( chapter five ! )
𝟢𝟢𝟧． 𝖺 𝗐𝗁𝗈𝗅𝖾 𝖻𝗎𝗇𝖼𝗁 𝗈𝖿 𝗃𝖾𝗋𝗄𝗌

The two Howard sisters came down the stairs to join the others for dinner. Since the start of the day Jordan has been on a rampage trying to find his pet snake.

He named it - Rumplesnakeskin, which is kind of clever. But, if Jackie ever found out about a snake on the loose around the house she'd go psycho.

Even when the girl sat down at the dinner table, Jordan was quick to complain. "Mom, I need to find him!" He complains like the in morning.

"Yes, Jordan we have already established it." Katherine sighs as she's too busy to stop and look around for his snake.

She puts down the bowls of food onto the table almost hitting one of the boys in the head because they were being careless.

"Would you like me to help?" Camden offers as she notices Katherine struggling to handle the dinner on her own.

"Thank you, sweetheart." As Carmen removes the bowl from her occupied hands, Katherine grinned thankfully now that she had someone helping her out.

Once Carmen helped out with preparing dinner she looked around for a spot, there were barely any left for her.

After finally finding a seat, she sat into the chair, Carmen was interrupted by the small Walter girl saying, "Hey! I'm sitting here."

"Oh, sorry," Carmen apologized instantly, shifting a seat next to Danny and opposite of Isaac, who gave her a huge grin as he began stuffing his face with food.

Parker was advised by Katherine to place the paper napkin on her lap. "All right everybody, let's eat!" declared George as he held up his fork and knife.

Screams broke out in the middle of the silence. Turning around, everyone saw Jackie clutching Jordan's pet snake, Rumple, and her bolognese-stained Ralph Lauren sweater.

Carmen's pupils grew wide once she saw that her sister expensive sweater was stained with her dinner.

"Oh Jackie." Camden sighed under her breath as her face scrunched at the sight of the ruined clothes.

Isaac snorted as he watched Jackie almost cry, Carmen kicked him under the table defending her sister. "Ouch!" He whined as he jolted back from her kicking him.

Carmen's pupils grew wide once she saw that her sister expensive sweater was stained with her dinner.

"Oh no." Danny whispered as he turned around. "Rumple!" Jordan cried happily as he was reunited with his pet.

"Oh my God. Could I lend you a hand with your sweater?" Katherine extended an offer, as she put a hand on Jackie's shoulder but she was quick to shrug it off before running away.

"I'm fine. I'm fine, okay." Jackie grumbled, which was the obvious response for someone who just got their clothes ruined.

But the thing about Jackie was, whenever she was in an uncomfortable situation and someone brought it up. Her reaction would always be I'm fine.

So over the years, Carmen had four ways to handle the situation and make sure her sister was actually fine and not saying it to make others feel better.

"Jackie." Carmen cried out after her sister - following her up the stairs. Leaving everyone at the table laugh except Katherine and George.

"You guys are a whole bunch of jerks!" Carmen cursed out at the boys who laughed. It was a main focus at Isaac who took the hint and quieted down.

Jackie wasn't this quick to get out of these situations, she usually tried to keep herself together til the end but no she just stormed out.

"Jackie, wait." Carmen cried out once again. "Carm. I'm fine, I promise." Jackie says from inside their combined room with the door shut.

"Jack, it's okay to not be fine all the time.." Carmen tried to help but the words didn't end up coming out in right way.

"Carmen," Jackie opens the door to let her sister inside, "I'm fine, you fine, we're all fine." Jackie says as she puts on a clean sweatshirt.

The two turned around once they heard a knock on their door, it was Isaac. "Hey, i uh brought you two some food." He said as he placed the dishes on a table.

"Thanks." Carmen smiles softly. "Look, i don't usually do this but i'm apologising for what happened." Isaac speaks - it was obvious that he doesn't say sorry or acts like this.

Something had come over him, he had changed.

"Are you two going to kiss or?" Jackie's speaks up after the two awkwardly smile at each other. "Jackie!" Carmen groans at her sisters and pulls a face at her.

"Sorry." Jackie rolls her eyes. She grabs her dinner and walks past Carmen's keyboard, as she walks by Isaac catches a glimpse of the instrument.

"You play?" He asks pointing to the keyboard. "Uh yeah, most of the time. My dad bought it for me on my fifteenth birthday." Carmen smiles as the memories come back in her mind.

"Cool. I'd love to hear you play sometime soon." Isaac grins his cheesy smile. A warm feeling flushed through Carmen as she saw the warmth of his smile.

"Yeah." Carmen smiled. She hadn't felt this happy in a long time. It felt nice, it felt like she was safe again.