I woke up from my nap at 5:30 pm. Well, my brother shook me awake. I groaned, and sat up, yawned, and stretched.

"C’mon, Xiao." He smoothed my hair down. "We have to go, or otherwise we will be late. "

"Okay. " I said in the middle of yawn. I rubbed my right with the sleeve of my oversized, yet comfortable hoodie. I got up, and we walked down the stairs, and to his car.

"Can you sit in the back, Xiao?" Alexander said smiling , and looking at me from the driver’s seat. I rolled my eyes, and huffed. "Yeah, sure. " Ugh. I could not stand that we were going to be picking up Katie. I still could not get over the jealousy. I was here first. She just needs to wait her turn.

I slammed the front car door shut, and opened the back door up in a hurry, and got in, and slammed the door shut, and huffed again, while I bulked up. I stared at my phone, and tried not to tear up, by looking out the window as my brother drove us down these back alleys. My brother knew all the back alleys to avoid the traffic jams. There were so many twists, and turns. I saw dead, and half dead trees. People were walking down the sidewalk, or jogging. I wondered what they were doing? What their lives were like. Were they happy. Sometimes I envisioned a happy life for people, and other times, I would envision a rush of adrenaline and drama. There would be drugs, and hookers, and parties; there would be meth, children I cops in a few of them.

We turned down a street. the glow of the orange sun perched on the rooftops. Katie came running out of a small house with grey mortared house. Her house was huge, yet it was so spread out. It reminded me of the traditional courtyard houses in China that I read in books, but more in the French architectural style.

"Hey, babe. " Katie said as she got into the car. She leaned over, and pecked my brother on the lips. I rolled my eyes, and tried to vomit at the fact that she kissed my brother, or her gaudy perfume.

"Hey Līzī.  You guys ready? " He looked at me in the rearview mirror, and then he started to drive. Katie was doing her makeup in the mirror, and babbling about how her parents won’t let her take out her car.  She was talking a mile a minute, and touching on sports, politics, classes, and talking about other people. I didn’t really pay her an attention. I just stared into the now dark night sky, that was illuminated by stars, and light poles.

We arrived exactly at 6:30. The play started off with some Chinese drumming. It was a Chinese festival theater production. Some of it had been Americanized to accommodate ticket sells. It was still good. I sat next to my brother, who sat in between Katie and I. Thank Goodness. The only thing that bothered me, was that I couldn’t talk to my brother from the constant kissing from Katie, or her endless cuddling, and fidgeting, which my brother turns his attention to her instead of the theatrics.

I really enjoyed the musical performances of the woman flute player, who was accompanied by a bird in a cage. I enjoyed the dancers, who represented the stream, wind, and trees too.

The play ended at 11:30, and Alexander had us wait another 20 minutes before we headed to the car, which meant I had time to empty my tank from the two 20 oz. waters I had. I had to use a stall, and stood there as I drained the tank. I saw where someone had cut a hole in the stall wall.

I felt really nervous. Could someone see me? Then someone locked the stall next to me, and I peeped, and saw a man sit down.

I peed harder, spraying a bit on the seat. I zipped up, and washed my hands, and walked quickly out of the restroom. I found my brother, and Katie holding hands.

"Hey Jeong. Ready to go? "

"Yeah. I’m hungry though." I said, an swished my hair from my eyes.

"How? You had a pretzel, and all the chocolate covered raisins. " My brother said a chuckling a little bit. "But we will stop somewhere, okay?"

"Okay. I want chicken nuggets, and a chocolate shake. " Katie chimed in with a kind of whiny voice. God she was so annoying. What did my brother see in her? 

"Okay Līzī. " My brother said, and held her hand, and walked out of the auditorium. I walked behind them, trying to keep up. There legs were much longer than mine, and they did not have to exert much energy to go further.

Once we got back to the car. Katie kissed Alexander full on. I looked away, and made a gagging noice, which, thankfully, no one heard. I mean the kiss was full on tongue, and that spit string that sometimes hangs, when two couples pull away. It was vomit worthy for sure.

Alexander drove to Mcdonalds, and I got nuggets and fries like Katie, and Alexander got a cheeseburger with onions only with fries. Alexander and I got cokes, and Katie got a Mcflurie. We parked in the Mcdonalds parking lot, and ate our dinner, well I guess dinner for college kids, and we listen to the radio and Katie was dancing, and singing really off key at some parts of the song.

Alexander laughed, but I could tell it was "He’s in love with this girl" kind of laugh, and there is nothing I can do to stop it. I just wish he would be open with me like he used to be, or maybe he was never that open with me to begin with.

When Alexander laughed, I laughed. However, we laughed for different reasons. I laughed because she was terrible, and being really dumb.

I looked at my phone, and looked at snapchat.

"shit." I whispered to myself, but I think my brother heard me because he turns back with a smile on his face.

I had several snaps from Sam, and Edward. I had a few from Chase as well. Chase asked what I thought of these drawings. I snapped back things like: I think they are great, and awesome, I love it. He drew some anime characters in different settings. 

Edward and Sam were at the same party. I think it was at Caroline’s house. I remember overseeing some pictures, and some the snaps looked like her house. I bet Sam and Edward were avoiding each other. They hated each other, but both like me. I’m very likable, and every teacher trusts me. Even other parents trust me. It’s like a have a soothing aura about me. Little do people know that I’m an anxiety filled teenager, only thinks of food, and books. I’m just nice to everyone, and respect them. Even if they don’t deserve, or they have never met me before. I still treat them with respect they deserve: They are all human beings.

Next Chapter: Chapter 13