Forlot: A Girl Who Needs Her Space - Book Thirty-Two

Chapter Thirteen

After a long explanation from Grandpa and fiddling with the watch, I was finally taken back home. To my new hometown. My new school. My new house. And my new friend. I knew that I had not been gone for a long time, but I was soooooo glad to be back where I belong. Back in my own time period. I wanted to hug the house and kiss it!

Do not worry. I did not kiss the house.

I was back to where I disappeared, which was the top of the stairs. I saw the music box. The magical music box. It was in the middle of the floor. My eyes darted all around the hallway, searching for any signs of my stupid brothers. When I saw that the coast was clear, I went over to the music box and scooped it up. Then I scrambled into my bedroom and shut the door.

My brothers are so stupid that they could never find their way out of a paper bag.

"My brothers cannot get their hands on this watch or this music box," I said. "I need to keep them away as far as I can." I snapped my fingers. "I have an idea."

I always wanted to hang up a "Keep Out" sign on my bedroom door, but never got around to it because of my writing spree. So I thought that this would be the right time to fetch one. But I did not want to buy it. I wanted to make it. Make it using my two hands. The only problem with that was that I did not have any of the supplies to create one. I did not have markers or construction paper or glitter.

I ran my fingers through my hair. "Seems that I have to make a trip to the store," I said. "I will call Karma to see if she would like to join."

After contacting Karma - who said yes to my offer - I decided to bring the watch and music box with me. I did not want any of my brothers to get into my room and steal the watch or the music box - or both - while I was absent. They could do all sorts of damage.

My gosh. I am getting a headache just from thinking about it.

I opened my closet door and began the search for my new purse. My mom bought me the purple purse last week as a reward for helping her around the house. I had wrapped a hand around the straps when I heard footsteps - and they were close to my room.

Then I heard a voice. A male voice.

"What are you doing?"

I recognized it to be Aztec's and spun around. I blew away hair strands blocking my vision.

Aztec was standing in my bedroom and had his arms crossed. He snickered and said, "You need a haircut, Carmen, if you want us to stop calling you sheepdog. The sheepdog in the family!" He cackled and slapped his knee.

I scowled at my eldest brother as I tightened my grip on my purse's straps. "I wish that you and the others did not laugh like that," I said as calmly as I could. "I am beginning to wonder if you all are witches."

He stopped his cackling and narrowed his eyebrows. "And I thought that you were the brains in our large family. But I should have known better than to think that my only sister is a smart cookie." He smiled and licked his lips. "Now I am in the mood for a cookie."

"What do you want?"

He leaned forward. "I want to know what you are up to."

"What makes you think that I am up to something?"

He shrugged and hid his hands behind his back. "Eh. Just a hunch."

"Well...if you must know, I am heading to the store."

"Which store are you heading to?"

"To the art store. I am picking up some supplies that I need for a project."

He stroked his chin. "I had no idea that you were an artist. I knew that you were a writer, but I absolutely had no clue that you were an artist."

"I am neither an artist nor do I want to be. I am only buying construction paper and markers to make my very own sign."

His eyes went wide. "That is it? That is your project? You are making a dumb sign?"

"My sign will not be dumb. It will be the greatest and prettiest sign that you will ever see in your lifetime."

He snorted. "I am sure that it will not be as pretty as the new car that Grandma and Grandpa gave me. By the way, how are you enjoying your new things? You know. The lame music box and watch. I bet that they are not worth a fortune!"

I unzipped my purse and picked up the music box. "I do not care if they are worth a fortune or not. I adore them both because they have a piece of Grandpa and Grandma. To me, they are worth more than money."

"Wow. You are such a loser."

I rolled my eyes and stuffed the music box inside my purse. "Do you not have somewhere else to be? I am sure that our other brothers would love to see you."

Aztec bowed. "I will go now, Carmen. But first..."

Before I realized what he was doing, my idiot brother grabbed my watch and yanked it off my wrist. He ran to my window and opened it - and threw it out.

My heart sank as I ran to the window. I peered down at the ground - but I did not see the watch.

"Nooooooooo!" I cried.

I gasped as Aztec yanked away my purse and quickly unzipped it. Luckily, I was able to grab the music box before he could. It accidentally opened.

"I want you to leave my room!"