Wednesday, July 12th. . . .
*First Draft*

"Ah-hah!" I joyfully yell, slamming one of my two cards face down on the table. "UNO!" I cackle, leaning back in the barstool. Drew and Saige stare at me, a large amused smile on Saige's face while Drew just looks mildly humored like someone tried unsuccessfully to snatch a cookie from him.

"Are you always this..." Saige trails off, clearly unsure about if she should venture so far. I smirk. "Loud?" I inquire, and she nods in agreement. I wink at her. "Only when the need arises." I grab my cup of water, taking a long, well-earned sip.

Who knew playing games such as Monopoly, Apples to Apples, and Uno were so taxing. Though, we have been playing them practically all day.

Yesterday we also did this, and watched tv. I didn't feel up to taking them out again. My Mom's words about Drew weighing down on my mind. Yesterday Nadine got off early, about three, because of some appointment, again, so I didn't have to watch them for nearly as long.

Not that I mind. It's just...well.

I take a bite of my macaroni and cheese, giving them both a large smile before peeking at my card again. If I win, it'll be the third time in a row. Albeit, that's not saying much seeing as I'm playing against a ten year-old and someone who's apparently never played Uno before.

I know! I was surprised too. Real shocker.

How does Saige know how to play, but Drew doesn't?

Saige pushes her second refill of macaroni away from her, picking her three cards up with both hands. Drew slouches over his bowl, absentmindedly picking at it as he watches the game more than he plays.

Mom had texted me earlier and told me to feed Drew, Saige, and myself because I'm apparently supposed to drive us to meet up with the mothers' at Krispy Kreme at 6:30. Yeah, you heard me.

Donuts!

That's another reason why I'm so happy at the moment.

When it gets to be my turn, I smile maliciously, smacking my final red card face-down on the stack of cards. "I win!" I pump my fist in the air, using my feet to swing myself around on the barstool.

"Geez, you're like the queen of games, Nicki." Saige pouts, dropping her three cards dejectedly down on the table as she hangs her head. Drew also sets his down, bringing a single piece of macaroni up to his mouth with his fork.

"Ah, come on. That's not true." I dismiss her with a wave, glancing over at the digital clock on the oven. My eyes pop out of my head as I realize it's twenty after six, and I quickly jump up from my seat.

"Time to go." I tell them, expertly gathering the cards back up into a single deck. Saige carries her bowl and cup over to the sink, setting them down on the counter beside it. Drew does the same, readjusting the beanie on his head as he walks back.

After wiping the table, I grab my purse hanging on the wall as we pass it in the hallway, heading out to the vehicle. I lock the door behind me, and we, once again, pile into the SUV. Me driving, Saige and Drew in the back.

I switch the radio station to a halfway decent one, backing out of the driveway. The five minute car ride goes by relatively fast, and before we know it, we're pulling into the small Krispy Kreme parking lot.

I spot Nadine's cherry red Toyota Highlander over to the right, and I pull into the open lot next to it. We unbuckle, letting ourselves out of the vehicle. I lead the way to the front door, my steps undoubtedly growing faster as I near heaven.

Opening the door, the mouthwatering, heart fluttering aroma of freshly baked donuts wafts up my nose, causing my eyes to momentarily close. I hold it open for Drew and Saige, mentally urging them to walk faster as my eyes land on the array of donuts set out neatly in a glass case.

Letting the door go, I immediately walk up to the glass wall that separates the customers from the employees, watching as the large machine bakes the donuts. The icing!

"You better shut your mouth, honey. Wouldn't want any flies to get caught." Mom laughs from behind me, and I turn around. She gives me a quick hug. "Nadine and I already got some donuts." She says, patting me on the shoulder before she turns back around.

I look over at a table that's occupied by a Krispy Kreme box. Nadine stands there with Drew and Saige, apparently having already given their hello's.

"Did you get me my favorite?" I question as I follow Mom over to them. Mom glances back at me with a wink. "Of course. Raspberry fill, duh." I give her a droll stare, and she laughs once again, the sound light and jolly.

She reaches back, ruffling my hair. "Yes, sweetheart. Cream filled. How could I forget?" She takes a seat at the table, the one with the six tall chairs. I sit down beside her while Nadine, Saige, and Drew take a seat on the opposite side.

Mom opens the box, using a napkin to grab a chocolate covered cream filled donut just for mwah. "Thanks!" I get out before I take a dainty bite. The taste immediately explodes in my mouth, melting on my tongue and sending me into a sugar comatose.

So good!

I pull myself out of my own thoughts soon enough to watch Mom pick her own raspberry filled donut out. Nadine hands a nearly hysterical Saige a sprinkled covered donut before leaning around her to peer at Drew, who's perched on the end seat in a very noticeable tense posture.

"Would you like one, Drew?" Nadine gently questions. I see Mom glance at him from the corner of her eye, keeping it discrete. Saige eyes him while she bites into hers, her legs swinging from underneath the table.

Drew sets his jaw, glancing over at the glass panel with the donut machine behind it before he looks back at the plain glazed donut Nadine's holding out to him. He stares a second longer, an obvious struggle waging war inside him before he slowly takes the donut from her.

Nadine smiles at him in an almost encouraging way, and I could imagine her clapping if I try hard enough.

I lean back in my seat, looking over the brightly lit shop, the cute decorations, and the balloons tied to a few chairs throughout the room. Licking my fingers after I finish my donut, very ladylike mind you, I hop up from my seat, walking over to the chair with the three balloons tied to it.

Untying them, I carry them back over to my group, plopping back in my seat with a satisfied sigh. I look each balloon over, holding them out to the side so they don't get all over the table.

"Hmm, which do you like better, Saige?" I question, looking up at her. She makes a thoughtful expression, tapping her finger to her chin as she gazes hard at them. "The red." She decides, looking pleased with her decision.

I nod, moving my gaze over to Drew, who's just finished his donut. "What about you, Drew? And don't just say red because of Saige." His eyes slightly widen, and he looks the bundle of balloons over with alarm before swallowing thickly. He shifts in his seat, nervously glancing over at Nadine, who's busy talking with Mom and doesn't seem to notice him.

Geez. You'd think he was sitting in a spot light with thousands of people watching him by the way he's acting. It's just a simple question.

Saige gently nudges him, causing his attention to snap back over to me. "Uh..." He stares harder at the balloons, almost leaning forward in his seat as he squints. "The...yellow one?" His statement sounds more like a question, and he lifts his left hand up to his chest as he begins to absentmindedly rub it.

I stare at him, then back at the balloons. Baffled.

Saige clears her throat, keeping her eyes down on her empty napkin as she itches her forehead.

"Um, Drew..." I slowly say. "There's only red, pink, and green." I state, gauging his reaction. He immediately flushes red, pulling at his shirt collar as he looks away. "Um, yeah, I meant the...the green one." He quickly corrects, ducking down further in his seat as he avoids eye contact.

Uhhh....

"Who wants seconds?" Nadine suddenly questions, most likely saving Drew from the awkwardness. Eh, works for me....At the moment. I grab a sprinkled donut this time, along with Mom and Saige, while Nadine goes for a pumpkin something or another.

Drew hesitates before grabbing another glazed donut, obviously still trying to avoid me as he works on devouring his second. He eats this one faster then the last, beating even me. We both sit back once we've completed our second, and he begins to vigorously fiddle with a few of his bracelets on his left wrist as he stares at the open donut box, face still a little red.

I wipe my mouth, my stomach at full capacity and verging on uncomfortable. But it was worth it.

My attention snaps over to Mom and Nadine at the mention of my name.

"One time Nick was trying to be like Tarzan, so she took this sturdy rope and found this tree outside of our house that had a lower limb, and she used the ladder to tie it up about ten feet high. Then she thought it was a good idea to swing off from the ladder and go yelling like a banshee while swinging a few feet in the air before she's suddenly falling because she tied the rope to a dead limb!" Mom bursts out laughing, and I frown over at her, feeling my own cheeks begin to heat up.

Nadine tries to hold in her laughter. But it doesn't work so well. Saige giggles without any restraint, and even Drew has a smirk on his lips.

God damn embarrassing childhood stories. Curse them all.

"Mom," I hiss under my breath, hiding my face behind the balloons. "Come on, I was like nine. Common sense obviously hadn't made an impression on me yet!" I mutter loud enough for them to all hear.

"True, true." There's a glint in mom's eye. "And sometimes I wonder if it's yet to make an appearance."

And that's about how the rest of the forty minutes we spent there went. Mom embarrassing me while Drew continued to ignore me, and everyone else.

Though, when we finally left, I took the green balloon home with me.

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A/N

Please VOTE!!

Sorry for the short chapter!