Pilot

                                    

                                          

                            

                                
                            
                              
                                  
                              
                              
                                
                                  
                                  
                                
                              
                             
                            
                            
                          
                          
Dappled light filtered through the sheer curtains of Alice's room, casting a glow onto the bed in which she lay. The formerly sleeping teen let her eyelids flutter open and take in the morning sun. She let out a soft groan as she used her forearms to push herself up on the mattress. She turned her head slightly in order to peer over at the alarm clock seated on her bedside table. The hour hand ticked towards the seven, telling Alice that it was time for her to get up. 
After she had let warm water wash over her body, wiping away the last traces of sleep, Alice had chosen her first day of school outfit. She went with a pink t-shirt with a tied bow in the center, a pair of low rise jeans, and a white sheer bolero. After putting on her outfit, Alice bounded down the stairs, making her way down to the kitchen. 
When she arrived in the kitchen, there was already a plate of eggs benedict waiting in her spot at the table. Her mom was standing over the stove, cooking what Alice assumed was Tyler's breakfast. She smiled as she walked over to her, snaking her arms around her in a show of affection. 
Carol would've jumped if this wasn't such a familiar feeling. Unlike Tyler, Alice was a very affectionate and loving person, especially with her family. She could be cold and sharp when she needed to be, closing herself off from the world, but she would eventually melt in her mother's embrace. "Good morning, baby." Her mother greeted, poking at the egg with a spatula.
"Morning, Mom." Alice let her mother go and made her way over to her spot at the kitchen table. A book lay discarded on the table from where Alice had left it there the previous night, her place still held. 
Alice was halfway through her breakfast by the time Tyler trudged into the kitchen. His eyes were slightly groggy but he had managed to put on his clothes correctly, so that was a win. He smiled when his sister looked up at him mid-bite and grinned. "Mom made eggs benedict." She told him as she placed the fork in her mouth. Tyler chuckled at his sister's appetite just as their mom passed a plate into his hands.
"Thanks," He said, taking the plate over to the table to sit by Alice. Alice smiled as she licked the remnants off her fork and turned to her brother. She let her eyes trail up and down his body, determining if his outfit was first day worthy. Tyler, who had become used to this, simply rolled his eyes fondly and allowed her to do as she pleased. Alice, satisfied with his look, nodded and turned back to her plate. 
"Oh, Alice, did you ever get that tupperware back from Elena?" Carol asked as she finally slid into her own seat. Alice had been making food for the Gilbert family for the past month or so. When tragedy struck and Miranda and Grayson Gilbert drowned, Elena and Jeremy were put under the guardianship of their Aunt Jenna. Jenna Sommers was a wonderful woman, but she had been drowning in her newfound responsibilities. Due to this, Alice had taken it upon herself to make a few premade meals a week for the grieving family. She had tried her best to be subtle about it, not wanting to make them feel like a charity case. Thankfully, they had all been extremely grateful for Alice's help.