The Churning Wake

Chapter Four - Now

Beanie mutters in her sleep, and I glance over at her. She's alright, eyes fluttering in her sleep, covers bunched in her hands. The clock says 12:48 a.m. I yawn as I switch out my sweatpants for pajama pants and lay down in my bed. My phone buzzes, so I check it. A text from Julian Sloane, asking about our AP Gov. project.

Julian: Did you get your stuff done over the wknd? Due tmrw

Me: yeah ik. should be ready

Julian: awesome thnx. will run over it tn

Me: see you tmrw. oops in a few hours

Julian: lol

Me: gn

He doesn't reply. I knew he wouldn't, but still, it would've been nice. The last person who replied to my gn texts died three years ago. I think about Julian. Not in a weird way! Perverts. He's the younger brother of Alaia Slone, the girl who initiated the counterattack that Leo finished. Alaia and Leo had been in the same Martial Arts class for years, so they followed what they knew, attempting to disarm the shooter. Alaia just caught his attention too quickly, and Leo was forced to finish it alone. I roll over and tune out all my thoughts as I drift off into sleep.

I roll outta bed with a groan, ignoring the throbbing pain in my still-asleep legs. The alarm is going off with a loud and annoying Beep! Beep! Beep! Each beep grows more insistent and I don't want Beanie to wake up, so I shut it off. I slip into my adjacent bathroom and wash my face. My routine is relatively simple. Once my face doesn't feel quite so oily, I tiptoe out of my room and down the hall to the garage, where I turn on the treadmill. After an easy four miles, I step off. I return to my room and lay out my clothes, and Beanie's, of course, and jump in the shower. When I get out, Beanie's watching her baby shows on my tablet. I dress as quickly as possible, in a loose, brightly patterned sundress, and pause her show.

"Mama!" She protests, but I'm firm.

"No, Beanie, it's time to get ready for preschool, right?"

Beanie screams and I smack her hand, "Beatrice!" She quiets. I NEVER use Beanie's name, except when I'm really mad at her and it just slips out. "Beanie, it's time to get ready for preschool." I dress her next, then do my makeup while she snacks on some pretzels I have in my room for some reason.

By the time I'm getting out of the driveway, Beanie's full of energy. Good, because I don't have to deal with her just yet. I drive to her preschool and drop her off. They already know Jen picks her up, so they smile and wave me goodbye. When Cole died, I couldn't bring myself to cut Beanie off from his family. Instead, Jen and I worked it out so she could keep all of her old hours with Beanie. Plus, she offered to take Beanie for weekends, so I could have some time to get homework done and be a teenager. It works for me, and Jen is always offering to help at any moment. Maybe it's selfish, but I want to keep Beanie with me at all minutes of the day.

Julian is standing in the parking lot, next to his blue Toyota Camry, his arms crossed and a frown on his face, "You're late, Bri."

"Yeah, yeah." I grab my water bottle from the cup holder and my bag from the front seat. I slam the car door, and Julian flinches, "Sorry that I have adult responsibilities." I can't help the sarcasm that creeps into my words.

"That wasn't what I was saying!" Julian exclaims.

"Sure, it wasn't."

He grabs my arm, "You don't have to be such a bitch."

"Bitch, I am, bitch, I'll forever be," I inform him, "Look, I know you don't care, but I have another life that relies on me for basically everything, okay? So, just shut your damn mouth."