One Minute Till Tomorrow

Chapter Four

I woke up around eight. The smell of bacon and coffee still hung in the air as I walked in my kitchen. I went to my freezer, hoping to find some frozen waffles or something. A pink sticky note was stuck to the fridge.

Went job searching in the city, bacon in the fridge. I don’t know when I’ll be home, be good, text me if you’re going anywhere—Caleb is off limits, I don’t want you hanging out with him for a while—I love you, Gwen. –T. L.

I rolled my eyes, thinking, I won’t be hanging out with Caleb, I’ll be with Cortney… who is strangely just like Caleb in this case.

I searched my fridge for the bacon. I took one piece and took one bit. Turkey bacon, made in the oven. Frozen waffles it is. I reached in my freezer and grabbed two frozen waffles, sticking them in the toaster. I searched through cabinets and boxes until I found the peanut butter and a butter knife. I grabbed a paper plate and waited.

The waffles popped out of the toaster and I quickly spread the peanut butter on them, needing the warmth from the waffles to melt the PB. I sat down at the small table in the kitchen and ate my breakfast, texting my mom my “plans” for the day.

Going to a get together with Cortney Shalden at her house. She’s picking me up. Don’t know what time I’ll be back…

I sat down my phone and waited for a response. After my breakfast—still no answer—I washed the butter knife I used to spread my peanut butter and threw away my plate. I started to unpack the boxes in the kitchen, sick of living out of them.

I was through one box and had started working on my second when my phone buzzed on the table. I stopped unpacking boxes and looked at who texted me. It was from my mom: Is Caleb going to be at this “get together”?

I responded: No.

And who’s this Cortney girl?

Mom, the Shaldens run this town. She’s a nice girl, don’t worry.

The next response from my mom was hesitated. I didn’t get it nearly as quick as the others.

Okay… just, be good, don’t drink and remember, first impressions are very important.

I rolled my eyes. Obviously there’d be drinking at this party, but honestly, drinking didn’t sound that appealing to me. Rotting fruits. That’s basically alcohol. I texted back: Thanks Mom, love you!

I went back to unpacking the kitchen and got bored quickly. At least I got through one box. I went upstairs to my room and got dressed in a sea foam tank-top with a black tank-top on top. I pulled on a pair of leggings and did my make-up. I watched a black crow perched on the bare tree in my backyard.

I rushed for my camera, buried in a box in my closet. It took me longer than I wished but I found it. I turned it on as I rushed back to my window. The crow was gone and so was the awesome photo opportunity.

Ever since I went to camp, I’ve been sort of obsessed with photography. I made my mom buy me a really good camera. I took a few photos in California, mostly of my old house and my old room. I got a few of my mom driving and a few more of the scenery as we worked our way here.

I took one of the school and the house before we moved in. Everything here seems slightly bluer. Like someone messed too much with filters and edits. That’s what I loved about here. Every picture I took seemed like it was taken in a time where it was always winter and everything was cold, but happy.

I set my camera down with a sigh and closed the curtains on my window.

I decided to text Caleb.