Shayna always woke up at 7:00, no matter what. She hopped out of her bed, fixed the sheets so they were perfect, and set out her outfit for the day. Twenty minutes later, she was wearing white jean short shorts with a brown braided belt, a light pink tank top, and a rust colored cardigan made out of sheer, flowy fabric. She slipped on her brown ballet flats and tied her layered black hair back in a high ponytail, letting her nearly-grown-out bangs hang down, framing her face.
She went downstairs where her father was making breakfast.
"Shayna!" he exclaimed, "I made your favorite-- crepes!"
"Thanks, Dad," Shayna murmured, sitting on one of the high chairs at the kitchen table. Her father slid a plate of warm crepes towards her over the gray marble table surface. She spooned fresh strawberries and fluffy whipped cream on one, then rolled it up and took a bite. Heavenly.
"Why do you guys get up so early?" Daisy groaned, plodding into the kitchen in her blue bathrobe and slippers.
"We're going to Blake's baseball game at noon," Shayna informed her older sister before taking another bite.
"Oh, is he or Kurt pitching?" Daisy asked, perking up a bit as she reached for a plate of crepes.
"Probably Kurt," a voice called from the stairs. Kerry stepped out and sauntered over to the kitchen, taking a seat on another high chair. "No offense to your boyfriend, Shaye, but Blake's just the back-up." She said "back-up" like one would say "dog poop."
Shayna lowered her head like she always did when her sisters ripped on her. She chewed more quickly, then shoved the empty plate away. "I'm gonna be in my room," she said quickly, but she didn't think anyone heard her. And if they did, she thought, they wouldn't really care.
She walked up the stairs and ducked into her room before her father could notice she had disappeared from breakfast. Her mom was probably still in bed, always one to wake up after a full eight hours of sleep.
After finishing her homework, Shayna read until quarter after eleven. It was then her mother demanded that she come out and socialize.
She trudged downstairs to the family room that was separated from the kitchen by a step down and the black leather couch that was pushed against the wall with windows going all along it and the edge of the step. A white recliner was at the end of the couch, farthest away from the kitchen. Sunlight poured into the room, making it feel cheerful and bright. The flat screen TV was turned off, sitting on the cabinet peacefully. Everyone had mugs of coffee or tea on the glass coffee table in the center of the room.
Shayna made herself a cup of honey lavender tea and sat on the very edge of the couch. It wasn't that she hated her family, it was that she hated listening to her sisters trying to top each other.
"I made eight goals in soccer yesterday in gym class," Daisy said to the room. Kerry straightened her sitting posture that way she always did when she knew she had won and countered, "I made nine."
"But I blocked five," Daisy scowled, rubbing her white mug with her index finger in frustration.
"My team knows I'm too valuable to put on defense," Kerry flashed a triumphant grin at her older sister and added, "Plus, with me on offense, we didn't even need a defense. Or any other offense, for that matter."
"Ball hog," Daisy muttered, and the girls went for another round of arguing. Their parents, completely used to this, sipped their coffee until the sisters grew tired and stopped. Despite being younger, Kerry always won.
"So, Shayna, what did you do yesterday in school?" Mrs. Blackburn asked. The rest of the family turned in surprise. Daisy sneered, "When did you come in?"
"I was here the whole time..." Shayna felt small and vulnerable with her family's gaze turned to her. "Well?" her father prompted.
"I, uh, got a 100% on a pop quiz," she said in a small voice. She twirled a few strands of hair on her slender index finger.
"Nerd," Daisy coughed. Kerry burst into a fit of giggles. Shayna's ears burned, the way they always did when she was embarrassed.
"Girls!" Mrs. Blackburn snapped, her silver bracelets clanging around on her thin wrist.
"Isn't it time to go to Kurt's game?" Daisy said, seemingly trying to avoid a scolding. Kerry nodded quickly and they ran upstairs to get ready. Mr. and Mrs. Blackburn sighed and shook their heads. "Hon, why don't you go to the car? We'll be out in a minute," Mrs. Blackburn told Shayna.
Shayna went out to the garage and entered the pin to unlock the door. She stood next to the blue Volvo SUV, tapping her foot. As soon as her family opened the doors, she tried to not be stuck in the middle. With other stuff in the trunk, there were only three seats.
"Move, I'm older," Daisy snapped, shoving Shayna farther into the car. Kerry opened the door from the other side, trapping Shayna in the middle, as usual.
Finally, after twenty suffocating minutes of being squished between her sisters, the car came to a stop at the baseball fields parking lot. Shayna scrambled out and the three sisters hurried to the dugout.
"Kurt!" Daisy squealed, dashing over to the star pitcher. Kerry scurried over, beating Daisy and clinging to her boyfriend as if her sister would steal him.
"You ready to pitch?" Shayna asked Blake, who was rearranging his equipment.
Blake didn't reply for a few seconds. He finally looked up at Shayna and when she saw his face, she was almost scared. His brow was furrowed and his jaw was clenched tightly. His light brown eyes, usually sparkling with determination or confidence, were glittering with seething anger and rage.
"Coach says that Kurt is going to pitch the game," Blake growled, still scowling darkly. Shayna's amber eyes widened. "But you were so excited..." she whispered. She knew that there was nothing to do to ease his pain. "What position are you playing, then?" she asked.
"Right field. As if anyone ever hits over there!" Blake scoffed, then stomped off to get a baseball to warm-up with a teammate. Shayna was stunned into silence. Unsure what to do, she hurried over to her sisters, who were still giggling with Kurt.
"Why isn't Blake pitching?" Shayna asked Kurt, her voice tense with confusion.
"I dunno," Kurt shrugged, "Coach said that he put me as starting pitcher, as usual. I didn't even know there was a change scheduled. Sorry, Shaye."
"He's really disappointed," Shayna argued weakly, biting her bottom lip in frustration. "Couldn't you, like, talk to your coach?"
"Ugh, don't drag your relationship problems into the dugout," Daisy spat at her younger sister. Shayna was used to her sister's fury- Daisy could be very short-tempered and greedy- but she had never been snapped at so hard.
"Blake is upset, and I want to know why he has to be," Shayna stood up for herself with a burst of confidence. It dissipated as soon as she closed her mouth. Her tongue felt dry and her mouth turned into a desert.
Daisy and Kerry's eyes shot daggers at their sister. Sensing a showdown brewing, Kurt loosened himself from Kerry's grasp and said with false cheer, "Why don't you guys go to the bleachers? The game will start soon. I have to go warm up."
Grudgingly, Kerry and Daisy trudged to their seats on the hot metal bleachers. Shayna shot a glance at Kurt, who grinned apologetically, then made her way to join her sisters.
YOU ARE READING
A Ship Without Sails
Misterio / Suspenso[ COMPLETED ] "You know how there's a bunch of nice, brand-new, fancy McMansions on a street, and then there's that one old, dull, small house that's totally out of place? The one everyone's just waiting to be torn down? I'm that house." Shayna Blac...
