As I sat at the dinner table, I couldn't help but wish for a moment of silence. But with my family's chatter filling the air, I knew that was just a pipe dream. I forced a chuckle, trying to distract myself from the chaos. My mind began to wander, and I found myself thinking about my text to Shyla. Had she replied yet? I hastily finished my meal and dashed to my room, leaving the conversation behind.
As I crouched beside my bed, reaching for my phone, I overheard my mom and Rusa discussing me in hushed tones. "Reckon he's okay?" Rusa said, concern etched in her voice. "He's been acting strange lately." My mom's response was muffled, but I could sense her worry. I sighed, my eyes scanning my phone's screen. No messages from Shyla yet, but a text from Eliena, my schoolmate from Texas, popped up. I rolled my eyes; she just wouldn't take the hint.
After a refreshing shower, I planned to crash into bed, exhausted. But as I crept into the parlour, I was startled by a voice in the dark: "Hey, Perry." I nearly jumped out of my skin, my heart racing. Switching on the light, I found Priya sitting behind me, trying to hide snacks. I smiled, intrigued by her midnight munchies. "What's going on?" I asked, trying to hide my own surprise. As I sat down beside her, she hesitated, then offered me a snack. We spent the next hour chatting and laughing quietly till I drifted away to Dreamland.