Bri rifled through rack after rack at the mall until she found a place that had enough shirts to last her the next five years.

“You have too many shirts that look the same,” her younger sister Autumn said. Bri pretended to be offended. “Nope, never enough!” She grabbed the towering stack of the same shirt in various colors and took them up to the cashier.

“Don’t you think that’s too many?” Autumn asked the cashier.

The cashier shrugged and kept scanning.

“See? No one cares but you,” Bri looked back at Autumn, grinning.

 “I just want you to be as fashionable as me,” Autumn spun around in her dress to emphasize her point.

 “Well, we can’t all be as beautiful as you,” Bri replied.

“Very true,” Autumn smiled.

The sisters had a rare day off during the week so they were taking full advantage of the opportunity. And since it was nearing Easter, Bri was especially excited to deck out their house with as many decorations as she could fit.

They rounded the corner to see the Easter Bunny hopping around with a line of kids. Bri made a mental note to write about this adventure in her bullet journal later. She couldn’t help but love holidays. Those times were the happiest memories she had from foster care.

“Bri,” Autumn said, trying to snap at her sister. “Hello?”

Bri came to. “Let’s go grab more decorations!”

“More?” Autumn said hesitantly, thinking about the tubs of decorations that lined their garage.

Autumn slumped down and dragged herself behind her overly-excited sister. Easter decorating and egg dying were an all-day ordeal, and she was not prepared. But she would do it anyways. Bri was more of a mother to her than anyone else had ever been, and even though both of them were much older now, she still looked up to her.

“Fiiiiine,” Autumn eventually said.

Bri clapped. “It’ll be even more fun this year! And then we can have a big picnic on Easter Sunday. I already chose a new park for us to check out.”

The two exited the mall and got into Bri’s pristine BMW to head to the grocery store in pursuit of a ridiculous amount of eggs with an equally ridiculous amount of egg dying kits. Bri carefully—maybe too carefully—navigated the mall parking lot, making sure not to go over the speed limit as she drove them to the store. The grocery store

Autumn worked at was closest. “You can stay in the car if you don’t want to go inside on your day off,” Bri said. Autumn jumped at the opportunity, “But leave your phone so I can listen to music.”

Bri rolled her eyes but couldn't help but oblige. She knew exactly what Autumn was going to listen to: “It’s Tricky” on repeat. Bri got out of the car, pretending she was going to take her phone with her. And when her sister looked at her in exasperation, she handed her the phone. “Enjoy your Run-DMC,” Bri chuckled. Their playful relationship hadn’t changed since they were little, and they both preferred it that way.

“We need to go rescue him,” Callie whined, punching her words to show how much she meant it.

Bri tried to get comfortable squished between her friends in the backseat of someone’s parents’ Accord.

"It’s time to bust him out,” Justin echoed. “His ‘rents can’t keep him hostage forever.”A resounding “yeah” came from everyone but Bri. “Right, Bri?”

“I dunno…” Bri started.

Callie cut her off, “Ugh, Bri, you’re such a buzzkill."

Bri sighed, “You’re gonna go there anyways. Why does it matter what I say?”

Justin slammed on the gas, screeching toward their friend, Terrell’s, house.

"My point,” Bri motioned toward Justin. But then she heard herself, reminiscent of what she assumed a mother would sound like.Her features softened and she dropped her arms to her thighs. “Ya know what, you’re right,” she paused, “Let’s get him out of jail!”

Callie lit up. She had defiled her textbooks with Terrell-related love scribbles, a habit she thought she would’ve gotten over by college. And even with Bri’s parental tendencies harshing her vibe, she knew Bri was the best wing woman to have in her corner. “I’m pretty sure Terrell’s older brother will be around too,” She nudged Bri, smirking.

"Take a chill pill,” Bri giggled. “You know I can’t date with my class load.”

“Dating is just as important as school,” Callie was quick to respond.

“Agree to disagree,” Bri patted Callie on the knee.Justin turned off the headlights, and the car rolled to a stop.

“Besides,” Bri continued, “Tonight’s about you.”