Chasing Shadows

Chapter 1: Rose

"Hurry up, Danny!" I yelled. I had been waiting outside the bathroom door for thirty minutes while my brother was having a spa day in the only bathroom in the house. I banged on the door again.
"What's the hurry, sis? Not like you've got a date or anything." He mocked.
"Get out of the shower, Danny! I'm gonna be late for school!"
"Not like it would be the first time." He laughed, I could sense the grin on his face. Finally, Danny opened the door, filling the hallway with steam, and fogging my vision. Danny stepped out of the bathroom, without a towel. I slapped my arm over my face, trying desperately to block the horrid sight of my older brother's naked body from my mind.
"Jesus, Danny! Get a towel!" I screamed. He laughed at my reaction, though I didn't find this situation even remotely funny.
"Sorry" he said, choking down a laugh. "Towels aren't in the closet, are they?"
"There" I said. Pointing, with one hand, at a basket of towels sitting on the floor of the hallway. "In the basket. Where they always are." Shaking his wet, black hair, he grabbed a towel and walked into his room.
'God, I swear, he's a three year old on steroids.' I thought to myself. I grabbed a towel from the basket and jumped into the shower. I scrubbed my entire body, head to toe. I must've washed my face fifty times. I don't think I'll ever get the vision of Danny's nudity out of my head.
Ringing my long brown hair out, I got out of the shower and rummaged through my dresser for something to wear. My wardrobe consists souly on tshirts, jeans and sneakers. My mom complains about my attire but my dad said it suits my personality. Whatever that means.
I grabbed my ratty old jeans, my favorite guns and roses Tshirt, and my converse. I struggled to get dressed quickly and bolted down the stairs, wet hair and all. Danny came running down the stairs behind me and knocked me flat on my ass.
"Dammit, Danny!" I yelled at him.
"Sorry" he laughed, bending down to help me up. He pulled me up to my feet and ran into the kitchen, I followed behind him.
"Good morning, sweetheart" my mother mused. "I made breakfast? But you'll have to hurry or you'll both be late." Her eyes flicked to my shirt. "Rose honey. Do you have to wear such odd clothes?" She asked, irritantly.
"They're not odd mother." I replied.
"Why can't you dress pretty?"
"She's beautiful on whatever she wears." Added my dad, walking into the kitchen. He kissed my forehead and said good morning. My dad never objects to anything I say or do. Mom on the other hand. Is the exact opposite. He sat down in his usual chair with his usual newspaper. Danny raised an eyebrow at me.
"What?" I asked. He shook his head.
"Nothing." He replied l.
"Are you going to eat?" Mom asked.
"I don't have time. Zack's going to be here any second." Zackary Jekikovek is my neighbor. And my best friend since we moved here in junior high. Not to mention he's my ride to school.
He's Danny's arch nemesis and my dads sworn enemy. My mom however loves him. He always compliments her on something. Why? I have no idea. A car horn blew as I walked past the kitchen door to grab my books. I looked out the window to see Zack's rusty old orange pick up pulling into the driveway.  I walked out of the kitchen, shoving a piece of toast into my mouth
"Gotta go" I started toward the front door when it swung open.
"You ready babe?" Asked Zack, grinning from ear to ear.
"I'm not your babe." I laughed. He walked past me and into the kitchen. I rolled my eyes and followed.
"Hello Hathaway's!" He greeted.
"Zackary! How great to see you!" Mused my mother, smiling.
"Susan. Lovely as always" he smiled and turned to Danny who completely ignored him.
"Daniel." Stated Zack, coldly.
"Jekikovek." Mumbled my brother "gotta present for you. See if you can unwrap it" he held out his hand and flipped Zack off.
"Daniel Hathaway!" Gasped my mother. As if she were surprised by my brother's actions.
"Zackary. Try not to drive so exaggerantly today. It would be dreadful if I had to..." He paused. "Remove you from my daughter's presence."
"Oh. Well we wouldn't want that now would we?" Mocked Zack. I slapped his arm and he flinched. 'What?' He mouthed, looking at me with the what-did-i-do look on his face. I glared daggers at him. He rolled his eyes at me and laughed. I grabbed Zack's arm and pulled him out of the house toward the truck.
"What did I do?" He laughed.
"You need to be nicer to my dad" I laughed, opening the passenger side door of the truck. Zack shut it before I could put my books in the cab of the truck and smiled at me.
"Nicer to your dad?" He asked. Trying desperately to keep a straight face. "You want ME to be nice to HIM? Ha. Rose, you are hilarious!" I rolled my eyes and open the truck door for a second time to throw my books into the seat. I turned around to see Danny running up to the truck.
"Wait up!" He called. "I need a ride." Zack looked at me, those green eyes sparkling with mischief.
"Why should I let you ride with us?" Asked Zack, grinning. "After all? You did flip me off"
"And you pushed me down the stairs" I added, crossing my arms.
"More of a reason not to let you ride with us." Stated Zack, winking at me. Danny crossed his arms and sighed loudly.
"Please?" He mumbled. Zack looked at me and then back at Danny, causing an awkward silence for about 3 minutes
"Fine but you get back seat." He agreed. Zack turned around and walked around truck to the driver side door. As Zack jumped into the truck, Danny pulled my hair.
"Ow." I gasped. I swung to slap him but he caught my arm. Zack  rolled down the window.
"Oy!" He yelled. "I saw that. T you don't get your asses in the truck, we'll be late." Danny laughed and we both climbed into the truck