This choice: The Scrambled Life of Haley • Go Back... Moving away from Spartanburg might have been one of the best decisions that Haley had ever made.
It had helped her forge a sense of identity. A sense of self. One that she didn't think that she could have gotten if she'd stayed here with her mama and her sister. It had been good for her to leave the nest and experience what the big city had to offer her. Sure, it hadn't worked out. Like, at all. But the past two years had really taught her something. About herself and about who she was in this weird little life that she'd left behind.
For some reason, Haley had never really felt like things were... right. That had been why she'd left in the first place. Sure, she probably shouldn't have done it so quickly, and she definitely shouldn't have stayed away for so long (not to mention, she for sure should have dated her now ex-boyfriend for a lot longer before they moved in together) but living away from home and coming back to it had really helped Haley to figure out who she was.
And more importantly, who she was going to be now that she was home again.
"Haley honey, breakfast is ready!"
"Coming, mama!"
Sure, she was living at home again. But that part felt... right. Like it was supposed to happen. Obviously, it was kind of embarrassing to be stuck back in podunk Spartanburg again. But she couldn't afford to live in Charleston by herself, and it was either live with a stranger or get to live at home until she picked herself back up onto her feet.
And nothing got her to her feet faster than her mama's home cooking.
"There she is!" Mrs. West held her arms out wide and gave her prodigal daughter a big hug, "Ohhh I'll never get tired of seeing you come down those stairs, baby girl."
"And I'll never get tired of your cooking." Haley said with a squeeze of her mom's waist, "It's so nice to be home."
Of all the things in Haley's life that had felt... mixed up, sort of unclear before she left her hometown, her mama had never been one of them. She'd always been there for her, and she'd always helped Haley out when she needed it. Like she was some kind of constant in a sea of uncertainties that could wash something new ashore at any time. Mrs. West was a bastion of comfort in a sea of change and uncertainty that Haley, for some reason, felt especially glad to see this morning.
"Well I wish your sister was as happy to see me as you are." Mrs. West chuckled brightly, "She's in the kitchen."
Ugh. Haley's sister. She could never quite place why, but things always felt so... awkward with her. Like, Haley loved her obviously, but they never really... clicked. Even back when they were kids, it had always felt like the two of them were pieces from two different puzzles. They'd made it work, obviously, but Haley at least had always felt a sort of nagging feeling of disconnect. Like they had nothing in common. Maybe that was why they had fought so much when they were little? Either way, now was the time to fix it...
"I'll try to snag some pancakes before she scarfs them all down." Haley joked
"Be nice." Mrs. West chided gently, "But make sure to fill your plate before classes, okay?"
"Thanks mama, love you~"
A quick peck on the cheek while her mama went to wash up and Haley was off into the kitchen. That sense of awkwardness had relinquished a little now that she had been home for a few days. Maybe if her sister had ever left their hometown, she'd understand just what she felt. Living under their mama's roof the whole time, getting to be (effectively) an only child for two years while Haley was away... it must have been nice!
As Haley crossed the threshold into the kitchen, she came face to back as her sister grabbed a hearty helping of pancakes...
...
[In today's chapter, the role of Haley's sister will be played by...]
Courtney West—Haley's eager-beaver adopted sister. They'd been raised together for literally as long as either of them could remember, despite not being related by blood. Despite the lack of preferential treatment that she so-often claimed behind closed doors, Courtney always felt like she had something to prove when it came to the "real" daughter Haley, and that had pushed her to get into college right away. The same age as Haley, she was way further ahead in the ways of school and she'd even scored an internship. But living with their mama had left her sheltered and... a little chunky, given the state of that starter belly.
Dani West—Haley's fraternal twin sister. Mrs. West liked to joke about how different the two of them were, but there was no joking about it. Haley had grown up liking pink and being girly and had always been popular with the boys, while Dani had grown up into this dumpy, dour goth. Where Haley was adventurous and left home, Dani had stayed at home and... did nothing. She played video games, sat on her butt all day, and got fat. Well, fatter. All growing up, the kids at school had called her "Doughy Dani", and she'd pretty much always been jealous of Haley's looks, but two years of being an only child had left her with quite the Buddha belly!
Mackenzie West—Haley's little sister, a year and some change younger than her. Where Haley wanted to leave home and see what life was like in the big city, Mack was... not. She wanted to stay home. She wanted to meet a nice boy and settle down. She'd tried to go to college, but that had been too much for her. So she'd taken a year off. And another. And another one after that. She used to run track back in high school, but you'd never know it looking at her. Being the baby of the family and no pressure to do anything but work as a waitress at the Fish Camp, Mack had seriously fattened up since Haley had left!   indicates the next chapter needs to be written. |
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