at dead of night | a twilight fanfiction

at dead of night | 01

august 16, 2004

peace. relajación.¹ tranquilidad.² all those words that mean peace. (1: relaxation. 2: tranquility)

though it wouldn't truly be peace if you could hear your 6 other siblings running around to get ready for their respective schools.

a loud knock banged at my door. "cherie, levántate, ¡llegarás tarde!"³ i heard papi ring out from the other side, which reminded me on the fact that today was indeed the first day of school. (3: get up, you'll be late!)

i looked to the time displayed on the digital clock on my nightstand, and groaned as i swung my feet off my bed and to the carpeted floor.

luckily, i prepared my outfit last night.

i dragged myself out of my room, hitting a right to the restroom. i suppose being up late let me do my toilet duties without any bother from anyone else. it took splashing water onto my face to actually wake me up, which would help for at least half the day. i'm sure the constant gloomy weather will get me sleepy by the end of school.

after finishing up, i went back to my room and changed into my clothes i prepared beforehand. it was some ripped jeans with a crop top for a shirt, something i know mama would scold me for. though as i slipped on my jacket and zipped it up enough to hide that fact, what she doesn't know won't hurt her.

i pulled some white socks on, and grabbed my high tops as i made my way downstairs with my bag in my other hand. i could hear the chaos as i approached the dining room area.

ramiro, who turned 14 on the 9th, slammed into me. "¡ay! ramiro, watch where you're going!" i scolded him, smacking his head as any other sister would. his mouth was stuffed with concha, mexican turtle shell bread, as he fled into the living room. raymundo, who was also now 14, though his birthday was on the 10th, chased after him, screaming for his food to be returned.

i rolled my eyes, and traveled into the kitchen where the real fight was.

the large dining room had the youngest of the cortez children littered there. there were eggs with chorizo on each plate, different proportions to fit appetites.

lorenzo, who would be 10 next month late september, was talking with a nervous sonya, who turned 13 over the summer, about her last year of middle school. she was scared, being at the top of the school hierarchy in regard to age and grade. lorenzo was telling her that "life doesn't get better than middle school", did the boy forget high school exists?

yvonne, who was 8 years old, about to be 9 in december, was sitting next to a now 6-year-old juanita. she would be 7 in early october. they were talking about that one channel they enjoyed watching, cartoon network or something.

i sat down in front of the plate that looked to be a good proportion for me. i began eating, as mama set down a plate of nicely heated tortillas, and i immediately reached for one. i ate the eggs and chorizo with the tortilla, not conversing with anyone as i ate what i could.

"cheche, could you take them to school? papi and i need to be at work earlier than expected." mama asked, in her own officer uniform without the windbreaker as she sipped on her coffee. i nodded to her words, sipping at the glass of apple juice papi set down for me at some point. he was also in his uniform, with the windbreaker on, and his own cup of black coffee.

being in the police force together gave them their own cruiser, which left them with the cop car, the family car, we named her dolores, and a car they gifted me as a late quinceañera gift and gifted on my 16th birthday. mi preciosa⁴ car, her name is talia, a '99 toyota camry. (4: precious)