Lily-Anne's P.O.V
I wiped the sweat off my brow, dirt and grime smearing itself across my forehead and caking my face with muck. The front yard was hot, sweltering even, so hot you could see waves of heat radiating off the road on the other side of the small, white picket fence separating the nature strip from my front yard. A dog's bark echoed across the empty streets and caused a kind of metallic sound to follow in it's wake. Groaning, I pulled at the zip starter on the lawn mower, and cursed loudly when it spluttered pathetically.
'Mind your language!' The crazy old lady from next door, Mrs Jones, shouted from out of her window.
'Shut the hell up!' I bellowed back.
She expects me to take all her incessant nosiness without a fight? Ha. She damn well wishes. I flicked my long, blonde ponytail behind my shoulders and growled when I heard her stupid voice again.
'The youth of today, so disrespectful.' She babbled on, her face reddening with increased aggravation.
'Save your breath you old crone.' I shouted, giving up on the lawn mower and stomping back inside angrily.
As the Mrs Jones' cries were shut out I felt myself relaxing. My dog, Sirius, leapt up and tried to lick my face with over-the-top enthusiasm. His thick and shiny black coat was slightly sweaty, since it was barely cooler inside the house than out.
'Want a drink Sirius?' I scruffed up the black retrievers fur and entered the kitchen.
Sirius was one of a kind, he was a black golden retriever. Only one in the world, that I was aware of anyway. I opened the fridge and pulled out a bottle of Coke, filling up a bowl and putting it on the floor for Sirius. Probably wasn't to good for him, but whatever. He ha water if he wanted it. I then filled up a glass for myself and put the bottle back. Kicking off my shoes, I began to make my way to my room. As I passed the mirror in the hallway I noticed I was sweaty. Really sweaty. My blonde pony tail was tied up above my head, keeping it off the back of my neck and exposing my tanned shoulders in the grimy white tank top I was wearing. Grimacing at my reflection, averted my grassy green eyes and continued on to my room. Kicking open the door I was joined by Sirius in my attempt to flop on my bed. I then noticed I was still holding my glass and righted myself, chugging down half of my now luke-warm Coke and sliding the glass on the dresser. I collapsed on my bed and cried out when Sirius got there first, causing me to accidentally land on him.
'You dumbass Sirius!' I bellowed.
I could have sworn I heard the Mrs Jones yell.
Sirius yelped and I leapt to my feet, deciding on having a shower. I muttered to myself as I walked to the bathroom and slammed the bathroom door shut. Flinching away from my hideous reflection , I stripped off all my clothes and turned on the shower after un-tieing my hair.
Bloody Australia heat. Can't even mow the damn lawn without retreating inside and having to recuperate for an hour. I scrubbed my grape scented shampoo and conditioner through my hair vigorously, rinsing it out and stepping g out of the shower after. I wrapped a towel around my waist and chucked my clothes into the laundry hamper. Stupid heat, I was sweating again already. I then made my way down the hallway, scowling at the awards lining the walls, all embedded with the name 'Sapphire Harper'. My sister. Why did she get a beautiful name like that, and I was stuck with Lily-Anne? Sapphire left me about two years ago, ditching the small town located about half a days drive from anywhere civilised and making a break for Melbourne. Don't blame her. Life here sucks shit. Sapphire and I got along really well, up until mum died. That was five years ago. We lost her from a drug over dose, she had major depression and anxiety issues. Then Sapphire began to distance herself from everyone, including me. Dad and I were the only one left when she left about three years ago, running off with the son of some rich lawyer and leaving us for scrap. You see, she had blamed Mums death on me, saying I was the whole reason for her depression. What a wonderful sister. I was glad she was gone up until Dad died in a car crash a year ago. Sapphire didn't even turn up to the funeral. I only kept the dingy awards there out of respect for my father, knowing he had loved my sister endlessly. After what seemed like months I made it to my room and pulled out some fresh clothes. Another white tank top, this time paired with a pair if denim white-wash shorts. Re-tieing up my hair my signature pony tail, I noticed the odd silence. There was no panting. Glancing at my feet I also realised no black dog.
