Back at home later that day, everything changed.
Mark was waiting in the living room when the girls walked in. His expression was solemn.
"We're moving," he said simply.
Sevira's heart sank.
Alex blinked. "Moving? When?"
"Tomorrow."
"But Dad—our friends, school—everything's here!" Sevira cried.
Mark sighed and leaned forward. "Girls, it's time. A better place, better opportunities. You'll love it."
Courtney and Mark stood quietly in the background, watching the two sisters fall into silence.
That night, the house felt like a museum of memories. Sevira lay on her bed, staring at the ceiling, blinking back tears. She missed her parents. Sometimes, she cried in her sleep and didn't even remember why.
The next morning, their things were packed. The car pulled up to the front of the house. As Sevira went back inside to grab her forgotten phone, the air shifted. The walls whispered memories—laughter in the kitchen, fights over who eat the last slice of bread, her mother's voice humming late at night. Flashbacks hit her hard.
⸻
Unpacking at the new home was chaos. Boxes everywhere. Noise. Instructions flying around.
But slowly, something shifted.
The living room was bigger. Their rooms were massive compared to the last place. The kitchen had an actual island. There was a heater, a modern shower, air conditioning—luxuries they weren't used to.
Alex smiled for the first time all day. "Okay… this isn't bad."
Then, someone knocked.
"Granny!" Sevira gasped, running into the arms of Mark's mother.
Alex squealed and kissed her grandmother's forehead. "It's been forever!"
Sarah chuckled. "Three years, but who's counting?"
"You've gotten older," Alex said.
"And you've gotten taller, sassier, and more beautiful," she replied.
They laughed. Courtney prepared lunch, and the family sat together, swapping old stories and childhood chaos. Later that evening, they ordered sushi and stayed up watching TV, everyone on the couch like it was a sleepover.
⸻
The next morning, Sevira stretched in her new room. "Let's bake cake," she said suddenly.
Mark called out from the hallway, "Everything you need is in the store! If it's not there, the shop down the street has everything."
Courtney rolled her eyes. "How do you know there's a shop?"
"I asked around," he replied smugly.
The girls kissed their family goodbye and headed out. Sevira cleaned the living room while Alex tidied the guest room. By noon, they were halfway through the cake recipe.
"I'll get the margarine," Alex said, grabbing her purse. "Back in a jiffy."
"Don't sleep there!" Sevira yelled after her.
⸻
Alex jogged down the street, sun bouncing off the pavement.
As she entered the corner shop, she bumped into someone she didn't expect.
Sky and Kyle
"What are you doing here?" Sky asked, eyes narrowing.
Alex raised an eyebrow. "Funny, I was about to ask you the same."
"This is our regular street," Sky said confidently.
"Who's out?" She asked.
"Scott lives here so it's like our second home" Sky said and Kyle nodded twice.
"Well, guess what? I live at that last house now." Alex offered a smirk. "Just moved in."
Sky blinked, thrown off.
"See you guys at school I need to get home Sevira's waiting." Didn't wait for reply she ran off.
The boys smiled.
"Scott's gonna love this." Kyle said
—————
"Ran into Sky and Kyle… oh and guess what? Scott lives on our street."
"What?!" Sevira blinked, nearly dropping the bowl she was holding. "Are you sure?"
"They told me. And they weren't even joking."
The girls baked the cake together, arguing over icing flavors and laughing at how fluffy the batter looked. The sweet scent of vanilla filled the house. When it was finally done, they both grabbed forks and cut out messy slices, still warm and gooey.
Later that evening, the golden hour painted the sky a deep orange, and the air was calm. Sevira nudged Alex. "Let's take a walk. Just to breathe, and maybe check out the neighborhood."
"Sure," Alex said, licking the last crumbs of cake off her fingers.
As they strolled down the road, they stumbled upon a gorgeous white-bricked mansion with vines crawling like lace over the tall gate. Golden light poured from the arched windows, and soft music hummed from inside.
"Wow," Sevira whispered, stepping closer. "That house is… magical."
"I want a house like this when I grow up," Alex said, smiling dreamily. "Can you take a picture of me with those jasmine flowers?"
Sevira raised her phone. "Strike a pose, Miss Tourist."
Alex giggled and leaned into the vines. Click. Click. A few more pictures. She threw her head back, laughing.
Suddenly, the peace shattered.
BARK! BARK! BARK!
A large German Shepherd charged at them from the gate, its ears flat and teeth bared.
Alex let out a loud scream and grabbed Sevira's arm, squeezing it tightly. "I'm going to run! I'm going to run!"
"Don't," Sevira said firmly, holding her ground. "Do. Not. Run."
Alex's breathing was panicked. "He's going to bite me, I swear—"
"Jeremy!" a voice yelled.
The dog skidded to a halt just inches away, growling but no longer advancing.
Out from the path emerged a familiar figure in a black hoodie and loose jeans, looking far too casual for someone whose dog had just launched an ambush.
"Sorry about him," he said, jogging closer. "He gets a little too excited sometimes."
Sevira folded her arms, her heart still racing. "That's one way to say it."
Alex's eyes widened. "Scott?!"
Scott's brows lifted in surprise. "Alex? Sevira? No way — Sky and Kyle were right. You guys live here now?"
"Yes," Sevira replied, her voice flat. "And we almost died because of Jeremy."
Scott laughed awkwardly. "Okay, okay. I'm really sorry. He doesn't usually chase pretty girls down the street."
Sevira raised an eyebrow. "Flattery won't save you."
Alex, still shaken, mumbled, "I don't want to see that dog again. Ever."
Scott held up his hands. "Understood. I'll keep Jeremy inside. Can I visit sometime?"
Sevira glanced at Alex, who was still catching her breath. "Only on one condition."
Scott tilted his head. "Which is?"
"Leave Jeremy at home," Sevira said.
"Deal," Scott said quickly. "I'll see you tomorrow at school."
As he walked back up the driveway with Jeremy now wagging his tail, Sevira and Alex lingered.
They peeked at the massive open window, catching a glimpse of crystal chandeliers, marble floors, and framed art that looked too expensive to be real. A woman in heels passed by inside, laughing on a phone.
"His house literally screams rich," Sevira whispered.
"Not screams — it yells with a megaphone," Alex replied.
They walked back slowly, the jasmine scent still lingering in the air, the excitement of the day making their cake-filled stomachs feel even fuller.
After their walk, Sevira and Alex returned home, still buzzing from their unexpected encounter with Scott—and Jeremy. As they walked through the door, they were warmly welcomed by their grandma and parents, who had already set the table for dinner.
Alex couldn't hold it in. She turned to her mom with playful accusation in her voice.
"Mom, how was your day? And before you ask me anything—yes, I screamed because of a dog. Don't judge me," she said with a pout.
Courtney raised a brow, laughing as she folded her arms. "A big girl like you, scared of a dog? Alex, really?"
"Mum, it's not funny!" Alex groaned dramatically.
"Was it a big dog or just a boy in disguise?" Courtney teased.
"It was an actual dog!" Sevira chimed in, pretending to be the voice of reason.
Alex telling her about Scott too.
"Tell me about this Scott of a guy." Courtney asked so interested in the topic.
Alex rolled her eyes. "British character—Juvia, 80%," she said randomly.
Sevira picked it up like a game. "Friendly: 89%," she added, pretending to fill in a report sheet.
"Annoying: 63%," Alex said with a grin, both of them recalling the earlier drama.
Courtney leaned closer, smirking. "Handsome?"
Sevira thought for a moment, pretending to analyze his features like a fashion critic. "95%."
Alex jumped in. "hot abs and muscles? 70%." They both burst into laughter.
From the kitchen doorway, Grandma Sarah walked in holding her glass of water. "What's amusing you two hyenas?" she said, raising an eyebrow. "I want to be part of the gossip."
"They're rating their classmate. He lives around the corner," Courtney explained, trying to hold back her own giggles.
"Well, if he's not 99% handsome, tell him not to come close to my beautiful Alex and moon," Grandma declared, wagging a playful finger. "Do you get it?"
"Yes, Granny!" everyone echoed, laughing again.
After the fun, they helped Courtney finish setting the dinner table. Once they ate, the last slices of the homemade cake were passed around, drawing more compliments from the family.
Later that night, the girls took a warm shower, cleaned up their room, and reviewed their project one last time. With everything done, they curled up in bed, smiling at how full the day had been.
Courtney and Mark came in to say goodnight, planting soft kisses on their foreheads before switching off the lights.
Soft music played from the radio as the two sisters drifted off.
But Sevira couldn't sleep right away. Her mind wandered.
She thought of Kerion—the place that once felt like home. She thought of her real parents, Zena and Afroda. Her heart clenched with longing.
How are you both coping in Kerion? she whispered into the night.
And with that silent question in her heart, Sevira finally closed her eyes and slept soundly beside her sister, she didn't want to sleep in her room.
The late afternoon sun streamed through the window blinds in golden stripes, casting soft warmth across the living room. A half-finished glass of orange juice sat on the side table, next to a small tray of untouched pills and a digital thermometer blinking low battery.
Scott was pacing back and forth, clearly irritated, a steaming bowl of soup in one hand and a packet of medication in the other.
"Summer," he called for the third time, his voice sharp with frustration, "if you don't come down, I will—"
"I'm already here, Mr. Nanny," came a weak voice from the top of the stairs.
Summer appeared, wrapped in a pale pink robe, her long dark hair tied messily atop her head. She looked pale, with tired eyes and flushed cheeks, clearly running a fever. She shuffled down slowly, then collapsed onto the couch with a dramatic sigh.
Scott shoved the bowl into her hands. "Eat. All of it."
She groaned. "I don't want soup."
"You didn't want toast. You didn't want tea. You didn't want anything. Now you're having the damn soup," he snapped, placing the medicine beside her.
She stuck her tongue out like a child.
Scott crossed his arms, scowling. "Because of you, I had to miss school today. I was supposed to meet up with my project team—now they're probably panicking."
Absolutely — here's the next scene written with heart, realism, and the warmth of sibling dynamics you described between Scott and his older sister Summer.
The late afternoon sun streamed through the window blinds in golden stripes, casting soft warmth across the living room. A half-finished glass of orange juice sat on the side table, next to a small tray of untouched pills and a digital thermometer blinking low battery.
Scott was pacing back and forth, clearly irritated, a steaming bowl of soup in one hand and a packet of medication in the other.
"Summer," he called for the third time, his voice sharp with frustration, "if you don't come down and take these meds, I swear—"
"I'm already here, Mr. Nanny," came a weak voice from the top of the stairs.
Summer appeared, wrapped in a pale pink robe, her long dark hair tied messily atop her head. She looked pale, with tired eyes and flushed cheeks, clearly running a fever. She shuffled down slowly, then collapsed onto the couch with a dramatic sigh.
Scott shoved the bowl into her hands. "Eat. All of it."
She groaned. "I don't want soup."
"You didn't want toast. You didn't want tea. You didn't want anything. Now you're having the damn soup," he snapped, placing the medicine beside her.
She stuck her tongue out like a child. "You're such a spice brat."
Scott crossed his arms, scowling. "Because of you, I had to miss school today. I was supposed to meet up with my project team."
Summer gave him a lazy smile, spooning the soup despite her protests. "Aren't you supposed to be happy that I chose you? Out of the whole world, I called you to take care of me. You should feel honored."
He narrowed his eyes. "Why didn't you call Red? Isn't that what boyfriends are for?"
Summer rolled her eyes. "Red is out of town for the weekend, genius."
"Oh, how convenient," Scott muttered under his breath.
"You're such a brat, seriously," she said, then gave him a lopsided smile. "But I kinda like it when you're forced to be nice to me."
Scott dropped onto the armrest beside her, shaking his head. "You're the worst patient ever."
"And you're the grumpiest nurse," she replied, sipping her soup. "But… thanks."
For a second, the tension melted. Scott relaxed. Summer looked up at him, her voice softer now. "I know you hate being stuck at home, but I just… I didn't want anyone else. You get me, Scott. Even when I don't say it."
He glanced at her, his mouth twitching into a reluctant smile. "Yeah, yeah. Don't go all emotional on me. You owe me." He joked.
"I'll bake you cookies," she offered.
"Deal," he said, bumping her shoulder lightly.