I woke up at 4:30 in the morning, and had to. pee really badly. I’m glad I only slept in my boxer shorts. I barely made it. I flushed and washed my hands.  I squinted and looked into the mirror at my reflection. My hair was everywhere. I flattened it out somewhat, and went to my room, and put on my hoodie.

I walked downstairs, and decided that it would not be good idea to go back to sleep, even though every fiber of my being begged and pleaded inside me to go back to sleep. I fought to keep up straight, and made my way to the kitchen. Tobey was up, and he was in his superman pajamas, and a plain white tee. He had made him some French Toast.

"Good morning." I said trying not to sound like I was half asleep.

I got no answer. I started to make coffee, and cleared my throat. "Good morning. "

He only shot me a look, and went to go eat in the living room.

"What? So you’re too good to say good morning to me?" I scoffed, and turned the coffee maker on.

I went into the living room, and sat in the recliner, across the way from Tobey who was watching "Married with Children." He kept glaring at me every so often, when he took a bite of French toast. I was sleepy by the coldness of the leather recliner on my bare legs was cold, and kept me awake.

"Is your French toast good." I said smiling.

He groaned, and looked at me like I had been the one that peed on his French toast, and said "Yep."

"Good. So, you can cook. " I folded one leg under another, and leaned against the arm of the recliner.

"Yeah." He groaned out, and said. "Dad taught me."

My eyes widened, and felt a pinch of guilt for giving the third degree so early in the morning. I did not pry him anymore, and let him finish his breakfast in peace. Maybe he always got up at this time with Dad. Dad worked for a rock company in the finance division. He left my mother because she wanted to work too, and they got into an argument everyday about it. Dad thought the sole purpose for a woman was to take care of the children, and cook, and clean. Mom was not going to buy into that, and she filed for a divorce after Dad had struck her once.

I heard the coffee, and got up, and my thighs were stuck to the leather recliner, and it left a red mark on my thighs. I got a cup, and poured some coffee. I heard my mother get up, and walk into the kitchen.

"Good Morning." I said smiling, sipping my coffee.

"Good Morning, aren’t you cold, Jeong?" My mother said, pouring her a cup of coffee.

"No, not really. It feels really good right now. " I sipped my coffee standing near the stove. "Do you want me to fix some pancakes for you and Tai this morning?"

" Maybe for Tai. I’m going to have a banana, then I have to get ready for work. "

"Oh, okay. " I smiled, and got the pancake mix from the pantry. It was a new bag that mother had got from Sam’s club. It was a little on the heavy side, and I had to grab the bottom with two hands. I measured out enough for 12 pancakes because I may eat some, and Tobey might eat some. I put butter in a pan, and waited for the pan to heat up. I stirred in some water, and mixed the pancake mix.

When the pan was heated, I poured the first pancake, and waited.

I thought of Dad. He was strict, and lived by appearances. The only thing he ever taught me was that first impressions are the only thing that mattered. He taught Alexander a lot of things. He spent most of his time with him playing soccer out back in the yard, and they used to work on cars together.

I flipped the pancake on the other side. I had slightly burnt the first one not paying attention to what I was doing. Mother always said you throw out the first pancake anyway. I slid the pancake to a plate for me. Then poured another.

I was around my mother a lot more than father. My father would hug me, but you can tell I was his least favorite. I plated the pancake onto another plate, and poured another, and then another, and then another. I tried not to think about it, but it sometimes feels like I was not loved by father, which is ridiculous. But still, I wondered, and tried not to tear up.

I plated all the pancakes, and sat down with another cup of coffee, and at my pancakes and drank my coffee, and read a magazine that belonged to my mother. It was a nursing magazine that was really gross, but I could deal. I don’t think I could be a nurse like my mother. She’s much stronger than I am in spirit. Nurses take all the abuse from patients and doctors, yet get paid so little for it.

Tai woke up at 6 in the morning and sat down to eat his pancakes. I poured him and glass of milk, and ruffled his hair, and walked into my room to change into some clothes for school.

I put on some black skinny jeans, and a lime green shirt, and put my hoodie back on. I went into the bathroom, and fixed my hair. until 7. I put my vans on, and grabbed my back and got into the car.

I sat in the back seat because Tobey was in the front seat. Mom tried to make Tobey get in the back, but he refused. I waved it off, and got in the back seat next to Tai this morning. I did not mind a change. Besides, I helped Tai get past gym leader Whitney and her abominable Miltank. Tai had been stuck at that same spot for 2 weeks now. He lost once, and turned the DS off, when he lost.

"Here, let me see it. " I said, as I put my phone in my hoodie pocket, and held out my hand, and fixed my hair with my other hand, so my hair was not in my eyes.

"Okay, but She will probably beat you. Miltank is the hardest because she has like 3 super potions. " He said as he handed me the DS. I beat her on my first try. Tai was so giddy, he literally jumped up and down in his seat, but at the same time he was frustrated that I did it the first time.

"You just got lucky. " He said huffing loudly.

"Well, I am the best. " I stuck my chest out, and held my chin high.

"Yeah, the best at." He motioned with a fist and poked his cheek. I smacked his shoulder.

"You’re gross, you smelly dwarf."

"Ow. Mom, Jeong hit me." He cried out in a fake laugh.

"Jeong, don’t hit your brother." She glared at me in the rearview mirror.

"But you didn’t see what he did though." I tried to explain.

"I don’t care. You’re older than he is. You know better."

I sighed, and slouched down in my seat, knowing that it was useless to argue. I was the middle child, how could I fight this? We reached my school first, and I grabbed my bag, and flicked Tai on the forehead, and slammed the door shut, and did a brisk walk inside. I found my locker, and put my stuff away, and headed to my first class.

Yet I was stopped by Chase. He looked like he had been crying because his eyes were all red.

"Chase. Hey, what’s wrong are you okay?" I asked, and looked quizzically at him.

"Yeah, well.. " He giggled a bit. "Not really.."

"Why? What’s wrong? " I put him hand on his shoulder. He pushed me against the wall, I was stunned, and frozen. He looked at me, and smirked. 

"You’re so cute." He said before he planted his lips on mine. I felt my heart beating so hard that I thought it would jump out of me. My friend, Chase was kissing me in the hallway of all places. I gasped, and moaned, and turned my head to the side, and pushed him off of me. I was in so much shock my muscles tensed up, and I could think straight. What the hell was going on here?

Next Chapter: Chapter 17