Lights Off

Chapter 1 part 6

I wake up to the sound of Carl's face hitting the floor. 

"Good morning", I sarcastically say helping him up. 

"Morning? more like afternoon", panic takes over and I turn the phone on to see it was only nine, twenty three. 

"I hate you", I punch him in the arm and laugh lightly.

"I left some clothes for you in the bathroom, so you can get rid of that smell"

"This is your place, if I stink guess who's at fault?", taking a shower felt nice especially because of how hot it was yesterday. 

Once I'm done in the bathroom I go towards the kitchen and see Carl's mom. 

"Hey, how are you?"

"Oh honey, I'm good. How's your family?"

"They are all good, how's Malina doing this days?", a sad smile sticks to her face.

"Well lately she barely wants to eat, but she's going out more"

"Why not take her to a psychiatrist? My offer still stands"

"She does not believe in that, I want all of us to help. I think that if we work with her is better than to force her to talk to someone else" 

"I understand"

When I turn I jump a little seen Malina looking at us from the window, she was sending daggers my way so just turn and ignore her. At the same time Carl is walking down the stairs and sends a dazzling smile at us, hugging his mom from behind his eyes travel to the window where his sister was once standing. 

"You got to drive me home before my parents start getting anxious, you know how they "

"It is ok, lets eat breakfast first. We then go pick up Lyla and take you to your place"

"Well I don't see why you can't stay for breakfast, now come on sit down", with a smile I obey. Carl brings over two plates, one with three pancakes and the other one with scrambled eggs, once the table is full with food they both join me at the table. It feels weird to sit at a table to eat, I have not done it in such a long time the feeling is bizarre and a little bittersweet. They talked to each other as if they were best friends, it makes me jealous but at the same time I do not want to be like that with my parents, it is not us. 

Once the food is gone I insist on helping to clean but putting away the juice is as far as I got. They ended up taking care of everything else and finished as fast as always, I would say amazing me but I'm used to them working so fast. 

"I still find it strange how you guys finish cleaning up so fast", I pick up the bag caring my dirty cloth and the keys of Carl's car. 

"You got them?"

"I got them, now lets go before my phone starts screaming"; Lyla. 

Before I knew it we are at her place, Carl takes out his phone, going to his contacts looks for the letter L and presses on her name. The phone barely rings and she already answered, i faintly hear her voice ask if we are outside her place, a small grin forms on his face, nodding while saying yes. In a few seconds her front door opens, I was expecting her to run but her mom stands on the door while giving her a very serious face, saying something I'm unable to hear. She nods a few times and looks our way, I turn to Carl and a small frown is on his face while he looks at them. When I turn Lyla is already walking our way with a smile on her face, her mom smiles at us and closes the door. 

"What was that about?"

"You know my mom, she is just being, my mom", she laughs at herself as if there was a story behind her words. 

"So? What are we doing for the next hour?"

"Right, my parents said they wanted me to be at the hotel by lunch time"

"You just had breakfast", he chuckles, letting go of the steering wheel and messing with my hair.

"You are driving! Pay attention or we'll get in an accident", I demand fixing my hair but he just laughs and Lyla follows him.

"You know there are only around three accidents in a year over here, so you can relax", Lyla says.

"That changes nothing, now you pay attention to the road"

"Nothing is gonna happen to us", he says.

''How can you know that?", he stays quiet. 

"You just worry too much", he smiles but makes sure to keep both of his hands on the wheel.

"Are we taking you back to the hotel?"

"You can stay with me while I finish packing and we can just walk around for a while, if you want of course"

"Of course we do"

When we reach the hotel it is 11:26 am, parking the car took Carl around ten more minutes and reaching my room five more. 

"I'm in my room", weird noises come from the other side making it difficult to hear my mom.

"Mom?", Lyla and Carl turn my way with worried faces. 

"She cant talk right now, her and dad are going crazy because they can't find his phone" 

"Oh, then just tell them I'm in my room already"

"OK"

"When exactly are we leaving?"

"They said around one, that way we can reach home by six, seven"

"OK, call me if anything", she mutters a yes and hangs up. 

Little brat.