Everyone gave him stares as he returned to his seat. The news video had already ended. So, he sank into his chair and listened as the teacher droned on for the remaining thirty minutes.

Every class, every dry interaction with someone who called themselves a friend of Cyprus, even lunch, felt empty. Even his last and favorite period, creative writing, didn't rouse any sense of excitement.

Once the day ended and everyone rushed outside to get on the bus, Cyprus sat down on the bench in front of the school. The sounds of rushing people slowly meshed together as he looked at the ground, feet passing him by.

Paradox, they said to themselves, It has to have already happened. I'm sure of it. But I wouldn't remember. What would change? What has changed? Did anything change?

Their eyes unfocused; breathing began to get shallow. Seconds, maybe minutes passed, until they saw a pair of feet stop in front of them. He looked up to see the face of Chelsea staring back at him. Her face was relaxed, giving off a warm feeling.

"Ready to go?" she held her hand out.

Cyprus took it and stood. "Yep."

He followed Chelsea back to where she'd parked and they drove off.

Tulip poplars ran up and down the street, gracing the roads with faded yellow petals. It reminded Cyprus of his flowers back at home. The sunflower and the daffodils he kept on his desk. The sweet scent and the golden glow when the sunlight hit just right.

He sighed, making Chelsea pipe up. "What's wrong, ami?"

"I miss my flowers, y'know?"

She nodded. "I'm sure you want to add to that collection."

"I want a full garden. Something nice to look at."

Chelsea paused and made a left turn. "What would you plant there?"

He rested his hands on the seat. "Definitely some kind of fruit tree. Pink tulips. Hyacinth. Maybe some gardenias or marigolds."

"That would be a really colorful display."

Cyprus turned to face her. "Have you thought about any hobbies yet?"

She made the right turn into his neighborhood. Her face went blank. "Some."

"I just know you'll think of something," he watched as some kids were playing outside. "There's always a hobby for everyone."

Chelsea's face darkened, and she stopped in front of his house. "I've tried...everything."

Cyprus grabbed his bag and sat it on his lap. "Everything?"

"I can't tie anything down for longer than a few days. It just...doesn't excite me."

They put their hand on her shoulder. "There's going to be something you'll love. I'm sure of it."

She looked back at him and gave him a weak smile. "I'll keep trying."

Cyprus nodded and got out of the car. "I'll see you later, Chel."

"On Sunday, Cy-borg."

He quietly chuckled to himself as he watched Chelsea drive off. His face drooped, and he turned to go inside. The grass on their lawn was bright and healthy, unlike the neighbors'. Cyprus had spent months tending to it, mowing it, and making sure to keep it as nurtured as possible.

They took their work with pride, especially since their parents didn't have time to help. The walk up the driveway reminded him of the hard work he put in, but it didn't make him feel any better. Just accomplished.

Opening the door was met with his two younger sisters, nearly knocking him over as he stepped inside.

"Hi, Cyprus!!" they both chimed in unison, making him smile a bit.

Cyprus patted both of their heads. "Hey, Hazel. Hey, Mahogany. Where's Dad?"

Hazel pointed inside. "Daddy's sleeping on the couch."

Mahogany stared hard at Cyprus. "Where's Chelsea?"

"She went home," Cyprus said while walking past them. His sisters trailed after him.

"She didn't want to stay?" Mahogany asked.

"Not even for a little?" Hazel added.

"I know you guys love her," Cyprus noted while taking his shoes off. "But she does have her own life, y'know?"

They kept following Cyprus as he made his way towards the living room. Just as they said, their dad was sprawled out on the couch, drool covering his cheek. Light snoring escaped his lips as the drool had started seeping into his uniform.

Cyprus shook his head and walked to the kitchen. But as soon as he set his bag down and opened the fridge, the snoring stopped.

"C-Cyprus?" his dad said groggily as he sat up. The "Tommy" nametag was nearly falling off of his striped shirt.

"Hi, Dad," Cyprus responded as he grabbed the jar of applesauce and closed the fridge. "How was work?"

Dad rubbed his eyes. "Busy. Thankfully, my assistant manager took over today so I could go home early."

Hazel and Mahogany both ran up the stairs, making Cyprus shake their head. "Did you eat lunch?"

"I had some uh...oranges. Some crackers. Water."

Cyprus started pouring applesauce into a bowl. "Please, eat food, Dad."

He stood in response, shuffling towards the kitchen. "Sure."

Cyprus took a spoon of applesauce and ate it. The sweet, cinnamon-filled flavor washed down his throat, making him relax his shoulders and sigh softly. The sound of his dad shifting around the items in the pantry didn't do much to interrupt the euphoric taste.

"Hey," Dad said while muffled. "Where's the peanut butter?"

"It's in the back." The euphoria ended.

"Thanks, C-Man." The digging sound continued. Cyprus looked down and quickly rushed to the stairs, narrowly escaping from any more harrowing conversation.

As he walked up the stairs, he heard Hazel and Mahogany playing in their room. Cheerful sounds. The feeling felt distant; hard to reach. But the positive feeling welling up in him reminded him of a happier time.

The memory took hold of him, dragging him far away as he walked to his room.

*****

"Hey!" Chelsea said while somersaulting from a plastic chair in the corner of the room. Her hair was tied up in pigtails. "What's your favorite color again?"

Cyprus was facing the window, watching the lawn-care company trim the grass outside. "Amethyst."

She skipped across the room and stopped next to him. "Isn't that a uh...a rock?"

"No, it's a kind of purple."

Chelsea sat on the floor. "Why not just say purple?"

Cyprus turned to face her. "It's a prettier purple."

"Oh, okay." she looked down, letting silence leak into the room. She began rocking back and forth.

After a few minutes, Cyprus scratched near the bandage on his knee. "What's your favorite color?"

Chelsea stood sharply and pushed him over, giggling to herself. "Orange, 'cause oranges."

He landed firmly on his rump, making him wince in pain. "What was that for?"

"Cause, why not."

Then Cyprus jumped up and began chasing Chelsea around the room, with bouts of laughter and screaming plaguing them for the next few hours.