Wishful Thinking

Chapter Four

chapter four

               The next morning I woke up to an obnoxious ringing.

               It took a few moments for my eyes to adjust to the morning sunlight, but once they did I was faced with another sensory problem.

               That ringing.

               I plugged my ears with my index fingers, searching the room for the source of the sound, feeling rather groggy.

               Mr. Cameron stood at the door that connected his room to ours, ringing a cow bell. A cow bell, for Christ's sake.

               "Dad," Lynn croaked from across the room, "Where the hell did you get a cow bell? And can you please stop with the ringing and the binging and the ding ding dinging?"

               Next to me Ava moaned and shifted in her bed. "To whomever is ringing that ridiculous bell, I suggest you stop if you like having two arms."

               I sat up on my elbows and stared at Mr. Cameron, trying my best to keep myself mannerly and not yell at him like his daughters were, although I very much wanted to.

               Mr. C halted his ringing and smiled at us. "Afternoon, girls." He greeted. "Now, you have two options on how you choose to spend your vacation. You may either go sightseeing with me everyday around this time, or stay in the hotel and have free reign. Which would you guys like?"

               Mr. Cameron rolled on the heels of his feet as he waited for an answer.

               I stared at Ava, and we shared a look. Ava turned to Lynn, and they shared a look. The three of us dropped our heads back onto our pillows, ready to go back to sleep.

               Several hours after the bell incident, I woke up for the second time that day. I rubbed my eyes as I sat up in bed, and as I looked around our hotel room, a sudden realization hit me.

               Crap.

               I threw the sheets off of me and got out of bed and into the bathroom. Quickly brushing my hair and teeth, then applying my daily makeup, I ran back to the main room. Ava lied in her bed, scrolling through her phone, and Lynn wasn't anywhere to be found.

               Slightly panicing, I threw my sheets and pillows around searching for my phone. Once I found it, I connected to the hotel's WiFi, and opened up my e-mail. Quickly, I typed in an e-mail to my mother.

               Hi, Mom! We arrived just a bit ago, but I've been told the service here absolutely sucks so it might be a while till you get this. Maybe even a day. Just know I didn't forget to e-mail you. Miss you already, I love you.

               I bit my lips as I waited for her reply. Knowing my mom she would probably be checking her e-mails right about now, and if she didn't believe my lie... well, I could be screwed and I could be not-so-screwed.

               A new e-mail from her popped onto my screen.

               Teagan, Mr. Cameron e-mailed me yesterday. You're an ass.

               Not-so-screwed it is.

               I typed in a reply before finally acknowledging Ava for the first time since I've woken up.

               "Hi," I breathed, tossing my body onto her bed. After that satisfying but unnecessary movement, I pulled myself up to where she sat and scooted next to her.