Last Summer 🔪Scream 1996

Ch. 5: Early Morning Run

I wake before dawn, feeling restless as I walk into the kitchen. I make a pot of coffee before dressing for a run. Rushing out the door, I do a few laps around the neighborhood before returning home, the sun already rising. When I get in, I see my mom in the kitchen cooking as I slip upstairs. I go into my room, turning on my shower before grabbing everything for a shower.

After I'm done with my morning shower, I dress for the day and make my way downstairs. Billy is sitting at the kitchen bar, sipping his coffee as he watches my mom cook breakfast for everyone. I smile before giving her a kiss on the cheek and washing my hands to help.

"Good morning!"

"Good morning, Mi hija...did you enjoy your run?"

"Yeah...it was relaxing..."

"Good."

The phone rings as I chop up vegetables for her omelets. Wiping  her hands, my mom heads for the phone as Billy looks at it in questioning. He takes a sip of coffee before looking back at me, watching as I chop the bell peppers into little pieces.

"Christina. It's for you."

I set everything down as I walk over to the phone, wiping my hands off before grabbing the phone from my mom. I hold it up to my ear, getting nervous as I see the annoyed look on my mom's face. I take a deep breath before speaking into the landline.

"Hello?"

"Christina? Hey! It's Stu!"

"Oh! Hey, Stu!"

I see Billy's eyes narrow as he watches me talk on the phone. My mom goes back to cooking, not paying attention to anything but the food as she cooks like a pro. I lean against the wall, twisting the cord in my left hand as I hold the phone with my right.

"Yeah...I'm calling about the tutoring...I have forty for both subjects and we can figure out the rest of the payments later...if that's okay?"

My eyes widen before my lips breakout into a smile. My mom glances at me, an unreadable look on her face as she finishes what I was just doing. I smile as I rest the phone between my head and shoulder, reaching out with my other hands for the notepad and pen o the counter.

"Yeah! That's no problem! When do you want to start?"

Billy's cocks to the side as he looks at me in confusion and...what is that? Jealousy? No. It can't be...

"Uh...how about today?"

I check the time, seeing that's it's almost eight in the morning. I struggle to remember what my plans were for today as I glance around. I look back at my mom, holding the phone to my shoulder as I call out.

"Mom? Do we have any plans today?"

"I have to work tonight and you have to set everything up for Sophia...."

"Is that a no?"

"Yes. That's a no. Now leave me alone to cook..."

I smile as I bring the phone back up to my ear, speaking into it as I twirl the cord in my fingers.

"I don't have any plans set in stone just yet...what about 1:00? That gives us both time to prepare..."

"Sounds great! You can come to my house if you want..."

"Yeah...that could work! See you then...bye!"

I hang up after his reply, smiling as I walk towards my room. With the money I earn from this and my babysitting job, I'll be able to buy that car in no time.

I hear footsteps following me as I walk up the stairs, heading straight for my room. I open the door, sitting at my desk as I grab my copy of 'Wuthering heights'. I open it as I start to read the first book for my summer reading assignment. I feel someone watching me from my door as I ignore them, reading the words off the pages.

"What did Stu want?"

I look up, fiddling with my necklace as my eyes find the figure in my doorway. I smile at Billy before looking down at the book, trying to read even with the distraction behind me.

"I promised not to say..."

He huffs as he walks in, plopping down on my bed as he lays back on his arms. He looks up at my ceiling, staring at the flowers that my mom painted when I was five. The whole room is covered by colorful flowers of all kinds, creating a garden right above our heads. I smile sadly as I think of how hard my mom and dad worked, painting both Gillian and I's rooms before our sixth birthday.

It was one of the last times they were truly happy with each other...

"Come on...you can tell me. Stu's one of my best friends!"

"That gives me even more of a reason not to tell you..."

I smirk at him before looking back at my book, trying everything in me to stay focused on the words and letters on the pages. Billy sits up, looking for ugh to at me as he smirks.

"You're not sleeping with him, are you?"

"What?!"

My head snaps up towards him as he laughs, tossing my bouncy ball in the air before catching it. I stare at him in slight disgust as he bounces the ball off my dresser, catching it as it flies back.

"What are you even doing in here?"

"Came to hang out...we might as well...."

I huff, slamming my book shut as I stand. I catch the ball midair before walking towards my bedside table and grabbing the movies from last night. I hold them up as he looks at me in confusion.

"Let's go return these, maybe get some more or do something else...it's up to you..."

"Okay...let's go."

I grab my purse and my bulky cellphone before following him out the door, blowing air out my mouth as I prepare for what's to come.

                               🔪🗡

A/N

I hope everyone enjoys this so far....

If not, comment and let me know how to improve!!!!!

Drink water!!!!!!!!!!!

Love
-the Author