The Chemistry Test

4. tiger lillies and creamie's treats

Day Three

I didn't expect to wake up to the wide eyed stare of my little brother, Emett.

"She stirs!"  His face lit with excitement.  Before I could formulate a sleepy sentence, he added, "You mumble in your sleep, ya know.  Like...a lot.  It's funny." 

"What time is it?"  I asked, sitting up in my bed. 

"Uhh..."  Emett leaned away from my bed and sprang to his feet.  He looked at the clock on my nightstand and stared at it in confusion for a few moments.  Biting his lip, he turned back to me and shrugged his shoulders.  "I can't read it."

I shifted my body so that I could see my clock. 

5:03 a.m.

"Emett." I groaned, trying not to grow agitated.  "It's five."

My brother's green eyes widened as his blond eyebrows raised.  "Really?  So that's what it says!"

I wiped my eyes with my hands and rested my back against the bed frame.  "You need to go to back to bed.  Mom and Dad are still sleeping."

"I'm too hungry to sleep."  He complained.  "Can you make me pancakes?"

I let out a half-laugh.  "You're funny, kid."  I met his eyes and realized he wasn't kidding.  "Oh, you're serious.  Emett, no." I vetoed.

"Lame!"  He exclaimed.  "Come on, Zo.  You always make me pancakes."  He crossed his arms over his chest and softened his eyes.

I sighed.  "I'm not going to win, am I?" 

"Nope."  He grinned from ear to ear, showing off the empty space in his mouth where his canine tooth used to be.

I stared at him for a second before letting out a sigh.  "Well, alright. Let me get dressed."

"Yes!"  He pumped his fists into the air.

"Shh."  I hushed him, swinging my legs out of the covers and placing my feet onto the soft, beige carpet. 

"You're the best!"  Emett chimed, wrapping his skinny nine year old frame around my torso.  I ruffled his toe-head and smiled. 

"Yeah, yeah."  I murmured, pecking the top of his head.  "I'll meet you downstairs."

He unwrapped himself from my body and playfully remarked, "You better." Before skipping excitedly out of my room.  I could only heard his feet clump down the first few stairs before my room was quiet again. 

I looked around, admiring the mustard color of the walls and the various plants potted in clay containers lining the crown molding.  With a deep inhale and a smile, I made my way to my closet and threw on some clothes for the day. 

I drew the cream curtains of the windows open and grinned down at the happy rose succulent set upon the white window sill. It had been a gift from Emett for my 14th birthday, and surprisingly enough had survived and flourished for the following 3 years.

I found Emett perched atop the kitchen island counter, swinging his legs back and forth rhythmically whilst tapping his fingers on his knee and bobbing his head to a non-existent beat.  He had chosen to wear a pair of dark blue jeans, a red baseball shirt with navy sleeves, dusty navy converse, and a black and white 'i <3 Boobies' bracelet.

Wait...an i <3 Boobies bracelet?

"Emett..."  I approached him gingerly, grabbed his wrist and gave him a sickly sweet smile.  "What's this?"  I asked, twirling the bracelet between my fingers.