Unlikely Conditions

Chapter 9

Meadow groaned as she rolled over in the bed, trying to focus her eyes on the ceiling above her. She covered her mouth with the back of her hand as she yawned. She blinked into focus as she stared up at the cracked chipped ceiling. She swiftly pushed herself up in the bed. She was still in Keegan's apartment. She glanced down at the fuzzy blanket draped over her lap, she ran the palm of her hand against it to feel how soft it was. She suddenly turned her head towards the creaking floorboards coming from behind Keegan's closed bedroom door. She clutched the blanket in her fist as the door opened with a creak, she let out a sigh of relief as Keegan emerged from the bedroom. Her hair was brushed neatly under a black silk bonnet. She was dressed in a baggy torn black t-shirt that seemed to have a band printed onto it but it was too faded to read. She stretched her arms up in the air, exposing her grey boy shorts hidden underneath the shirt. She let a yawn escape her lips as she peeled back her bonnet to expose her messy curls and loose baby hair. Keegan's eyes snap onto Meadow's face as the corners of her mouth turn up in a small smile.

"Good, you're awake." She announced as she began to wonder towards the kitchen. Meadow sat in silence for a moment before climbing from the bed and following her into the kitchen. She stood quietly in the archway as Keegan searched round for her ingredients.

"I should go.." Meadow mumbled, Keegan sighed quietly to herself as she spun round, gripping the edge of the counter as she leaned back against it. Meadow looked at the slight disappointed look on Keegan's face before suddenly noticing the open wound on her bottom lip. It still looked fresh and new, there was also remains of dried blood under her nose. She went to open her mouth to ask but swiftly changed her mind. Keegan exhaled deeply through her nose as she adjusted her posture.

"It's raining outside, if you go home dressed like that you'll catch a cold. I have some spare clothes." Keegan insisted as she disappeared into her bedroom in search of clothes for her. Meadow wondered back into the living room, reaching down to grab her phone from the coffee table. She swiftly turned her head to look over at Keegan approaching her carrying some spare clothes. She placed them down on the fold out bed before disappearing back into the kitchen. Meadow reached down to pick up the baggy black t-shirt that had a Venus fly trap printed on it along with the words bite me. Their styles were complete opposites of each other, Meadow had never really dabbled into an alternative sense of style. Although her mom is to blame for that, she was raised to dress ladylike. Look respectful but not to whoreish. The exact word her mom used when they went shopping for graduation. Her mom saw alternative as a cry for attention. There wasn't much dark clothing in her closet growing up apart from her academy uniform. Meadow lay the shirt down on the bed before grabbing the hem of her crop top, pulling it up over her head before laying it down neatly on the bed. She grabbed Keegan's shirt and slowly slipped it on. She then glanced over at the gray sweats folded up neatly on the bed. She reached for the small button of her maxi skirt, unbuttoning it and letting it fall to the ground around her feet before slipping into the sweats. She folded the waist band of them so they fit snug around her figure. Keegan chuckled as she entered the living room.

"You look good in my gear." She chuckled. Meadow folded up the skirt neatly in her hands as she turned to glance at her, a faint smile on her face as she chuckled weakly back at her.

"Thank you.." She mumbled, sitting on the edge of the bed to slid on her converse. She then grabbed her tote bag, stuffing her clothes inside along with her phone. Keegan reached over to grab the black hooded jacket draped over the top of the sofa. She handed it over to Meadow as Meadow nodded back at her as she slipped it on. She slid the straps of her bag onto her shoulder as she approached the front door, Keegan following behind her as she reached over to unlock the door for her. Meadow took one step out the door before she turned to look back at Keegan.

"I meant it when I said you can call me if you need someone to talk to." She insisted as Meadow nodded back at her slowly.

"Thanks.." She replied in a soft quiet voice. Keegan threw her hand up in the air to wave her goodbye as she then watched her disappear down the hallway before closing the door behind her. Meadow got to the elevator before she was interrupted by the sound of her phone ringing. She dug into her tote bag to find it. She rolled her eyes at the name on the screen. Mom. She took a deep breath in, quickly exhaling before answering the phone.

"What is it mom?" She mumbled down the phone as she stepped into the elevator. She pressed the button to the lobby. The elevator rattled and creaked as it went down to the lobby floor. If she was honest with herself Meadow would happily rather be crushed by this old rusted hunk of metal that deal with anything her mom has to say.

"I'm just calling to make sure you're aware of the arrangements for tomorrow." Her mom replied. Meadow exhaled through her nose as she stepped into the lobby, approaching the entrance as she then stopped for a moment.

"What do you mean?" She asked, turning away from the door to adjust her bag straps on her shoulder.

"You're coming for the BBQ tomorrow with Declan so I just wanted to inform you that your room is clean and ready for your stay!" She announced happily down the phone. Meadow froze for a moment as she turned back round to face the door.

"What are you talking about? I'm going home right after the BBQ." Meadow insisted as she rubbed her temple in frustration. Her mom chuckled down the phone back at her.

"Oh no no, we have two of our biggest campaign supporters coming the day after for the most important meal of the year so I need you and your brother there and ready." Her mom declared. Meadow gritted her teeth in anger, trying to find the right words to speak.

"I..I have work that day. I can't." She lied, she could hear her mom exhale deeply. The same way she always did when she figured out she was lying but didn't want to argue over it.

"Just call in sick. You only work at a poor fast food establishment, they can easily find someone to cover for you." Her mom insisted. As usual, Meadow felt defeated against her mom. There was no way to win against her nor did she have the energy to even try.

"Fine, I'll get my stuff ready.." Meadow sighed, reaching to open the entrance door as she then stepped outside.

"Perfect, your brother is going to pick you both up in the morning." Her mom exclaimed before swiftly hanging up the phone. Meadow froze on the spot, pulling the phone from her ear with a heavy sigh as she looked up at almost black clouds above her, she could feel the rain drops catching on her eyelashes  as she watched it fall.