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It was the end of the day, and Lilianna was exhausted. She had spent the whole day juggling meetings, paperwork, and her growing worries about Carly adjusting to this new life. All she wanted was to hear that Carly was doing okay.
She got into her car, the sound of her tires against the pavement almost soothing in its rhythm as she made her way to the school to pick up her sister. Pulling up to the front of the school, Lilianna spotted Carly sitting outside with two girls. As soon as Carly saw Lilianna's car, she waved goodbye to her new friends and walked toward the car.
"Hey, how was your first full day?" Lilianna asked, smiling at Carly as she slid into the passenger seat.
"It was alright," Carly said with a grin. "I already got a guy crushing on me, and two new friends."
Lilianna raised an eyebrow. "A guy, huh? Looks like you're fitting in just fine, huh?"
Carly shrugged, trying to act nonchalant, but the smile on her face betrayed her. "Yeah, they're nice. Annabelle and Ling are pretty cool."
"I'm glad they were so welcoming," Lilianna said with a laugh. "Now, tell me everything!"
And for the rest of the drive, Carly went on and on about the little details of her day: the classes, the awkward moments, the way Jackson had kept glancing at her, and how she felt like maybe—just maybe—she could get through this after all. The conversation was lighthearted, filled with jokes and laughter, a welcome distraction from all the tension of the past week.
Once they got home, they cranked up some music, and without a care in the world, the girls started preparing dinner. The kitchen was full of chaotic joy—Lilianna dancing around as she chopped vegetables, Carly spinning to the beat of the music, both of them laughing as they fumbled through the recipe. There was something magical about the way they seemed to forget everything else in that moment, just two sisters having fun, enjoying their time together.
For dinner, they made lasagna, and once it was ready, they plopped down on the couch with blankets, ready to watch a scary movie. They spent the evening laughing at the predictable jump scares, joking around, and enjoying the warmth of being together. It was a perfect end to an unexpectedly good day.
Lilianna awoke to the rich aroma of coffee filling her room. She blinked, groggily looking around for the source. As she turned her head toward the nightstand, she was surprised to see a plate of pancakes stacked high, topped with strawberries and bananas, the syrup dripping down the sides, sitting neatly beside her coffee cup.
A small laugh escaped her as she picked up the plate. Carly had gotten up early to make breakfast.
Sitting up, she stretched and smiled, her exhaustion melting away at the kind gesture. She carried the plate and coffee to the table, where Carly sat sipping her own coffee and cutting into her pancakes.
"Good morning," Carly said, her voice still soft from sleep. She looked up at Lilianna and grinned. "I figured you could use a good start to the day."
Lilianna sat down across from her, smiling. "This is the best surprise. Thank you, Carly."
"No problem," Carly said, taking a sip of her coffee. "It's the least I could do. You've been taking care of me."
Lilianna couldn't help but feel a swell of pride and gratitude for her sister. After everything they'd been through, seeing Carly take the initiative, showing her love and care in her own way—it meant everything.
"So," Lilianna said between bites of pancakes. "Tell me more about Jackson. I feel like you're leaving out some important details."
Carly rolled her eyes, but the smile didn't leave her face. "You're so nosy, Lili," she teased. "But okay, fine, I'll tell you everything."
As Carly continued talking, Lilianna realized how much things had shifted in just a few days. Carly was slowly starting to come out of her shell, and while it was bittersweet—she could never replace their parents—Lilianna could see her sister was healing, little by little.
The morning passed in a blur of motion. After breakfast, the girls quickly got into the car. Carly slid into the passenger seat with a quick wave to Lilianna, a familiar smile on her face. Lilianna drove them to school, and once they arrived, Carly hesitated for a moment before giving her sister a tight hug.
"Good luck today," Lilianna said, her voice warm but carrying an undertone of concern. She still wasn't used to seeing Carly head off to school without their parents there to guide her.
"You too," Carly replied, giving her a small, reassuring smile before grabbing her bag and walking toward the school entrance.
Lilianna watched her for a moment longer than necessary, her heart a mix of pride and worry, before she turned and headed back toward her car.
The drive to the law firm felt like the longest part of Lilianna's day. She needed to be extra focused today. She had an important meeting scheduled with one of her clients to prep for an upcoming court case. As she drove, she pushed aside the worries about Carly, reminding herself that her sister was in good hands now and she needed to stay in the zone.
Lilianna pulled into the parking lot of the law firm, took a deep breath, and reminded herself that her professionalism was key. After everything they had been through, she was determined to make this work—not just for herself, but for Carly too.
As she entered the building, she was greeted by her assistant, Bella, who was already waiting with a stack of paperwork.
"Morning, Ms. Rodes," Bella said with a smile. "Your meeting with Mr. Stillman is scheduled for noon. Everything's ready for the court prep."
"Thanks, Bella," Lilianna replied, giving her assistant a grateful smile. "I'll be in my office preparing. Let me know if anything urgent comes up."
The morning passed quickly as Lilianna reviewed case files, making sure every detail was accounted for. But despite her best efforts to stay focused, her mind kept wandering back to Carly. How was she doing at school? Was she settling in? Was she really okay?
Lilianna shook her head, pushing the thoughts aside. Focus, she reminded herself. You can worry later.
By noon, Lilianna was in full work mode. She met with her client, Mr. Stillman, in one of the firm's conference rooms. The conversation was serious, with Lilianna laying out their strategy for the upcoming court session. She was sharp, answering every question with precision, her legal expertise and confidence shining through.
But even as she talked, a part of her was aware of the clock ticking. I need to wrap this up. I want to check in on Carly after this.
Finally, after an hour of strategizing, the meeting came to a close. Mr. Stillman shook her hand. "I'm feeling much better about this, Ms. Rodes. Thanks for your time and effort. I'll see you in court next week."
"No problem," Lilianna said, offering him a professional smile. "We'll do everything we can to make sure you get the best outcome. I'll be in touch."
As he left, Lilianna took a deep breath, relieved that the prep work was done. Now, all she had to do was wait until next week. But for the moment, her thoughts drifted back to Carly, and she found herself grabbing her phone to send her a quick text.
"How's it going, sis? Is everything good at school?"
She hit send before leaning back in her chair. A moment of quiet, before diving back into the demands of her job.
Carly walked into her math class, her heart thumping slightly faster as she spotted Jackson sitting at their shared table. He was wearing a dark flannel shirt, the sleeves rolled up just enough to show a hint of tattoos on his arms. There was something effortlessly cool about him, the way he leaned back in his chair, looking like he belonged in a magazine ad for a music store.
When he saw her, he gave her a slight wave and that familiar smirk. Carly felt her cheeks warm, a flush creeping up her neck. She quickly turned her gaze toward Annabelle and Ling, who were sitting behind them. The moment their eyes met, they both gave her a thumbs-up and giggled, their playful energy making Carly roll her eyes with a smile.
She took a deep breath and made her way to the desk, sliding into the seat next to Jackson. He looked over at her as she sat down.
"So, how's it going?" he asked, his voice casual but with a hint of curiosity. His dark brown eyes met hers, making Carly feel both nervous and strangely at ease at the same time.
Carly glanced at him, trying to keep her cool. "It's going fine," she said, her voice a little more breathless than she intended. "Just trying to get the hang of all this new stuff."
Jackson tilted his head, his smirk softening into something more genuine. "I get that. It's a lot, huh?"
"Yeah, but I'm managing," Carly replied, feeling herself relax a bit more as they talked.
She was glad to have at least one person who seemed to get her, even though she wasn't entirely sure what was going on between them. The last thing she wanted to do was make it awkward by overthinking things.
"Don't worry," Jackson said, noticing her slight tension. "You'll catch up. The stuff we're doing today is pretty easy anyway. Just don't fall asleep like some people do," he added with a teasing look over at a guy in the back of the class who was already nodding off.
Carly chuckled, relieved by his lightheartedness. "I'll try my best."
As the class went on, Carly found herself glancing at Jackson every so often, trying to focus on the lesson but also aware of his presence beside her. Every now and then, she caught him looking her way, and her heart would skip a beat. But when he wasn't looking, she caught Annabelle and Ling exchanging knowing glances and trying to stifle their giggles. It was almost too much for Carly to handle, but at the same time, it made her feel oddly good to be noticed.
After math class, Carly walked with Ling and Annabelle to art, the sound of their laughter filling the hallways as they joked about everything from teachers to their favorite songs. It was easy to get caught up in their energy, and Carly was glad for the distraction. Her mind had been running a mile a minute all day, and she was still feeling the weight of everything—the grief, the adjustment, the pressure of trying to fit in.
When they entered the art room, the smell of clay and paint immediately hit her, grounding her in the familiar chaos of a new project. The walls were covered in colorful paintings, some abstract, others showcasing students' talents with impressive realism. It was a creative space, and for a moment, Carly felt a small spark of comfort.
Ms. Hardy, the art teacher, stood in front of the class, holding up a small sculpture. "Alright, everyone, today's project is all about meaning. You're going to create something with clay that represents something important to you. This can be anything—family, a dream, a memory. I want you to really think about what matters most."
Carly felt a lump form in her throat as the words hit her. Family. She hadn't thought about it like that in a while, not since the accident. The absence of her parents was still a raw wound that sometimes felt like it was constantly bleeding, and the idea of creating something to represent that loss was both comforting and excruciating.
She sat down at a table, her fingers already reaching for the block of clay in front of her.
"What are you thinking of doing?" Ling asked, sitting down beside her with a smile.
Carly hesitated. "I think I want to make something that represents family, like… something that shows we're all connected, even if we're not together anymore."
Annabelle raised an eyebrow, curious but understanding. "That sounds deep," she said softly. "You good with that?"
Carly nodded, feeling the weight of the decision. She wanted to pour her feelings into the project, but at the same time, the emotions it stirred up made her stomach twist. The thought of her parents, how much she missed them, how much she wished they could see her and Lilianna now—it felt overwhelming. But she also knew it was the right choice. If she could capture that, maybe she'd feel like she could keep a piece of them with her.
As Ms. Hardy moved around the room, offering advice to students, Carly began shaping the clay in her hands, trying to form something that spoke of unity, of connection. Her fingers traced the edges of the material, pushing it into the shape of intertwined hands—two adult hands reaching out to hold the hands of a child. She worked slowly, carefully, trying to make each finger feel real, like it could touch the memory of the love her parents had always given her.
The process was cathartic, and Carly found herself lost in the rhythm of her hands on the clay. For a few moments, the world outside the art room faded away, and she could just focus on the feeling of creation. It wasn't perfect, but it didn't need to be. What mattered was the meaning behind it.
When she finally looked up, she noticed Annabelle and Ling had both been working on their pieces too. Annabelle had sculpted a large heart, filled with little details of things she loved—her dog, books, and flowers. Ling's was a small abstract piece, something that felt chaotic but beautiful in its own way.
"How's it coming?" Ling asked, peering at Carly's work.
Carly bit her lip, glancing at the intertwined hands she had made. "It's… it's good. It's kind of hard to explain, but it feels right."
Annabelle smiled warmly. "I think it's beautiful. Family is what keeps you grounded, right? Even when everything else is changing."
Carly nodded, feeling a sense of comfort in their words. It wasn't just the physical hands she was creating—it was the idea that no matter what happened, she would always carry a piece of her family with her. It was an unbreakable bond, even if they weren't here to hold her anymore.