Cabin Fever | ✓

Extra 4: The Drawing

🛑!!STOP HERE AND PLEASE READ!!: IF YOU ARE A CABIN FEVER READER, DO NOT CONTINUE TO THIS EXTRA UNTIL YOU ARE FINISHED WITH THE BOOK. THERE ARE MAJOR, AND WHEN I SAY MAJOR I MEAN HUGE SPOILERS IF YOU HAVEN'T FINISHED THE STORY THAT PRECEDES THIS PART. YOU'VE BEEN WARNED!🛑

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Now that those readers are hopefully gone...this extra is Marley's POV of when she and Gabby met (P.S. This is a helpful read for up-to-date Asterism readers, as they will be discussing this day in a coming update!)

This extra also introduces Jacobi and Max's friendship for the first time, something I know some of you have been curious to know more about. However, I do have to give a trigger warning. There is mention and description of domestic abuse, violence, bullying and mental illness as well as conversation about topics that can be upsetting to read. Please be warned and don't continue further if you feel anything above is too much for you. This is an EXTRA, which means it is in no way necessary to the plot of this book or of the plot of Asterism, and you won't be missing any important information if you decide to skip out.

For those who are still here, I hope you like this little excerpt. I really do love making these, and hope you like reading them, too. (P.P.S. For all the small bean Aiden Matthews & Leo Kahn fans, yes, our boys are included, too ;).

Don't forget to vote and comment if you enjoy 💕

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Monday, September 5th, 2005

Marley shut the front door behind his yelling, struggling on tiny legs to keep up with her brother fast walking down the concrete steps of their front porch. She hoisted her big pink backpack over her shoulder, even though the bottom of her oversized bag kept hitting her jean-clad bum with every bouncing step anyway. Max was standing at the end of the driveway, two dandelions in his hands; a bright, wide grin on his face despite the missing tooth and bruised nose. It fell at Jacobi's lowered head and incoherent mutterings as he passed right by his best friend and headed the wrong way down the street.

Marley was breathing heavily as she stood in front of Max, who was watching Jacobi with a knowing frown. "Another bad day?" he whispered, staring down at the dandelions in his hands.

She nodded rapidly. "He had a nightmare. He said the big tree was going to fall in our house. I made our lunches today when he burned his hand trying to make soup."

Max blinked a few times before his smile returned, and he tucked the weeds in his hoodie pocket. He wrapped an arm over her shoulders, leading the way behind Jacobi. Marley looked up at him. "This is the long way to the bus stop," she said smartly. "He's going the wrong way again."

"Then we go the wrong way with him, remember?" Max reminded her gently, his eyes not leaving Jacobi's strides on the sidewalk ahead of them. He was trying to stay close enough to her brother, while Marley was stumbling to keep up, brushing her hair out of her face. He ruffled it and she puffed in frustration while he laughed. "Your first day of grade one, shortie. Are you excited?"

"Yes, I am," she puffed out her chest. "I love class. But not recess. I'm not excited for recess. Will we have the same recess this year, Max?"

"You'll be with the grade two's and three's," Max told her, continuing when he watched her deflate. "But, then you get to meet so many more kids."

"They just think I'm weird." She kicked a rock at her feet down the sidewalk, her hazel eyes catching on her tattered purple running shoes. "And no one wants to catch bugs with me."

"Try doing what they like," he suggested.

She pressed her lips together, her small brows furrowing as she considered. "Is that what you and Jacobi try to do?" She asked. When she earned a confused look from Max, she elaborated. "Um, he says everybody thinks he's weird, too. And that lots of kids want to be your friend but not his. It makes him sad."