I snapped out of my thoughts when I heard the door slam and I checked the time, it was 7:43, time sure did go by fast.
I get off my bed and I run downstairs to my mom setting her shoes down.
"Urm, there's leftovers in the pot if your hungry, it's fried rice." I said hopefully, wanting a bit of praise.
"Okay, where's your siblings." She said flatly without even glancing at me making me srink back. "In their rooms," I take a step back the energy I had a few moments ago, suddenly gone.
"Okay," she took off her blue sweater, the favorite one that she stole from me because she thought I wouldn't 'care'.
"Just get ready tomorrow I will get your siblings ready." She had such a matter of fact tone that somehow always manages to make me feel small.
"Alright." I turn around and run upstairs not staying to talk because what is there to talk about? She knows nothing about me except my name and age.
When I opened my bedroom door I run to my bed and jumped on it, getting under the cozy covers, curling into a human sized ball, my eyelids slightly droopy, and I stayed in that position for awhile not sleeping but not playing on my phone, just existing in silence, wondering how long it will take for her to acknowledge me, feeling this big heavy weight on my chest that I can't place my finger on before slowly drifting to sleep.
I wake up to my alarm, turning it off with tired movements, I get up and grabbed my towel not rushing to get ready just so I could get my siblings ready too, I enter the hot shower letting it sink in for once, humming a sweet tune, I have a great feeling today will be great.
When I got out of the shower, I was still humming as I enter my room picking my outfit, going for something soft this time.
When I was done I admired myself in the mirror before sitting down to do my hair.
I grab my hair comb and started to brush my hair until I heard the echo of my mom's footsteps before her voice thunder through the house then hearing my brothers voice, his no less louder than my mother's, a fight breaking out, the moring ruckus coming out to greet the family.
I couldn't help but my lips trembled slightly from trying not to smile.
At least now she knows what I go through every morning.
I continue to style my hair whistling in oblivion as the sounds of whining and angry tears mix together, I put my hair in a ponytail and I stood up and checked the time it was almost 7:00 and my bus comes at 7:05, I was late and I haven't even put on any jewelry yet!
I grab my jewelry then put on my shoe and backpack and rushing out of the house, not even catching a glimpse of the chaos.
When I gotto the bus stop the bus was already picking people up and I rush over and I get on in time.
"What took you so long?" Cheyenne whispered to me because the bus is unusually quiet.
"I lost track of time." I muttered.
"Girl, anyway we are going to Xavier's house today, did you tell your parents?", Cheyenne asked as the bus starts moving and I froze, It completely slipped my mind! not telling my mom but telling my siblings! I mean who's going to take care of them? They're going to panick if they don't see me at home!, I quickly pick up my phone and text my mom specifically asking her to relay the message to my siblings before relaxing.
"Hellooo" Cheyenne said snapping me out of my thoughts. "So did you?" "Oh yea I did, I just texted her, my parents are divorced."
"Oh so who do you live with?"
"My mom but I would love to live with my dad, I sometimes wish me and my siblings were under his care or well, me."
"don't worry I can be your dad, mi papi." Cheyenne teased with a grin.
"Never say that again you sound cringey as fuck." I admitted, "just say you're a hater." Cheyenne rolled her eyes jokingly and I giggled.
As the time passed the school bus arrived at school and we get off and entered the building going to our lockers.
I see Xavier coming, he was talking to his friends while girls admired him, his eye turned towards me and I looked away trying my best not to make eye contact, anything but eye contact.
We passed each other and I could feel his gaze linger on me and I looked every direction but his as we reach my locker.
"Where's your locker." I asked trying to not think about him. "I don't use my locker often," Cheyenne responded "I sometimes just carry my bag."
"That sounds like laziness to me." I said flatly putting my stuff inside my locker, Cheyenne shrugged.
"If that's what you want to call it and do you wanna talk about what happened yesterday?" She asked sincerely. "I just got really uncomfortable never had anyone invade my space like that before." I closed my locker before turning to look at her.
"Mm I will ask her to apologize, I completely understand and she was out of line for that."
"Thanks for understanding, what do you have for B days?" I inquired.
"You're not in any expect my last period." Cheyenne responded and I groaned, "I have PE first period." I groaned again and Cheyenne chuckled.
"PE? That must suck." "It does ugh I just hate PE with burning passion because I do not want to be sprinting at 9:00 in the morning," I whined as we walked.
"Well I gotta go, my class is upstairs while PE down here." Cheyenne said, "sorryy."
"Whatever go, just say you hate me and want me to die." I proclaimed and Cheyenne looked offended.
I walked away from her towards the gym and I could hear her laugh before hearing her footsteps.
I just sigh and walk into the girls locker room and place my stuff down as girls enter one by one paying attention to none of them.
I leave the locker room and walk outside the sound of the gym teachers shout to walk laps hurt my ears.
After awhile Nothing interesting happened during first period which honestly was exactly how I liked it.
No embarrassment. No emotional disasters.
Just peace.
The bell eventually rang and I was one of the first to gather my stuff and leave with a relieved sigh.
The rest of the school day passed in a blur of notes, teachers talking, and crowded hallways.
When I got home the group chat immediately lit up with messages.
Alexander: When should we come over?
Xavier: Come at 4:30, I will send my address right now.
I roll my eyes remembering that stupid project we have to work on and I realized I did not have a ride as my mom will not be coming back home until much later.
Cheyenne: I don't have a ride, can someone come pick me up?
Great timing.
Xavier: I can come pick you up does anyone else need a ride?
Cora: Me, I live like 10 minutes away from Xavier's house so you can pick me up last.
I wrote without looking at who sent the message and when I realized I physically repulsed, of course it had to be Xavier, it's like a curse at this point.
Xavier: Okay cora send your address, come out at 3:40.
I was about to type a reply but my eyes inadvertently looked at the time and I cried out of annoyance,
it was already 3:25 which means the grim reaper is already on his way to come pick me up.
I drop my phone and start to change into something more comfy to wear, I change into sweatpants and a tank top, grabbbing my sweater and leaving the room.
"Chase I'm going out in 10 minutes, I want you and Sinit to be on your best behavior I don't want to come back to an angry mom." I said as I walk downstairs and survay the area for anything that needs to be cleaned before I leave.
"Yeah whatever." Chase said dismissively of my words.
"I'm being serious I don't want trouble when I come back." My voice turn serious because I was. My mom is the last person I want to get lectured about responsibilities from.
"Yeah yeah I got it, just bring food home later."
"Yeah, I'll doordash food around 5:00 and 7:00." I stated as I look at the time, 5 minutes have already passed so I put on my shoes.
"Where's Sinit, is she asleep?" I added and chase nodded before going back to his game.
I put on my shoes and look at the time, 3 minutes left.
"Alright bye love you."
"Bye." he said blankly, too focused on his game to give me a reaction.
I walk to the door and step out waiting on the porch for him, zipping up my sweater feeling the cool breeze on my skin and as I look up I see a car screeching into a halt, seeing that dashing face that somehow repulses me.
I walk forward and open the back door seat to get in. "Sit in the front." His voice rang out clearly, smooth and deep and my shoudlers stiffended.
"Oh um su-su, sure, okay" I stuttered getting flustered for no apparent reason, couldn't even ask him why.
I get in the front seat twiddling my thumbs out of nervousness, his eyes locked onto my thumbs before clearing his throat, starting the car engine with the loudest vroom, I jumped and sneaked a peek at his face, he chuckled and licked his lips.
does he find this funny?
I glared at him and after a few minutes I turn away after seeing him turn the brightest shade of red, after a few minutes my lips pressed not knowing what to do. My eyes looked at his hands, the way he clenched them, turning it white.
"So how far are we from Cheyenne?" I blurted out.
"another 5 minutes." He tilted his head slightly exposing his neck for me to see.
"So um how do you know where Cheyenne lives?" I averted my eyes before I do something stupid.
"We had a group project in freshmen year and my parents had to pick her up all the time and like 4 months ago we had another group project so I had to pick her up yet again."
"Mm." I hummed, my shoulders slowly dropping. The atmosphere was quite and calm, almost peaceful, I kinda liked it.
We reached Cheyenne's house and she was already standing there in her hoodie and leggings.
She hopped in the back seat, jolly as ever even at 4:00.
"Hey guys!" Her voice beamed and I flinched at how loud her voice is.
"Gosh keep it down Cheyenne, you're so loud." I hissed. "Well aren't you a bundle of joy." Cheyenne retorted.
"Anyway do we know what we are going to do?" She followed up. "Well of course we are going to do research and figure out what is needed, assign stuff and etc." Xavier spoke before I could and I smile subtly.
The car descended into resigned silence.Cheyenne on her phone while I stare out the window, Xavier kept his eyes on the road until we reached his house and my eyes marvel because it was a freaking mansion!