Clouds of Violet

Chapter One

Monday, September 1st, 6:00 am

It's my first day of high school.

I couldn't sleep at all last night, the excitement and anxiety was eating at me as the hours passed by as slowly as they could.

I grab my phone to check the time.

6:03.

Well, might as well get up now and arrive at school early.

I use the bathroom, get dressed and run downstairs for breakfast.

My mom is already in the kitchen, making pancakes and pouring orange juice into cups for me and Owen.

"Morning, Mom," I smile.

"Morning," she replies. "You're up early."

I sit down on the sofa and turn on the TV. I flick through the channels until I land on Cartoon Network. Old reruns of The Amazing World of Gumball are playing. I put my feet up and watch as Darwin dresses up like Penny to get Gumball's attention.

"Go wake up your brother," Mom orders. "You can watch cartoons later," she adds as I groan. "Come on, hurry up. It's already quarter to seven. You're going to miss the bus."

I drag my feet as I walk up the stairs and to Owen's room.

I flick the light switch and throw his blankets off him. He's curled up into a ball, reaching out for the blankets.

"Wake up! Mom's already making breakfast!"

"Five more minutes," Owen yawns, pulling his blankets over him.

"No, right now," I say, pulling them off again. "Mom's asked me to wake you up. She's gonna whoop your ass if you don't wake up right now."

He groans but gets up.

"What, are you gonna stay here while I shit?" he demands, standing in the doorway of his bathroom.

"I'm older than you, some respect would be appreciated," I scowl.

"One year older than me," Owen says, opening the door to his bathroom. "Just one fucking year."

I roll my eyes and go back downstairs. Mom's already laid out breakfast at the table.

"Is he up?" she asks.

"Yeah, he's in the bathroom," I say, sitting down in my usual chair. I devour the pancakes and drink the orange juice hastily, wanting to get back to my cartoons.

Just as I'm leaving the dining table, Owen's gracing us with his presence.

"Good morning, Mother," he says, sliding into his chair.

"How medieval!" I yell from the sofa. I turn on the TV, but now it's an episode of We Bare Bears. I watch nonetheless, because who doesn't love Panda?

"Honey, is your bag packed?" Mom asks from the dining table.

"Yep!"

"Everything?"

"Yes, Mom!"

"Good, good. Make sure you don't forget anything."

"I won't!"

***

I hop off the bus, as it pulls out of the school parking lot, and wait for Zara and Alora.

Zara and Alora have been my best friends since the fourth grade, our little trio. Then it turned into a group when this boy, Aaron, liked Zara in the sixth grade and they've been dating since. His best friends, Max and Ezra joined us as well. I don't know Ezra that well, but he's chill. And Max?