Whispers Among The Magnolias

Six

Sleep wasn't short enough of a word. It felt as if as soon as my head hit the pillow, there was a loud knock on my door signaling it was morning.

I could barely open my eyes as I walked to the bedroom door opening it to see Hunter looking down at me,

"Late night?" He asked and I could feel some curls stuck to the side of my face. I wiped at the dried drool on the corner of my mouth.

"I was catching up on the summer reading," I lied.

"You actually do that? I just watch a YouTube video on it and call it a day," He said stretching his arms up. His shirt rose above the top of his pajama sweats as he rested his hands on the door frame.

"And what's your GPA again?" I asked tilting my head at him as he made an unimpressed face and dropped his arms from the doorway.

"Okay, smarty pants. Well, my ma is heading to the studio in about an hour for her class. She didn't say it, but uh," his voice dropped a little as he rubbed the back of his neck. "I think she really wants to hang out with you, so maybe if you aren't too sleepy?" He looked down at his toes.

She wanted to hang out, with me?

"Uh sure," I said and he nodded and gave me a small smile, he turned on his heels and walked back across the hallway to his bedroom as we closed our boors in sync.

I took a long shower trying to wake myself up, partially forgetting I was on a time limit. With less than thirty minutes left, I rushed through the bathroom tying my hair up in a loose puff and deciding to keep my glasses on no time to waste fighting my contacts. I pulled the drawer open and slipped on a faded black graphic t-shirt and oversized ripped jeans. The point of the jeans seemed a little redundant since the ripped parts exposed most of my legs in the front which made them more like shorts. Ms. Banks must've had quite the style change over the years since I really couldn't see her wearing most of this stuff now.

I quickly did my edges and some light makeup before grabbing my phone and jogging to the center of the house.

Hunter sat at the kitchen table eating some toast and scrolling on his phone as Ms. Banks gathered up some artwork, she turned and smiled at me. She had on a forest green floor-length sundress that had small flowers hand-painted along the bottom of it.

"Good Morning Miss Magnolia," she said my name in a soft sing-songy voice, "we have some breakfast stuff in the fridge if you're feeling peckish. I'm going to head to my mini masterpieces class, it's for the little ones, uh I have no idea what Hunt is up to this morning but," Ms. Banks continued to grab more artwork and I walked over to her picking up a few as well.

"I was wondering if you didn't mind if I came along?" I asked as she slowed down picking up the last piece.

With her free hand, she rested it on her heart over the stack of artwork, "You are always welcome to tag along with me sweetie."

She looked over her shoulder at Hunter, "See some people volunteer to hang out with ya Mama, I am cool," she moved her shoulders with her words before turning to the front door, I looked at Hunter as he glanced up from his phone giving me a small shrug. I wouldn't have even known she wanted company without him telling me, but I guess he was giving me the win. I gave him a small smile before following Ms. Banks outside.

I helped her load artwork in the back seat before hopping in the passenger seat as we backed out of the driveway. She looked in the rearview mirror for a moment and then she looked at my shirt and smiled.

"I'm glad those old shirts are finally getting some use, Hunt grew out of them faster than my paychecks," She laughed to herself.

I looked down at the shirt I was wearing slightly moving it away from my body with a pinch, then back at her, "These are Hunter's old shirts?"