... .- -.--

Before Casper and Catherine came into our lives, me and Catherine saw so much despair from our father as he worked day and night and times when he placed the money in the wrong places at the wrong time. It even got to the point of selling away dad's car.

From that time on, he tried to reposition his goals. The time taken with the ups and downs, each hit seemed to be worse than the last and it was almost admirable how he got up so quickly to push on; for me, for us, for the family.

We should be feeling happy about his promotion, we just didn't want anything to turn sour too fast or celebrate too much before anything really happens. This might be his last chance before he breaks, permanently.

After the mini celebration, we each packed up our gifts to bring to our rooms, instructed to get changed, and Catherine being the most excited to head out and have a family lunch at the mall with her fantastic new outfits.

Me and Casper threw on some simple clothes but when Cassandra saw us, her expression and her shriek showed such horridness, shoving us immediately back into the room to put on something better. Catherine cackled to see us being bossed around by another girl.

Mom checked on us before leaving, complimenting us, "You all look so fancy!" Taking loads more pictures, no matter how annoying it might get being in the spotlight and having countless flashes, your eyes start to hurt and see the dark spots but it's worth it. It's all worth it because this is the only time we might only have with our family.

Inside the car, I was immediately squished into the side of the car, my face nearly touching the window. Getting the best view outside, looking at all of the toppling concrete skyscrapers and shophouses, bustling with business.

Approaching the gigantic complex, we found the perfect spot for the car under a huge shade of trees with golden yellow leaves crunching under the sounds of our feet and car and the blazing midday sun toasting our skin slightly. My eyes adjust to the brightness.

Opening the mall doors, the cold gust of air pricked my skin like the night before. My shoulders relaxed when Catherine placed her hand on my shoulder, pushing me back consequently. Helping me get over such negative feelings, it's time for our get-together.

Each store offered a better food than the last but made it more difficult for my stomach to keep it together and have enough strength. Looking at Casper and Cassandra running endlessly, I wondered if there was a tool to suck their energy out and transfer it to me, but the more I think of it, it would be gross. Nevermind.

Finally mom and dad decided on Johnny Burgers. Thank goodness, at this point, the screams didn't phase me anymore, I just needed to eat. We munched in silence and enjoyed the peace as the riot died down, distracted with free colouring books and colour pencils.

Gaining my strength and my sanity, I slump into the retro, red cushion, although it wasn't the most comfortable, I felt like closing my eyes. Catherine followed mom's insatiable habit to take photos, like she was an entirely different person.

Dad next to me was checking out the drawings, mom was busy learning how to use Facebook from Catherine. I stare at my half-filled soda drink, reminiscing about times with our parents. The noise of the restaurant died down, listening to the fizz from the drink instead. I searched my thoughts, coming to the realisation I have done nothing for them. A sudden wave of panic, butterflies growing rapidly in my stomach, feeling it push my lunch around.

Knowing full well they won't be there for me forever, or I'll eventually leave, but I have no direction , my body shifts weight drastically, the urge to run out of this restaurant, anywhere away from here to work on anything, to get a ball rolling. Instead, I slam my palm on the table in frustration because there is still nothing I can do. Everybody's heads turned.

"Caleb, is everything ok?"

"No, mom," I coughed, "Everything is good, I think I just choked a bit on the drink."

"Ooh, gonna hurt a while, be careful when drinking it again, and don't have to rush."

Her eyes scanned me, detecting if I had anything else I wasn't telling her.

Looking out the window, flawlessly pulling off another lie, a short stature girl was twirling on the spot. I was transfixed on how the skirt flowed and her pigtails flew. Her sleek white shirt and combat boots was stylish and yet it complimented her style well.

Her body stops, laughing and shifting away her pigtails. Amari! Her face mirrored mine, displaying a sense of shock and dread. She moved her mouth and her friends moved away, walking towards the restaurant with a stern look on her face.

It sounded like: we are going to seriously talk about this. She entered and saw Catherine as she stood up, changing her expression and grinning from ear to ear, complementing Catherine's splendid clothes. Blushing hard, Catherine sat back down with mom.

"Hi aunty, hi uncle! How are you?"

"Amari, hi, we are doing good, where did you get the clothes?"

"Don't want to share my secret aunty, I'll tell Catherine soon. Is Caleb and Catherine free to join me and my friends, aunty?"

"Yeah su-"

"Wait Amari! What about us?" as the youngsters whispered, trying not to upset mom. Amari only winked at them, mouthing words only they seem to understand and nodding profusely after.

"Aunty, we won't be long, is an hour good?"

"Take your time, we're planning to enjoy the mall as much as possible," Casper and Cassandra's eyes widen in surprise as though the day cannot get any better. Technically, it did.

We made our way out of the restaurant and went our separate ways, me and Catherine following Amari, thanking our parents while the rest of our family did who knows what.

"Amari, what do you plan to do?" Catherine, sounding excited to show off her new style of fashion. Amari's eyes lit up, looking around the many stores in the mall and landing her finger firmly on an intense red shop, with the numerous signages of sales, the Fashion Outlet Store.

They both ran towards the entrance, and soon after, Amari's friends came over, crowding the entire store with a bunch of hooligan mischief. Staff members weren't happy, laying their eyes on me as though I was responsible for all this mess breaking loose. I rub my palms against the inside of my pockets, not wanting to show how terrified I am.

Amari started grabbing all the tops and bottoms that were a size too small to fit Catherine and shoved her in the fitting room. The rest of Amari's friends continued browsing the aisles, singing along to the karaoke on the speakers and trying out jackets they aren't supposed to. Amari looks at me, dead in the eye, "You, talk, now."

Even if those words weren't loud, all her friends had quieten down with their shenanigans. The staff members weren't looking anymore but I still felt more eyes were watching me, almost as if Amari grew snakes for hair like medusa.

"Yesterday was bad, and I'm sorry for not answering your question. Nathan did in fact ask me if we were even just friends. It's scary to know that I have no answer right now and everything just keeps on falling apart. I also tried calling you yesterday, wanting to tell you Nathan got drunk; really drunk and I didn't know what else I could do besides help him before his dad got back."

My head hung low, unsure of Amari's reaction and to hide my tears from leaking out in public. Catherine comes out calling her name, her sweet smile turns sour, but was quickly reinvigorated from Amari's friends, crowding her and showing her other items in the store.

Regardless, whatever she saw in me and Amari, she shoved her way through and stood next to both of us, asking, "Amari, what did you ask him?"

"Caleb, you tell her."

"Don't push my brother around like that, what is wrong with you?"

"Caleb keeps running away and you're letting him, he needs to speak and say everything. Has he ever felt comfortable telling you anything?"

"Mind your own business Amari, that is beyond you!"

"Well, it is, but you're not making it your own business either."

"Amari, just because you don't have siblings, not everything can be harmonious like you think it might be, even if you find it easy to show your emotions, not everyone else can. Stop trying to be the hero all the time."

"Amari, Catherine, guys, sto-"

"Fine! If you think you're so self-righteous," turning her head, her pigtails flew, almost slapping Catherine in the face. I saw her hands clench so tightly, her knuckles turned white as Amari's group walked out with her. I lifted my head, a few streaks had already rolled past my cheeks. Catherine tries to find a tissue but I already wiped it off my sleeves.

Catherine presses on the bridge of her nose, muttering words of dissatisfaction. We walked in silence, smiling nervously at the now stunned staff as we made our way out. She stopped in her tracks right outside the entrance, interrogating me "Was it Amari's plan all along to talk to you like this, what is it even about? Did you tell her about yesterday?"

I trembled at the thought, how am I going to explain everything now since I already did.