The New Guy In Town

Peter flies home from California and welcomes Sonali into his loving arms.
Everyone claps and smiles as Sonali and Peter embrace.
And they all live happily ever after in a big house with gingerbread trim and a garden full of cute little gnomes and flowers.

Just kidding.
Nothing ever happens like that.

Following Julia's announcemount of Peter's return, my mind remained surprisingly alert. I sat in silence, contemplating my choices. I could either:
a) Run to Peter's house and fall on my knees begging for forgiveness
b) Wait for him to come to me
c) Forget him

After due consideration, I decided upon Choice A: He's the one that deserved an apology, not me!
Before I could change my own mind, I wrapped myself in a scarf and pea coat. I flew out the front door and down the steps, past the neighbors garden, down the street, past another street, and then ANOTHER street.. past Annabeth's street.. finally, Peter's street. My stomach was churning but I couldn't back down now. I came to a halt outside of Peter's house. Wait, was this even Peter's house? I shook my head in confusion. The house appeared familiar, and the house number was correct. But the paint and trim were different colors from last time.. I shrugged my shoulders and rung the doorbell urgently.
I waited in dead silence until the door slowly wedged open. Peter!
But the face in the door did not belong to Peter, his mother, his father, or any of his sisters or brothers. The face in the door belonged to a stranger. An old woman hobbling on a cane. Panic set in.
"Uhm", I gasped, "Wrong house! I'm so sorry!"
And before the old woman could reply or even grunt, I ran off.

Where else could he be?
Annabeth's?
Bridget's?
Bridget's boyfriend's?
An inn?
Right. His aunt owned the local inn!

I set my feet in the right direction, and off I went. Past more groups of houses. McDonald's. KFC. The mall. The corner store. More houses. Tim Horton's. Keep moving, I told myself, you're almost there.
I arrived at my destination. A bright sign on the side of the house-like building read "Captain's Inn". I didn't hesitate. I burst into the lobby. A woman that resembled Peter's mother in many ways smiled at me from behind the desk. I took the time to smile back before turning in to the Inn Restaurant.

So cliche, I thought, it's like I'm living in a romance movie.
Of course, there was Peter. Sitting at the table next to the window, accompanied by two brothers. The ghost of a smile was etched upon his face.
My heart wasn't stopping or even skipping a beat. It didn't even gain pace. It just kept beating. I was quite calm and at peace, standing there looking at Peter.

I approached the table.
"Hi."

-Sonali

The Homework Table

Crisp but gentle autumn air rolls through the open window and chills our bare arms. Gathered round the kitchen table, nine sisters race to finish their homework. Kirsten sits at one end and Ruthie at the other. On the other two sides, seating is arranged by age. Next to Kirsten is Julia, then Elizabeth and Felicity. Over next to Ruthie is Kit, then Chrissa, myself, and Erin.
I have a hard time concentrating on square roots and equations. Erin nudges me and whispers, "Have you called Peter yet?"
I indicate no with the ever-so-slightest shift of my head.
Erin frowns, and Chrissa breaks the silence by loudly asking Kirsten whether you spell you're with or without an apostrophe.
My brain groans as I think of the pile of homework beckoning me to finish it after I finish math. I HATE square roots. They appear useless to me. I would much rather be up in my room, enjoying the solitude and peace. But as family homework sessions are mandatory in this house, I sit through them politely as to not hurt Ruthie's feelings. Ruthie did come up with the idea, after all.

A month had passed since Erin sent the un-necessary phone call to Peter. He had moved to California two weeks after. I wouldn't have noticed he was gone if it weren't for Annabeth, texting me every day to taunt me. The absence of Peter's calls weighed a burden on my shoulders. I had taken for granted that he would not give up on me. What if he has? What if he's pressing his lips upon a sunbleached Cali girl's at this very moment? The thought haunted me.

Many of my sisters turn to the open kitchen window and sigh. Half of us would die to be outside on the tree swings, or watering the last flowers of the summer. Ruthie realizes this and sends us all outside with a wave of her hand. "Yipee!"'s and "Woooohoooo!"'s are shared around the table. Chairs screech as they are pushed back and the side door clicks open as everyone bounces outside to enjoy the fresh air.

There are now only two people left in the kitchen. Myself and Julia. I silently get up from my chair and open the fridge to find a bottle of Vitamin Water. Julia follows me with her grey eyes that so similarly resemble the grey rain that falls in spring.
"You're wallowing." She accuses me.
I turn from the fridge so quickly that I hear a snap in my neck. Ignoring it, I taunt back, "How would you know? You're gone out too much to care."
Julia rolls her eyes. "Honestly, Sonali? You pity yourself too much."
I feel a million retorts building up in my brain. I'm full to the brim with indignation and hurt. But instead of slamming Julia with an insult, I slump back down in my chair and sigh.
"Never hurts to admit it." Julia murmurs, with a look of smug amusement on her face.
"I'd rather not, thanks. If you're just here to make fun of me, don't waste your time." I refuse to meet Julia's eyes. I just squint hard at the label of my Vitamin Water.

"Fine." Julia pushes her chair back from the table and picks up her binder with obvious carelessness. "Just know that Peter is on a plane home right now."

-Sonali