Five.

"I am never shopping with you two ever." I grunt trying not let any shopping bag fall.

I've been carrying bags for the past forty minutes, I'm practically their bus boy. April keeps sampling gums while May tries to get her fingers on every single flavor of skittles and other candy bars. We haven't even started buying clothes yet!!

"Are you guys even listening!" I screeched.

"You are such a cry baby." May tuts

"Yeah, why don't you change my name and call me Megan" I roll my eyes

"OMG!" April gasps drawing our attention "Are those rainbow gummy bears?"

You literally find those everywhere!!

"Race you to it." May challenges and they take off to the direction of the regular colored jello.

Twins.

I take that chance to rest. I let the bags fall and I lean on the counter behind me. I allow the coldness from the steel creep through my yellow sundress. I remember when Jake and I used to come here every weekend, May and April tagging along each time. I'd let him carry all the bags and he wouldn't mind.

Sometimes the people we love aren't always there and sometimes we also have to let go.

"Why are you crying?" A small voice asks tugging at my dress.

I wipe my cheeks and they came out wet. I was crying? I closed my eyes for just five seconds!

"Hey!" I half smile.

A small girl was looking at me her dark blue eyes filled with concern. She was wearing a dress similar to mine but hers was blue. Her hair was tied in pigtails, her bangs falling just above her brows. Cute thing.

I knelt down so that I can be the same height with her.

"I had dust in my eyes." I smiled grabbing her cheeks making her giggle.

"I thought you were sad," she pouts. Her eyes were so captivating almost too familiar. "Being sad sucks."

"Being sad sucks," I agreed. "But it's okay to feel sad once in a while." I told her and she smiled.

"What's your name? How old are you? Are you alone? Are you lost?" I ask all at once.

"My name is Ariana Anderson. I'm seven years old. I am not alone, I'm here with my mom and my over protective brother," She rolls her eyes.

Damn.

"And I am definitely not lost."

She talks a lot more than I thought.

"Oh!" I say awkwardly.

"C'mere." She said and engulfed me in a hug. I was shocked at first but then happy so I hugged her back.

I like this girl. It is established.

"Anna! Get your little feet over here. What did I tell you about strangers." A male voice calls from behind.

"Told ya." she whispers in my ear. "Well, Well, Well!" she releases me clapping her hand with each word. "Look what the cat dragged in." she says placing her tiny hands on her hips.

This girl is dramatic AF.

I start packing my bags. I'm so killing those two.

"I'll make you eat veggies for a week. A whole good week." The person says wickedly.

"You can't make me!" she whines and tugs at my dress repeatedly. "Please tell him not to feed me with his horrible vegetables. Please, please, pleaseee!" she pleads.

"It's okay pumpkin." I smiled picking up the last bag. "Hey, I'm sorry but can you...."

I almost choke on my spit as soon as I turn around. My eyes widen so does his.

Kill. Me. Now!

"You!" We exclaim in unison.

Ryder Anderson. Ariana Anderson. Why the fuck didn't I think of that. And the eyes almost got me. Fudge nuggets.

Over protective brother! How cute.

"What are you doing here?" He asks shoving his hands in his sweat pants.

"Isn't it obvious that this is the election ground and I'm here to vote." I deadpan rolling my eyes.

"You know this thing?" She asks jerking her thumb towards her brother.

She just called her brother a thing. Savage!!

"He's from my school." I scoffed folding my arms at the same time Ryder said;

"I know her from the streets." He smirks.

I wave him off because I clearly do not have his time. I need to find those two.

"Nice meeting you Ariana b––"

"You can call me Anna!" she giggles. "What's your name?"

"Oh! I forgot," I smile. "My name is Alexandra, but my friends call me Alex."

"Ally!" she grins widely.

Please do not call me that.

I look up and see Ryder smiling at his happy sister, his cheeks displaying a single dimple. He looks....cute I guess.

Did I just... Not that he isn't but did I just compliment him?!

"Take a picture." He said, his stupid smirk playing on his face "It lasts longer."

"I'm guessing you want portrait." I smirk right back.

My phone beeped and I took it out.

April: Meet us at the food court. They're sampling snacks!!!.

My mood instantly lightens, I quickly put my phone back.

Food cannot wait.

"I got to go kiddo!" I chirp a little bit too happy.

Her smile drops. Uh oh.

"Now?" She asks with a shaky voice, her lower lip trembling.

I hate it when kids cry, don't get me wrong but it has to be one of the most annoying things on earth.

"Shhh, don't cry please." I look up and motion for Ryder to help me but the idiot just shrugged and chuckled dismissively.

Fucktard!

"How about we hang out! You and me together some other day? We can become besties y'know." I said hesitantly. "Your brother and I get along." I almost gagged when that sentence left my mouth while Ryder scoffs.

"Besties?" She sticks out her little hand to me.

"Uh, Yeah! Besties" I laughed hugging her.

She walks over to her brother with a 'mission accomplished' smirk on her face. Does the whole family smirk like that?

He squats and gives her a fist bump.

Fist bump?

She giggles at my confused expression.

"I wasn't actually going to cry Ally, that's my way of getting to people."

She giggled again and my eyes narrowed playfully.

"You used me." I gasp feigning hurt. "How could you be heartless."

Something flickers through her eyes for a moment. Fear

"I–i'm so sorry I did–"

"Gotcha!" I blurted out before bursting into fits of laughter.

"Oh right–" She drawls chuckling awkwardly "Um, I'll go find Mom Ry." She said quietly and left.

Why did she look offended? Did I say something?

Before I could ask, Ryder was already beside me. He grabbed my arm harshly, his fingers sinking into my flesh. I flinch at his touch.

"Don't. Ever. Talk. To. Her. Like. That. Again." He spits out, enunciating each word, making it clear to me.

"Over protective much," I mutter under my breath. "And I didn't even do anything!" I look up to meet his cold eyes. They're practically screaming a thousand feelings at once.

"Just–just stay away." he said softly. "You wouldn't understand."

His grip slowly loosened around my arm. For some reason I want to hold his face in my palms and tell him everything will be okay.

Odd, I know.

He swats my hand away.

I really did try to touch him. I'm so stupid.

"Ow..." I said with a grimace rubbing my upper arm.

His eyes widen a bit when they land at my arm. I just shrug when I see the

reddish finger prints that are now visible. He looks away and without a word he walks away.

"There's this thing we call an apology! It's a nice thing to do when you hurt people!" I shout at his retreating back.

The bitch is lucky I'm in a happy mood.

I make my way to the food court with loads of shopping bags and an aching arm. Also with an amazing idea to ruin the twins.

But much to my dismay, the douche bags actually bribed me with food. They questioned about the bruise on my fore arm and I just told them what happened from binge to finish.

"He has a sister?" April asks once I'm finished.

"I never knew either, he's always that isolated kid y'know? He was really weird when he first came at second grade."

"I really don't care about him, it's his sister." I sigh running my fingers through my hair. "It was like she was triggered or something."

"Probably bad memories?" April guessed slurping her smoothies.

"We wouldn't wanna pry guys," May says cautiously.

"Yeah, we should probably drop it." I say bobbing my head to the idea.

"We should," April agrees quickly changing the subject. "The party last night was fun." she giggles.

Then they told me what happened at the party yesterday. Blake ended up wearing a bikini and Ryder kept ignoring horny high school girls.

"They're so cute! Carter's dance group won another championship and Courtney's older brother Ryan opened a studio for her downtown, her art pieces are amazing!" May gushes.

"I thought he was married? Ryan I mean." April asks.

"He is," May rolls eyes. "That doesn't mean he can't buy a studio for his step sister."

"I didn't say that!" April gasps.

"I didn't say that!" May mimics earning a slap from her sister.

"Anyways have you heard?"

"Hyear wuh?" I say my mouth full with a huge bite of a cheeseburger.

And they told me about the rumors about Valencia José A.K.A the Queen Bee of Westfield High is coming back from her trip to Italy.

Instantly there's a huge chewed wad of burger on the napkin next to me.

"Ew! Alex!" April scolds tossing another napkin on top of the mess I spat. But that's not what's on my mind.

"Val is c-coming back?" I stutter and I can literally feel blood drain from my face and all of a sudden my tongue tastes like paper.

"She's been gone for almost a year," May said pushing her chips away.

"Yeah ever since that––night." April whispers looking at me. I can literally feel my own blood freeze inside me.

"Everything will be okay Al. I promise." April says placing her hands on mine with a sad reassuring smile.

We all know things that involve Valencia never ends well, she's pure evil.

"I can't believe we were friends with that snob!" May grunts, but I can trace the worry in her voice. No one likes her, she's never good news.

"I-i.... Let's just go home." I declare standing up immediately.

"Yeah, we should do that." May agrees instantly. April merely nods, packing some bags in her arms.

"You should probably place some ice there." April suggests pointing at my bruised arm. "He just like bruising you doesn't he?" She frowned looking at the fading bruise on my forehead.

"That idiot better watch out for my wrath." May flares glaring daggers at my arm.

"Cool it down May, we'll get him another time. Trust me." I chuckle throwing my arm around her neck. May wouldn't hurt a fly.

Lastly, I dropped them and their thousand shopping bags at home before driving back home.

Mom was busy designing new clothes when I got back and our dog was dead three years ago so...

"Mom?" I called poking my head through the door of her study.

"Yes honey." she answers and the stress was clear in her voice.

"You've been working." I stated walking in.

"Um yeah, these awesomeness cannot just do themselves without the key awesomeness itself." She chuckles gesturing for me to take a seat.

I sigh before sitting down, I place my hands on the wide mahogany desk.

"Do you....do you, um, miss Dad?" I blurted out looking into her eyes.

My outburst clearly took her by surprise.

"Alexandra..."

"I know it's a stupid question, i-i just.." I falter bursting into silent tears.

"Alexandra please stop, don't cry." Mom coos rushing over to me, wrapping her arms around me.

"I'm sorry Mom, I'm so, so sorry." I cry into her shoulders as she hugs me tightly.

"Stop saying that Alexandra, I beg you." she begs, her voice quivering.

"She's back, she's come back Mom." I cry clutching her beige Versace gown.

She visibly tensed.

"Valencia?" she asks and I nodded cautiously.

"It's okay darling! It's okay, it's okay."

Those where the words that kept replaying in my head even after Alisha served me dinner in bed.

It's okay.

I just kept tossing in bed reminiscing this afternoons scene.

Ryder.

Ariana.

Valencia.

"What wouldn't I understand?" I yawned one last time before dossing off.