Deciding My Fate

Chapter 4

"Yeah. . . You know? One of those people that don't eat meat for whatever reason? . . ," I said, trying to be polite and explain.

"Honey, I know what a vegetarian is. It's just that you used to love this food. I don't understand." Mrs. Waters gave me what I assumed was her "feel sorry for me" look. It didn't work.

"People change." I shrugged before giving Alex a pleading look.

He gave me an amused smirk before changing the subject. I nibbled on my food and listened as the family droned on and on about their days like they were at a group therapy session, wondering if the average family did that. My parents usually had meetings at dinner time, so I either cooked instant macaroni and cheese or ordered take out. I would chill and do homework or watch reruns on television with my plate of food on the couch most nights. I liked it that way, though. I wished I were back home. . .

". . . you think Natalie?"

"Hmmm? . . ," I asked , dazed. I'm such a daydreamer. I looked at the person that had attempted to include me in conversation-Alex.

"I asked if you were up for working outside with the animals tomorrow." He repeated, looking as he highly doubted that I would be "up for it".

Of course, being the prove-you-wrong type of person, I put on my best fake sarcastic smile I could muster and said, "I would just love that. I really need a job, anyways."

"You sure, Natalie? That's some hard work. You could just work with me in the kitchen or watch the twins for me if you'd rather," Mrs Waters said.

The thought of being in the same room with her for more than a few minutes at a time slightly scared me, and there was no way I was going to watch the little demons. "Working outside is fine," I replied.

"If you think so," she said.

"I know so."

"Your pay will start at eight dollars an hour, and you'll be expected to be down and ready for breakfast at six thirty. I'll treat you no different than any other of my employees," Mr. Waters said to me.

I internally groaned at the thought of how early I would have to get up in the morning, but I had been cut off and really needed some money. So I nodded my okays. "Fine with me. "

Not much later afterwards had we wrapped up dinner and Alex and I were headed back to his bedroom. Before he could object, I threw myself on his bed and closed my eyes. "I didn't know one person could be this mentally, emotionally, and physically exhausted. Grawrr."

"Um, I do believe that's where you're sleeping tonight, and every night," Alex said, sounding awkward and gesturing towards the pile of uninflated blue plastic on the floor, the air mattress.

I made a face at the poor excuse of a bed and swore loudly. "Seriously?" I groaned with my eyes closed. "Okay, okay. I getting up." But I made no effort to move. Mostly to see what Alex would do, but also because I really was dead tired.

"Natalie?"

Yeah?"

"You gonna get up, or do I need to drag you off my bed?" I opened my eyes then and looked at Alex, who had come to sit on the edge of the bed. Those bottomless brown eyes look amused, but I had no doubt that he had the ability to pull me off the bed.

"You mean I'm not off yet?" I said sarcastically, pushing myself off the bed.

Alex laughed. "If you want to grab a shower, the bathroom's next door. I'll find the pump and blow up your. . .that." He said, pointing my new "bed", knowing himself that it wasn't fit to be called its proper name.

I nodded. "Sounds like a plan."

I quickly found pajamas, underwear, shampoo, body wash, and my contact care materials and went into the restroom that was between Alex and the twins' bedrooms. It was a standard bathroom, nothing special. The walls were painted beige, and there were double sinks, a tub with a shower head, and two pale blue rugs strategically placed on the floor. I looked at a watercolor painting of a sunset on the beach that I immediately recognized as one of mine. When I was fifteen, I had mailed paintings to everyone as Christmas presents, and my parents had made me include the Waters. The fact that they had framed it and hung it up made a small smile appear on my face.

I placed my things where I needed them to be and found some towels on a shelf. I was just about to pop my contacts out and strip when I realized that I had forgotten to lock the door. I walked back over to the door knob to lock the restroom when I discovered that there wasn't one.

Crap.

I ran back into Alex's room where I found him bent over a half-inflated air mattress holding a small black object that was making a humming sound. I assumed it was the pump he was talking about.

"Where's the lock?" I asked him, annoyed and confused.

"You mean on the bathroom? There isn't one." He said over the humming of the pump.

"Waddya mean there isn't one?" I said.

"I mean that there isn't one. When Mom and Dad built the house the didn't think it necessary to put one in." He shrugged. "I told the boys not to come in there until you had finished."

I shook my head and rolled my eye. "Whatever," I mumbled, still pissed, and walked back to the restroom to resume my shower.

It's the little things in life that make it worth dragging your butt around every day and putting up with crap from idiots, I realized as I stepped into the shower. All it took was some soap and water, and I felt much better. I took my time scrubbing airplane and car ride funk off. I deserved it.

I then got out and wrapped myself up in a towel. I wiped off the condensation from the mirror. My unglamorous, make-upless, wet-haired self was looking back at me. Quickly, I put on my pajamas, brushed my teeth and hair, and French braided my damp hair.

 I walked out out the door that didn't have a lock and into Alex's room, eyes literally crossing from exhaustion and mental strain.The only thing that I wanted to do at that moment was to curl up and sleep for thirteen straight hours on my rock mattress.