SLIPPING (B.E.)

{ten}

when i tell you i literally almost cried writing this 😭

"gwennnnn! wakey, wakey!"

i groaned and threw the blankets over my head, fisting them tightly.

billie giggled. "nope, it's time to get up!"

i heard her open the blinds, and at first i wasn't worried, until she grabbed the corner of the blanket and attempted to pull it off of me.

i peeked out and glared at billie, who was smiling goofily, then yanked it back and settled back down, ignoring her.

she laughed again. "c'mon, babygirl. i have a meeting soon and you have to come with me."

i huffed. "no," and buried my head under my pillow, only for billie to pull it off me.

"nope. get up or i'll make you," she threatened, putting her hands on her hips.

i pulled the blanket so she could see my face, rolled my eyes, then turned back onto my stomach.

"okay, that's enough," she said sternly. i wasn't too concerned, though, until suddenly i wasn't on the bed anymore.

i squealed and glared at her as she set me on my feet on the cold floor, but she ignored my stare and threw me some clothes.

"go change, i'll make the bed," she muttered, already beginning to strip the blankets.

"i can do it," i retorted, but she pushed me away.

"i said, go change," the look in her eyes was such that i didn't argue anymore, instead making my way to the bathroom for a quick shower.

when i finished, i threw my hair up in and towel and shimmied my clothes on, still staring grumpily at myself in the mirror. i brushed my teeth hastily and ripped my brush through the snarls in my hair, tears pricking at my eyes from the pain.

i put my pajamas away and shoveled down some cereal that billie had got for me. she'd eyed my wet hair for a moment before retreating down the hallway. i didn't think anything of it until she came back with some hair elastics and a comb.

my jaw dropped; i shut it and grit my teeth.

"no," i seethed. if looks could kill, billie would be dead right now.

she sighed, but didn't humour me, coming to stand behind my chair and set the elastics on the table while she parted my hair.

"billie," i growled. "don't fucking touch my hair."

she grasped my chin and forced me to look at her. "enough," she said, calmly but sternly. "don't use that sort of language with me. i'm just braiding your hair and if you snap at me again then you're going in a timeout."

shocked by her tone and her words, i shrank back and obediantly sat still and quiet, feeling a little hurt.

she pet my hair a little. "good girl," she murmured before getting back to work.

"can't i just stay home?" i whispered, not wanting another scolding.

her hesitation made me perk up again, but my hopes were quickly crushed.

"no. i don't want you here alone."

i sighed in defeat, but it didn't stop me from adding, "i've been home alone before."

she didn't respond, and i had a bit of a feeling that she didn't have a good answer other than that.

"c'mon, we'd better get going," she took my bowl and set it in the dishwasher while i got my shoes on.