Bella and I have study hall at the same time, and we usually sit together just to keep from having to talk with anyone else.

  The study hall we have is actually calm about people talking or being on their phones as long as they’re not being too loud or disruptive.

  Usually Bella and I just sit silently and work on our work, or don’t do our work. Sometimes I use study hall to read a book that’s not for school or I scroll Pinterest, and sometimes Bella uses study hall to draw her characters.

  I'm pretty sure Bella doesn’t pay attention to me but out of the corner of my eye, I will glance to see what she’s doing.

  Sometimes it’s because she is drawing and I like seeing her drawings (I can barely make a stick figure).

  Sometimes it’s because I’m secretly hoping she’ll need my help with math or science - which is dumb and not actually my problem, but if she needs help, I mean?? I guess I HAVE to, right?

  Or sometimes it’s just to make sure she didn’t run away, which rarely happens but once or twice she’s had a meltdown and run off without telling me.

  I currently have my noise-cancelling headphones on and I’m pretty focused on this big essay I have to do on causal analysis in the context of childhood trauma.

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  It’s not like I have experience with that or anything- I’m a perfectly chill person. No mental hindrances or scars on my metaphorical heart at all.

  I’m pretty focused on writting until I feel my sister tap on my elbow.

  I slide off my headphones and turn to her with an expectant “Yeah?”

  Bella’s voice sounds like a child who just broke something. “Uh, sister?”

  I let out a needless sigh. “What?”

  “I broke the Blow Pop.”

  Sure enough, Bella is holding a purple sucker and the stick is way shorter than it should be.

  I repress a “pfft” sound. Dumbass.

  With an exaggerated tone, I scold, “Bella!”

  She’s trying so hard not to laugh too loud. “I didn’t even mean to!”

  “How did this happen?”

  “I was taking the wrapper off and it broke.”

  “How did you open it?”

  “I opened it normally and it broke!”

  What’s “normally” for you?

  I cross my arms and lean back in the chair, amused. “That’s gonna be tough to hold. Or you can hold it with your teeth so the sucker doesn’t go down your throat.”

  Bella holds the damaged candy up, laughing. “Honestly, what IS this anymore?”

  “A choking hazard.”

  Bella sighs at the sucker. “This is ridiculous.”

  “I know, you’re gonna be really choked up once it falls down.”

  …

  “Kai, you’re not funny.”

  Wh- what? You used to love my puns!

  “I don’t try to be funny, Bella. That pun wasn’t intentional.”

  Bella just holds the sucker in her mouth and resumes drawing.

  Tch. Sucker.

  I feel a small smile on my face before I turn back to my homework and put my headphones back on.