Car Wash // On Hold

» two

Ada's POV

I woke up in my bed to the vibrating of my phone beside my head. I sat up, feeling like I was in the video for Last Friday Night by Katy Perry. There were sheets of paper, a calculator, notebook, and a textbook laying all around me. I groaned and leaned back, throwing my head back tiredly. I hate hate having to wake up as early as 7:00 am to go to the hell hole they call 'school'. It's not that I dislike learning because as many people call it, it's the stairway to success. It's the homework, tests, and the people in the building that tick me off. I dragged my body to the floor, my back never leaving the bed as I fell on the carpet as if I was a blob of slime. I laid there for about ten seconds before groaning and getting up, forcing myself to go get ready.

When I got to the bathroom, I jumped at my appearance in the mirror. I looked like a fucking mess, like the monster in a scary movie. I'm not the type of girl that would flaunt and compliment herself like Beyoncé would, unlike them, I did wake up like this. I moved my greasy hair from my face and curled it up, sticking a bobby pin and took my clothes off. I stared at myself in the mirror in a sports bra and boxers. I turned around to stare at my butt and giggled since it was getting bigger. I tweaked a little in front of the mirror before grabbing a towel and getting ready to enter the shower.

As soon as I finished my shower, put some clothes on and stepped out of my room. I knew it was gonna be a hectic morning for my parents seeing as they were already late for work and their kids were still in the house. They were rushing around and screaming things like, "Gotta go, gotta go" and "Where the hell is my tie?!"

It was only 8:10 and my second period (I don't have a first period this semester) starts at 9:15 so I still have around 35 minutes before I have leave for school. Since I've gotten to this city I noticed that the school buses are always at least eight minutes late. Even though I've never been to school late thanks to the bus, it's honestly annoying.

I walked down to the kitchen and opened the refrigerator. Too lazy to make breakfast, I took out a brown bag with two slices of pizza and put it in the microwave. I leaned on the counter and laughed at my parents chasing each other around, my little brother tripping on my mother's foot as she looked for my dad's tie.

"Oh my–mijo are you okay?!" My mom only stopped for a minute to ask before she was back to looking for her head.

"Come here, Nick. You want some pizza?" I tried to hide my laugh by eating quickly because it looked like it hurt when he fell. I turned around to open the microwave, I looked up and above it I saw his checkered tie. "Dad, I found your tie." I said between chews.

He came in the kitchen and took it from me quickly, "Thank you!"

"Shut up, I heard you laughing." Nicolas scoffed before snatching the pizza that was in my hand. I couldn't hold it in anymore before I let out a big snort, he stared at me with enraged eyes.

"I couldn't help it, your face was so calm then all of a sudden, plop! Ya' didn't see it coming, huh?" I wish I'd gotten that on Snapchat.

I opened the refrigerator and took out a cold water bottle. I turned around to see his lips pressed in a thin line and the pizza in the air, aiming to throw it at me. I dodged just in time, the pizza hit the counter and stuck to it for .111 seconds before falling down.

"You tried it, bitch!" I whispered the cuss word so my parents wouldn't hear and ran back upstairs like my pants were on fire.

I walked in the bathroom to brush my teeth, ignoring the groans coming from my brother. I combed my hair a few times, trying out different styles for thirty seconds before I came to the solution of leaving my hair in a low messy ponytail. I came out of the bathroom, going inside my room to see no sight of my bag. It is usually beside my dresser on the floor but it wasn't there today. I began to put on my shoes while yelling out, "Mom, have you seen my backpack?"

"Why is everybody coming to me for their things when I can't even keep track of my own." She said angrily, I giggled silently at her spanish accent as I shook my head. I got up and walked to her room, leaning against the doorway.

"Sorry, ma', but have you seen it?"

"It's on the side of the staircase next to your brother's gaming toys whatever." She said quickly as if she was who put it there.

I walked downstairs and picked up my maroon backpack. Isn't it ironic how mothers know where everything is but I literally passed by the staircase and don't recall seeing it.

I tucked my water bottle in the mesh bottle pocket before I grabbed my key from the hook on the wall labeled AD and opened the door, "Bye and thanks mami!" I walked to the bus stop just a block away from my house. Freshmen from my school crowded around the stop so I took it upon myself to stand a few steps away from them; It was a hot day and everyone was sweating, irritated that the bus was taking this long. Luckily for me, I was prepared. Downing a big chunk of water, I tapped my foot to Terror Jr's "Come First" as it blasted through my earbuds and I fought the feeling to lipsynch.

All of the sudden, I saw a car tire pull up in front of me and looked up from my phone in curiousity. It was Alani and Janae. Alani was driving an Audi convertible while Janae sat in the passenger seat. "Hey, want a ride?"

It took me a few seconds to register that and the patience within me not to say who me? out loud. I thought they were superficial snobs that found anyone beneath them peasants. Then again, who was I to turn down a free ride? Shrugging, I prepared to get in the most expensive looking car I've seen. I'm not really one of those 'knows everything about cars' kind of chick but this ride is beautiful.

I sat down in the back seat, taking more gulps of water before she accelerated and a few drops fell on my shirt. I coughed and closed the bottle. It was almost as if she got her license because she had the money to bribe. I usually never put on seat belts in the back seat but this time I did. Janae turned around and stared at me up and down, "What are you wearing, girl?"

"Clothes." I said, eyeing her back.

"Snarky, I like that." She smiled and I ignored her. She noticed my immodest behavior and giggled, "I'm playing, Ada." I stared at her as she continued speaking, "Want to go shopping with us after school?"

I placed a hand over my right front pocket and looked down at it, $6.

"Sorry, I have to do something after school." I lied. I didn't want to walk around looking all bougie with the mayor's daughter, a model, and an artist. I won't fit in, I'm just Ada. But Janae didn't seem to understand.

"Can you go another day? We have to buy our uniforms for the car wash. We'll pay, this will be a cool time to get to know each other." Alani begged, looking at me for a second before taking her eyes back to the road.

We drove for a while as I thought, changing the subject until I came to a decision, "Where's Demetria?"

"Oh, Demi?" said Janae while feeding Alani fruits on a fork as if she was a baby and then taking a fruit from a plastic container for herself with the same fork, "She doesn't drive to school. She either takes her skateboard or bike, something about pollution. You know, classic."

Demi was actually really down to Earth. She was who was doing the graffiti behind the school, saying things like However you dress, where ever you go, yes means yes and no means no and art is not a crime or some other feminist/deep shit like that. They weren't all that bad, I mean, real friends feed real friends.

"Okay, I'll go to the mall with you." I said, wondering if I'd regret this decision.

chapter ends