Evangeline Hillsbury sat on the stairs facing the kitchen, watching her parents anxiously through the gaps in between her palms that have dramatically covered her eyes. Mr. and Mrs. Hillsbury were talking in a hushed, serious voice about whether it was proper to send their ten-year-old daughter on an overnight field trip to visit a whimsical garden two hours away.

"Is she responsible enough, Eric?" Mrs. Hillsbury asked, addressing the concern to her husband while marinating the chicken for dinner.

"Patricia, don't worry yourself too much," Mr. Hillsbury responded calmly, placing a gentle hand on his wife's shoulder. "Evie is the most mature little girl I've seen in years. And trust me, I have years of experience," he says, laughing at the inside joke. Eric Hillsbury was the second youngest of his six siblings and the only boy.

His wife smacked his hand with a towel, to which he quickly frowned and rubbed the site of impact.

"It's all fun and games to you, Mr." Evie's mother chided him, wiggling an index finger towards him. "This is about her safety. I don't trust any other adult to be mindful of little children these days. And Evie's as curious as she is responsible."

Evie can't help but roll her eyes. It's a testament to her patience that she doesn't want to run into the kitchen and scream at the top of her lungs that she was ten, for goodness sake! She felt old enough to have a sleepover, make her own french toast, and even know some curse words thanks to her brother—not that she would use them.

Then she must have been grown-up enough to have a bit of excitement about an upcoming field trip that she might actually relish forever. This was not like just visiting an old, boring history museum or going to the planetarium. This was one of the most beautiful natural landmarks in her state, and what she was most looking forward to was the Once Upon A Time water well located in the heart of the luscious garden. Evie's heard great stories about its elegance and the surreal magic surrounding it.

She can't afford to miss out on this spectacular opportunity! Oh, she mustn't!

The anticipation and tension were so thick, they could be cut with a knife, as little Evie twidles her thumbs nervously as sweat beads breaks free from her forehead.

Her father paces back and forth while stirring the vegetables with the dressing for a nutritious salad to accompany the rotisserie chicken. Suddenly, he lets go of the wooden spoon and snaps his finger at an idea. "What if Quinn goes with her? I'm sure we can talk things out with both of their teachers. After all, it's only for a whole day."

Mrs. Hillsbury strokes her chin thoughtfully. "Hmm, not a bad idea. I'm sure Quinn wouldn't mind."

At that moment, thirteen-year-old Quinn Hillsbury walks down the stairs from his room, his stomach grumbling. Cinderella, the family Siamese cat, is hot on his trail. The two-year-old pure white cat had the brightest cornflower blue eyes. Even though the cat was meant as a birthday present for Evie's seventh birthday, she had taken a liking to Quinn, even though he preferred dogs generally, but unlike other felines, Cinderella was tolerable for him. They nudge past his sister at the end of the stairs, who has a serious poker face on and her head resting on her arms.

As soon as he enters the kitchen, he can tell something is off by the way his parents look at him helplessly, like they are going to ask for a huge favor. Yet, ignoring his teenage intuitions, he pours himself a glass of chocolate milk and grabs a granola bar, side-eyeing his parents in the process. Just then Cinderella meows loudly, and Quinn decides that she must be hungry too, so he grabs her some meow mix, opens the lid, tilts it onto the cat bowl, and watches the weirdly colored slimy food fall onto the bowl. In no time, the Siamese cat bolts towards her meal, nibbling little by little.

When he returns to his food, Quinn jumps with shock as a hand is laid on his shoulder, almost tipping over his milk. He glances behind him and sees his father give him a wide, Cheshire cat-like smile. His mother also wears the same look. The boy swears that his parents are losing it. They never paid so much heed to him before.

Quinn decided to get to the bottom of this situation by asking, "What's going on?"

His parents share a glance of relief, like they've been waiting for him to ask. Mrs. Hillsbury places the marinated and seasoned chicken into the oven and closes the door with her knee before playing with the knobs until she finds the right temperature to cook the meal. Washing and drying her hands, she takes the salad bowl from her husband, adds some croutons, and sprinkles some pepper for extra spice.

Once everything was set, his parents asked him to take a seat on the chair in the dining room.

Mrs. Hillsbury takes a huge breath before asking, "Sweetie, I need you to go on your sister's field trip in three days. I'll make sure to inform your—"

"Woah, woah, woah," he says, holding his hands out like he was offended. "Mom, you can't be serious!" He whisper-shouts, making sure his pesky little sister can't hear. "She'll drive me nuts! And besides, I have a basketball game this Friday, and me and the guys were going to go for ice cream after. I'd do anything but..."

One look from Mr. Hillsbury, and Quinn stops in his tracks, but at that point his cheeks were red from anger and his mouth was in a disappointed pout. He glares at his mother's swollen stomach, thinking how he'd live another day peacefully if the new baby would be a replica of Evie.

His mother fakes clearing her throat, rearing back the attention of her husband and son. "QuinnBoo," she addresses him softly, stroking his messy brown hair before rubbing his cheek delicately with the back of her hand. "You know whatever we—" she points to herself and Mr. Hillsbury, "—have planned for you and your sister is the best for both of you. Please, won't you do this for her? She's your little sister, and it'll break her heart if she can't go."

"Your mother's right," his father agrees. "I've always supported Riley in whatever way possible as her older brother. Now you must too, son."

"But it'll be boring," Quinn counters, protesting the idea. He crosses his arms just as Evie enters the kitchen, unable to contain herself from knowing the decision.

"Mama," she called, beckoning Mrs. Hillsbury to her side. "Oh, please, can I go?"

Mrs. Hillsbury steals a look at her son, an unspoken way to say that the decision was made and there was no room for objections. "Of course, Evie dear! In fact, Quinn will be accompanying you too."

Her eyebrows shot up in surprise. "Really?" she asked happily. Her brother has never really liked to do anything with her since he became a teenager. Figures, she thinks to herself.

Mr. Hillsbury nods. "Yes, Evie." He looks at his son for a final clarification. "Right, Quinn?"

Quinn sighs, biting the inside of his cheek before giving a reluctant, tight smile. "Ya."

"Then it's settled!" says their relieved mother. "I'll let both your teachers know about this decision. Now. . . you better get packing!"

Evie claps her hands gleefully before rushing out of the kitchen, dashing up the stairs, and going towards her bedroom. She quickly takes out her Disney Princess suitcase, portraying all her favorites: Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Ariel, Belle, and so much more! There was a twinkle in her eyes and a melody beating inside her heart. Finally, she will visit the historic, mystical garden where the stories she's listened to and read growing up will be portrayed by people from a long time ago.

Just as she was neatly folding her dresses into the suitcase, she lifted her head when she heard someone knock softly on the open door.

Her brother stood at the entrance, hesitation creeping into his face as he sheepishly scratched the back of his neck. "Can I come in?" he asked.

Evie nodded, her lips forming a firm line. She doesn't know how upset her brother is, but she hoped his teenage mood swings weren't about to unleash a storm. The uncertainty weighed heavily on her mind, making her uneasy.

Without a word, her brother stepped inside, closing the door behind him. The silence between them seemed to stretch, and Evie could feel the tension in the air. She continued folding her dresses, trying to maintain a sense of normalcy despite the unease that lingered.

Finally, her brother spoke, his voice softer than she expected. "I just wanted to say. . . I'm sorry," he began, his greenish-blue eyes searching for a reaction from Evie.

She paused, meeting his gaze. Her heart softened at the sincerity in his eyes. "For what?" she asked, genuinely curious.

His shoulders sagged a bit, his vulnerability showing through. "For not wanting to spend time with you," he admitted. "I know we have our differences, but it was selfish of me to not consider your happiness as your older brother. I'm sorry."

Evie's expression softened as she sensed the genuineness in his words. She set aside the dress she was folding and walked over to him, giving him a reassuring hug. "It's okay," she said softly. "We all have our tough days. Just remember, I'm here for you, no matter what."

Her brother nodded, visibly relieved by her response. The weight of the moment seemed to ease, and a sense of understanding settled between them. Evie knew that sibling relationships could be complicated, but moments like these reminded her of the unbreakable bond they shared. At the end of the day, they were family, and that meant supporting each other through it all.

"I'm here for you too, Evangeline," her brother whispered. "No matter what it costs me."

"Trust me, this is going to be the trip of a lifetime!" Evie exclaims.

Quinn chuckles nervously, not knowing what tricks his sister had up her sleeves. "I can't wait!" he replied, trying to sound more enthusiastic than he felt. Though, even if he had to miss his plans for the day, he felt in his heart that they were going to have a great time.