One

Chapter 2

I was in the middle of dreaming when I hear the loud ringing of my alarm clock that shutters me awake. I look at my clock and remember that it's early Monday morning. "6 AM? Shit." I groan as I rollover and slide off of my bed, dreading the day ahead of me. I was having such an interesting dream too. I was dreaming that I was a doe in a forest with tall moss covered trees that towered above the ground and caught any traces of rain that fell through the leaves. I was grazing on a tasty, delightful plant, when I saw a deer who appeared to be my mother. It felt so calming and peaceful.

I pick out something to wear before I hop in the shower. I decided on plain leggings, my infamous Navy shoes (yes, the one my dog took a chunk out of), and my Dad's old Harvard sweater that has a hole in the waist cinch from God knows what. I grab a towel and walk across the hall to the bathroom. Marc was already in the shower, and he's probably using every ounce of hot water left after Mom and Dad's shower's. I should've woken up earlier to beat that asshole to the shower and see how much he enjoys showering in his OWN shower for once, seeing as how I don't have one, and mine are always freezing. I sigh and start walking to Marc's room. Opening his door, I recognize the intense smell of whatever cologne it is that he's been using for years. Neat and tidy with everything organized in a specific place, I laugh at the completely opposite sight of Marc's room compared to my continuously messy room with things lying in random places almost all of the time. He's so much like my mother and I'm so much like my father. Weird how that works sometimes.

My hands shifted to the hot water lever, and I stand in Marc's small shower as I let the water run over me and wash away sorrow's from yesterday, and repeat "New Dawning, New Day." Finishing up my hygiene routine in the bathroom, I close Marc's bathroom door and walk into his room before realizing I just walked into something I didn't want to run into. "CASSANDRA!" I think we know who was naked and who yelled at me. Not being incest-y or anything, but my brother does in fact carry the "whole package." I get out of his room and run down the stairs. From the scent of fruit and maple syrup I immediately notice Mother made waffles.

"Fuck." I murmur as I check the clock and see that it's 8:30 and I have 30 minutes before the late bell rings. "Hey mom, I have to go before I'm late. Mr. Kinnegann won't be very pleased if I'm late for exams again." My mother looks at me in a peculiar way as if trying to match my facial cues with my words. "Oh...okay. Have a good day and text your brother to get his ass downstairs before he's late as well." I nod in response and walk out of the door, and once I notice my parents aren't looking, I turn the other way and run.

You see, it's the second to last week of school and exams don't start until next week, which means packets and hand outs and lousy assignments like cross word puzzles that we aren't being graded on. I've been skipping class quite a lot recently, and I can't bring myself to the realization that if I'm absent over the 10 day limit, then I will not graduate. I have enough credits, I've aced all finals and previous exams at the end of last semester, and I'm not a whizz in all my subjects, but I try really really hard for my mediocre grades and I'll be damned if I won't get a diploma simply for tardies and absence. I push it all to the back of my mind and remind myself what I'm doing.

I check the time, 8:55 AM. I'm at Norburry cliff once more, despite my parents constant reminds that it's "dangerous" and is no place for a young girl to be all alone. News flash! I'm 18! If I want to look at the coastline, I will. I sigh, light a cigarette, and lay my bag down on a boulder. I find it peaceful to close my eyes and smoke, letting the salty sea air surround me as seagulls make incoherent noises in the distance. My smoking comes to an end when I begin braiding my hair. I love being alone out here, it takes my troubles away and drops them elsewhere. I'm looking around off the cliff when I notice something...someone. A guy, standing on the beach. From behind he looks to be about my age, probably a year or two older. I lose track of time as I sit there, watching him from above when I step on a branch. Before I realize it, he's turned around and looking up at me.

Damn it. I grab my bag and pretend to look for something on the ground. "Hello?" Should I say something, reveal myself? "I saw you." Slowly rising from the behind the old picket fence at the top of the cliff, I look at him. Caramel colored hair resembling a quiff, muscular build, and a square shaped face. As I was admiring his beautiful presence, I snap out of it when he begins talking to me. "How long are you going to stand there?" Nervously stuttering, I reply with "I uh..um..dropped my keys." Nodding and looking me head to toe, he begins walking up the old creaky wooden steps down the beach a bit. Assuming he's coming to greet me, I stand there silently, forgetting to breathe for an instant. I can picture his silhouette in the distance, and I begin to wish I hadn't been here today.