"There's beauty in simplicity"

⋆✧⋆✧⋆

"Can you focus for one minute?" Laney's desperation almost makes me feel bad.

I look down at the pile of notes and books and my brain threatens to explode, "I'm just so bored."

"It's no wonder you're failing psych, you can't stay on topic for more than 3 minutes," she shuts her book and looks up at me.

Suddenly her eyes light up and I can tell she just got an idea.

"Oh god, what?"

"I have an idea."

"I know, I can see it in your eyes."

I love that my words bring out the slightest bit of blush in her cheeks.

She looks down at the weirdly large amount of pencils she carries around in her backpack, "Every 10 minus you stay on task, I'll give you a pencil!"

I'm dumbfounded. Why does she think that's going to motivate me? "I wish I could say you come up with good ideas, but I would be lying."

"Shut up, I'm not finished telling you my idea," she looks like she's on her last straw so I let her continue, "if you get all 6 pencils by the end of the hour, we can stop and go for ice cream or something."

"Ok fine, I think I can work with that"

She smiles to herself, clearly feeling very proud and accomplished

But then I realize I can't do that.

"Actually, I just remembered I need to pick up Charlotte in an hour."

"Oh, that's okay." I hate that seeing her disappointed face does something to me. But it does, so I keep speaking, "But you could come along and we could go out to get ice cream with her."

She immediately lights up at my idea and agrees.

⋆✧⋆✧⋆

I look down at my 5 pencils and can't help but stop focusing. I stare off into space, no longer listening to Laney going on about the lesson.

Her loud sigh snaps me out of my daze.

She takes the sixth pencil, "Looks like none of us are getting ice cream." and instead of placing into my pile, she holds onto it.

Clearly taunting me with it.

"That's not fair,"

"It most definitely is fair, Rules are rules." She shrugs her shoulders, "Rules you agreed to by the way, and you didn't follow through when you stopped listening to me."

"Well I'm changing those rules" I exclaim, leaning over to her.

I hold both her hands in one of mine and raise them above her head.

Our faces inches apart.

I look into her brown eyes, reading her like a book.

She's nervous yet electrified by my touch.

Taking the last pencil from her hand, I give her a smug grin.

Dropping her hands down from my grasp, "You and me, ice cream. I don't give a fuck about your rules, Laney."

I get her to agree and we thankfully stop studying.

The two of us pack up our things in silence.

Our speechlessness is cut off by her now quiet voice, "I hope you're prepared to pay for this ice cream, because this stopped being a gift the moment you broke the rules and stole the sixth pencil."

I flash her my wallet, accepting her terms.

The two of us take our now familiar path from the library to my car.

We spend the 20 minute car ride to Charlotte's school asking eachother questions.

I'm with this girl constantly, but I feel like a barely know her. She doesn't open up very easily. Not truly, anyways.

"Favourite colour?" I ask.

"Blue," she admires the rain out the window.

"Favourite season?"

"Winter."

"Favourite flower?"

"Snowdrops," a smile grows on her face.

"They're really pretty. Look them up tonight, you'll see." Laney acknowledges my confusion.

"What about you?" she flips the questions around on me, "what's your favourite animal?"

"Koi fish." I speak, surprising myself with my honest answer.

She looks at my questioningly, "Care to explain why a fish is your favourite animal?"

"Maybe another time."

She takes the hint and moves on.

I like that about her. She's curious, but graciously understanding.

"What do you want to do when you're older?" Her deep question catches me off guard.

I look over at her, "I don't know to be honest. I'm hoping something to do with hockey. My dream would be getting drafted into the NHL."

"Wow, those are some big goals."

I nod at her observation.

"What about you, do you want kids?" I inquire, keeping these questions about our future going.

"Yeah I think so, 2 preferably." She fidgets with her hands, "I grew up in a a family of 4 and I think it's nice, having a sibling to keep you company."

Our conversation is cut short when I pull into the parking lot of Charlotte's school.

⋆✧⋆✧⋆

The two of us walk over to the building together. We enter through the front door and my sister immediately spots me.

"Sterling!" she squeals, excited to see me.

She runs over and jumps into my arms. I squeeze her tightly and tell her how much I've missed her.

I place her down and she looks up at Laney standing beside me, her confusion clear as day.

"Coach Delaney! What are you doing here?" She asks.

"Hey kiddo!" she ruffles Charlie's hair, "I came with your brother today! We're going out to get ice cream. Want to join us?"

The mention of dessert has the little girl jumping with joy as she takes both of our hands and pulls us back out to the car together.

The three of us laugh as we get buckled into the car and start our drive to an ice cream parlour.

We make it there safely and I watch as the two girls run to the door in the pouring rain.

I order and we all sit down, continuing listening to Charlotte's stories from school she began in the car.

I observe my sister as she speaks animatedly about her day to her coach.

Laney does her hair, putting it into 2 braids. I watch as they laugh and chat, setting my heart at ease. It's nice to know she has a good female role model in her life.

After our successful trip out, I decide It's time to drop both girls at home.

The second Charlotte sits in her seat, she's out like a light. Similarly, I look to my right, seeing Laney fast asleep, her head resting against the winder of the car.

By the time I make it to Delaney's house, she's still not awake.

I take a second to admire her. The way her chest rises and falls as she breathes deeply. The way her lips hang slightly apart.

I get over my moment of weakness and decide I need to wake her up.

"Laney," I whisper, brushing her hair out of her face and tucking the strands behind her ears.

She slowly opens her eyes and fully wakes when she realizes where she is. "Did I fall asleep?"

"Mhmm," I confirm her wondering.

"Oh, sorry."

"Don't apologize."

She gives me an embarrassed smile and opens the door quietly, trying her best not to disrupt the 6 year old in the back.

"Thank you for tonight," I tell her sincerely.

"My pleasure. Tell Charlotte I'll see her at gymnastics." She walks out of the car, turning around and waving a quick goodbye.

15 minutes later and I'm not carrying my little sister in my arms, up to her room.

I try and sneak away without waking her up but I fail.

"Is Laney your friend now?" she asks, her tired eyes staring me down.

"Sure, you can call it that, Charles."

"Good. I like her," is all she says before she's back unconscious, her messy hair sprawled out on her pillow.

⋆✧⋆✧⋆

Hi guys! It's only 1:00 am tonight, so improvement from the last few times I've written a chapter at night. Be sure to check out my TikTok (_lovinglove) for updates on my posting and some more content related to these characters and remember to vote and comment if you enjoyed :)

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