Lost One

47

❝SHANTEY❞

"𝙶𝙾𝙾𝙾𝙾𝙳 𝙼𝙾𝚁𝙽𝙸𝙽𝙶!" The curtains yanking open shined the morning sun-ray in Shantey's face and waking her as she laid in the guest bedroom of her sister's estate. Shantey scowled at the sunlight and raising her head off the pillow. Her sister, Monae, turned around on her MIU-MIU pointy pumps with a wide smile.

"It's nine..."

"In the morning," Amanda finished, laying on the other side of the bed with Seona, Azoni, and Kareem.

"Perfect moment to go look at this down the way—y'all's weekend-summer home." Monae was excited to announce, "The big kids are in the basement—on they phones, playing games, doing what teenagers do—they will be here to keep an eye young kids still sleep. Our cook Jean's making breakfast, so, we'll be back before it's done. Can y'all get excited?"

Shantey exhaled, opening her eyelids fully. "It's nine in the morning.. and I spent my first night here sleep, throwing up, Amanda shoving fluids down my throat—in that exact order. 'Course I'm not finna be all excited."

"Y'all just not morning people. But you will be this week. I'll be waiting downstairs. Get up, please?" Monae leaves, shutting the door, and the best friends looks at each other in unison.

"You get up first." Amanda urged.

"No, you."

"Same time on three?"

"One, two..." the two raise up together with tired groans, "three."

Shantey fixed Seona's position, lifting up with her wild curls all over her head. "Ugh! I forgot she was a morning person. Always have been."

"Facts. Let's get up before she come back." Amanda stands, walking tiredly to the connected bathroom in her bra and boy shorts underwear.

Shantey groaned as she stood, staying in place for a second to get pass the lightheartedness. Once it drifts away, she fixes her boxer shorts and retrieves her oral products out her travel bag, going into the bathroom too as Amanda flushed the toilet. While she washes her hands, Shantey runs the other sink, lining toothpaste on the bristles and start brushing her teeth. The mint was luckily coating her nausea.

"Wanna look for Janis while we're here?"

Amanda frowned, shaking her head immediately and brushing her teeth. "Fuck no. Whatever she doin on her. We here for the holiday."

Shantey settles with that, spitting toothpaste in the sink, and placing it back in to repeat the motion. She brushed until her mouth was clean and rinsed. "Watch them walk up as soon as we leave."

"That's how it happens." Amanda states before gargling and spitting it out. "How you feeling?"

"Sleepy, a wave of nausea but have yet to throw up yet. So, that's great for now." Shantey answers, opening up her suitcase for something to wear.