Ollie finished brushing his teeth. He smiled at the mirror and his reflection in the mirror winked at him. He laughed.
"What's so funny?" Matt asked.
"Nothing, the mirror winked at me, and it still gets me every single time," Ollie laughed a she walked out of the bathroom.
"Oh yeah, I remember when it winked at me and I so startled, I had never expected that," Matt replied.
"It's a little addition my mother made to my bedroom. She said that after a long hard day of solving people's problems and pondering on the right course of action, one forgets to smile, but it is important that you do, or else you will get overwhelmed with all the bad things going on around you.".
"I agree with her on that. She is definitely right. It is really easy to get overwhelmed, I mean especially at this age we are in. We are no longer children, we can't cry to our parents and tell them how terrible we feel all the time. As much as we want to see the world around us in full colour, it gets more difficult as we grow up, or am I the only one who thinks so?" Matt asked.
"You are not the only one, dude. I agree. When we were children, everything was brighter, literally. It was easier to laugh, it easy to feel safe, not so much now that we are on our way to being adults," Ollie said as he sat on the ground and crossed his legs.
"I agree, it's funny how when we were children we couldn't wait to be adults, and now that we are teenagers, I honestly want to go back to being a child," Matt laughed.
"You are not the only one, dude. You definitely are not the only one. I remember a time where all I dreamt about all day was being king, and now that it is getting close for me to become king, and I am already easing into the duties, I want a break... I need one, all my life, it has been my goal, and now, I want to pause.".
"It is perfectly alright to feel that way dude, we all need a break in our lives. A pause from something we have done continuously," Matt said. "We all need a safe space where we can unburden, it can be with someone we trust or alone, but the most important thing is not to get overwhelmed.".
"I agree with you, and that's why I love having you guys over here. It makes me so happy to have people who think the way I think, who understand how it feels to be this age," he laughed.
"You know we feel the same, especially me. Before it was always me and the girls, it's so nice to finally have another dude that can side with me," Matt said as both he and Ollie laughed.
"Oh, it couldn't have been that bad, you had Curtis," Ollie laughed.
"Curtis was basically just Annie's second copy, or sometimes he was just an overly serious guardian, anyway, it's nice to have you as my friend, and I am really going to miss seeing you everyday," Matt smiled.
"Awww, you are going to make me go to bed sad, I am going to miss seeing you everyday as well," Ollie smiled. "What do you think the girls are talking about?".
Ollie was curious about what the girls were talking about. He did not want to say that he wanted to know about girls, but Matt was definitely more knowledgeable about girls than he was. Maddie scared him, and she was a girl, he had to remind himself that not all girls were like her. Annie for example was sweet and simple, Maddie was the complete opposite.
"Probably talking about today, or something else, but my best bet is that they are washing their hair," Matt said rather confidently.
"Washing their hair? Why would they be doing that?" Ollie laughed.
"I don't know, it's probably girl stuff. My guess is, Annie was complaining about her hair being stiff this morning, and well, she would probably wash it tonight, and Maddie, doesn't like feeling left out, so she would join Annie and wash her hair as well," Matt said.
"There is no way you are right about that," Ollie laughed.
"I don't think I am either, but if it turns out that I am right, I will simply be proud that I was right," Matt shrugged.
"If you are right, I wonder what sort of mind reading device you have, because most times, you are right about what the girls are doing, how do you do it?" Ollie asked.
Matt laughed, "I definitely do not have a mind reading device. I guess it's because I grew up with sisters, and they want me to understand them, especially, Evie. She tells me exactly what she wants. She has always been like that from a young age. When she's angry, she tells me, if she's sad, she tells me. I would say she taught me how to be sensitive to other people's feelings," Matt said.
"I will not lie, I can be a very inattentive person sometimes. I overlook what's going on around me, especially when I am stressed or overwhelmed. When I became a big brother, I sort of had to come to terms with the fact that it wasn't just only me anymore. I had little siblings to protect, they couldn't see me retract when they look to me to feel strong.".
"I had to grow up and learn that everyone is going through something every single day of their lives, and it's not only you, but the best you can do is make sure you try your best not to make their days worse.".
"I am sorry, I am rambling, right?" Matt chuckled sheepishly.
"No, no, you are not rambling, Matt. Your words are so profound," Ollie smiled.
"You think so?" Matt asked.
"I don't think so, I know so. I wish I was as understand and mature in thought as you are. I mean, you explained everything so clearly," Ollie smiled.
"Thank you, but what do you mean you wish you were as mature as me? You are, dude, you are very mature. Sometimes I wish I was as knowledgeable as you are," Matt laughed.
"You know it's funny you say that. It just goes to show how someone admires you the same way you admire them," Ollie laughed.
"I agree, well, it's getting late, I think we should go to bed before we wake up tired tomorrow," Matt said.
"I agree," Ollie got off the ground and climbed into bed.
"Goodnight Ollie," Matt smiled.
"Goodnight Matt," Ollie replied.
...
"You know what, I don't want tomorrow to come so quickly," Maddie sighed. She was laying in bed and Annie in her own bed. They both found themselves staring at the ceiling.
"Why?" Annie turned to her.
"Because, now that I think about it, and now that the time is getting so close, I don't want to go back just yet. Returning to normal life, feeling caged again, having to make others proud when the only validation you truly need is from yourself is just annoying," Maddie sighed.
"Hey, don't talk like that, Maddie," Annie frowned. "Firstly, when were you ever caged? Secondly, you know that's not true, although some people say it, you do need validation from the people that love you, like your parents, or your close friends and mentors.".
"Are you saying that if I was not to approve of something you wanted to do because of valid reasons of concern, you would not care for what I say because the only validation you need is yours?" she asked.
"No, you know I did not mean it like that, in regards to you or my mom, or Aunt Stella, and everyone else, look, I am just annoyed that we have to leave, that's all," Maddie said.
"Then why didn't you just say that in the first place?" Annie laughed.
"You know I don't like saying cheesy stuff like that, so just leave it be and don't insist," Maddie scoffed.
Annie laughed, she shook her head, Maddie was so cute, but she could also be very tough with expressing her emotions and that was what she needed to work through.
"It's not that cheesy to admit that it's nice to have a place that's so comfortable you don't even want to leave," Annie smiled.
"It is alright, Maddie. I understand you, I know how it feels, don't worry, I am sure we will find some time to come back here soon," Annie smiled.
"Yeah..." Maddie turned to her.
"Yes, so let's go to sleep before you get grumpy in the morning," Annie laughed.
"Hey, I'm not the one that gets grumpy, it's you!" Maddie refuted.
"Yeah, right, me indeed, goodnight missy," Annie laughed.
"Goodnight annoying," Maddie replied.