gem got the purple bow that she always wears.

"Yeah... I just miss her sometimes. I wonder what it would be like if she was here." fWhip said, taking back his hand.

Gem nodded, "I wonder that too. But realize we're who we are today because she died. If she didn't, then we could be totally different people. There's a reason that things happen in our lives. And if that thing never happened, we wouldn't be us."

fWhip took a deep breath. Gem sometimes said really deep things that took a moment to comprehend.

"fWhip you smelly, smelly... no that's no good."

fWhip and Gem turned around and saw Joel walking behind them.

"Excuse me?" fWhip asked, smirking.

"Did you hear that?" Joel asked.

Gem and fWhip nodded.

Joel broke out in laughter, "I didn't mean to let you hear that yet!"

"What're you doing?" Gem asked.

"I'm making a diss track for fWhip." Joel explained, "Except it's turning out really bad. Can't find any rhymes."

"Why're you making me a diss track?" fWhip asked.

"You called me poor the other day."

Gem death stared fWhip, she hadn't heard about that.

fWhip started laughing, "I forgot! I did do that!"

"FWHIP!" Gem shouted.

"What?! I did think he'd take it seriously!" fWhip laughed.

Gem rolled her eyes.

Just then Joel's phone buzzed.

"Oop, probably Liz. I told her I'd go over to her place later. Bye!" Joel said, leaving.

fWhip and Gem waved goodbye and made their way back home.