"Sunday brunch, Sunshine!"

Courtney twisted around in her bed and bit back a cry of pain. Son of a Seabiscuit I have to stop doing that! She closed her eyes as her ankle set off fireworks of pain.

"You hear me?" Heather asked, her head poked into Courtney's room.

Courtney lifted her arm and waved it. It was as much as she could do right then besides try not to succumb to the fiery pain of her ankle. Okay, maybe that was a slight exaggeration but butternuts it hurt! She took in another slow breath, willing the pain to ease. Go away pain.

Eventually, it subsided, but what she was left with was a body too tired to move. Her arms felt like lead bars, her legs were like sandbags, and her heart...Bleh, she did not want to think about that confusing organ at this moment. It was meant to pump blood, not bleed out a tangle of baffling emotions.

Tossing aside her blankets, Courtney gently lifted her right leg and draped it over the edge of the mattress. Her crutches lay on the floor and Courtney stared at them. Come on Force, give me your power of levitation.

When her Jedi mind trick didn't kick in, she resorted to bending over and fumbling for them. By the time she got them pinned over her arms, she wanted to fall back on her bed and never move.

Miles stuck his head into her room. Oh a witness to her feebleness, excellent.

"Brunch," Miles announced.

Oh, was that why I was getting up? It was taking me so long I forgot my reason to live.

"Coming," she said.

He slipped out and Courtney made herself decent enough to be seen at a Sunday brunch. Well, a Sunday brunch with her family, not one with normal people. That was a completely different standard. This standard was hair in a messy bun and a bra.

"Golden Girl," her father said pointing his spatula at her as she walked into the kitchen. "Life quote, go!"

"You dictate how the world perceives you," she said.

"Not very original but it's a classic and so I shall let it pass."

Good, because my brain still hasn't started working this morning.

"What did Miles say?"

Miles shouted from the dining room where Courtney heard the clinking of plates.

"Once you stop letting others dictate your worth you can begin to discover it for yourself."

Yup, that sounded like a Miles' quote, simple yet impactful.

"That's a good one."

Courtney's mother walked through the archway to the dining room.

"Sweetie, do you know why Miguel's car is still parked in our driveway?" she asked.

"I don't know, the last time I saw him he planned to barricade himself in the library."

"Do you mind going and telling him that the revolution is over?"

"And invite him to brunch," her father said.

Courtney saluted, collected the master key from the keyring, and headed to the library. When she opened the door, she found Miguel passed out on the couch. As she approached, he stirred. Laying on his chest was Proust's Swan's Way. He'd fallen asleep reading it. Ironic, at least one of them fell asleep.

"Miguel," Courtney said, nudging his shoulder.

"¿Qué pasa?" he muttered.

"Sunday brunch."

"Mmmkay."

He rubbed his eyes and stretched. He blinked and focused on Courtney.

"Do I look as bad as you?"

She smacked his arm and he shied away, half grinning.

"Are your parents going to be mad that you stayed over and didn't tell them?"

"No, I think they are going to be excited that I'm acting like a normal teenager. I think I'm beginning to freak them out."

"They're only just now beginning to be freaked out by you? I've thought you strange from the beginning."

It was possibly because at six he'd greeted her by holding out his hand for her to shake. He was a little adult back then. It didn't help that he was the youngest of his cousins and he'd been raised around business-minded adults.

"Love blinds people," Miguel said.

He stood and stretched again. After he tugged on his shoes, they left the library. The kitchen smelled divine with bacon and toasting bagels. A girl could live on bagels. At least, this girl could! She figured most would join her bagel cult if she started one. Maybe this was already a thing, it was simply called New York.

"Miguel, life quote," her father said.

"Total control is an illusion. When you realize that, you can see what aspects you can control."

"Well said, food is ready. Feel free to sit down."

The family gathered around the table and food made the rounds.

"Okay," Courtney's father said. "Life updates. Successes, failures, problems, solutions. Heather, start us off."

"Last week was great, I was able to hack into Highland bank then able to patch up the holes in their coding for them."

Naturally hacking into a bank company is no biggie. Especially if you're a twenty-two-year-old genius. All in a day's work.

"I haven't found a new apartment yet," Heather said. "So that's my current problem."

"I know Micah Jackson," Courtney said. "His dad is Jeremy Jackson, the realtor. I could see if he can help you."

"Jeremy, as in the hot realtor on all the posters?"

"One in the same."

"I would not mind having his help."

Courtney was right, his looks were half the appeal. Work with what you got.

"Great," their mother said. "Problem and a solution. Miles, you're up next."

Miles shrugged and added more cream cheese to his bagel. Which was a success in its own way. Add happiness, right? That's what Courtney was doing. She needed all the success she could get.

"I aced all my exams," Miles said. "That sums up my week."

Wow, he made it too hard to be annoyed with him for his success because he didn't boast about it.

"That's not all," Courtney said. "He designed the cover for Elliot McKenzie's new book."

"What! That's amazing."

"Congrats, man."

"Honey, that is so great."

"I'm proud of you."

Miles looked at Courtney.

"Celebrate the success big or small, right?" she said.

"True. Then you should know Elliot must have talked to other authors because I'm in the middle of designing five more books covers."

The table burst with congratulations a second time. Only Miles would not think that a big enough deal to share with everyone. Ridiculously talented and humble, way to make everyone else look bad, Miles.

"Miguel, what above you?" Courtney's mother asked.

Miguel gave off the same nonchalance energy as Miles. Oh jeez, this was going to be something.

"I managed to get a meeting with the school board for this upcoming week. I'm going to be talking over the need to add a mandatory Necessities class to school. This class would cover everything from how to do taxes to car maintenance and the average prices so people aren't ripped off to finding an apartment to handling interview processes to learning how to budget time and money."

Forget Miles, Miguel was making them all look bad.

"I met with principal Rice last week," Miguel continued. "I brought up the idea of creating a sports buddy sponsorship. Our school has a major dichotomy between the wealthy and the poor.

"A lot of students are great athletics but can't afford the basics like good shoes, uniforms, and such. I want to start a program where one wealthy family with a student in sports helps sponsor another student in need. That way there would be more opportunities for sports scholarships for some of these great athletes."

That's it, Miguel is never invited to Sunday brunch again! Way to make us all feel like slackers, cuz! Not okay. Oh, and he still has more to say. Just bury me alive already and be done with it.

"I know that I'm blessed to come from a family that owns a successful restaurant franchise. But so many Hispanics don't have that success. I want to do all that I can help."

Oh, and he has a big heart! Couldn't he make it easier to dislike him for being so great? Nope, he had to go and make it impossible.

Worst of all Courtney loved what he planned to do. It was amazing and she fully supported it. He had the respected family name and position of Student Body President, he wasn't wasting it.

"Let me know if you hit roadblocks with any of that," Courtney's father said. "I'll give you whatever help I can."

"Thanks, I'll keep that in mind."

They all looked to Courtney. Oh no, not me next. No way I can follow that show.

"What about you, Sunshine?" Heather said.

Previously in this slacker's life: I managed to make it through the week with a bum ankle. My humiliating video reached five hundred thousand views. I got demoted as cheer captain. I won Senior Class President over my best friend without trying which will definitely effect things. Did I miss anything? Oh yes, my boyfriend dumped me and I'm a tangled mess when it comes to understanding that.

"Coach said I should be able to walk without crutches and just a brace by Friday. Other than that you know, not anything worth sharing," Courtney said.

"You won Senior Class President," her mother said.

Miles looked at her. "You did?"

"Yup. On top of spraining my ankle and getting dumped. Two negatives outweighing the positive here type thing."

"Aiden broke up with you?" her father asked.

Yes, dad don't sound too happy that I'm not dating anymore.

"When did this happen?" her mother asked.

At least that was real sympathy coming from her mother.

"Last Friday."

"Before or after you sprained your ankle."

"Before."

"I'm sorry," she said. "Did he give a reason?"

Yes, one that makes sense and explains how he could miss her since it's not because of her but she still felt like it was because of her.

"His need to stay focused for the football season," Courtney said.

"Being team captain is a heavy position to hold," Courtney's father said.

"Do you want me to hack into his computer and trash his files?" Heather asked.

Courtney smiled. "Tempting but he's doing what's best for him so I can't fault him."

"The offer is always on the table," Heather said.

A sister who could hack anything, there was no better partner when one wanted revenge. Luckily for Aiden, Courtney didn't want that. Just more clarity.

As brunch wrapped up, Courtney was excused from helping with dishes since she was less than useless with her crutches. Something every family member made sure to joke about.

Courtney escaped to her sewing room. A place she'd only spent a small amount of time in that week. She couldn't use her sewing machine with her ankle. What she'd spent time on was designing Lynn's Homecoming dress. Except it wasn't working out. Every time she thought she got the design right the next day it would feel all wrong.

Plopping onto her rolling stool, Courtney placed herself in front of the mannequin with Lynn's dress. It had been so clear what she would create when she'd started making it for Lynn. Now she couldn't settle on anything. A few minutes into taking apart what was already there, her father walked into the room. He took a seat at Courtney's sewing machine.

"Lynn's dress?" he asked.

"Yeah. It's not right."

"What was your original idea?"

Courtney spun around. "A fitted dress as the base with a chiffon layer over it with possibly a third silk layer that gave it a fairy type look."

"Show me."

With her one working foot, Courtney rolled herself to her table and found the rough sketch she'd asked Miles to draw for her. One of many he'd done over the years. Her father surveyed it with the eye of a marketing expert and nodded.

"What colors?" he asked.

"I was leaning towards a midnight sky type vibe with midnight blue, periwinkle, and silver."

"I like the design but the colors are off. This is Lynn, I would go with maroon, gold, and possibly a cranberry."

"I can try that."

Courtney wiggled her way to her sample fabrics and started searching through them.

"Your mom is going to come in later to talk about Aiden," her father said. "I'm here to talk about you and Lynn because I still want to believe that you think boys are gross and have nothing to do with them."

At that, Courtney spun around. "Boys are gross and I have nothing to do with them."

"I knew you were my favorite for a reason."

Smiling, Courtney went back to her search.

"What are we talking about in regards to Lynn?"

"Your friendship. How is she taking the loss? I can't imagine how hard it must be to lose something you've worked hard for."

It is, so hard she cried. Courtney couldn't forget how broken Lynn sounded with Miguel.

Collecting her materials, she worked her way back to the mannequin. She grabbed her pincushion and attached it to her wrist with the elastic band.

"We messaged yesterday. She seems to be doing better with it. The thing is...I don't know."

Courtney draped a swath of cranberry silk over the mannequin.

"First, what are the facts?"her father said.

Is that where it came from! Oh my gosh, the mystery of my life is solved! I have found the culprit, it was my father all along! I am stunned, completely stunned.

Courtney smiled at her own sarcasm.

"The facts," she said, "are these: Lynn planned to run for president for at least two or three weeks. She only told me about it last Friday. After seeing the t-shirts, posters, and candies she'd made for her campaign I decided to drop out of the running and help her. I won regardless of this. I believe it is due to a video of me spraining my ankle but without asking everyone why they voted for me that is inconclusive. Those are the facts." 

Her father nodded and leaned back in his chair. "Succinctly put. What I see is you have a base of a lack of communication. One of the most common problems in life. I think tomorrow you need to sit down and discuss the issue."

"What if she doesn't want to discuss it? You can't force one side to talk when they don't want to."

"No, but you can make your intentions clear. Let her know that you are open to dialoguing the issue."

Hey Lynn how about we dialogue over the fact that I won where you lost and the fact that you didn't tell me you want to run in the first place, sound good? Probably should work on my approach.

"I can do that." Courtney spun around to face her father. "What if this seriously affects our relationship?"

Her father held up his hand. "We plan for all outcomes but we do not dwell on them. You can't know what will happen Monday. Go in with an open mind and embrace the situation that arises." 

Embrace the situation, wow her father's advice did live in her head rent-free. I wonder if I can evict him? Though not sure if I would want to, it's solid advice.

"Okay, I can do that."

"Good. My work here is done." He walked over to her and kissed the top of her head. "Cheer up, Sunshine, there is always a bright side."

When he opened the sewing room door, he shouted into the house.

"Lauren! I solved my problem in under ten minutes. Let's see if you can top that!"

Courtney rolled her eyes. It was amazing that businesses took her father seriously. As she focused back on Lynn's dress, her mother strode into the room, taking her husband's recently vacated seat.

"Here to see how my heart is doing?" Courtney asked.

"Yes." Her mother leaned forward on Courtney's work desk, her brown eyes soft. "How are you doing, sweetheart?"

Fantastic! Never better! This whole thing has just been a walk in a park. Considering how I sprained my ankle that walk has been constant pain.

"Honestly, I don't know. I don't know where any of my emotions are."

"Did you see it coming?"

"Not even a hint of it."

So that means I would make the worst detective ever. I can cross that off my list of career choices.

"Then it makes sense that your emotions are all over the place. Something happening out of the blue is always difficult to make sense of. You know what you need?"

Yes, let's do this. Get out the charts! Let's organize my emotions. Let the organized woman who balances out dad's wildness take over my life and make sense of it. I'm ready! Organize and chart away!

"You need time," her mother said.

What? No! I need a chart that will categorize and outline everything from the first date to the first kiss to the first sign my emotions were fading to the final breakup. I don't need time, I need answers! Dramatically slams fist on an imaginary interrogation table.

"Really? I thought a chart might be the answer in this instance," Courtney said. 

"Sweetie," her mother said. "This is your first breakup, it's not going to be easy or make sense right now. Emotions rarely do at first. Give yourself time to come to terms. No chart could help you right now."

Really, cause I've seen what you can accomplish with a chart and I'm not convinced that isn't the answer.

"You should know that dad gave me a plan of action for Lynn, if you want to stay in the game I think you need to step it up."

Laughing, her mother rose and hugged Courtney, kissing her forehead.

"You need time. Trust me on this one."

Fine, but if in a week she still had a tangled ball of string where her emotions lived then she was lighting it on fire and watching the synthetic fibers burn. Not to sound dramatic or anything.

"Okay."

Her mother left and Courtney heard her father's startled exclamation at his wife's quick reappearance. Courtney finished assembling Lynn's dress and decided to let it be. Tomorrow after she approached Lynn she could make a clear decision if it was right.

Back in her room, she found a message from Micah among others from her friends talking about the previous night's party.

Micah:
Do you have a second?

Courtney:
For you Idiot Adventurer, I have two.

Micah:
Can I FaceTime you?

Courtney:
Sure.

Her phone rang and she accepted.

"What's up?" Courtney asked.

For a second, Micah only stared at her. It was then Courtney realized her hair was a mess and she wasn't wearing makeup. She laughed and placed one hand underneath her chin.

"Yes, you are seeing me in all my natural glory. Be in awe of this messy creature."

"Umm...no...you're still pretty."

She batted her eyelashes.

"Aww shucks!" She dropped her hand. "What did you call for? Besides the reason to win me over with your sweet sweet words."

Micah blushed and Courtney grinned. Why did she love that about him? Maybe because it was so different than all the guys she normally was around where flirting was like breathing and barely affected them.

"Uh..." Micah cleared his throat. "I called because...yesterday everyone liked what I wore and...I thought maybe I should try something like that...again."

Broken sentences were back, huh. Wonder why. Mystery for another day.

"Are you asking me to pick out your outfit for tomorrow?"

"Is that weird?"

"Only if you didn't understand the fashion genius that I am! Then it would be. Also, will this be a normal thing now, you'll call the day before and I will dictate what you wear?"

"No, just this once. I could-"

"Because I'm totally fine with that. Though by the time we're sixty the routine might get a little old."

Micah smiled and it brightened his eyes. "Maybe just for a week or two until I can...you know do it myself."

"Okay but I'm going to pick some interesting combinations in that time. Do you trust me?"

"With my life."

"As you should I'm the Wise Ole Sage. Now let me see what I'm working with."

Micah held out the phone giving her an angled view of himself.

"I know what you look like Micah, I need to see your clothes."

"Right."

Turned the screen too quickly I missed his blush, bummer.

"Okay, slowly go down the line of your clothes."

He did and Courtney sighed. "This would be so much easier if it was all color coordinated. I might have to break into your house one day and do that for you."

"Or you could come over and do it without breaking in."

"Fine, the road more traveled it is then. Stop right there, show me that cranberry-colored shirt?"

Cranberry was already on her mind, might as well stick with the theme. Micah held out his hand.

"I have no idea what that color is."

"See that black shirt, right next to it. The reddish looking shirt."

Micah snagged the right shirt.

"Now to your shorts drawer!"

The screen bobbed then displayed a mess of shorts, a few jean but mostly cotton shorts.

"Where do you get all these clothes from? You don't strike me as the one doing the shopping."

"My mom. She has high hopes I'll wear what she buys but I usually only wear a fourth of it."

"She has great taste so this helps. Pair that shirt with those stone gray shorts."

Again Micah's hand appeared but hovered there uncertain.

"Down, down, down, left, left, left, up. Yup those. That is your outfit for tomorrow. Interesting but not out of character for you."

"Thanks, this helps-"

The screen shook and Courtney heard a shriek of laughter as Micah's world seemed to be experiencing an earthquake.

"Fee! Give me back my phone!" Micah yelled.

Another laugh and more nauseating screen shaking. The shaking stopped and a girl, about fifteen, who looked identical to Micah appeared on the screen.

"Hi!" she said. "Are you the girl Micah keeps talking about?"

Awe he talks about me!

"Are you Max?"

Well, never mind.

"I'm the girl helping him get Max," Courtney said.

The world shook again as Fee started running and Courtney caught sight of Micah right behind her.

"Oh! Courtney! Hi, I'm Felicity, Micah's sister!"

"Hi, Felicity," Courtney said.

I feel like I should be running around or something, just sitting here watching Felicity being chased by Micah makes me seem lazy. Though can't run with my ankle. Lazy it is.

"Micah says you're the reason he actually looks good lately!"

Courtney had to hand it to this girl, running with a phone, talking, and still outpacing her brother. That's talent.

"I'm glad my efforts weren't for nothing."

"Oh, it's great! He's never listened to me when I've tried to get him to wear something that looked good. It's nice to know - Ah!"

Felicity went down and the world went into a crazy spiral of images that didn't make sense: wall, carpet, hand, face, eye, wall, hair, arm, carpet. All of these accompanied by loud demands.

"Micah get off!"

"Give me my phone back!"

"I was just saying hi."

"You stole my phone!"

"You're being ridiculous!"

"You know you're not allowed in my room without knocking!"

"I did knock!"

"I didn't hear you!"

"So it's your problem, not mine!"

"You still stole my phone!"

Wonder if this is what it's like to have normal siblings? Heather and Miles taught Courtney early on what their boundaries were and never to cross them. If Heather's door was closed: don't knock, don't open it, don't bother. Open door meant open space to enter.

Miles: unless she heard Hey Farewell playing, don't even think about it.

This sibling bond seemed more insane but more entertaining as well. Maybe that's what came of not having introverts for a sister and brother.

Finally, Micah appeared on screen out of breath and in complete disarray.

"You're still here," he said.

"Couldn't miss out on the fun."

Felicity gave a battle cry and appeared on screen right behind Micah as she leapt onto him. They both crashed to the ground.

"I have to go!" Micah called out and he disappeared.

Courtney laughed and lay back on her bed. She wouldn't mind meeting Micah's family cause it seemed as crazy as hers, just in a totally different way.

**********************************************************************

What's shakin' bacon! 🥓

(If you do a little wiggle dance because of that, I will be very proud)

*holds out a pot* Thoughts go into pot. Share if you care. 💭🗯💬

Now! Parents in Teen Fiction.

(Feel free to express your view)

My view is this: there are no two people who have a bigger impact on a person's life than their parents. Whether that means they are great parents, not so great, absent, or even unknown. Parents effect so much.

So when I read a Teen Fiction book where parents are barely there, it bugs me. Mostly because it seems to have no effect on the character's life, when it should have a major one.

I don't care if the mom is a nurse and being gone for long hours makes sense, that should still effect how the character lives. Is the MC more independent because of this? Is the MC resentful being left alone? Is the MC lonely? It all matters.

It's why who parents are means a lot to me and to the characters I write. Here are just a couple examples of how parents effect my characters.

(Holding Back) Haley is closed off and emotionally shut down because her parents are constantly fighting and working long hours.

(A Secret Service) Carter can love because of her father but is afraid to get close to people because of her mother.

(Every Second) Amelia's parents are dead, leaving her with a sense of loss that is always with her and makes her work harder as if she could still make them proud.

(Beyond The Barrier) Louie is determined and mature because of her father but reserved and a bit cold because of growing up without a mother.

And as for Courtney, she is as friendly and logical as she is because of her parents.

*Bows* Thank you for coming to my TED talk. Goodnight everyone. *Waves and walks off stage*

*Pops head back in* Oh! Stem, los kommentaar en volg. (Afrikaans)

What was the latest book you've stayed up to read?