Chapter 3 - •2•

/20 years later /

//On planet,Earth//

"You have three seconds to give me back my phone." A young woman showed three digits before her eight year old brother to see as he gazed at them, unfazed.

Regardless of what she does, he isn't going to give her back her cellular device. So he waits for the third count to start running.

"One....Two...." She says calmly, eyes flickering between her brother and phone.

She pauses, grounding and readying herself to attack. She only has one shot, so she had better make it count.

"Three!" She shouts, launching her body towards the boy but as she's in mid-air he manages to scamper away through the hall and down the flight of stairs while she—currently—remains on the hard floor, groaning in pain, hugging her stomach after it made the contact.

She isn't suppose to be here. She's to be on her way to her dream college, Greenridge University. After passing with one of the highest marks in her finals, she successfully scored a spot in one of the most popular and prestigious universities out there. To her luck it being her dream choice. And with that she celebrated with her family, over her success, graduated and is now on her way to being a Greenridge Uni student. It's just one thing...

She needs to be there..

"Darling! Aren't you supposed to be on your way?" The girl's mother shouted from the kitchen. "Nmph! I would love to do that mother but-gah- Marie wouldn't give me back my phone!" She groaned, currently clutching her stomach.

"Marie!-Ugh!-I'll get you for this!" The girl screamed, heaving a huff as she hears her sibling's laughter ring through her ears.

Finally, she gets to her feet,trotting down the hall and stairs briskly in search of that little twerp. She just briefly scans the living room, skimming her eyes over the room for any unnecessary movements. But unfortunately, she comes up empty handed.

"Alright you little bug! I've had enough of this foolish game! Give me my phone now!" She says angrily, completely fed up of this now. As she was about to open her mouth once more, the kitchen door suddenly swings open, her mother's tall form coming through the doorway.

"Hey~ No fair!" The little boy complains while trying to jump and retrieve what he had stolen but his attempts stop as the device now transfers back to its owner's hands,a gentle 'thank you' slipping from their smiling lips.

The girl then turns on her heels to get a few things before she leaves but her speed is delayed once a certain weight is applied to her right leg.

"Get.Off!" She says in a threatening manner but the boy just shakes his head repeatedly shouting "Never!".

The girl grunts as her foot drags against the floor causing friction to lightly burn under it.

Suddenly she gasps, a genuine happy grin spreading on her face.

"Aww~ Is it that you're going to miss me?" She chuckles a bit but her expression flashes to one of annoyance when her brother replies with a convincing yet disgusted "Pfft no!".

She sighs.

"See this is why I'm leaving you." The girl begins dragging herself along again.

"B-but who-who's gonna play Overwatch with me? Who's gonna be the victim of my pranks? Who-who-Who's gonna make up stuff so mom doesn't find about certain things like that one vase?!" He screams at the top of his lungs, completely falling off of my limb and scampering away after he heard the shrill of anger enveloped in mother's voice while I laugh softly, shaking my head too.

_____

"I'm going!" I shrieked from inside my Toyota Camry Hybrid. Swiftly my little brother sped out the house, my mother right on his tail as they positioned themselves right at my car window.

Mother gave me a delicate kiss on the cheek while I gently ruffle Marie's hair.

"Hope you do well dear," She says with a small smile, "I'm gonna—gonna miss you s-so much." A tear travelled down her right cheek while she sniffed a bit. "Oh come on mom...please~ I didn't intend on crying....again."

"I know, I know..just r-really gonna miss my lil' moon." She grabbed me in for a hug to which I gladly comply but also whined at the mention of my old nickname. "You will always be such a wonderful child. "I grinned happily but the moment was interrupted by a sharp "Hey!" and we both peered down at Marie, giggling at his adorable pout.

"Yes Marie, you are my wonderful child as well." She says in a soft yet convincing tone, watching as a shy smile slid onto his features. Oh Marie.

"Oh! Make sure to take care of Moe for me, please." I say right after firing up the vehicle's ignition.

"You're not carrying him?" I shook my head at mother's question. "I don't want him to get irritable on the ride and or leave him in my dorm room for hours." My mother nodded in agreement.

"Okay. Bye sweetheart! We love you! Call me when you settle." She waves from the sidewalk and I return the gesture with an excited smile.

"Bye bye~ though you'd be back very soon~" A mischievous expression flashed across Marie's features before morphing quickly back to neutral with a smile. I had a half mind on rechecking my things but I was already an hour late so—

"Bye! I love you guys!" I shout, waving one last time, peeling out of the driveway and driving down the street with a final toot of my horn.

Speeding onto the freeway, excitement and sheer happiness rushed through my veins, my heart beating at an almost inhumane speed—it was all too much. This is it. This is what I've worked for. I'm finally on my way to becoming a Greenridge student. The college of my dreams and it unbelievably became a sweet, sweet reality. I just want to scream out loud.

And I do.

Shoving my head out the window, I scream at the top of my lungs, a joyous grin on my lips,my blue locks blowing madly in the wind as I sigh contentedly at what I've done. I know I'm going to regret what I did later but I'll manage to not give it much thought now as I continue to drive further.

Afterwards, I rub around the holder on the door for my phone but it's surprisingly empty. I then proceed to checking the cupholders and at the door pockets but nothing comes up. I scratched my head in confusion, eyebrows furrowing slightly at the thought of even having to go back home but I keep going anyway.

"Well this is strange," I thought, "I swore I had it a few minutes ago."

Honestly now that I think about it, it hasn't even made a sound since I left the house."So could it be that—"

I gasp out of my thoughts, realization slapping me upside the head as I grind my teeth angrily, my blood boiling hot under my skin.

"MARIE!" I shout aloud in my car, steering off on the next turn, driving back to my house to get my missing belongings.

And I slowly consider the sole feeling in my gut that I'm going to be late.

Just. Great.

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