Secrets And Lies

Chapter 2: First Day Jitters

       " Wake up, darlin', " My father's voice rumbled too close to my ear. I love my dad, I do, but right now, I loved sleep more. I would not go down without a fight.

       "Just six more hours," I protested irritatedly, shoving my pillow over my head. All this action did was make my father laugh.

Glad someone found my lack of sleep funny. As annoyed and determined as I was to stay in bed today, the sound of his laughter made the left corner of my mouth turn up.

       " You're going to be late for school." He prodded, dragging the fluffy barrier from my head. I let out a sarcastic laugh and struggled to hold on to my precious pillow.

       "You're funny, see, because I'm not going.." I  yanked the pillow from his hands. " You're the one who's going to be late for work." I countered, eyeing his sheriff's uniform.

       "I'm the boss, so technically I can't be late." He grinned. "Get up, or I'll make Quade come in here and do the job."

        " Empty threats don't look good on you," I grumbled, hiding my face once more.

       "Don't say I didn't warn you.." He chuckled, exiting my bedroom.

       I rolled my eyes. Quade would understand and would let me be. I concluded right before my door swung open, my surroundings tumbling upside down. It took me a quick second to realize I was being lifted over my brother's shoulder, yet again. My head started pounding from the rush of blood. The sight of my brother's ass in my face didn't help either.

        "Put me down, Quade! I'm not going to school! I'm going to stay home, wallow in my self-pity and evaluate why life hates me." I stated, my tone full of drama.

For some reason, saying this statement like I was joking made me feel better. I was one hundred percent serious. That in itself was enough to make me hate the person I had become.

       "Whoa, Ry, this isn't like you. You never acted all angsty before." He said, heading towards the bathroom.  How could I think that I could throw him off?

       "People change; get used to it." I deadpanned. I slapped at his back. "Put me down!"

       "If you want me to put you down, who am I to argue?" He laughed, turning on the water in the shower.

       "You wouldn't!" I tried to convince not only him but myself that he wasn't that cruel.

I was wrong.

       "You know me better than that, Ry.." he stated just before shoving me into it, fully clothed in my tank top and pajama shorts.

       "What the actual fu.." I gasped as the cold water soaked into my bones. Teeth chattering, I glared at my brother's shit-eating grin. "Remind me never to underestimate you..." I hissed through my teeth. "At the very least, you could have  waited until the water was room temp."

       "See ya downstairs..." He smirked, closing the door as he left.

_____

       After I had stripped out of my wet pajamas, I reluctantly showered and dressed in dark jeans and a plain black sweater. Nothing that would draw attention, good or bad.

"I  need to cut some of this off,"  I mumbled to myself as I blow-dried the mass of hair on my head.

I have never let my hair get this long. At this point, I was all hair. It took most of my energy to run a straightener through it.