like lightning: jack harries

five

LAURA

The next morning I wake up to the sound of my fathers lawn mower and the unpleasant rays of sun that fill my vision. I groan and pull my curtains shut, feeling my pupils go back to their normal size.

After I finally manage to pull myself out of bed I quickly put on jeans and an old capitol sweatshirt, noticing a slight fog on the widows. I pull my now rat nest-y hair into a ponytail, tied my sneakers tightly, grabbing my book and heading down stairs, dodging 2 killer pugs on the way down.

My grandmother was in her usual pink chair that was by the kitchen, gently rocking as she quickly knits a sweater for Peter. She smile as I walk into the kitchen and open the cupboard and grab a cup.

"Goodmorning, my Laura." She says, her knitting needles flying. I loved when she called me her Laura.

"Goodmorning, Grandma. Did you sleep well?" I ask as I pour the steaming coffee into the cup.

"I did, thank you. I see you didn't get a lot of sleep?" She smiles, looking at my finished book.

"Yeah, I dunno-" I feel my cheeks redden. "It just happens--reading late--I guess."

"Oh, your mother was the same, reading till the depths of the night." She winks.

Just then, mom walks into the kitchen carrying a full laundry basket.

"I did what?" She asks.

"You read when you were younger, dear."

"Oh, right." My mom returns, setting the basket on the table. "Are you off to the library, Laura?"

"Yeah." I drink my last bit of coffee.

"Make sure you're back by lunchtime, ok? The neighbours invited us over for lunch."

"What neighbours?"

"The ones next door, you know, the brick house? Rebecca came over yesterday and said she'd love to meet us, just because there never seems to be new people on the street. Isn't that kind of her?"

"Yeah, that is kind of them." I shift my feet, meaning to scream, No, no, no, no, one of them saw me half naked, Mom, don't you understand?

"And you know, she did mention she had 2 boys your age." She smirks as she begans to fold the towels that were in the basket.

Two? Two James Deans?

"That's.... nice."

"Nice boys, very nice boys." My grandma smiles. "Handsome too." She adds with a wink.

I feel my cheeks redden as I quickly set my cup by the sink.

"Oh, Laura's never been good with boys." My mom calmly tells her. "But you did remember her boyfriend her sophomore year, don't you --"

"Mom, stop, I don't--" I feels my cheeks continue to redden.

"Who wouldn't like a gorgeous girl like you?" My grandma smiles. "They're very nice boys, Laura. They've mowed my lawn for years."

"I'm sure that's all very nice, Grandma. I'll be off to the library now." I grab my book and rush toward my nearest refuge, the front door.

"Be back by 11:30, alright?" My mom smiles, glancing at Grandma with a knowing look.

"Yeah, yeah, I will." I mutter, pushing open the door and practically running down the steps.

Two of them? I didn't have time for two psychic boys; I hardly had time for one of them.