ASHLEY

10

   When the girls finally arrive home they greet me with so much excitement, excluding Ciara. Remember the part about her hating my guts? Yeah, that.

   "What are you doing here stupid girl?" Erica ask, voice low enough to lower the chances of her parents walking by and hearing her. Mr and Mrs Martin do not not play around when it comes to cursing. They find it quite repulsive and banded it from being used in their house, at least not openly of course. She plops down on the bed besides me and throw her chunky leg across me. I push it off roughly and place my feet near her head, earning a harsh shove.

   "I got locked out my house stupid girl."

   "Oh. See I would stay up with you but since you being a bitch I'm going to have to let you go."

   I throw a pillow at her head and she flicks me off on her way out the room. Da'Marcus stirs near by me and I pick him up and rock him in my arms. Stephanie complains about me spoiling him too much and I wave her away. I can't help it. Has just too cute and I like to hold babies. I plan on settling down and having a few of my own one day. When I'm married and I'm financially stable of course. Best to be prepared for those types of things.

   Da'Marcus eventually falls asleep after I feed him a bottle of milk. I lay him down comfortably on the bed and go to take my shower. I have clothes over from all the other times I've slept over so I'm good on that. I'm surprised Stephanie's parents haven't started complaining yet. They probably won't ever. They brag about how I'm such a nice girl and how good an influence I am over Stphanie and Erica. Though it is true, I'd rather them not point it out. I don't want to make Erica or the others feel bad. I know how sibling rivalries can get and I also know how they usually start.

   I use to be so mad at my parents for paying more attention to Angela than they did of me. I thought they loved her more. I hadn't realised that because I'm the oldest I have to make and set the example. They were only preparing me and now I'm thankful for it because I know how to talk to Angela and what's right and wrong.

   As I'm walking to the bathroom with my phone in hand I connect roughly to someone's hard body and we nearly stumble back. Ciara gives me a soured look, her thick lips pursed together in a straight line, messy eyebrows hung low in disgust.

   "My bad," I apologize and maneuver around her, desperately trying to avoid any conflict. This is her house after all and not to mention her parents are right below us.

   She hums before making her way back to where ever she came from. I proceed to hop in the shower and cleanse my body of the disgusting filth of today. As I lather my body in soap my thoughts dift back to Kenneth. I can't help but feel the urge to want to talk to him more. I'm curious, and believe me I do know what it did to the cat. But on the other hand, we use to be friends. I use to call on him in a time of need and he use to answer. Whenever we got into mischief he would take the blame for me and refuse to let me return the favor.

   I use to loathe him for that. He couldn't help it though. Kenneth is just a caring person. I wonder if him trying to settle things between the two of us means he cares. I mean, why try this hard if you don't?

   He seems to have a lot going for himself. He has a nice car, nice bike, and a nice house. Not to mention he's dashingly handsome which is a far cry from his earlier awkward stage of being a teenager. And it seems that we both have common interest in tattoos. That's cool, I suppose.

   After cutting of the shower and drying off then changing into my night clothes, I climb in the bed with Erica since Da'Marcus is taking up most of the space in Stephanie's bed and I'm afraid if I sleep there I would squish him.

   Once again I find my thoughts wondering back to Kenneth. A smile forms on my lips as I drift off into darkness.