Chapter eight: Andrew

Since school was tomorrow, mom began droning on about the schedule for the week during dinner. The entire day was full of shopping for food, equipment, and furniture. I had tuned out as mom and dad continued their conversation.

I glanced to my left to my sister, she was throwing the vegetables off her plate and onto the ground. "Lydia, knock it off and eat," mom scolded. Lydia pouted, scooping the rest of her food.

"Andrew, honey?" Mom broke out of my spacing.

"Huh?" I replied, looking at her.

"Make sure you set your alarm for seven-thirty tomorrow." Mom poured ice tea from the pitcher.

"School doesn't start until nine," I responded mouth full, bits of food falling out of the corners.

"Close your mouth when you're eating. You need an early start, you volunteered to carpool with Rachel, remember?" She raised her eyebrows; her tone was in a factual manner. Oh yeah, I was joking when I went along with it.

The face she made was priceless: pouty lips, frowned eyebrows and puffed cheeks, she looked so cute. " I have to drop Lydia off at school, too?"

"I'm doing that. I have errands to run and your dad has to work before going back. We were talking about this. Wash you and your sister's plates if you're done," she finished explaining, stood up to take hers and dad's plate away while shaking her head. I leaned back and squinted, she said that?

"Pay attention son," dad chimed in, stood from his chair, and patted my shoulder with comfort. I sighed deeply, standing up to take mine and Lyds empty plates to the sink. Lydia got up, running to the living room. Rinsing it and then putting them in the dishwasher, sluggishly I walked upstairs to my room to lie on my bed. Today was tiring.

"Good night," I told my family.

Mom, dad, and my younger sister replied, "good night." Pulling out my phone while strolling up the stairs, 50+ notifications. Damn. I spotted my name tagged from Twitter from an ex back home. @andrew.s: miss u so much!! Especially your abs ;). @Adinaisaboss I smiled, she was fun for a month. I hooked up with her after the homecoming dance. Her profile picture was her at the beach, lying on the lounge chair. The camera pointed at the clean blue water and sea shelled filled sand was beautiful. I missed it.

This was home now. I laid on my back, scrolling down to the rest of my newsfeed, some kids dreading the first day of school. Some were excited, the majority commented that it should fast forward to summer again. Eisenhower High, my new school for the 11th grade, mom has raved that the campus was clean, teachers and the curriculum was outstanding. I threw my phone at the edge of my bed and stood to my feet. I saw a shadow in Rachel's room right across from me.

Opening my drawers, I took off my shirt and pants, wore my grey sweatpants and a black tank top. I made my way back to the window to close the blinds, before closing it, Rachel closed her drawer. She was already in her PJs. Green and black matching set, a purple bonnet on her head. She sat on the edge of the bed, rubbed her feet. She looked up. I waved. She shook her head, her mouth in a straight line, and waved back. She missed me; she couldn't deny it. I missed her. A lot. It's why I suggested we could ride together to school. Only this time, we wouldn't be drinking out of Capri suns. Maybe. I shut my blinds and curtains. I scratched my messy scalp, entering my bed for a night's sleep.