2 kids

Heart to heart bathroom confessions.

Ashley.

I wake up to the soft morning sun rays warming up my face. And the sound of waves crashing at the shore.

Slowly I raise myself, only to find Mae has already left the bed and room, Nina resting her back against the headboard of her bed, scrolling on her phone. She gives me a tired morning smile when our eyes meet. River's girlfriend, Liana, is still sleeping, her black hair falling down her face.

"When did they leave?" I whisper to Nina.

She shrugs, "A while ago. They'll be gone the whole day. Mae said they'll first return late at night."

Though I know they came here mainly to work and develop new connections, it somehow never snapped in place that they'd be gone for days. From early morning to late at night. For a while I just lay in my bed, wondering what we'll be doing while they're gone.

When I hear something fall to the ground in the bathroom, I get out of my bed. I step outside on the balcony we're sharing with the other girl's room. Ciara's already sitting and reading, fully dressed and looking as fresh as never.

Violet's softly singing, doing her hair and makeup by the winder. As Sophie walks by, looking like a zombie exactly like me, I conclude Heather's occupying the bathroom. I stare surprised at my phone, reading the time over and over. It's been a long while since I've last woken up at ten o'clock.

I return back inside, knock on the door and enter when Heather's voice allows me to. She's dancing to her favourite upbeat morning playlist, a thing she swears by gets up in the morning.

I wash my face and stare at the tired face of mine. The bags under my eyes have disappeared slightly as I've finally allowed myself proper sleep. But my eyes still look too tired, too hollow, for it to be ten o'clock already.

Heather turns up the music, smiling at me with a smile that says she's dedicating the following songs only to me. To get me through this morning at this new place.

"How is your makeup always so perfect?" I stare at the flawless art on her face, while I slowly start on my morning skincare routine. "And hair. And everything about you. How are you always so perfectly put together?"

First her eyes widen, then they narrow as she starts to laugh. A laugh so grateful and rich, full of life. Of the morning energy I'm so desperately missing. And then she just demands, "What?"

"I mean it. You always look perfect, flawless. How do you do it?"

There goes a minute of utter silence whilst a playful smile coats her face and amusement ignites her eyes. "I wouldn't agree."

I'm too shocked to speak, and apparently that's amusing to Heather. "I'm far from perfect, Ash."

"I wouldn't agree."

Her eyes make a perfect roll. Even that looks elegant. Maybe I've woken up only to fall in love with Heather. But I've been dying to ask her since I've met her. Since she ignited a deep jealousy in me when I saw her so close to Alex. A jealousy that bloomed into a beautiful, close friendship. But left me wondering even so.

"It's a curse my mother has casted on me."

"What?"

She turns to the mirror to stare at herself, ruffling her hair and giving it some volume. Standing next to her I look like a child, while she looks like a beautiful grown woman. "My father never cared much about me, and my mother cared a little too much. She's obsessed with the concept of perfection, in every sense. She thought she could achieve it, and when she failed... well, she decided I could achieve it."