Never Any Less

Chapter 2

We enter the building, and I have to say, it's really creepy. There is a couple holes in the walls, which look really dirty. The lights are all dangling by a wire and flickering like crazy, and it's abandoned. I wrinkle my nose as I look around, it stinks too.

"There's hope." My mom mutters. I look at Katie and notice the utter disgust in her face.

"Ew.. Ew ew ew!" She squeals and starts stamping her shoes off on the dirty old carpet. Dust flies up all around her shoes. Just perfect. I cringe, not able to argue with her. Brandon even locked his iPad and is examining the place.

"Mommy, Daddy, can we leave? This place is gross." He whines. I silently agree with him, and notice Jacob nod slightly beside me. I clutch the handle of my suitcase tighter. We press the button to the elevator (Which I'm actually scared to get on, considering how the rest of this place seems.)

"No." My mom sighs. "Look, maybe our room will be better, think of it that way!" My mom attempts a smile at Brandon, but it really doesn't work. I wrap my arm around Brandon.

"Aye, kiddo. It'll be okay!" I try to be as enthusiastic and optimistic as mom, I guess it's okay. At least, a 9-year-old won't see through it. Jacob mutters "I hope." from beside me, so I glare at him to shut up. The elevator door opens, and we all go inside. I make sure to stand in the middle of the family. We press the button for the 4th floor.

"Wait!!" We hear someone yell. We see an Indian mom and her daughter and son run towards the elevator. My dad presses the button to keep the door open as they enter. I examine the girl. She looks about my age, with black hair, brown eyes, and glasses. She is also like, you know that flawless body type, she's like that, tall and slim. She is clearly sizing me and Katie up too. Brandon and the girl's younger brother just start talking, along with my parents and her mom.

"Hi!" Katie says to the girl. She looks kinda taken aback by the sudden noises.

"Hi, what's your names?" She responds, indicating me and Katie. Great, I've been pulled into this too. I silently curse Katie, I suck at interacting.

"I'm Katie and this is my older sister, Lacey!" Katie exclaims as the elevator comes to a stop. Everyone piles out, but as I try to hang to the back, willing the others to go in front of me, they drop back.

"Cool! I'm Khushi, nice to meet you." The girl, Khushi, introduces herself. I look around the hallway. It's in slightly better shape than the lobby, but still disgusting. I feel better knowing there is other people that live here though. Everyone chatters as they go down the hall. I learn that Khushi goes to the same school we do, and is in my grade. Well, okay, at least I'm gonna know someone.

"Well, I'll see you tomorrow! Lacey, I can how you around the school." Khushi waves at us as her mom starts unlocking the door across from us.

"Uh, cool, bye." I wave at her. Ay, she seems cool enough. I look over to see my family piling into the room. I sigh and step in. It smells like... old. You know that mildewy smell? Yeah.. That's what it is.

"Lacey, Jacob, you're sharing the room at the end of the hall on the left. Katie, Brandon, you are in the room across from theirs." My mom tells us. I exchange a smile with Jacob as we hear Katie's exasperated sigh-noise. I walk to the room. I look around. A bunk bed. Assuming I get the top bunk, I walk up and examine it. I almost puke when I see the mouse poop on it.

"Mooooooom!!!!" I call. She comes running. I jump down and tell her to look. She goes up.

"Oh god, Lacey. The sheets are in the open box in the middle of my room, the one next to yours. Get one for your brother too." My mom orders as she looks around my room, presumably for gloves or something. I walk out of the room, and head into my parents room. I see my dad and smile at him. Zheng smiles back.

"Hey, Lace. You okay? You look pale." I nod.

"Mom and I found mouse poop on my bed. So disgusting!" I tell my dad. She makes a disgusted expression.

"Ew." He says it in a sassy tone. I start laughing, and he does too. He is also more open and talkative when it's just me and him together. I love those moments. I grab 2 sheets and pillowcases and walk back to my room, to see mom shoving the old sheets and pillowcases into the garbage. She looks at me.

"Lacey, this place is gonna be so much better after renos! Like, already, your beds and rooms are gonna be nicer when you start decorating." I nod in agreement and look around the room.

"Posters and drawings and pictures everywhere Mom. Barely gone be able to see the gross walls." We giggle together and Jacob rolls his eyes. I can tell he is happier though. I throw a sheet and pillowcase at him.

"Make your own bed." I say and climb to my bed. The mattress is okay. I start stretching the pale blue sheet over it, and it looks so much better. I suddenly remember my blankets and pillows. I throw the gross pillow down and jump after it.

"Mom, where's my pillow and blankets?" I ask.

"The biggest box by the door." My mom calls back. I run and start ripping the box open. I see my black and white blanket, and pull it out thankfully. I also pull out my pillow and run back to my room.

"Hey, where'd ya get that?" Jacob asks in interest.

"Open box by the door!" I say as I throw my pillow and blanket up. Jacob goes running and I get onto my bed and stretch out my blanket and pillows. It looks sooooo much better. I jump down and search for cleaning supplies. Within a couple minutes I find the spearmint all-purpose cleaner, and a cloth. I go up on my bed and start cleaning the bed frame and the wall beside it. I feel so much better about sleeping here already.

Finally.

"Lacey, can I have the cleaning stuff?" I hear Katie.

"Think fast!" I call back and throw cleaning stuff at her. She catches it. Honestly, I'm quite amazed. She smiles and runs back to her room. I bring my backpack up to my bunk and open it. I pull out a couple of my favourite stuffed animals, some drawings, and some pictures. I also bring out a bag of nails to put the stuff on the wall. I stuff one in the wall, and hang a picture of me and my old best friend, Harmony. I smile and run my finger against the frame of the picture. I suddenly remember I should text her. I take my phone out of my pocket. Dead

"Great." I look up and see an outlet. I take my charger out and plug it in, plugging my phone in. Perfect, my phone can rest right by my head. Now I can have a perfect alarm. I watch as my phone starts turning on. When it does, I get like, 200 texts. Looks like Harmony or someone put me in a group chat called "Lacey Cat FTW". All my friends are in it, Harmony, Clarissa, Michael, Lily, Tia, Riley. I reply with a "guys, I'm okay lol" to all their panicked messages. Harmony quickly responds.

Harmony: Hai best friend

Me: Aye, Harmony.

Michael: What about me harmony? I though we were best friends

Harmony: Oh please Lacey is better guys

Lily: can't disagree with that.

Me: brb gotta unpack guys

I laugh to myself and put my phone back on my bed. I start putting more drawings and pictures on the walls. I sigh and lay back on my bed. I close my eyes just for a moment.

"Lacey! Dinner, come on we're leaving!" I snap my eyes open, awake to the sound of my moms voice. I grab my phone and check the time. 6:30. When I put it down it was 4:46. I didn't mean to sleep. I roll out of bed, unplug my phone and run down the hallway.

"Sorry! I'm here." I gasp. Katie chuckles. I slip on my converse, and run my fingers through my hair.

"Let's go"

******

I was grounded, ahah sorry.