Apricity #Wattys2016

Chapter Two: Victoria

"Imagination will often carry us to worlds that never were but without it we go nowhere" -Carl Sagan

My alarm clock shrieked. I opened one eye and looked at the clock the bright red numbers made me squint, it was 4:44. It continued to beep as I untangled myself from my blankets. I brought my hand violently down on the snooze button. I didn't remember setting it to go off this early.

"Well I'm already awake" I said to myself as I swung my legs over the bed.

My cold wooden floor against my bare feet made me feel wide awake. I tiptoed down the hall and peeked into Amber's room. She was still sound asleep I could even hear snoring coming from the bump under the comforter. I shut the door and continued on my way to the kitchen turning on the coffee maker and sticking my head in the fridge to find something to eat.

A while later I was sipping on coffee and skimming the channels when another set of shrills echoed from Amber's room. The alarm was shut off and shuffling came from her room. I finished my coffee and set the empty cup on the wooden table. Amber came out yawning and rubbing her eyes.

"Morning Sweetie" I called to her. She jumped and looked at me wide eyed.

"Your up early" She exclaimed holding her chest as if I had given her a heart attack.

"Yeah my alarm clock went off early."

"Well morning." She said in between yawns and made her way to the fridge. I finally gave up trying to find something to watch and settled on the news.

Amber hopped over the back of the couch and plopped down next to me munching on a pop tart.

"Why are you watching the news?" She said and propped her feet up on the table next to mine.

"It was either this or Zumba fitness." She laughed and rested her head on my shoulder.

We watched the news for a while and when she stuffed the rest of her pop tart in her mouth and shuffled off to the bathroom to get ready for school.

"Amber you're using up all the hot water! I have to take a shower too and you've been in here for a half an hour." I said through the door banging on it again."

"OK, OK!" She said shutting off the water. I sighed and went to grab my work uniform.

Amber walked out of the bathroom with her hair wrapped up like an Egyptian Princess.

"Nice hair dew. I called to her she stuck her tongue out at me and closed her bedroom door.

I laughed and went into the bathroom. Wiping the steam from the mirror and turning on the shower. She had used up most of the water making me have to wash out my conditioner in cold water. I quickly rinsed and jumped out shivering. I pulled my hair into a bun and lined my eyes in a thin line of eyeliner then pulled on my uniform. I worked as a bartender at the Piccolo Bar on the other side of town.

I was in my room when Amber poked her head through the door.

"I'm leaving." She said. I opened my arms gesturing for a hug. She opened the door and jumped on my bed quickly embracing me in a tight hug.

"Bye Victoria." She said.

"Its chilly outside your going to need a jacket." She pulled on the dark grey jacket that belonged to our Mom. She had worn it almost everyday since the accident. I heard the front door shut as she left.

I'm guessing you might be wondering what happened to our Mom so ill explain.

Our Dad left shortly after Amber was born he was an alcoholic and didn't think he could handle another kid with his problem. My Mom was devastated he didn't say bye or anything just left one day without any warning and we haven't seen or heard from him since. My Mom took on a few side jobs to help support us and I worked nights at a small restaurant while basically raising Amber. It was a very hard time for us.