Joliet woke up fifteen minutes before her alarm clock went off. Yawning she got out of bed and walked over to her closet. Pulling back the multi-colored beads that served as a ‘door’ she chose her camoflauge cargopants and black House of Blues shirt. Then she went to her bathroom and ten minutes later she stepped out of the shower and dressed. Standing barefoot before her large mirror she picked up her hair-brush and began to brush her long curly red-brown hair and pulled it back into a high ponytail.

As she walked out of her bathroom her alarm clock began to play Boston’s ‘Higher Power.” Turning the alarm clock off she headed to her closet and sat down in the floor to look for her shoes. Moving several pairs of tennis shoes and boots she found the pair she was looking for. A pair of worn, but not too worn, black low-rider Converses adorned with shoelaces that didn’t match. She stood up and went to her dresser and found a pair of white ankle socks, one with green on the heel and toe the other with purple on the heel and toe. Once her socks and shoes were on she headed down the stairs and into the kitchen.

In the kitchen she walked over to the cabinet and pulled out her favorite bowl; plastic, purple and star-studded. Placing it on the counter she walked over to the refrigerator and pulled out the milk. Opening another cabinet she pulled out a box of cereal, a loaf of bread, and the sugar bowl. Placing everything next to the bowl she poured the cereal and placed four slices of bread into the toaster and turned it on. She poured the milk in the cereal and took it to the table. As she sat down Kolten came in and fixed his bowl of cereal. Halfway into her bowl the bread popped up.

Standing she walked over to the toaster and took out her two slices of bread, buttered them , and sprinkled sugar onto them as did Kolten. Shortly after Joliet finished, put her bowl in the sink and headed back upstairs to brush her teeth. By this time it was 6:20. At 6:30 both twins were done eating and grooming themselves.

Joliet walked out of her room just as Kolten was walking down the hall and towards the stairs. Deciding to test Kolten she started to walk fast and was soon next to him and instep. Almost as a silent message the twins locked gazes and their eyes aid it all. ‘Wanna race?’

Without further delay both twins began to run to the staircase and down the stairs. When they reached the final stair they were abruptly stopped by the tall figure of their father. Dressed in a pair of Levi’s jeans and a black t-shirt layered with a striped long-sleeve striped button down, Mr. Stewart looked like one of the twins’ friends’ more than their dad.

“Do you two honestly have to do that. I mean your turning fourteen in another month,” M. Stewart said.

“Sorry daddy,” Joliet said giving him a smile very much like her uncle Reese’s.

“Sorry dad,” Kolten said.

“Don’t tell me sorry. Just don’t do it again,” Mr. Stewart said, “Plus Joliet, Izzy and your boyfriend are here,” he added with a smile.

The twins walked into the living room and saw their best friends sitting on black couch and the Tony Stewart recliner.

“Hey Izz, off the Stewart chair. Ian got it for me ,” Joliet said with a smile, “Hey Tony.”

She walked over and kissed Tony on the cheek.

“Hey guys,” Kolten said, “Yall ready?” He asked with the southern drawl that he and his sister had never really lost.

“Yup, let’s go,” nodded Joliet as all four teens picked up their bags and headed out the door.

The four of them walked down the Stewart’s long gravel driveway and stood next to the mailbox waiting for Mr. McCartney to pick them up.

“Why doesn’t your mom get the driveway paved over,” Izzy asked?

“Add to the charm,” Kolten and Joliet said in unison.

“Oh,” was the reply.

Without anyone realizing it Tony had walked up next to Joliet and picked up her hand. Turning her head slightly she smiled at him. Before she could say anything the bus arrived. First Kolten got on, then Izzy, and finally Joliet and Tony.

The latter followed Izzy towards the back of the bus where Kolten was already sitting.

“Sit,” Izzy demanded pointing to the seat in front of her.

Nodding Joliet got in the seat first followed by Tony.

For some reason morning bus rides are always quiet. Probably because most everyone is asleep but whatever the reason the bus ride was in silence. The bus pulled up to the school sidewalk and let the kids off and conversations began to sprout. The same as Thursday happened and the day went by like a blur. Finally it was 3:00 and school let out.

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“Hey guys,” Izzy said as she ran to catch up with Joliet and Tony

“Hey,” they both replied.

“Where’s Kolten?”

“No clue,” Tony said.

“Right here,” came a voice from behind them.

Turning around they saw Kolten hurrying through the double doors and outside.

“Dang it’s bright out here,” he said squinting slightly hand each of them a Dr. Pepper.

“Thanks,” came everyone’s reply.

The four friends began a conversation on a particular subject, Ian.

‘So, when are we gonna get tickets to go see Ian,” Izzy asked?

“No clue. I’ll have to IM him to get the info because I have no clue when he’ll be able to talk on the phone between hospitality, sponsor, and team meetings,” Joliet said.

“Ah. Yeah and photo shoots,” added Kolten.

“Yeah, photo shoots. He emailed us yesterday that there was this one particular shoot he had to partake in and it was nerve-wracking because the photographer didn’t know what she wanted,” Joliet informed them.

“Either that or she wanted to see which pose she thought Ian was cutest in,” Izzy said laughing.

“Ugh, that’s gross. I’m getting on the bus,” Joliet said making a face as she let go of Tony’s hand and walked toward their bus.

Laughing, the others followed her.