Eternal Spring for the Sinful

Pilot

I woke up to the loud bird screech outside of my cracked open window, sitting on the one branch that hung low enough on the tree. A small whine escapes my mouth as I rub my eyes while blocking the rays of the rising sun. When I sat up I was face to face with a person that I recognized as myself in the mirror above my but it felt like an out of body experience. As I looked around my eyes scanned the photos of my family that lined my mirror when a square overlaps with the center. I stopped at a specific photo with just me and my parents, It was taken at one of those family photo shoots that are found in JCPenny's. It's the only that I have where it's just the three of us. It's been four months now, and I'm still struggling to process it, but there are no freebies now that my junior year of high school started. I let out a defeated sigh before getting out of and throwing something decent so Elena can't come barging in to drag me out against my will, ready or not. I finished brushing my hair and teeth before putting on my everyday wear . I used to cake my face a year ago, but since stopped. I took one last look at the girl in the mirror to try and practice my .

"Hey, Lia." Someone spoke out from behind me causing a slight startled jump as I looked through the mirror but relaxed when I saw it was in my doorway, I guess I forgot to close it when I came back from the bathroom.

"Hey, Jer. What's up?" I ask with a genuine smile on my face.

"I was wondering if you have any sketches of clouds?" He asked with an innocent smile. I gave him a look knowing what his intentions were. "Please." He begged with puppy dog eyes. With a playful eye roll I pulled out my sketch book to see what I have.

"It's a storm, but clouds are on it." I offer as I hold up my sketch book to show him the .

"Yeah, that should work." Jeremy states lazily as he tries to take the picture, but I stopped him.

"Just because I'm doing this now, doesn't mean I will do this every time." I lightly scold him.

"I know, I've got it. Thank you, sis." Jeremy answers with a light smile before giving me a small kiss on the temple. "Love ya." He whispered as he walked away with the sketch in hand. I let out a small laugh as I headed off to the kitchen were and were having a conversation.

"Toast I can make toast!" Jenna shouted out over her shoulder as she was rummaging through the fridge to find something for us to eat. Ever since Jenna became our legal guardian she's been trying her best, but sometimes she stresses herself out. I carefully reach over her to grab a small strawberry yogurt cup and gave her a small good morning smile when we first made eye contact.

"It's all about the coffee, aunt Jenna" Elena assures her as she lazily pours herself a glass. I made a small chuckle at how much of an adult she was becoming. Four months ago we weren't supposed to drink coffee, especially in front of mom, but now here she is pouring herself a large cup of it. These last few months Elena has been putting the parenting of me and our younger brother all on her shoulders and it seems to be stressing her out a little too much, especially because Jeremy has been starting to do drugs lately. I decided to sit down at the island to eat because I thought Jeremy was going to be a minute until he was ready to actually leave, however; the smell of coffee must have wafted upstairs because he came speeding walking around the corner.

"Is there coffee?" He asks in such a concerned and rushed manner as if his life depended on the coffee to make it through the day. When he finally spotted the mug laying in Elena's hold he swooped in and stole it right out of her hands. She let out an annoyed sigh but didn't say anything because she's still trying to be easy on Jeremy hoping that he would come back to his old self if we give him space and time. After pouring herself another cup she hands me my now full to go cup knowing that I would be driving with it.