Change

Chapter Eleven

A cold hand strokes my sweaty forehead.

'Love? You awake?'

I mumble and the curtain of my eyes flow open, and my eyes meet a woman with familiar bronze hair and stunning hazel eyes.

'Oh, hey mom.'

She smiles ear to ear.

'Hey sweetie.'

I push myself up and sit in an awkward position. 'How long was I down?'

'I don't know. Flame left four hours ago.'

I've been sleeping for four hours??

Wowza.

'Uh...okay....'

Her mouth straightens into a thin line. 'Yeah.'

'Where's Dad?'

She tucks a lock of her hair behind my ear. 'Oh your dad. He's gone out. To do some work, I suppose.'

Work?

'He doesn't go at night....'

'Yes, I know, but he said it was an emergency.'

Oh. That's so unlike Dad.

'Flame called a couple of times on my phone.'

'Your phone? Why didn't she call on my phone?'

She smiles. 'You were asleep dear.'

Oh, right.

'Well, I better be cooking dinner. You go to the bathroom and freshen up, okay?'

She kisses the top of my forehead and leaves the room.

I pull myself off the sofa and waddle my way to the bathroom. I stare myself at the mirror, and smirk sheepishly.

No wonder the neighbors cat's scared of me when I wake up. Because I look like a witch on a bad hair day.

I open the shower and the tap. My eyes close and relax when my hands feel the cold tap water.

Ah, wish life could be the same way.

I always wondered what life would be like without trouble.

Or Norrie.

Or homework.

Or porridge.

Everything would be easy, and I could chill back all day. No worries, no trouble, no detention, no grounding, life would be a hamburger.

But then there's Norrie.

And homework.

And porridge.

See?

Things stink when you're a teenager.

You can only achieve perfection in one thing; you could be a perfect dirt sandwich.

'VANESSA? YOU THERE?'

A shrilly voice interrupts my train of thought.

If it's Norrie, I swear I'll make Flame bury me alive.

I open the door to see lips bigger than the human nose.

Note to self: Message Flame to bring a shovel. A big one.

'What do YOU want?'

'Awe, such a kind greeting.'

Phooey.