"Not too long ago, in a world not much different from ours, lived—" Naviere began, her voice soft yet captivating. The room was quiet except for the occasional creak of the old ceiling fan, as Ren and Ezra leaned in, eager to hear what came next.
But just as Naviere was about to continue, a sudden creak of the door shattered the calm. All three turned their heads sharply toward the noise, their expressions a mix of curiosity and annoyance.
Reigan stood at the doorway, her hand resting on the frame, wearing an expression halfway between guilt and amusement.
"Uh... why are y'all staring at me like that?" she asked, her tone defensive but with a hint of a smirk.
"Rei! You interrupted the story Navi was telling us!" Ren whined, his voice rising as he crossed his arms in a dramatic pout.
Reigan raised an eyebrow, looking completely unbothered. "Oh no, not the sacred story time," she teased, leaning casually against the frame. "Anyway, dinner's ready, so you lot better get moving."
Ezra frowned, clearly not ready to leave. "Can't we eat after Naviere finishes the story?" she asked, her voice holding a sharp edge of annoyance.
Reigan sighed heavily, throwing her hands up in mock surrender. "WELL, guess who's going to get an earful if you all don't eat on time? Me!"
Naviere, still seated on the floor, raised a single eyebrow. "That sounds like a you problem."
Reigan fixed her with a mock glare. "No shit, Sherly," she snapped, her tone laced with exaggerated irritation. "Now, get your arse up before I drag you all out of here myself."
"Sheesh, alright, alright," Naviere muttered, pushing herself off the floor. She shot Reigan a pointed look. "By the way, you're filtering the wrong words, Rei."
Reigan smirked, crossing her arms again. "And you're spoiling these two brats," she quipped, nodding toward Ezra and Ren, who were now whispering to each other with mischievous grins.
Ezra rolled her eyes, leaning back dramatically against her arm. "Ugh, can you stop nagging, Rei? We get it, you're the responsible one."
Naviere stifled a laugh as Reigan's jaw dropped in exaggerated offense. 'Okay, maybe they have been picking up my sass,' Naviere thought, a pang of guilt washing over her.
Before Reigan could fire back, another voice interrupted.
"What's taking so long?" Raiden's calm but firm tone cut through the growing chaos.
Reigan jumped, spinning around to glare at her brother, who had appeared silently behind her. "Where the heck did you come from?!" she exclaimed, one hand flying to her chest in mock horror.
Raiden smirked, his arms crossed. "The kitchen," he said simply, his calm demeanor only furthering her irritation.
Reigan groaned. "Ha-ha, very funny."
"I know." said Raiden, a slight grin creeping into his face.
She pushed past him, muttering, "You're so annoying."
"How about we go eat now?" asked Naviere with a sheepish smile.
Although Naviere loved the Jimms, she had never quite adjusted to their way of speaking to one another. It wasn't that they were mean—far from it. Their sharp jabs and sarcastic quips were their language of affection, a way to show they cared without needing to say it outright. But for Naviere, who grew up in a home where kindness was expressed more gently and openly, their interactions often felt like navigating a whirlwind.
She couldn't help but wonder, at times, if she had played a role in shaping the younger Jimms' sharp tongues. Her own tendency for dry humor and quick comebacks might have rubbed off on them during her countless visits. Despite the occasional guilt, she knew their spirited exchanges weren't malicious; in fact, they often ended in laughter. Still, the contrast to her own family's dynamic never failed to leave her quietly reflective.
Her thoughts were interrupted as the group began making their way out of the room. The wooden floorboards creaked softly under their footsteps, echoing in the otherwise quiet corridor. They were at the Jimms' house, a cozy and slightly chaotic space that always felt alive with energy.
The dinner arrangement had been a practical decision. Naviere's brother, Xavier, and Reigan's brother, Raiden, had been eager to catch up and spend time together. But with both of them also tasked with taking care of their younger siblings for the evening, the solution was obvious: combine forces and host a family dinner, without the parents of course.
Ren had quickly climbed onto Raiden's shoulders, giggling as he swayed slightly with every step. Ezra walked beside them, her arms swinging loosely at her sides, occasionally shooting playful remarks up at her brother and little Ren.
A step behind the trio, Naviere and Reigan fell into an easy stride. They talked in hushed tones, their voices blending into the warm hum of the house.
"So," she started, her tone light, "what story were you telling them?"
Naviere shrugged, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "Just something I read recently. It's about a zombie apocalypse."
Reigan made a face, equal parts disbelief and amusement. "A zombie apocalypse? Really? Of all things, Navi?"
"Hey, don't judge," Naviere said defensively. "I've been reading, watching, and playing a lot of apocalypse stuff lately."
Reigan's eyebrow shot up. "And why's that?"
Naviere thought for a moment before replying, "I think my favorite game's new update inspired it. It's got this whole apocalypse theme going on."
Reigan chuckled softly. "Makes sense, I guess. Still, poor Ren and Ezra. They're going to be traumatized if it's a story you read." Naviere with a hint of amusement on her face, shot Reigan a glance but said nothing more.
As they reached the dining room, the warm aroma of freshly cooked food greeted them. Xavier, Naviere's older brother, was setting the table with a focused expression.
Ren's eyes lit up as he climbed off Raiden's shoulders. "Wow! That looks so good!"
Xavier turned to greet them, a smile breaking across his face. "I'm glad you think so. Hopefully, it tastes as good as it looks."
"It's perfect, babe," Raiden said, walking up to Xavier and placing a gentle kiss on his forehead.
"Ugh, gross!" Ezra gagged, making a show of pretending to retch.
"Jealous much?" Raiden shot back, smirking as he slid an arm around Xavier's waist.
"You two are ridiculous," Reigan muttered, though the corners of her mouth twitched in amusement.
Naviere rolled her eyes but smiled. "Alright, lovebirds, let's tone down the PDA. Some of us are trying to enjoy being single here."
As everyone settled at the table, the lively banter continued.
"This is amazing!" Ezra exclaimed, her mouth half-full of food.
"My brother is a great cook," Naviere said proudly, nudging Xavier playfully.
"Unlike you," Reigan teased, earning an exaggerated glare from Naviere.
"I cook better than you, and you know it," Naviere shot back.
"Uh-huh—" Reigan began, but Raiden voice cut her off.
"Ren, eat your veggies," Raiden said, scooping a generous portion onto the boy's plate.
"But I don't wannaaaa!" Ren whined, pouting.
"If you eat all your veggies, you can have ice cream after dinner," Raiden offered, his tone coaxing.
Xavier turned his gaze to Naviere. "And that goes for you too."
Naviere groaned but reluctantly took a bite.
By the time dessert was served, the mood had settled into a comfortable calm. As the conversation turned to the future, Raiden asked, "So, how does it feel knowing you'll be sophomores soon?"
"Wonderful," Reigan replied, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
"Just shut up and eat," Naviere muttered, shaking her head.
Laughter rippled through the room again, and for a while, the only sounds were the clinking of utensils and the occasional giggle.
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