What is she up to?

Title: What is she up to?

Author: Haripriya

Authors Note: Hello everyone! I hope you are having a happy Sunday! This story doesn't follow the prompt fully because the prompt says to include the cookie exchange, but I only did it at the end, so that might be a little out of the prompt, but it still follows the basic idea. Other than that, I hope you will like this story! 

"I need to know what she's up to!" yells Jay. 

"Whoah, no need to panic or anything, everything will be fine. Just...calm down." I reassure my twin brother.

"No! How can I calm down June? How?" shrieks Jay.

"Just stop thinking about it for at least an hour! Do something else, jeez! For once, why can't you listen to me? I told you, everything will be fine, and she's not up to anything. So stop!" I advise him, or at least I try.

Jay scoffs, and looks at me with frustration, like I did something wrong to him, and storms out to go to his room. 

✭✭✭

Come on! I'm not the one who was as foolish as him to agree to do a prank war with the prank queen! That's Jay who did that! Now it's his fault he's always scared every time he turns. Like why is he even dragging me into his mess? 

I'm not that June anymore. I am not the June who always takes the blame for something she didn't do. I'm not the June who always supports someone, even when she thinks it's wrong. No, no, no. If you think that's me, then sorry, you've mistaken. I changed over the summer break. I changed a lot. I won't be too innocent or gullible to fall into any mess someone else created. I won't help and get into trouble. Nope. That was the old me. But now she's dead. 

This is the new, the much, much, better June. I liked the old me, but soon I realized what she did wrong. I let everyone control me. I let everyone take advantage of my nice characteristics. But I swear, it won't happen this time. I'll only help someone when I think the person actually deserves help. Not because I always want to be selfless. Everything has a limit to it.

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Frankly, I kind of like this new me. I feel much more confident and better about myself this way. I feel a bit happier about myself like I stand a chance against everyone. I finally feel needed because of who I am, not because of what I said. Before, everyone wanted me to help because they knew that I was going to say yes. Now, I won't be like that. I will help people because they asked me. I mean, they must have had to trust me to need my help, wouldn't they?

So yeah, I will help most people, but I just don't want to help Jay right now. I mean, it's not like if I don't help him, he can't show his face again to school. It is only a prank duel. Also, I even warned him not to say yes to the challenge, but Jay has this behavior, he always wants to be known as the bravest person in the world. But only I know what kind of person he is. Just a coward, and a scaredy-cat. That's who he really is. 

Outside, he's just a showoff. Wants everyone to be pleased by his good characteristics and constantly cares about what others think of him. That right there is what makes me extra mad at him. Always trying to doubt himself for every action he does. I mean, why can't he just be himself? True friends like you because of the way you are. But whenever I try to tell him that, he just brushes it off like it's nothing. That's why I officially stopped helping him with any of his problems about this entire prank war arrangement. Honestly, it's like he doesn't value what I say to him.

✭✭✭

"June, why are you sitting all alone so grumpily? Where is your brother?" asks my mother, now sitting next to me, looking worried.

"Oh, I don't want to talk about him," I admit.

"Well, he is your brother. I urge you to tell me what's going on between you two." my mother insists, her warm eyes still gazing at me.

I heave a big sigh and explain, "You see, last week, Jay made some kind of deal with another girl, Bliss, that he was amazing at prank wars. Just so you know, everyone at school calls Bliss the queen of pranks. So Bliss has already done several pranks to him, humiliating him. So I told him to just forget about that, but no! He always talks about this prank thing over and over again."

"Hmm..." I saw mom thinking, "why don't you try talking to him again? I suggest you ask him how he is feeling. Maybe talk to him a little gently. He'll understand." my mom said.

"Ok, I guess. But what if he still doesn't listen to me, mom? What if he's still arrogant?" I ask.

"You know what? Bring him these cookies." mother said.

✭✭✭

At first, I thought that was a smart idea since he does love cookies. But then it hit me. 

A cookie exchange. Exactly!! We can host a cookie exchange to see what Bliss is plotting. 

"Wow mom, thank you so much for the help! I will surely need those cookies, and I'll go talk to him. I think I know exactly what to say to him to cheer him up. Again, thanks!!" I exclaim and starting going upstairs towards his room.

"Umm...ok June!" I hear my mom's response faintly.

I knock on his door and ask, "Jay?"

"Come in. What do you want? You definitely don't want to help me figure about Bliss." he says, still grumpy.

"No, I really want to help you. I think I have the perfect idea to bust her. But first, eat the cookie." I tell him.

While chewing, he tries to make out words like, "What do you have in mind?"

"I'm glad you asked! We'll host a cookie exchange to figure out exactly what Bliss is plotting. I'll go and butter her up while you'll do the talking with the others. Trust me, this plan will work perfectly." I reassure him, and we both smile widely.

~The End