After rushing into the building and rubbing my hands together for warmth, I drop down on one of the couches in the foyer and whip out my phone. My dad texted me that they should be arriving in the next ten minutes. There are a few students here as well, and I catch sight of a couple of parents, and there are also some teachers and faculty. There’s a certain feeling in the atmosphere like there is at every Parents’ Day. Excitement and nerves, and maybe fear of disappointment. For some kids, school can be an escape, especially if their parents are too hard on them. I count my blessings that my parents have always been loving and supportive of me.
My phone buzzes with a text, this time from my mother. She’s informing me that they were just dropped off by the cab and are making their way to the main building. Leaping off thecouch, I hurry to the door and pull it open, and I immediately see the three of them walking toward me in the distance.
Every part of me fills with warmth at the sight of them. My gosh, I’ve missed them so much. I got homesick a lot in ninth grade, but it got better once I befriended Carly and Sophie. Thankfully, I don’t get homesick much nowadays, but seeing them reminds me just how much I’ve missed them.
As soon as Mom sees me standing in the doorway, she sprints forward until she reaches me and gathers me in her arms, pressing a kiss to my temple. “My Raven. I’ve missed you so much, sweetheart.” She squeezes me for quite a while before stepping back and studying me. I study her, too. She hasn’t changed much since the last time I saw her. She still has the same dark hair and expressive brown eyes. I’m told I look a lot like her, minus the blonde hair, but apparently, I got my chin and ears from my dad.
“Don’t hog the girl all to yourself,” Dad jokes as he holds his arms open for me. With a smile, I rush into them and he gives me the biggest bearhug in the world, like he always gives me on Parents’ Day. He tells me how proud he is of me and that he missed me so much, too. I don’t have a chance to step out of the hug because Mom throws her arms around both of us.
But when I’m finally free, I rush to my sister and lift her in my arms, spinning her around. “Robbie, Robbie, Robbie.” She giggles as she hangs onto me for dear life.
After placing her back on the ground, I gently yank on her Eeyore beanie, one of her favorite hats. It has the gray and pink ears and even the tail. “My, my, who is this mature young woman? Did she grow an inch since I saw her?” I hover my hand over her head. “Oh my gosh, I think she did grow an inch.”
She rolls her eyes. “Yeah, right. I told you I measured myself and I didn’t grow at all.”
“Your ruler must be broken because I swear you look older.”
Robin might not see it because of her insecurities, but I think she’s one of the prettiest girls in the world. The dark hair brings out her brown eyes more than it does for Mom, and she’s got the most infectious laugh in the world. Having her here with me face to face reminds me how much I love the kid. I pull her into my arms again. “I’m so glad you’re here.” I kiss the top of her head, then glance down at her boots. “Oh, wow. Those are awesome.”
They’re royal blue with splashes of gold and purple. They’re probably the coolest boots I’ve ever seen in my life.
Robin smiles down at them as she twists her foot right and left. “Yeah? You like them?”
“I love them, little bug.”
She wears the most thrilled smile ever. “Thanks.”
I smile as I pull on her beanie, then turn to my parents. “Do you guys want to warm up inside?”
“Can we see your dorm room again?” Robin jumps up and down. “I love seeing your room.”
“Okay, sure.”
As we head to the girls’ dorm, trying not to cry out at the biting wind, I say, “How was the flight?”
“Awesome,” Robbie pipes up as she slides her hand into mine. “They had my favorite TV show available, and one of the flight attendants was super nice to me. She said I reminded her of her daughter.”
“I was hoping she’d sleep for most of the flight,” Mom says.
“How could I sleep? Iloveairplanes.”
We reach the girls’ dorm and hurry inside before we get frostbite. Since Robin has been to my dorm room before, she runs ahead up the steps. My parents tell me the news going around the neighborhood and how our extended family is doing. They update me regularly over text and email, and of course the many phone calls we have, but there’s always more news to share.
When we reach my room, Robin is already inside. I’m assuming Sophie let her in. When we walk inside, I find her trying to convince my sister to give her a piggyback ride. Robin complains she’s too old for that. I understand why Sophie is attached to my sister. She had an older brother and sister—twins—but they died when she was three and they were sixteen. She’s always felt as though a sibling was missing from her life, and Robin is happy to fill that role.
“Okay, one ride,” Robin surrenders. “But then you have to tell me more about you and Damian.”
“I told you everything there is to know,” she says as she throws her onto her back.
“Not true. You left out all the good stuff, like what kissing him is like.”
“You’re only twelve.”
“I’m mature for my age.”
“Hmm.”
“Robin,” Mom warns.
