Fifteen Minutes of Life

Chapter One

The drumming sound of rain pulls me from my beautiful dreams into a horrifying nightmare called reality. I turn onto my side, already aware that I woke up before my alarm. Slowly opening my eyes, the blank walls of my room greet me. The smell of a fresh coat of paint hits me at the same time as my phone starts ringing. Without looking, I reach over to my maplewood nightstand and nearly knock my crystal clear lamp off. After years of practice, I easily grab the lamp, turn it on, and grab my phone. I answer it slowly, "Hello?" I manage to get out.

"Good morning sunshine! Did I wake you?" an all too familiar voice says.

A smile leaps onto my face. Lewis, I think to myself, "No, no, no. You didn't wake me. I've been up for hours." I say sarcastically.

Lewis gives me a laugh and I can imagine him shaking his head. "Well hello Tiffany, I'm glad you are awake."

I smile and pull myself out of bed. My "no pants is the best pants" shirt brushes against the top of my thighs as I slip past the window. I move towards my closet. "I'll meet you outside in ten, okay?" I whisper.

I hear a small okay in return before the phone clicks, signifying he ended the conversation. I sort through all of my clothes, finally just grabbing an outfit. I run to the next part of my room and lock the door. The bright pink walls of my bathroom disgust me. I sigh, knowing there is nothing I can do, at least for now. I take a look at myself in the mirror and flinch. The voices float back to me. "She'd be prettier with a flat stomach." "Look at her! Freak." "Overuse of hair dye maybe?" The voices of my old peers echo in my brain, then I smile and remember at my new school, everyone adores me. I snap out of it, and blare my music.

Living in the attic sure does help. The cool breeze sends shivers down my spine to the point where I practically throw my clothes on. I slip on my gray coca cola muscle tank and midnight black jeans. I give my toothbrush a look, then laugh and grab my gum. I pop a piece into my mouth as I walk back into my bedroom. Throwing a glance to my window, I fumble to get my black vans on. I take a look at my clock and realize Lewis would be waiting. Suddenly frantic, I grab my backpack and black hairbrush.

I calm myself down as I open up my window. "It's okay," I whisper, "It's only Lewis."

My heart starts pounding as I chuck my backpack out of my window and climb out after. My feet land solidly on the patio underneath me and for a moment, I'm alright. I notice the rain has stopped right before I shut my window and lean down to grab my backpack. When I stand back up, I allow fear to collide with confidence for once. I turn around to look for Lewis and see him no where in sight. Sighing, I pull my phone out of my back pocket and give him a call. It rings twice before he picks up, "Yes? Do you miss me already?"

I throw my head back in laughter, "Sure, where are you?"

"I'm still getting ready. Give me a minute, alright?"

I groan in response and I hear him slightly chuckle. After I end the call, I grab my black and white aztec design backpack and fish out my hair brush. In the ten minutes that it takes Lewis to come out, I manage to thin my hair out by a minimum of five percent. Lewis gives me one look and shakes his head. "How long have you been waiting Tif?"

Shrugging, I carefully respond, "Eh, does it matter? I was able to brush my hair out for once."

Lewis gives me a look of pure astonishment, "Do you still want me to give it a brush though?"

My eyes widen, "Of course! It's tradition, remember?"

A smile pops onto his face in response. Wordlessly, I hand him my brush and he gingerly begins to brush out the ombre rats nest that is my hair. I close my eyes in relaxation as he carefully brushes through my hair. "When did you put this streak in? Last time it was purple."