Her Miracle

CHAPTER 27

The most awaited day of the entire residents of Castle Rock was today. Other than the yearly carnival it's the parade. A parade that just looks like the fourth of July all over again. A burst of colors red, blue, and white in almost all corners of town. From the flaglets, banners, and other decors they had placed this year. 

Every year was almost quite the same for the past 16 years. Well, they try to make it the same, at least, trying their best to make it like how the tradition was for the past years with Eleanor's time. I guess she's got a better experience than our generation though.

Eleanor's was supposed to participate in the parade but this year, Chester decided not to. Tradition kept this town going. For Chester, there's nothing wrong with taking a break and enjoy the festivities like he was a normal resident with no other responsibilities. 

Before the accident, my mom would take a leave from work to enjoy the carnival and parade. She had life inside her. Kendra, my mom, already had this bitchy attitude towards everyone and that's what my dad liked about her. Her patients or co-workers have this scared look whenever she's in the room and immediately follow her orders because if not, they're dead men. My mom then has these neverending rants just like a tv series. New issues every episode. Instead, she has every person, every issue if you don't listen to her. She's bossy and annoying like that. Now that my dad is gone, I don't even know who she is anymore. 

The parade is set in the morning. Other activities are set to be at the town hall in the afternoon. Castle Rock folks enjoy the parade at the same time enjoy the town free food catering at the town hall. This was one of the ways they liked to encourage people to come out of their houses and appreciate Castle Rock's Anniversary. 

My brothers were kind enough this time to let me hitch a ride going to the town hall. Zachary was rarely pissing me off and also sounding playful with Aiden. Maybe something inside hit him. I really don't know but sure as hell, he has a complicated head. 

"Zacharyyy!! Aidennnnn!!" I called out as loud as I can so it'll be a whirring in their ears.

I sat at the counter eating my daily dose of apple as I waited for my brothers to get down the stairs. They were taking too long. I bet they really dressed up for this occasion. It might not be a normal day for the founders of the town who give too many donations every year and their ancestors but isn't casual okay? They're the ones who dress up in formal suits and dresses like they were the president of the country. 

In my end, I just wore something I'd normally wear to school. Simple but presentable. Denim mom jeans, my 1460 Doc Martens, and some vintage band shirt. It's cloudy today so it would be a good thing to wear boots if ever it rains. 

I crunch the apple inside my mouth as my teeth sunk unto it. The juices escaped out of every end of the crushed pieces. Aiden does know how to choose his apples. How much more his love interests? I chuckled at myself. 

"Aiden! Zach! What the hell is taking you so long!?" I repeat again, completely straining my voice now, not caring if my mom was home and her sleep would be slightly disturbed with my croaked annoying voice yelling inside the house. 

Muffled voices could be heard from up the stairs. It was either a reply in regards to my question or they were talking about something, worst-case scenario, they're arguing. I let them be for a second, so I got off the countertop and disposed my skeletal apple with nothing left to eat inside the garbage bin that was in the lower cabinet. The garbage bin was hidden more than me. 

"So? What do you think?" Zachary startled me as I turned my back. 

"Since when did my opinion matter to you?" I crease my brows in the confusion of what he just asked me. Zach never asks my opinion. Never. Most especially, when it comes to what he wears because he doesn't think I know 'fashion'. "Where's Aiden?"

Voices could still be heard on our second floor. Wait... was Kai here? This is so...weird. "What's taking him so long? Why is he so noisy up there? And for the first time in history, you're down first than him. Is Kai here? that's why he's taking so long?" I continued asking him with a trail of questions like how people interrogate in court. 

"Mom happened." His voice is flat and lifeless but with a hint of sarcasm. He also hated our mom. Our mom was really irritating these days. If she's in her own world or being nosy on butting-in on everything she thinks she can control.

My eyes bulge at what he just said. "What? She's home? Lol! Since when did she care? What's her problem this time?"

"She was like, 'Where are you boys going? I swear! She called two of her sons who are now 17 years old 'boys'? She's insane. I really don't get her sometimes. The parade was never a problem before... And now she's like you can't come because I didn't allow you to. So Aiden told me to come down and talk to you ahead but he didn't like tell that to me verbally. I mean you know, he has this look. Anyways, he's there arguing with mom. handling all her s****l frustrations."  Zach answered mimicking my mom's high-pitched voice. 

"Nothing new but by the way, your outfit looks good. Good enough to attract chicks!" I playfully answered, and sat back up at the counter. 

"If Aiden sees you sitting at the countertop right now, he's going to kill you."

A series of doors slamming shut vibrated in the entire house. Mom and Aiden's arguments must be interesting and intense. "Well, he's still coming after mom.. so killing me is not a problem as of the moment." I joked out. 

"If my outfit looks good, would it attract your best friend, Izzy?" 

He wore a plain nude-colored buttondown shirt paired with black pants and his boat shoes. The always so flashy Zachary. His branded perfume filled in my nostrils and the entire kitchen the moment he stepped in. His scent was so strong that it'd take a little more and someone would faint. It's like this super fresh, airy, masculine kind of smell that just doesn't normally disappear. It would need a fan to keep the air flowing and not saturate the entire kitchen with the smell. 

"I don't know. She's dating someone I don't know. She's hanging out with the desperates now and not me. And I swear Zach! I wouldn't want my twin brothers dating both my best friends since grade school! Ew! I mean Kai and Aiden are okay, but not both of you paired up with my best friends! god!" I shook my head with both my hands on my temples, shaking the images that popped in my head. He must be joking. Please. He should be!

"Oh, yeah. I heard Izzy is now their side-chick. The third member of the desperates. She's supposed to be smarter than that. That move was ultimately the worst move. It's like stepping down in the school's hierarchy."

"Either way, people still would want to date them even if they're members of the desperates." I rolled my eyes." I think any minute now... his heavy footsteps is making the floor of the hallway upstairs creak," 

This was more than unusual. Catching up with Zach was never my forte. I was much more comfortable with Aiden since Zach annoyed the hell out of me in almost the tiniest detail. Aiden didn't confuse me anymore. This was much more confusing but I let it be. 

And I was right. Aiden then made his way to the kitchen the moment his feet landed on the first floor. Zachary and I faced him as he walked his way towards us. Aiden wore something similar to Zach but he had his own touch to it. He also had a button-down shirt but it was black shiny silk that had chains printed on it, paired it with khaki-colored pants, and he had his Chuck Taylors on. 

Comparing them both now, Aiden won the best dressed. They also had to be dressed because the Lacrosse team was the faces of the parade. They'll be bringing Willoughby's school banner and will be walking with the school mascot. We both opened our mouths to say something but Aiden motioned his palm to shut us up. "Shut up both of you! Come on, I'll tell everything that happened inside the car." He groans with his face already worn out in arguing with our mom.

Aiden threw the car keys to Zach which meant Zach was our designated driver for today. 

We wasted no time and piled out of the house leaving our mother inside the house who was holed up inside her room, probably watching Netflix or sleeping all day long. Zach took his position in the driver's seat, while Aiden on the front seat. 

Excitement rush through my veins. I stayed in the back seat. My palms slowly sweat even if the town was cold out here so I played with the insides of my cheek. It's been a long time we've ridden together. After they let me walk a few meters away from school. If I would've known. 

Aiden cleared his throat, gaining Zach and I's attention. "So I was supposed to tell mom that I was gay when I told Zach to come downstairs but the course of the universe changed. She was now ranting about how I budget and how careless I've been for no reason."

Zach shrieked out while he had his hands on the steering wheel, successfully pulled out from the driveway. He was now heading to the town hall where the parade is going to start."What the f**k is her problem? You've been doing a good job at it than her!"

"I second that," I commented out like a kid at the back on what the adults were talking out in the front. "But first things first, you shouldn't be in a hurry in telling the world that you're in pride of colors, Aiden. Do it when you're ready. In your own time not others'," 

"I know..." He nodded. 

"For the first time in history, my little sister is right!" Zach yelled. 

Okay? He's really acting weird. 

"Stop it, Zach! You're scaring Andy! For f**k's sake, focus on the road." Aiden slapped the back of his head. 

And all of us ended up laughing. Unexpected days sometimes give you the best memories, indeed.