Catching Feelings

The Perfect Man

"There's gotta be more to life..."

Ugh! Seriously? Who even has that as an alarm tone? Oh wait - Me! Sighing, I slowly roll over on my bed before gingerly removing the blanket that encircles me. Slowly I get up out of bed and head for the bathroom. Once I've brushed my teeth and showered, I head back to my room and put on my uniform. Looking out of my window, I realize that Cody's probably not awake yet. At least it's not my job to wake him up. It's impossible. I grab my bag before heading downstairs for breakfast.

"Good morning Emma!" my 15 year old brother, Jesse screams at me as I enter the kitchen. Startled, I glare at him before muttering a good morning in return.

"Someone's a grumpy old man this morning," he continues while pouring himself some cereal. I don't even bother to reply to his statement but instead just fix him with a glare.

Seeing my angry expression, he picks up his bowl and heads over to the dining room. I smile once he's left the kitchen before getting up to pour my own cereal. Glancing up at the clock while eating breakfast, I see that I have 40 minutes before school starts. If Cody, Jesse and I have any hope of getting to school on time this morning, I'll have to go check on Cody to see if he's ready for school today.

Sighing, I get up and place my bowl in the sink before grabbing my school bag and yelling for Jesse to come. By the time I reach Cody's front door, which is 5 minutes later seeing as he lives next door to me, Jesse's beside me. I reach forward and knock on Cody's door. Usually I'd just walk into Cody's house unannounced, but the last time I did that, his mom and dad were in the middle of an intense make out session, which is cute for their age, but scaring to any 16 year old teenager. Two minutes later, I hear the sound of a latch being turned before the door is swung open revealing Cody's older sister, Camille.

"Hi Emma, Jesse!" she greets enthusiastically before ushering us in. Smiling I greet her back before walking into the house. "Cody should be down any minute," says Camille as she follows after us. "It took my mom just 15 minutes to wake him up this morning, which for him is a new record!"

"At least she didn't resort to using a bull horn this morning," I say laughing.

"I really wonder about my mother sometimes. I have no clue where she thinks up all these ways to wake Cody up," Camille says with an eye roll.

"I love your mom," I tell her with a chuckle.

"Love you too Emma," I hear Laura say as she walks down the stairs.

"Sometimes I think she loves you more than me and Camille," Cody shouts from the top of the stairs. I look up to see him still in his pajamas.

"That's because she does love me more. Now go get done before we're all late," I tell him. He lets out a loud sigh before I hear him walk back into his room.

"Breakfast?" Camille asks and Jesse and I both shake our heads indicating we've eaten already. Jesse and I flop down on the couch as we wait for Cody to get done.

It may take forever to actually wake Cody up but he gets done for school really quickly. He walks down the stairs 10 minutes later with wet hair and his tie hanging loosely around his neck. He has an apple in one hand and his hockey bag slung around his shoulder. He catches my eye and shrugs, silently asking me to tie his tie for him. I sigh before getting up and walking over to him.

"What time is hockey today?" I ask as I make his tie.

"Same time as ballet so I'll meet you after," he tells me.

"We're ending late today. Something about costume fittings."

"Right. I'll just wait then. You don't think Barbara will let me sit in?"