[unedited, more of just an info chapter. I don’t think it’s an info “dump,” but let me know if it is.]

I knock, maybe a bit too harshly, on my older sister’s door while I glance around her porch.

_Decorated for winter, I see. _

Out of the two of us, Harmony was always the one on top of things… versus my hot mess of a life. I’m still in high school! She graduated early and aced college.

Even now, she’s a doctor.

As if on cue, Harmony appears in the doorway, still in her scrubs, with her hair in a tight bun, and glass hung low on her nose.

“Callie?” Harmony asks, confusion and excitement weaving together in her tone. “What are you doing here?”

She pulls me into a hug, which I definitely need.

“I need advice,” I murmur, so quiet my eyes have to sweep back up to hers to determine if she heard me or not. “It’s about a boy.”

“Cove?”

A grimace reaches my face as I nod. Harmony side-steps to let me in, then she leads me to her living room.

It has a chandelier?

Gingerly, I take a seat on the large sectional, watching as Harmony collapses on a rocking chair with a small smile of appreciation.

“So?” My sister asks, fishing a blanket out of a basket in the corner that I didn’t see before. As she spreads it across her legs, I begin to explain.

“I can’t stop thinking about Asher, and I definitely can’t stop thinking about the freshman dare.”

My eyes drift to the wooden floor, as my cheeks decide to turn tomato-red. Not even Heather knows I still think about that.

“The one time you took a dare? I’m sorry it had to be so bad, Cals,” Harmony vocalizes, as I realize she hasn’t taken her eyes off of me. “If you tell me what happened, maybe I can help? And maybe it’ll lift the weight off of your chest.”

I consider this, untying my shoes quickly and curling into the couch.

“Fine, but please don’t…”

My words slur together, embarrassed at the story I’m about to tell. “Heather and her sophomore friends decided to dare the youngest, me, into kissing Asher.”

Harmony gasps, realizing quickly I do not appreciate the response. “Sorry.” She waves her hand for me to continue.

A lump rises in my throat as I finish the best and worst moment of my life.

—————————

“So, is Asher having his own party?” Harmony asks, now preparing chicken and dumplings in the kitchen. She turns to me quickly, a wooden spoon in her hand.

I shake my head, remembering the café from over twelve hours ago.

“Nah,” I mumble, sprawled out along the couch. “Apparently he’s too old for it.”

“But they’re twins, right? Heather and Asher?”

“But they’re also seniors in high school, Har, even I’m starting to think birthday parties are outdated,” I retort, closing my eyes as I stretch my limbs. Harmony remains silent, probably placing a curse on me under her breath. I always thought she was a witch. Like a good witch, though.

Who passes high school that easily?

It takes a few seconds, but I start to smell the delicious chicken and dumplings.

“That smells so good,” I murmur, opening my eyes and curling towards the kitchen to look back at my sister.

“You’re going to have to wait ten minutes,” Harmony warns, returning back to the pot as she wipes her hands on her apron.

“As long as I get some,” I respond, with the patience of an untrained Labrador puppy waiting for a treat.

We both laugh at my response.

Harmony wanders back into the living room, giving me an unreadable expression.

“What?”

“Please don’t do what I did in high school.”

I have to repeat myself, entirely engrossed in the fact my sister, Harmony, made a mistake.

“What?”

“Don’t fall for the wrong boy.”

A silence greets us, as Harmony climbs on the other side of the couch. I sit up and stare at her.

“What happened?”

“I didn’t know today was story time,” Harmony teases, even though her voice is tight and her smile even tighter, “I’ll tell you another day. Just… don’t expect to win over Asher, okay?”

I scoot closer to her as she wraps an arm around me. “Why should I, anyways? He’s about to go off to college…”

“It’s only November, Cals.”

“Doesn’t stop someone from leaving, does it?”

I lean closer to my older sister, silently pleading for her to decide to take me home tomorrow. Heather’s party is in two days, and I have nothing to wear.

Harmony has the best fashion sense.

And, maybe I can forget all about Asher. Meet a new guy.

Sounds fun.

“Can you take me home tomorrow? I need some fashion advice.”

I can barely hear my own voice, I’m so quiet. She’ll notice my intentions, usually she would before I could. But I’ve known mine all along.

I just wanted Asher.

But I didn’t talk to him.

I had no right to want something I wouldn’t care for.