Crystal Clear

Chapter Six

GABBY

Today I woke up late. I slept in. I'm beyond tired. It's already twelve o'clock. Why didn't anybody wake me up?

As I slid my feet into my slippers, I heard some frolicking going on downstairs. I quickly slid into my white Juicy hoodie and went downstairs. My grandma was in the kitchen, cooking up a storm.
"Your mom called before... she's worried sick over you," my grandma told me. I nodded and took a seat at the kitchen table. As she should be worried sick. I'm in the middle of nowhere.

"Where's Matty?" My younger brother is Matty.

"He wanted to go to the shop with your dad. He's got a lil crush on Chanelle," I nodded. I couldn't wait it for tonight.

"Your mother wants you to call her back after you've finished eating. I'm going to the market, do you need anything?" I shook my head no. I'm not really a morning person. My grandma gives me breakfast—bacon and eggs, then goes to the store. As if she hadn't learned from yesterday my adamancy against meat products. Does she want me to get cancer? Does she think its okay for animals to suffer since she lived on a farm her whole life? I don't eat meat! She's forgetful, maybe she has early onset Alzheimer's or something. So I threw the sandwich out, skipping breakfast. Instead I decided to wash up. I wore Bermuda shorts, a black tank top and flip flops. Then I call my mom.

"Gabriella!" my mom exclaims when she picks up.

"Hi," I yawn.
"I'm missing you loads already, sweetie. Oh my baby. How is it there?"
"Good, I guess," I say while thinking about Moe.

"How's your father?" my mom has a more serious edge to her tone of voice now.

"He's fine, at the shop," I sat on the phone talking to my mom for an hour and a half, until the door bell rings.

"Mom can you hold on a second, gotta answer the door," and put down the phone on the table and went to the door. I open it and to my delightful surprise, it's Moe. He was there with a trash bag, dirty clothes hanging out of it. He was about to speak, but I put my index finger to my lip instructing him to be quiet. He looks confused, but I spin on my heel.

"Mom?" I run to pick up the phone. Now Moe's face dawned with understanding.
"Hi, who was at the door honey?" she asks me. Always nosy.

"Some girl scouts, trying to sell cookies. I'll call you back later, I've got to find money. Bye Mom," And I hang up the phone before she had the chance to say goodbye.

"I'm a girl scout?" Moe asks, leaving the bag of clothes near the front door as we walk through the den to the kitchen.

"You kinda look like it," I joke. We laugh for a bit.

"Why are you here?"

"I couldn't wait til tonight to see you," he looks serious as he says this. I raise my eyebrow, a bit surprised.

"So now do you want to tell me why I'm a girl scout?" he has a look of confusion spread across his face. I shrug.

"I don't want her worrying. Or snooping," I mumble. Confusion still.

"Why would she worry?" He asks. I sigh. Guess we're playing twenty questions.

"Well, because. You're a guy. She'll go all mother on me and why do I need her worrying about me like that when I don't even think, like, care about you like that. We're just friends. I'm just doing her the favor by saving her all that unnecessary worry," I tell Moe, embarrassed. He nods his head, finally understanding.

"Oh, okay, I get it," he tells me. I sit down at the table again and he takes a seat next to me.

"So you have younger siblings," I state. He looks at me with an eyebrow risen.