"Get up. Get up. Get up!" Someone who seems not to value their hands anymore violently shakes me awake.
"You have two seconds to get off if you want to keep using those hands." I say with my eyes still closed.
"Why do you always have to say scary stuff like that?"
My eyes slowly flutter open to find Korra kneeling right in front of me, staring at me with her large brown eyes.
"I will hit you. I've warned you in advance." I roll over and Sam starts to lick my face. I spring up.
"What did I do to deserve this? Sam, are you on her side now?" Sam gets off the bed and runs to Korra who unclenches her fist to reveal snacks that Sam devours in a matter of seconds.
"Good boy Sam."
"This is why I have trust issues." I yank the duvet off my legs and sit up on the bed to stretch for a few seconds. Korra watches me for a while before standing to leave.
As soon as she shuts the door, I roll back into bed like nothing happened.
"Riona I know you're not back on that bed!"
Well apparently my sister's a witch now.
I sluggishly get out of bed and into the bathroom. Sam waits outside the bathroom as I take a shower and brush my teeth. Entering the room again, I pull out the red and grey sweat suit I had on yesterday. I pair it with a pair of white canvas I stole from Asher's closet a while ago. I pocket my phone and wallet and head to the kitchen.
"Good morning guys."
"Morning Ree." Trevor answers with his eyes glued to his phone.
Korra turns around but freezes when her eyes fall on my outfit.
"You are not wearing that. Isn't that what you had on yesterday?"
"Yes it is and yes I am. Period." I sit down at the table and grab a piece of toast from Trevor's plate.
She sighs in resignation and joins us at the table.
"Okay my flight leaves in about three hours so we have to go now." Korra drags out two suitcases and hurries Trevor up.
"Why leave now? You still have a lot of time." I ask from the couch with my legs on the coffee table.
"Because we have to drop you off at dad's first. That shaves about an hour off my time. Stand up." She pulls me up and attaches Sam's leash to his collar.
"Where's Sam going?"
"Dad's allergic to dogs so Sam's going to stay with your sweet neighbours. I already told them over a week ago so we're good till Monday." Trevor takes the suitcases out and Korra packs some food and a few toys for Sam.
"Celia and Loren? Those 'sweet' neighbours? No way. I'd rather have to drive dad to the ER every day than have my baby stay there." I pull on Sam's leash and he whines.
"Can you stop being so extra? He's staying there. Trevor's outside with the car, you can go ahead, I'll lock the door."
"Well he's my dog." I mumble under my breath and kneel to hug Sam.
"Goodbye bud. I'm really gonna miss you."
"It's just three days. Come on Sam." Korra leads him next-door.
I use the little time I have before Korra comes back to head back into my room to grab the small backpack I packed yesterday. Wouldn't want to forget that.
I pass by Celia and Loren's apartment just as Korra hands them Sam's toys and I give them the stink eye. Their smiles falter at the sight of me. I take the elevator down to the lobby to meet Trevor outside with his car.
"Where is she?" Trevor asks.
"She's dropping Sam off and locking up, she'll be down in a minute."
Korra finally joins us and we begin the journey to the house I grew up in, for the most part. After about half an hour, we finally reach the gate and Korra preps me as we roll up the driveway,
"I can't believe I have to tell you this but please be nice. He's really excited that you're coming."
"Don't tell me what to do Korra."
Trevor puts the car in park and I exit first. Korra retrieves my bag from the trunk and follows behind me with Trevor by her side. The front door opens just as I'm about to knock. Dad stands at the entrance with his signature drink in hand.
"Hey dad." I say as flatly as I can.
"Edan, it's so nice to see you. You look…" he gives me a once-over, contemplating on how to finish his sentence.
"I look gorgeous, I know." I give him a quick hug before taking my suitcase from Trevor and heading inside.
"She's a little bit cranky today so just let her be for a while."
Dad steps aside for Trevor and Korra to enter before shutting the door.
"Oh that's fine Alison. Nice to see you again Trevor. How's work?" The couple join me on the sofa in the living room.
"Work's fine sir. Today's my first day off in a while but I'm now working as a chauffeur for the girls."
Dad laughs and slaps his back, "You'll enjoy it, trust me."
"Something smells good." The air carries a sweet aroma. I follow it to the kitchen.
The table is set buffet style. From pancakes to bacon and eggs to toast. I take off my jacket and get seated before anyone else can even stand up.
"I was waiting for you to sniff it out. I hope you guys haven't had breakfast already." Dad says.
"Sorry but we already…" Korra starts.
"…. haven't had breakfast yet. We're starving." And I finish.
"Wonderful. Everyone, take a seat." Trevor and Korra share a look before sitting down.
I start with the pancakes, stacking them on my plate and topping the tower with whipped cream and chocolate syrup. And then move on to the delicious looking eggs and a few pieces of toast. After devouring the last piece, I look up to find everyone staring at me.
"I thought you said she wasn't eating well." Dad says to my sister.
"I thought so too." She answers with her eyes still glued to me.
"Oh stop being so dramatic. Now what's for dessert?" I excuse myself and head over to the fridge to rummage for ice cream or cookies.
"I think you have the meals mixed up sis. This is breakfast not dinner."
"It's all food isn't it?"
"It is." Trevor says as he drops his plate in the sink.
"And that's why you're my favourite." We high-five and leave the kitchen for the living room.
After a few minutes, my dad and sister join us.
"Alison aren't you going to leave for your flight?"
"I still have a few minutes before I have to leave." What feels like an eternity of channel surfing passes before I finally settle on a cooking show.
After succeeding to make me hungrier than I was half an hour ago, the show ends and Korra gets up to leave.
"We should get going. My flight leaves in a little bit over an hour and I like to be early." She hugs dad and gets a handshake from me as she leaves.
"Oh I almost forgot. Alison, how're the wedding preparations coming? You must be stressed."
"We were a little stressed out because we had to change the date…" because my sorry-ass was in mourning.
"… but everything's already set up. All that's left is to get married." Hooray for you two!
"That's wonderful." Dad drops his glass and sees them both off.
"Bye Trev." We fist bump this time and the look of jealousy on Korra's face makes my day. They finally leave; it's just me and my dad now.
"You can stay in you and your sister's old room if you want to. I changed the beds a long time ago in hope that you guys would visit more." Am I going to have to feel guilty the whole stay?
"Thanks." I drag my suitcase up the stairs and into me and Korra's old room. The room is exactly the same way we left it years ago.
"He wasn't joking when he said he only changed the beds." I prop my suitcase up on one bed and drop myself on the other.
I stare at the plain ceiling for about an hour before my eyes start to feel heavy. Might as well just take a nap now since I have nothing else to do.
"Edan I hope you're not sleeping, I made you something. Come to the kitchen." It better be the lasagna I was promised.
I take off my shoes and trod down the stairs with only socks. The smell of fresh food wafting through the air attacks my nose and leads me straight to the kitchen.
"Just like I promised." Dad turns around with a deep dish in his glove-clad hands. The dish is steaming, making my mouth water.
"Huh? You promised me Maya's special lasagne, not mac and cheese." I start to whine.
"When did I say that? I told your sister to tell you that I'd make your favourite food. Pizza macaroni and cheese. Or don't you like it anymore?" I silently curse Korra before brightening up for my dad.
"Have I ever told you that I love you more than I love Korra?" I grab a plate and a deep spoon, taking a seat at the table.
"No, but let that just be between us." Dad laughs and takes the spoon from me.
"This is lunch. You just ate breakfast about an hour ago."
"Yeah but I still have a little room for this." He puts the dish back in the oven and shuts the oven door with a bang.
"If you can hold yourself not to eat this until lunchtime then maybe I'll consider making lasagna for dinner. Deal?" He stretches out his hand.
I take my time to ask myself I have that much control. After concluding that I don't but I'll try my best, I take his hand.
"Deal."
"Do you still hate strawberry ice cream?" Dad asks from behind the fridge door.
"Very much."
"I have cookie dough."
"That'll do." He grabs a container and shuts the door. I grab two bowls and spoons and place them on the counter.
"It's never too early for ice cream though."
Dad serves generous scoops into each bowl and we start talking about random things, slowly savouring the ice cream. We take our conversation to the living room.
"I have a few patients coming in today so you can go and have that nap you've been daydreaming about." He checks his watch and leaves to drop the bowls in the kitchen.
"Sure thing. Later." I take the stairs two at a time and fall on the bed on reaching the room. I stand up to shut the curtains before falling back down.
I slowly fall asleep with an image of Sam licking my face endlessly running through my mind.
*************************************************
Bzzzt! Bzzzt!
I stretch my arm out to feel for what is buzzing on the bed with my eyes still closed. The buzzing stops for a while before continuing again.
"Oh for goodness sake all I want to do is sleep." I sit up and start to look for the phone. It was hiding under the covers.
Turning it on, I find 9 missed calls and 23 texts. All from Korra. What is wrong with this girl?
"Be nice."
"I'm sure you've already found out that I lied about the lasagne. You can kill me when I get back :)"
"Finally boarding the plane. Later!"
"The flight was 6 hours long but it felt like 12."
"We're staying at THE PEARL HOTEL in Honolulu!!! The name even sounds fancy."
"Why aren't you picking up?"
"Pick up the phone or you're dead."
I can feel her excitement from the texts. But what do I look like, her diary? She even sent pictures of the 'pretty Honolulu trees.' I just can't with that girl.
I look at the time and my jaw drops. It's 6 in the evening. I'm pretty sure I laid down around 10 in the morning. So I literally slept all day, not like I had anything to do anyways. My stomach reminds me that she hasn't been fed in a while so I get up and head to the kitchen.
"Dad! I'm hungry again." I shout as I make my way down the stairs.
"I thought you'd never come down. I'm in the kitchen." I run the rest of the way and dad's already dishing the lasagne I was promised into a plate.
"You didn't eat the mac n cheese so you qualify for this." He hands me the plate and I dig into it before he finishes his sentence.
After a few minutes of stuffing my face, I look up to see him staring at me with a smile on his face.
"Aren't you eating?" I manage to say with a full mouth.
"I already ate. Right after my last client for the day left, I was drained so I just had dinner." I nod and get back to what I was eating, more like scarfing down.
"Slow down Edan. I thought you'd have stopped eating like this by now." He grabs a napkin and wipes my face as I scrape up the tiny pieces left on the plate. I must really look like a kid right now.
"Done." I down a cold glass of water and take the plate to the sink to wash.
"Thanks dad."
"Do you want to watch a movie? I'm still up for a few hours." Dad pulls a bag of popcorn out of the microwave and grabs a bowl.
"No thanks, I'm going back to bed." I hug him goodnight and start to head upstairs.
"But you just woke up." He calls after me.
"Exactly."