⊱ ────── {.⋅ ♫ ⋅.} ───── ⊰

Matthews' Apartment

Renee's POV

I got up early today and did my morning routine. I brushed my teeth, took a nice shower, and then did my hair care routine. I picked out this to wear:

Mom had already set things up on the breakfast table by the time I got ready for school.

"Morning Mom." I kissed her cheek, "Do you want me to wake the others up?" I asked her.

"Well your Dad is up and Auggie is up so please check on the other three." Mom said.

I was about to go when Dad and Auggie walked in, "Hey honey, what's for breakfast?" Dad asked with shaving cream still on his face.

"Hey, honey, what's for breakfast?" Auggie mimicked Dad. I gushed over how cute he is.

"Morning Dad, Morning Auggie." I greeted them both.

"Good morning sweetie," Dad said.

"Good morning sweetie." Auggie mimicked Dad again making me smile.

"Aww look who's trying to be Daddy's little man." Mom gushed.

"Yes, so come over here and give papa a smooch," Auggie demanded.

I left from the scene, laughing hard. I reached Riley's room and saw that she was already awake.

"Hey Riles, Mom's done with breakfast." I told her.

"I'll be there in a minute, my lovely twin!" She cheerfully said.

I left her room. Well, that was weird—oh well, that's Riley for you.

Next, I went to Brandon and Alex's shared room. I knocked on the door.

"Alex. Brandon. Are you guys up? I'm coming in right now." I announced before going in.

I saw both the boys sprawled on their beds. They sleep in bunk beds. The upper bunk belonged to Alex and the lower bunk belonged to Brandon.

"Both of you, wake up!" I took Brandon's sheets away from his body as he groaned and did the same with Alex.

"Why do you have to wake us up?" Alex whined whole rolling around in bed while Brandon...simply went back to sleep.

I—I'm dealing with two toddlers, I swear to god.

"I have to wake you up because you guys won't do that by yourselves. So get up!" I yelled.

I gave them both a hard pinch on their sides. And they both were now awake, fearing I might do a lot worse than a pinch if they don't wake up.

"Get ready and come out. Mom's done with breakfast already." Without hearing their answer, I left the room.

I went out and saw Auggie and Dad shaking hands while Mom was cleaning up her face. I wonder why she was doing that?

"Maya." The intercom buzzed as she spoke.

"Farkle," Farkle announced through the intercom.

"Aurora." Aurora spoke after Farkle.

Riley entered the scene, "Those are mine and Renee's friends. I love our friends." She said with a skip in her step. "It's a sunny day. I love a sunny day. I love my friends. I love my family. I love a sunny day." She cheerfully chirped as she reached the intercom and buzzed Maya, Farkle, Aurora.

Alex and Brandon also came out exactly after Riley buzzed our friends in.

"I even love going to school." My twin added as she hugged Dad before sitting down.

"Okay, twin and mom, what is going on with her?" Dad asked.

"I don't know. Don't do anything." Mom and I said.

"I'm in a good mood." Riley snapped her fingers, "This life thing? I think I got it down."

"Riles, don't jinx it." I said.

"Oh don't worry. Nothing will be jinxed. Not this time." She snapped her fingers again.

"Is she okay?" Alex asked me while looking at Riley skeptically as he and Brandon took seats on either side of me.

I shrugged to show that I didn't know.

The others entered the room. Alex tried to get up and go back to his room the second Maya walked in, but I held his arm and made him sit back down. He gave me a pleading look but I only glared at him, making him sigh.

"Maya, Aurora, oatmeal." Mom offered.

"No thanks, Mrs. Matthews." Maya declined.

"Oh, I wasn't asking." Mom threatened. Aurora had already sat down.

"Yeow." Maya sat down as well. Farkle was still standing near the door.

"Farkle, you too." Mom motioned him to come over.

"Thank you. But my mother already made me eggs, home fries, wheat toast, marmalade, and a strawberry shaped like a star." Farkle explained as he walked closer to us.

"I'm going to the Farkle's! Who's with me?!" Auggie said as he raised his hand.

"Me!" Aurora, Brandon, Alex and I screamed.

"Sit down. Eat it, please." Mom threatened again, making us all obey.

"But it's still, this." Auggie complained.

"Hey Auggie, guess what? It's Googly time!" Dad said.

"No TV at the table." Mom warned.

"You're right Topanga. This table is about the discussion of today's events only." Dad looked at Alex.

"Alex. Start."

"Hmm...I was brutally deprived of my blanket in the morning because of Nessie. Then I tripped over Brandon's feet. And then I came here and was forced to sit here against my own free will because of Nessie. Again." He glared at me as I simply smiled his way.

"Interesting morning Alex. Riley." Dad commented.

"I woke up. I love everything. I sat here." Riley said.

"Renee."

"I got up early. I did my morning routine. I pinched Alex and Brandon awake while having a lot of fun doing that. Then I came here." I explained my morning.

"Brandon."

"Oh, you know the same old-same old. Esme woke me up. I got ready. I got hungry so I came here." Brandon said.

"All caught up. Googly time!" Dad said as he switched the TV on.

"Here comes Mr. Googly and his foogly, boogly friends!" The theme song started as we all sang along with it.

Auggie turned off the TV making everyone let out complaints, "Hey!"

"I'm too old for Mr. Googly." Auggie stated.

"What?" Mom and I asked as we both followed him to the couch.

"But, Auggie, Mr. Googly's your best friend..." Dad tried to reason.

Dad picked up Auggie's Mr. Googly doll and pretended to be him. "Auggie, I'm your foogly googly best friend."

Auggie leans over to Mr. Googly and whispers, "Can I tell you a secret?"

"Of course, you can tell Mr. Googly all your secrets." Dad said still pretending to be Mr. Googly.

"I have a new best friend." Auggie spilled.

"Oh really, who would that be?" Dad was still in character.

"I don't wanna tell you who she is." He said.

"She?" Everyone exclaimed.

"I've said too much." Auggie declares.

"Ok, why don't you tell Mr. Googly all about your new best friend and none of us will listen." Mom suggested as we turned around and pretended not to listen.

"I'm this many," Auggie said showing 5 fingers, "and I'm done with you now. Goodbye." Auggie placed Mr. Googly on the couch.

"They grow up so fast." Riley said.

"Well he isn't supposed to grow up so fast. Mommy stop him from growing so fast." I complained as Mom patted my shoulder and Aurora hugged me.

"Where is Max, Rory?" I asked Aurora.

"Oh, he went to class ahead of us." Aurora replied still hugging me.

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John Quincy Adams Middle School, Hallway.

Renee's POV

On our way to school, I told Aurora about my crush on Max and all she said was, 'Finally, you realized.'

I was confused but left that talk for later since we had already reached school.

"I was so worried about this new school year. Didn't think I was going to survive. Not only am I surviving, I'm thriving. I'm like a plant going like this," Riley did a very awkward plant-type of pose? Brandon laughed at that and I hit him on the shoulder.

"What was I so worried about?" Riley finished her whole, 'I'm happy' speech.

"I'm a rose with thorns if you're a plant, Riles." I joked and laughed along with Riley.

I was about to enter our first class for the day when suddenly Brandon covered my eyes, "Uh, Brandon....what are you doing?" I asked him. At the same time, Riley asked Maya the same thing.

"What are you doing? Oh, this is too easy. It's Maya. I know because I saw you put your hand over my face. I'll do you now." Riley told Maya.

"Oh, that's not the game." Maya said.

"What's the game?" Riley asked.

Even I was curious as to why Brandon and Maya had covered our eyes. "We're trying to protect the plant and the rose from the two bulldozers in pink sweaters." Aurora said before I removed Brandon's hands from my eyes.

I looked into the classroom and saw...Missy Bradford and her best friend Olive Romero flirting with Lucas and Max. The thing is Max was smiling. I immediately frowned.

That's why they were covering our eyes, huh?

"Oh, Aurora, bulldozers don't wear pink...." She trailed off when I nudged her shoulder and showed her the scene. "Huh." Riley hooked our arms and walked us to our lockers as we slid down against it.

"You guys okay?" Brandon asked, crouching in front of me and Riley.

"Yeah." Riley and I synced. We weren't okay.

Aurora and Maya glanced at each other before sitting next to me and Riley, Aurora put her arm around my shoulder as Maya did the same to Riley.

"There are other girls in this world." I started.

"There are." Aurora confirmed.

"And other girls like Missy Bradford are going to talk to Lucas." Riley said.

"They are." Maya confirmed.

"Max might like other girls. I don't like that." I said sadly.

"I know." Brandon said.

"I wish the world could be just us." Riley said.

"Then it is." Maya, Brandon, and Aurora said before we all hugged.

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John Quincy Adams Middle School

history Class

Renee's POV

"Sneak attack. December 7th, 1941." Dad started the lecture.

"A date which will live in infamy." Farkle said.

"A date? They're going on a date? In Italy?" Riley drowsily said.

All I could do was frown and slump my shoulders as I kept my head down on my desk.

"Honey, You're in History." Maya told Riley.

"I'm history?" Riley asked horrified.

"Okay, Riley. Put your hand up." Aurora instructed before Maya lifted Riley's arm.

"May I be excused?" Maya instructs Riley to say.

"My eyes see my shoes?" Riley said this instead.

I let out a loud dramatic sigh.

Dad looked at Brandon and he pointed one finger at Lucas and Missy and one finger at Max and Olive, he nodded his head in understanding.

"Yes, Riley, you are excused." Dad allowed.

"Forever?" Riley asked hopefully.

"No, you have to come back to class at some point, sweetie. You just have to." Dad pointed out.

We all watched as Riley exited the classroom.

"It was another sunny day in paradise before the sneak attack changed everything." Dad continued.

From the corner of my eye, I could see Riley poking through the window. She was looking at Missy and Lucas. I couldn't even bear to turn my head in Max's direction.

"Do you like amusement parks and horror houses? I love the horror houses in there. All dark." I heard Olive say to Max. I bit my lip.

"I do. But it also depends on the person who I'm going with." Max answered. It felt like he was indirectly flirting back with her.

"I get scared at Horror houses though. But you'll take care of me right?" Olive asked. Her fake sweet voice seemed to be hurting my ears.

The one thing that distracted me from Olive and Max was Riley, who had her nose sticking to the glass window. How is she my twin?

"People who had viewed themselves as safe, no longer hand any security at all." Dad explained.

"Just you and me, Olive?" Max asked. I could hear Lucas asking the same thing to Missy.

"Just you and me, Max." Olive answered. To distract myself from the scene, I looked over at Lucas and Missy just in time as the latter touched his nose and said, "Boop."

I averted my eyes again and saw Olive touching Max's cheek. I felt sick to the stomach and immediately turned to Aurora and whispered something in her ear.

"Mr. Matthews, can I take Esme to the nurse? She says she's not feeling well." Aurora said while raising her hand. At the same time, Riley came back inside.

"Yes, you—" Dad was cut off as Riley started speaking, "Boop? That's the best you got?"

"You don't think I can do boop?" She challenged. "I can do boop like you've never seen. Also, I have some colorful words to say to you afterward Max."

"No, you don't Riley—" I was interrupted as Riley raised her finger towards Lucas's nose, "Boop!"

I could only stare at Riley. Riley, and her finger in Lucas's nose.

"How are you my twin?" I slammed my head on the table.

Aurora then got up with me as we went out of the classroom, "We'll be with the nurse, Mr. Matthews." Aurora informed.

As we walked to the nurse's office Aurora broke the silence, "Hey...how are you feeling honey?"

"Not that good. Why? Am I jealous? I think so....but I shouldn't be...if Max likes her back then, who am I to come in between them?" I expressed as Aurora put an arm around my shoulder.

"Oh honey, forget my brother. He's a jerk if he can't see what he's missing out on. Believe me, if I was a boy, I would date you." She said before raising both her eyebrows at me a couple of times with a weird smirk on her face. It made me laugh and feel better.

"Thanks, Rory. You're the best best friend I've ever had." I said with a sigh.

"Hey! I'm the only best friend you have! I've been here the longest! And also, I've known you for the longest. So don't try to act like you're okay with this. I know you're not. And that's okay. It's okay....to not feel fine with this." Aurora had a way with words because before knew I was hugging her tight with a single tear falling on my cheek.

Maybe I was overreacting? Maybe I felt overwhelmed? At that moment...I just felt sad. And somehow happy that at least I had my best friend.

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John Quincy Adams Middle School
Hallway

Renee's POV

After we made a quick visit to the Nurse who just let me lay down for a while we came back and found Riley hiding in her locker. Maya had informed me that Brandon and Max left off to talk about something.

I felt bad for my sister.

"You want me to bring you both lunch?" Farkle offered while keeping his hand on my shoulder.

"No. Food would only keep us alive." Riley sulked.

"Come on, little plant, red rose. Come back into the sun." Maya tried.

"I'm afraid something terrible will happen if I ever come out of here." Riley told us all.

"Riley, come on. There's nothing worse that could happen to us." I must've jinxed it because right at that moment Missy and Olive came towards us. "I spoke too soon." I muttered.

"Oh, there you are. I've been looking for you. You're not upset with me, are you?" Missy smirked. I wanted nothing more than to slap that smirk off her face.

"Unless you have eyes for buttons, then yeah, Riley isn't upset with you at all." I said with sarcasm as I crossed my arms. Missy rolled her eyes, and ignored me, unable to give a comeback.

"Because I didn't hear that you and Lucas were together or anything." She continued.

"We're not." Riley stated.

"Hmm, yeah that's what I thought. So, if you're not, then it's not a problem if I ask Lucas out, because he's really cute. Don't you think?" Missy rubbed salt on the wound for my sister.

"Are you her dog or something, Missy? Why do you need to ask for permissions from Riley? Well, for all it's worth...I think it suits you. Being a dog, that is." Aurora, Farkle, and Maya broke out into laughter at my statement. Even Riley was smiling a bit. Olive and Missy were both scowling.

Riley was upset, I was too, but that doesn't mean that I'm gonna let Missy throw dirt on my twin. I could take a stand and be confident about it, so I protected my twin when she couldn't.

"Shut up!" Missy stomped.

"You know what, I think Max is kinda into me." Olive tried. It did sadden me because I thought that the statement was true to some extent.

"Hey Olive, do you want a repeat telecast of what happened in the 5th grade? Here's what I'm thinking, my fist, your face." Aurora threatened.

Everyone knew about the incident in 5th grade. Aurora and I used to take taekwondo classes up until 6th grade. We both were on black belts. So in fifth grade, one day, out of nowhere, Olive and Missy started pulling on mine and Aurora's hair. So we both just gave them a good punch. It was a big issue but since the fight was instigated by the other two and it was all caught on camera, their parents didn't dare take any actions against us. Mom was pretty pleased with Aurora and me.

"You—"

"I think if Max likes you, Olive, then he has a very bad taste in girls." I was surprised at the person who said that everyone was. It was Riley. She...stood up for me...

Yeah, that's my twin.

"Now shoo away, you rats." Maya said as they went away grumbling.

I side hugged Riley as soon as she came out of the locker.

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Matthews' Apartment, Renee's bedroom.

Renee's POV

Aurora, Brandon, and I had come home late due to band practice and now we were sitting on the bay window. We were talking about random things when Brandon said, "Hey, Aurora, I thought you said Max was gonna come over later on? But where is he? And why didn't he just tag along with us after practice was done?"

"Oh, he went home. He...needed to talk to mom and dad about something. I don't know what it's about though." Aurora replied.

I suddenly remembered what Brandon had mentioned the day we went to the library, "Aurora...there's something I wanna ask you, I'm gonna need you to be honest okay?" Aurora nodded at my words.

I glanced at Brandon who was on my left and then started talking, "So, Brandon and I have noticed that...Max isn't around very much anymore? Brandon thinks that something is off with him and that you know. But you both won't tell us about it....is it true?" I softly asked.

"You guys caught on, huh...I do want to tell you both what it is, but it's not my place, you guys. Only Max can tell you what is happening." Aurora sighed as she told.

"Hmm...I think we'll wait for him to tell us. I don't really wanna force him." Brandon stated.

"Also, I'm sorry for bringing up his name, Esme." Brandon apologized.

"Don't worry, B. He's still my friend. I can care for him as a friend, right?" I asked, unsure of my own words.

"Of course you can, sweetie." Aurora said. Brandon and Aurora both kept an arm around my shoulders.

Suddenly Riley barged into my room.

"Teach me how to flirt." She demanded as I untangled myself from my friends.

"I can't. I don't know how to do that." I deadpanned.

"You don't? But you always know how to do things!" She whined.

I just shrugged, "Riles, I'm not a grown-up, there's still a lot left for me to learn. Things like flirting is something I don't know how to do." I explained.

"Who else our age knows how to flirt?" Riley wondered.

Suddenly Farkle's head popped up from the window. "Hello, ladies, and Brandon."

"Farkle, you were out there?" Riley asked.

"I'm always out there." Farkle told us.

"Farkle, you're the biggest flirt in 7th grade. Can you teach me how to flirt with Lucas?" Riley requested as everyone else anticipated Farkle's reply.

"I would do whatever you asked me to." Farkle accepted.

"But I thought you loved her?" Maya asked.

"I love Renee and you as well. I love all three of you. I want you happy." Farkle explained.

We all smiled at each other.

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Next day,
John Quincy Adams Middle school

Cafeteria

Renee's POV

I was sitting at my usual table with Brandon and Aurora. Maya and Riley were at the nearby table. Max was yet to come, Dad had stopped him to talk to him in class about something.

"Esme, do you think we should take part in band competitions?" Brandon asked.

"Yeah. I mean, we have all been friends for a lot of time. We have good chemistry as a band and you guys seriously rock." I smiled at the end of the sentence.

"Yeah, but we have a pretty good songwriter." Aurora stated making me laugh.

Max and Lucas came into the cafeteria together. Max spotted us and came over while Lucas went towards Riley's table.

Max was about to sit with us when Olive came and took him with her towards Missy and Lucas who were sitting at another table.

My smile immediately dropped when I noticed that Olive was holding Max's hand.

I saw Farkle go over to talk to Missy and Olive but he came back with a horrified expression on his face.

Brandon suddenly got up, "Yo Max, you ain't sittin' with us today?" He asked as he went towards the table where Olive, Missy, Max, and Lucas were seated at.

"Uh yeah, no—" Max tried to say but Olive cut him off, "I need to know what kind of snacks he likes since we're going to the amusement park later." She stated.

Brandon came back, dejected. After all, Max is his best friend. They're kinda like the younger version of my dad and uncle Shawn.

Riley got up and went towards Lucas to talk to him. I got up as well, in case Missy tried to downgrade my twin again. Maya and Aurora followed.

"Lucas. Max." Riley greeted.

"Riley." They greeted her back.

I was confused, why did Riley address Max along with Lucas.

"I don't know what's going on here and I don't have any right to say this, but I don't think that you and Max should hang out alone with them."

I widened my eyes at Riley's words. As much as I was proud of her confidence, I was shocked that she told that to Max as well.

"Why not?" Lucas and Max asked together.

"I don't know...but I think, that if you guys spend time with them alone, it's gonna change things...for..well, all of us." She continued.

"Well, aren't you just a concerned friend." Missy remarked with sarcasm.

"Yeah, I am." Riley said.

"With you and Renesmee around, how could we possibly get these boys alone?" Olive said, a challenging tone in her voice. She and Missy picked up some mashed potatoes in their hands and threw it on Lucas's and Max's faces.

"Food fight!" They both yelled.

Max looked annoyed, "Hey!"

Dad came over to the table. "No food fight! Detention this afternoon! All four of you!"

"Oh no. The four of us. Alone." Missy smirked.

I closed my eyes in frustration.

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History Classroom

After lunch

Riley dragged me to Dad's classroom. I knew that she was upset so I didn't protest.

"How could you, Dad?" Riley asked.

"What did I do?" He looked confused.

"You gave them detention together." Riley expressed.

"I was the cafeteria monitor. I saw potatoes not where potatoes are supposed to be. Detention him, detention her." I understood that Dad had to carry out his duty as a teacher.

"But Lucas and Max didn't even do anything." I backed my twin up.

"Don't care. I'm mad with power." Dad shrugged

"Then I want detention too." Now that was unexpected coming from Riley.

"You do? Riley, you've never had detention in your whole life. What could you possibly do that would get you detention on such short notice?" Dad challenged her.

"I could introduce you to my special guest stars." Riley said as she gestured towards the door.

Dad panicked, "Uh-oh."

Maya and Aurora walked in. Brandon was talking with Max so he wasn't here.

Maya jumped on Dad's back while Aurora pulled his hair. Dad said something but his words were unclear, "Nothing personal, bub." Maya said.

Brandon suddenly barged in, "You have to get detention, Esme!" He shouted.

"Uh, why?" I asked, confused.

"You just have to. We're accomplices!" He pushed me towards my Dad, causing us all to fall.

"Yeah, I think I'll do a detention today instead of Saturday." Brandon said.

"Yeah, that'll do it. Nice job." Dad said before helping Maya, Aurora, and me up.
Luckily no one got hurt.

"Pleasure doing business with you." Aurora and Brandon said before shaking hands with Dad.

⊱ ────── {.⋅ ♫ ⋅.} ───── ⊰

John Quincy Adams Middle school,
History Classroom

Detention

Renee's POV

Riley made us all get there earlier than Max, Olive, Lucas, and Missy.

"How you doin'?" She asked as soon as Missy entered the room along with the other three.

"What are you all doing here?" Olive asked us all.

"Don't mind me, I'm just doing detention today rather than on Saturday." Brandon stated.

"I got stuck here somehow?" I said, confused myself.

"My best friend is here, so am I." Aurora stated.

"Oh, I'm a bad girl." Riley shrugged.

"Yeah, you don't wanna mess with this one." Maya backed her up.

"What are these, place cards?" Missy asked, picking the one with Maya's name on it.

"Yup. I made them. You and you sit over there." Riley said to Olive and Missy while pointing at the back of the class.

Riley was naive to think that Missy was going to abide by the placement of the place cards that she had made.

Missy and Olive both sat next to Lucas and Max respectively. I avoided Max, not wanting to look in his direction. Instead, I kept talking with Brandon and Aurora until Dad came.

" Alright, guys. I like my detention to have a little learning in it. So, I'd like to continue talking about Pearl Harbor and what happened after the sneak attack." Dad started, "The world was at war, and alliances were forged in battle and were made stronger because of that."

Out of nowhere, Farkle came to the entrance of the classroom. "What is this place?" He asked, bewildered as if he'd never seen the History class that he comes to every day.

"This is detention, Farkle. It's not for you." Dad stated.

"If my friends are in it, then it's for me." He told Dad before walking in and sitting on a nearby seat.

Dad resumed teaching, "During this world war, the United States was put to one of its greatest tests, when it made a threat to our way of life but because we were united, we prevailed."

I heard Max call my name but I ignored him, again not having the courage to face him. But then I felt a tap on my shoulder and I had to turn around. I couldn't avoid him forever, right?

"Nessie," He started, "I was thinking if you, Brandon, and Aurora would like to come to the amusement park with us?" Max's question startled me.

"You don't wanna be with Olive alone?" I asked him.

"We haven't been to the amusement park in ages and I'd like to visit the place again, with all of my friends." I smiled at Max, he truly is a very nice guy.

"You guys are such losers! Ugh!" Olive got up, screeched, and left.

Lucas also seemed to have asked the same thing to Riley and the others which caused Missy to gather her things and storm out of the classroom after saying, "Grow up."

"Not yet." Riley and I synced as we smiled at each other.

"Oh, they're leaving? Okay." Dad mindlessly asked.

"I'm sorry if it looked like I was ditching you guys for her...I don't even like her. She just wouldn't leave me alone and dragged me around with her. I'm sorry." Max apologized.

"Don't apologize, Max. It wasn't your fault and you'll always be our friend, no matter what. We'll all, always be friends, no matter what." I said as I smiled at my friends. I have the best friends in the world. And I'll hold onto them, along with my childhood.

"When peacetime came, the United States enjoyed its greatest period of growth, prosperity, and happiness. Detention over. You guys done?" Dad summarized and asked us.

"No. We're good right here." Riley said a smile on her face as well.

⊱ ────── {.⋅ ♫ ⋅.} ───── ⊰

Matthews' Apartment Living Room

Renee's POV

Auggie was greeting everyone good night in a very formal way.

"Goodnight, mother. Goodnight, father. Goodnight big sisters. Goodnight big brother. Goodnight Brandon."

Riley was in the kitchen listening to everything.

"I don't know how much longer I can put up with this." Dad said to Mom.

I didn't either. And that's why I picked Auggie up in my arms as he was making his way towards his room and brought him back to the living room.

"Now, you listen to me, kid. You take these jammies and you wear them." I sat him down on the couch and sat beside him, "And you take Mr. Googly and you hold onto him as long as you can." I told him gently.

"Why?" Auggie asked.

Riley answered his question, "Because he's your friend, you can trust him and he loves you, right?"

"Yeah, he does." Auggie nodded.

"And, Auggie, it's very important that you hold onto your friends." Brandon said.

"Also, stay this many," Mom said as she showed five fingers, "for as long as possible, 'cause when it's gone, it's gone."

"Goodnight buddy." Alex and dad said to him together.

Auggie kissed Mom, Dad, Riley, Alex, and Brandon on the cheek and turned to me, "You want one?"

"Hell yeah!"

"Than you have to catch me!" He started running around the house, laughing aloud. I chased him, laughing as well.

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𝟏𝟒-𝟎𝟒-𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟏

𝘗𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘷𝘰𝘵𝘦, 𝘐 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘭𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘦𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵. 𝘌𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵, 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘷𝘰𝘵𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘭𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘭𝘺 𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥!