That Spark

HERE

The sun is bright and balmy when I return to the land of consciousness.

It feels like I have just been here, though. Probably because of the short time span between siestas.

I sit up without glancing at the alarm clock and stretch out in bed. But strangely, my body feels . . . stiff. And tight. Wonder what caused that.

"Definitely wasn't you."

I mumble and then look on my right, and sure enough, I am faced with plain white sheets. Dean never sleeps in. Doctors' thing.

With a yawn, I launch myself off the bed and get to fixing it.

Same old, same old. . .

God, what I'd do to change this boring old routine. Now I'm thinking I should've become a doctor. It looks fun on TV. I'd get to save some lives or something, atleast.

And I could be with Dean all day.

I sigh as the last pillow goes up on the neatly stacked pile and then flattens down, just like my farfetched idea.

Oh, I can't leave Hayden now, can I? I love that kitten too much.

With that, I flop back onto the bed, puffing my cheeks for some reason. I suppose I don't really have anything to do. Hayden can't possibly be up yet so technically, I'm alone. I'm not immediately hungry and don't have any of nature's calls incoming, so I might as well just . . . doze . . .off--

My eyes snap open and I bolt to my feet when I hear it. There was no mistaking that laugh.

He's still here?

Instinctively, I glance at the alarm clock, and it reads 8:24.

What the hell?

Didn't Dean tell me he needed to get to work early?

I leap over and grab my phone, and check the date.

August 12.

So, no birthdays or anniversaries; not that Dean would take a day off(except for Hayden's birthday, maybe) because I've been living with that man for over three years and he gets out of the house the first chance he gets.

And what's with the laugh? He doesn't laugh with Hayden like that. What I just heard sounded more. . . diplomatic.

Oh, for the love of . . .

I drag my lazy body to the door, mad at myself for not doing that before.

I've gotta lay off the crime shows.

And Hayden's cartoons.

And like something right out of it, I glance once at the living room from the top of the stairs and I'm back in the bedroom in one second, flat.

She's here.

And it's 8 AM! Oh, damn it all!

With a pounding heart and a reeling head, I make a run for the bathroom and brush my teeth violently. Showering crosses my mind, but I know it'll be too late.

God knows how long she's been down there for! And what happened to calling the day before?

Oh, I hope this isn't like last time. What had she done, meticulously point out all of my slip ups in front of everyone I've known? At her wedding, no less!

I scowl at myself and throw my robe on, thinking that it was my fault too. I'm too clumsy and lazy but that doesn't mean I have to be crucified!

Dropping the thought, I take one last look at myself in the mirror, straightening out the crumples in my pajamas, take in a deep, deep breath and then descend down the stairs to meet my mother.