Colliding with Fate

~Twenty-Nine~

It's now been three months since Destiny passed. Fate got his casts taken off and has been going to physical therapy. He was no longer incapable of eating on his own. Claire and Ethan are as strong as ever. The four of us often go out on double-dates together. But most recently, Mom and Dad have informed us that we are going on a road trip over Spring Break. Thankfully.

Spring Break was four weeks away, which gave Fate plenty of time to get back to his normal self. He's been doing amazing. The way he's overcome all of what has happened to him lately is incredible. I'm so proud of him and so so eternally grateful for him. In two months, Fate will be graduating high school. Mom paid for his cap and gown months ago, yet just now decided to tell him now. He was so happy to see it bagged on his bed when he came home from school.

"Give me attention." Claire whined, burying her head into my shoulder. I pushed her off, chuckling lightly. Ethan and Fate decided to join me and Claire in a chick-flick, only Ethan may or may not have told Claire that Katherine McNamara was hot, which she was - we all knew that - but Claire seemed to have taken it personal and decided to ignore him.

"No. Go get me popcorn, woman." I replied.

"UGH. You are so needy, Evan." She argued, but rose from the couch with a huff.

Fate draped his arm over my shoulder and kissed my temple. "She left, finally. We're alone."

"Uh, actually, last time I checked Evanine's overprotective big brother is sitting less than a foot away from you and his foot is itching to be planted up your-"

"Kettle or buttered?" Claire yelled from the kitchen.

"Kettle!" I replied.

I bit my lip in an attempt to not laugh at Ethan and Fate, who were having an intense stare-off. "She's mine." Fate spoke.

"Actually, she was mine on April fifth, 2001, when she was born. I've owned her longer." Ethan retorted.

"Okay wait - nobody owns me. I own myself. You two don't. I don't mind you two arguing, but feel free to uselessly argue about me on your own time instead of mine." I interrupted.

Claire came out of the kitchen holding a huge bowl full of popcorn. She plopped down between Ethan and I, but completely ignored Ethan. I felt bad for wanting to laugh when Ethan reached for some popcorn, but Claire pulled the bowl out of his reach and asked Fate if he wanted any popcorn. Ethan sighed. I bit the inside of my cheek to keep from laughing. Fate pulled me into his side, which pulled me away from Claire. She looked over at us and glared.

"Hey, she's mine, you know." Claire said.

I threw my hands up in the air. "No one owns me!" I exclaimed frustratedly.

"Oh, but I do," Claire winked.

I groaned.

---

I went to pick Fate up from physical therapy the following Sunday. When he got in the car, a loud groan escaped his lips. "Only two more weeks to go, Evie." He said.

I grinned. "Two more weeks, then we're off to Spring Break with Mom, Dad, Ethan, and Claire."

"Can't wait," He said, then leaned over and pecked my lips quickly. "Take me wherever you please, malady." He ushered me forward.

"Home it is." I replied as I put the car in gear.

When we arrived, Mom had a huge lunch on the table. Mom. Not Ethan. Mom did. I winced at the bright shade of pink that the mystery meat was. I was almost positive it was a steak, and it did not look done.

"Lunch is on the table, guys!" Mom called from the kitchen. Ethan came down the stairs and simply stared at the food on the table.

"Oh no," he whispered. "Ma! I'm not eating this!" He yelled.

"Yes you will, and you'll LOVE IT!" Mom screamed back. Claire came in directly behind Fate and I.

"Hey - oh, God. What did she do?" She whisper-yelled.

"I wish we knew." Fate replied, staring at the meat almost as if it was going to jump up and run off of the table.

"I have an idea," Ethan whispered. Our eyes went from the table to him, ready for whatever he threw at us.

I'm sorry, Mom, but I was not about to eat whatever that was.

As if reading Ethan's mind, the three of us turned to the door and slowly crept out. When Ethan made it out, he shut the door behind him and let out a relieved sigh. "Alright, I'm buying lunch." He said.

"Thank the sweet baby Jesus." Claire replied.

As soon as we piled into my car and were down the street, Mom shot me a text:

Wow. More for me and Dad! Expect to come home with all of your belongings out in the front yard. Have a great lunch.

I laughed out loud at that. Ethan, who was driving, eyed me through the rearview mirror. "She threatened to have our crap out on the lawn, didn't she." It wasn't a question. The fact that Ethan already knew cracked me up.

We all decided on pizza and when we finished, we came back home to find nothing in the front yard. Inside, Mom and Dad were laid out on the couch, credits to an old movie playing as they snored quietly. "Aww!" Claire exclaimed quietly.

I smiled at the sight, and as I did I subconsciously felt Fate's arm snake around my waist.

---

Boom. How was that?