Raising Chandler

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY LITTLE MAN!" I heard and my eyes shot open. I looked up at my dad's goofy grin and my mom's tainted and tired smile, as well as my 11 year-old sister and rolled my eyes, sitting upright. "Good morning dad, mom, and Aubrey. Thanks for waking me up at," I paused and obviously glanced at my bedside clock, "eight in the morning?" I said, but it came out more as a question. I groaned and flopped back down, then pulled the sheets back up over my head. Of course, that was only to have them yanked back down and all the way off my bed by my dad. Aubrey started to laugh uncontrollably and I wasn't sure why until I remembered something important- I sleep naked. I opened my eyes again and grabbed for my sheets, looking around frantically and seeing my red-faced mom, laughing sister, and smirking father.
"Thaaaanks! Hope you guys got a good view, now go! I need to get dressed," I half-yelled, pulling the covers back over my exposed body. My mom looked a little scared and I remembered that she's never been able to handle yelling. My expression softened, and my dad's smirk faded as we looked at my mother. "I'm sorry mom, I forgot," I said, mentally cursing myself. I knew she was getting more used to it, but I felt really bad. She shook her head. "It's alright Chan. C'mon guys, let's give him some privacy so he can get dressed. Just come to the kitchen when you're ready, okay? We're going out for breakfast with Uncle Hime," she said.
When my family left, I kicked off my covers and got dressed quickly. If there was any motivation in this world, it was seeing my Uncle Jaime. I've always been closer to him than anyone else, mom said it's been that way since the day I was born. I ran to the kitchen to see the always-grinning, goofy man that was my uncle. "There's the official teenager! Come here little dude!" he said, extending his arms. I ran and jumped on him like always, and we play fought and wrestled in the kitchen, which was our normal greeting no matter where we were.
"C'mon guys, we wanna get there early, don't we?" Mom asked, and I ran out to the car. Aubrey and Uncle Hime climbed in with me, and Mom and Dad got in the front seats- dad driving, mom in the passengers. I don't think mom's ever driven in her life time. She looked back at us. "Seatbelts?" she asked. "Check!" we all said at once. She smiled, then looked at me and a different emotion passed through her eyes, though I'm not sure what it was.
We arrived at Waffle Avenue, which was my favorite breakfast place in the entirety of the world. We went in and the waitress, Rebekah, flashed her same huge smile. "Thirteen, a real teenager now. Woah," she said and I puffed my chest and smiled at her triumphantly. "Yep, I'm a real man now," I said. Aubrey laughed. "Give up Chan, she's never gonna go out with you," she said, punching me in the shoulder. I deflated and my face turned red. I socked her in the arm. Little sisters are really annoying sometimes. Rebekah laughed and we followed her to our table. I stared at her butt all the way there. Uncle Jaime noticed and nudged me, giving me a knowing look.
"What? I'm a teenager now. My hormones are making me do it," I muttered, which made him laugh loudly. "You're killin' me kid," he laughed. After we were seated in our booth, Bekah left to get our usual orders. She had them memorized.
When she finally brought my stack of chocolate chunk pancakes with a candle, everyone started to sing. "Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday dear Chandler, happy birthday to you!" I hid my face. When I looked back up, my mom had a single tear on her face. I was confused, but I shook it off. The crowd of waiters and waitresses that surrounded our table bestowed the "Waffle Master" crown with my name on it upon me. I put it on my head and yet another tear found it's way onto my mom's cheek, but she quickly brushed it away. Why was she so sad? Was it what she and dad were talking about last night? Or was it because I reminded her of Clara? We'd be visiting Clara's grave later though- we always do on our birthday.
I know the story of Clara, my deceased twin, like the back of my hand. I used to always ask what happened, for a while I was doubtful that it was the truth, but over the years I quit asking. Mom and dad wouldn't lie to me. The story went like this; when mom was in the hospital, she was put under a lot of strain. The doctors said she'd only have one baby, if that. I was born into critical condition, and Clara died shortly after birth. It's a miracle that I survived, but I did have to have surgery and that's why I have so many scars.
Uncle Jaime looked pained every time he heard that story, and so did both my parents, but I guess that makes sense. Mom and dad lost a baby, and Jaime lost a niece.
Maybe mom really was sad because of last night's conversation with dad, though. She was crying all through it. I don't know who Vic or Alli were, but apparently I look like them and mom is upset about it. Is it because I don't look like her or dad that she's so upset?
I decided not to think about it. Before I knew it, we were parting ways with Uncle Hime and heading to the cemetery where my sister was buried. When we got to her grave, I reread the engravings on her headstone like I always did. Still to this day I can't figure out why her last name is different than mine. Mom says it's because she was born and died before she and dad got married, so her last name never changed like mine did. Mom's maiden name was Fuentes, so that's what Clara's last name was, and mine too for a while.
We payed our respects, then headed back home. When we got home, mom and dad gave me the key and told me and Aubrey to go in first and they'd be in soon. I raced my sister to the front door and we rushed inside and to the living room to set up for my birthday party later. I glanced out the window and saw that mom was shaking with her face buried in dad's chest. He was rubbing her back and his face was red, like he, too, had been crying earlier. I closed my eyes. Maybe I'd be crying too if I'd ever seen my twin sister alive.

Notes

I'M BACK!!!!!!!
So.....Chandler doesn't know. Ouch.
Hope you guys haven't missed me too much! And also hope you liked chapter one! This story probably won't be quite as long as the preceding fic lol :) Thank you for sticking around, hope you had a fantastic month :3

~Shayde~