My Sisters Best Friend || Yellow Jackets

Chapter Three || Frog

"Wake up" my mum says, walking into my room. My head throbs with the aftermath of last night's party. Whoever said partying on a Tuesday night was a good idea is quite literally mental, this hangover is crazy. I quickly bury my head under my pillow and tightly shut my eyes.

"Get up right this second Y/N Taylor or there will be consequences."

Ooh the full name, Im totally terrified. I'm not Jackie, none of my mothers threats wor-

"You have ten minutes to get changed and get downstairs or no more music until the end of the semester."

No more music until the end of the semester? That's like cutting off a vital part of my soul. That's like cutting off my oxygen supply. That's like stabbing me in the chest twenty times and telling me to get up and walk it off?!

I throw the pillow off my head an onto the floor. "You wouldn't," I protest, looking into her determined eyes.

Her response is a resolute, "I would." And deep down, I know she means it. The thought of surviving the entire semester without music feels like a prison sentence for my heart and soul.

"Fine, I'll get up," I mutter reluctantly, succumbing to my mom's demand.

Her frown magically transforms into a warm smile. "Great, breakfast is ready!" she announces before closing my door and heading downstairs.

I'm left in a state of bewilderment, staring at my closed door. How does someone switch emotions so swiftly? It's like witnessing a complete transformation from an angry pigeon to a harmless puppy in the blink of an eye. It's both baffling and impressive.

Oh, why the hell did my mom stick to her oh-so-thrilling nine-to-give job when she could've effortlessly become the next global superstar with those damn acting skills? I mean, clearly, juggling Excel sheets and responding to countless emails is just as riveting as walking the red carpet and accepting prestigious awards, right?

I hop out of bed and walk over to my closet. I decide to put together a casual yet stylish outfit, throwing on straight cut jeans, a white shirt, and a red button-up shirt left unbuttoned because, well, why not add some flair? I then head to my vanity unit to tidy up my hair, adding a spritz of perfume to complete the look. Before leaving, I grab my bag and my walkman, ready to soundtrack my day.

As I browse through my collection of cassettes, I settle on "The Runaways," a compilation with around 20 songs that I'm sure will keep me company throughout the day. I slide the cassette into my walkman but hold off pressing play just yet.

Before I can leave the house, my mum intercepts me. "You didn't have breakfast?" Despite being in a hurry to meet with Jackie and Shauna, I acknowledge her concern. "Yeah, I know, but Jackie and Shauna are waiting for me," I explain, scratching the back of my neck.

Seeing my determination, my mum offers some extra money, urging me to grab something at school but keep it a secret from Jackie. I can't help but smile at her understanding, pulling her into a quick hug before stashing the money in my pocket.

With my shoelaces quickly tied, I race outside and slide into the backseat of the car where Jackie and Shauna are already waiting. Jackie playfully teases me about our mum's "music threat," which they both overheard. I put on my headphones to drown out their laughter, but their teasing continues. I notice Shauna smiling at me in the mirror.

"You wouldn't," Jackie mockingly repeats, making quotation marks with her hand.

I respond with a smirk, saying, "Okay, pipe down, virgin."

Jackie counters, accusing me of being a virgin too. With a raised eyebrow, I tease, "Am I?"

Jackie turns around in her seat to look at me. "You are, right?"