Family

Burnt Toast & White Wine

Eden woke to the smell of burning toast. Smiling to herself, she knew her older sister, Ellie, was making breakfast.

Eden jumped out of bed and quickly washed. She wrapped a bathrobe around her body and ran into the kitchen to see Ellie. Ellie usually wasn't home-- her work shift often clashed with Eden's night schedule.

Feeling like a child on Christmas, Ellie ran into the kitchen excitedly.

"Ellie! Finally, you're home-"

As soon as Eden walked into the room, Ellie gave a squawk of surprise and covered her chest. Ellie was on the counter shirtless, fervently kissing her boyfriend Diesel. Her bare legs were wrapped around his shirtless torso.

Eden turned around and screwed her eyes shut, trying to drown the image from her head.

"Not on the counter," Eden pleaded. "Not on the counter..."

Diesel gave a grunt of annoyance, and Eden turned into the kitchen, trying hard to ignore them.

"So... what have you been up to?" Ellie asked Eden in a wild moment.

"Uh, nothing much. Hanging out with Taylor. Work. That's about it." Eden answered.

Moving to fill her plate, she noticed the food in the skillet was burnt to a crisp. Angrily, she turned to Ellie.

"I just bought all of this yesterday- the bacon, eggs, toast... That wasn't cheap you know." Eden said trying to keep her anger at bay.

Ellie rolled her eyes, "Accidents do happen Eden."

"Accidents? No one asked you to have fucking sex on the counter! All you had to do was watch it for a second!" Ellie shouted at her.

Diesel moved protectively in front of Ellie. Eden loathed him--found his disgusting even. His black hair was greasy and hung in a low, black curtain. His big, yet built frame was enough to intimidate just about anyone.

"You're always finding a reason to be bitching," Diesel said, slowly advancing on Eden. "Appreciate your sister for once."

"Money isn't easy around here. And you know that." Eden said, turning angrily to Ellie.

"Aren't you getting tips from that strip club you worked at?" Diesel barked at her. "Oh, I forgot, you're too self-conscious to get on a pole. Ha!"

Eden turned to stare at Diesel. She hadn't told him she was working at the club... she turned to Ellie who promptly turned red.

"Yeah, tell him our whole life story while you're at it, won't you." Eden spat angrily at Ellie.

Ellie called for her to explain, but Eden didn't care to listen. Eden ran to her room and got dressed. In that same second, Diesel appeared in the doorway, watching her with a hungry expression.

"Maybe I'll swing by your club... I'll pay for a dance." Diesel said with a cruel grin.

"Get out! GET OUT!" Eden screamed, throwing a shoe at his head.

Diesel left, chuckling. Tears were stinging in Eden's eyes, as she grabbed her phone and purse and ran out of her room. Rushing down the steps of the hallway, she heard a loud smack and Ellie screaming.

Eden hurried out of the building.

"Where are we going today?" Eden asked, watching yellow taxi cabs swerving to pick people up.

"Brooklyn. Remember the officer guy I was talking about? We've been seeing each other, and he wants me over at his apartment today." Taylor said, grinning.