Dusk

Chapter 3 - Open Book

When Birdie awoke the next morning, sheets of rain slammed into the window. She groaned, the thought of walking to school struck her with annoyance and repulse. Getting out of the bed, she wrapped her earbuds up and placed them in a small pouch in her backpack, plugged in her phone, and headed for the shower.

The warm water fell over her body as she washed her hair. She knew that once she got out of the shower, her hair would poof up, so she needed to straighten it. The thought of box braids crossed her mind, and she settled on it.

After she was clean, she blow dried her hair, straightened it, and headed to her room to get dressed. She wore a tight, sage green top with a white tank top beneath. Her dark jeans hugged her thighs before falling away past her knees. She slipped on her checkered vans, grabbed her things, and headed downstairs. Cade had left for work already, and Rose was still sleeping, so Birdie didn't expect to see Nana Grace sitting in her rocking chair, knitting.

"Good morning, Nana. What are you doing being up so early?"

Nana Grace looked up with a smile, before looking to the window with nostalgia. "I love hearing the rain. Whether it's soft or powerful, I love it. It's comforting." Birdie followed her gaze, watching as the water fell down the glass. Though the rain punched into the walls and roof, there was a comforting tune to it. A low note sounded as the water hit the house, before a light pitter rang after. It was peaceful. Except for the sudden lightning strike.

As Birdie went to retrieve a piece of bread for toast, her mother walked in. "What was that?"

"Just the thunder. No need to worry."

Rose looked out the window to see charcoal clouds swirling above and unleashing their wrath. She looked at Birdie with concern. "I don't think she should go to school today, Mama."

Nana Grace spoke without looking up, "She'll be okay. This happens all the time. You go get some sleep, she can take my car to school." Rose snapped her head in the direction of her mother, "It's dangerous out!" Nana looked at her daughter with a stern look that silenced her. "She'll be okay." With that, Rose approached Birdie, giving her a tight squeeze, before encouraging, "I love you, Isla. Have a good day at school. Be safe." She planted a kiss on her daughter's temple, before heading back to her room. The ravenette turned to her nana. "Thank you." Nana Grace just grinned before continuing her knitting.

After her breakfast was eaten and chugged a vitamin drink her nana insisted on her drinking to prevent her from getting sick, along with a pill to help, Birdie was ready. Nana Grace pulled a thick, navy green puffer coat from her hall closet, and handed it to her granddaughter. "Here. For the rain. My car keys are hanging up by the back door. Have a good day, dear." After a hug was exchanged, Nana Grace took her supplies, gently placed them in a drawer in the TV stand, and headed down the hallway for bed. Birdie pulled the jacket over her body, leaving it unzipped, before heading to the back door. Sure enough, the keys for a 2005 Ford Focus hung on a hook. Snatching the keys, she braced herself, before pulling open the door. A strong gust of wind smacked into her bringing icy bullets with it. The rain was bitterly glacial, violently piercing into what little exposed skin she had.

Running outside, she bolted for the faded brown sedan, yanked the door open, and launched herself inside. The interior was chilly, the cool temperature of the morning mixed with the sub-zero rain set a frosty condition inside the vehicle. Birdie took a deep shivery breath, before she started the car, turned the heater on high, and began to pull out of the cement driveway. Rolling onto the road, she put the car into drive, and began her 25 mph trek to school. As she made her way closer into town, some cars followed by example and drove safely, while others zoomed past at speeds of 35 and higher. Birdie couldn't get over how dangerous that was.