why don't you tell me your story

 Megan knew now she should have just stayed home and stayed on her laptop. Maybe everything would have been much easier listening to playlists and looking on Pinterest. BUT NO.

She got it in her head to make some quick sweets (Peanutbutter fudge) and something salty like a cereal mix. She loaded down the car when Cori decided they'd make a trip to his brother's place. She'd been happy then. And Cori looked happy too.

But it changed once they got there, and now she wanted to leave it all a blur. On the upside, he did find the gaming system and he was on it right now in the living room.

Evidently, Cori and his brother Cody weren't close at all. And she and Cody's girlfriend Rachel stood there watching them in a shoving match. Cody kept calling him the bad brother. And as much as Megan wanted to get to know Rachel and how her pregnancy was going..well, that didn't happen.

But at least Megan didn't have to bring back the fudge or the Chex-mix. There was more at home.

She really wanted to know what Cody was getting at about Cori. She just didn't understand. Besides, their mother was coming and Cody wanted them to leave before he got there. Did Cori really want to ruin Christmas?

There were a lot of happy things to be thinking about. Like Rachel having the baby any day now. But Cori nor Megan was on the list.

As she stood in the kitchen looking at the containers of fudge she'd made, she realized she'd never been on the blacklist. What did that mean? Cori said nothing but played the hell out of the Mario Brothers game. It was like he was reliving his youth. And she knew if she mentioned his mother, he would play that much harder.

She knew he was sad, but he wouldn't let himself speak. And she felt she had to be sad, too. But she looked up and saw Tori at the fridge, who looked sadder than Megan. She was in her fox pajama bottoms and Don't Fox With Me tee. Her hair was wild and Megan was certain it had been days since she'd come out of her room.

"What's the matter?" Megan couldn't help but stare.

"I need to go Christmas shopping," she said while she was looking through the fridge.

"Oh," Megan thought she would have gone with Dylan already. Megan looked over her shoulder, knowing it would be the worst idea to ask Cori to take her shopping. She hated to leave him alone. Finally, she grabbed her phone and text Melvin. At least, he had a car. Hopefully, he could do it. Megan asked him nicely.

"When do you want to go?" Megan asked her.

"Anytime," Tori shrugged.

"Don't you want to shower first?"

"No." Tori pulled her fingers through her hair and grabbed the black scrunchie on her wrist to put her hair on top of her head. Tori said with certainty all she needed was her heavy sweater and she would be fine.

Megan sighed wondering what was going on with her, but at least Melvin said he would do it.