My eyes flutter open to find a pair of closed ones mere centimeters away from mine. Seriously, if I pucker my lips, we would be kissing. I yelp in surprise and jump away from Chester.
He too jumps from my sudden outburst and ends up falling off the bed with a loud thunk. I giggle as Chester groans. I climb to the edge of the bed and look over the side to find Chester on his back, his unruly curly hair a mess above his head. He mutters a "ow" then laughs along with me.
"You okay?" I ask with a laugh.
He nods in response, a silly smile dazed on his face.
He sits up on the black carpeted floor and rubs his eyes with a yawn. I'm surprised actually, usually I would match Chester with his sleepy red eyes and constant need to yawn, but today, I'm not tired at all.
"Chester! Wake up! It's almost 6:30!" Maryann calls from the hallway.
Me and Chester panic as we hear her feet march down the hall, getting closer and closer to Chester's room. I fly from the bed and grab my backpack from the ground. Chester rushes to my side and pops his window open.
Once I am safely through the window, I back against the brick wall, out of sight from Chester's room. I hear the window door slam shut, followed by Chester's mothers muffled voice come through the other side. I press my ear to the brick in hopes of partially hearing their conversation.
"I'm up mom." Chester announces.
"Good." She responds smugly. A silence follows as I hear a bit of clattering.
"Mom! Don't take my phone!" Chester groans before a set of footsteps are heard. "Ugh! Mom! Not my computer!" Chester continues.
I groan as well and bury my head in my hands. This is all my fault.
"Maybe you shouldn't skip school." Maryann chirps mockingly. "Mrs. Todd also said Lesley's not aloud to come over for the next week." She adds before a door shutting sounds.
I roll my eyes angrily as Chester reopens the window. A sour expression is plastered on Chester's face as he pokes his head through.
"That backfired." He huffs loudly. "I'll be over in a few minutes." He assures as he begins to close the window.
I put my hand on the window to prevent it from closing.
"But your mom just-"
"I don't care." He interrupts me. "I promised you I would be there in the mornings." He says quietly, a serious look on his face.
I sigh in relief and nod.
"I'll see you in a bit." He assures me before closing the window.
I jog over to my house and take my key out of my bag when I arrive at the front door.
I open the squeaking door to reveal my
daunting dark house. A reminder of why I don't like being here alone in the mornings floods through me as I look around the house.
Something about the rising sun barely coming through the hallway, lighting up the dusty picture frames while leaving the rest of the house solemnly grey, makes this dwelling feel so empty.
And something about none of the windows being open. And somthing about the light buzzing noise coming from the AC. And something about how the wood creaks every time I take the tinniest step, just makes this building feel so lonely.
And I can't take it.
Panic rises in my chest as I start to breath heavily. A ringing fills my ears as rub my now thumping head.
