It's All Fun and Games Until the Prank Wars Begin!

January 17th 8:52 A.M.; Elizabeth’s House - Ellie’s POV

My father has been snooping through my luggage for a while now, and he’s now found my underwear.  You can tell from the way he just shrieked, “You let her wear these?  Tina, you know our daughter is not allowed to wear frilly underwear!  Oh my wonderfully pure little angel, where have you gone?”

“Calm down, Carter, she’s not a little girl anymore.”  My mother pats his shoulder from her spot on the bed.  That’s her job when it comes to Father.  Keep him calm; he certainly isn’t accomplishing this on his own.

My mother had demanded that she do my hair, so now my usually 30% wave/70% frizz hair is coiled in smooth black curls; my straight cut bangs swept to either side of my face.  The black with white decor sweater, skinny jeans, and black ballet flats combo seems to be working well. I’m just glad that she didn’t think about make-up.  My face is my face.  Leave it as is and no one gets hurt.

“You really must be hurrying along to GLA.  You know they need everyone there by 9:15.”  Mom points out, tapping her foot against the hard wood floor.

“Yes mother.”  I respond, giving her a slight nod.  Her face softens and the usual hard line of her mouth melts into a easy smile.  She crosses the distance that is between us and gathers me into one of her rare embraces.  Needless to say, I relish it while I can.

Far too soon, the hug has ended, my parents have left the room (Father still whining about his ‘little girl’), and I’m zipping up my suitcase now that Father was done doing...whatever he was doing.

I survey my room, checking that I have everything I need and a little more.  The room now seems uninhabited, like a hotel room when you first check in.  Everything in precisely organized the way I find comfortable, but the personal touches are missing.

With everything seemingly in order, I went down the hall to the opening of the foyer.  I descend the stairs, suitcase clunking along with me.  The grandfather clock chimes nine and I realize I could actually be late.

“Hurry!  You’re going to be late!”  I hear my mother scurry out from the kitchen where she must have been making Lulu’s breakfast.  Lulu, the big and fluffy golden retriever herself, bounds out of the kitchen and rushes me, rearing herself up for a goodbye kiss.

I have no time for this, it takes me almost fifteen minutes to get to Giddly Lake Academy and Lulu’s “happy sessions” usually take up to five minutes at the least.

“No, Lulu, no!”  I hold out a hand and make a dash for the door.

Let’s just say, it doesn’t work.

I finally reach the door, yanking it open.

“Bye Mom, bye Dad!”  I shout before I hurriedly close the door.  I hear a thump with a shiver from the door and know that Lulu just ran into the door.  The poor dear, she just wanted to say goodbye.  I don’t have many days in that house left.  I’m half way through senior year after all, and I can only imagine what Father will be like when I leave for college.  The thought makes me cringe with his cries for his ‘beautiful little girl’.

I remember what I had set out to do and race to my car, but not before I hear a ping! come from my pocket.

“My apologies, whoever is texting me, but I’m kind of in a hurry.  Mind if you just stay unread for maybe twenty minutes?  ‘Kay, thanks.”  I murmur under my breath as I stuff my baggage into the trunk of the car my parents had given me as a birthday present for my - you guessed it! - sixteenth birthday.

I slam the trunk closed - as that’s the only way it will close - and get into the driver’s seat, hitting my head in my haste.

“I better get there on time for that.  You heard me, car, do what you do best.”  I tell the car in my ‘nice voice’ and start off towards GLA.

January 17th, 8:33 A.M, Samuel’s House, Samuel’s (Sam’s) POV

Damn, I know I’m forgetting something, but what? Think Sam, think! Dammit, why can’t I just remember this one simple thing?! Maybe if I made a checklist of what I have and still need? Nah, that would be to simple. Only girls do that kind of thing.

“Sam, its nearly 8:40, please tell me your ready!” My mom, Noel, yelled from down the stairs. I could picture her rolling her grey eyes knowing full well that I wasn’t, not that I was going to tell her that.

“Yeah, mom!” I grabbed my duffel bag and threw it down the stairs after quickly surveying my room one last time in hopes that I find whatever I was looking for. I couldn’t help but feel like it was important. This is why sometimes it pays to by a girl, you’d always be organized.

“Sam dear.” I jumped at the sound of my mom’s voice right behind me, “I’ve got your phone if that’s what your looking for.”

My face lit up and I took it from her, “Thanks mom. Don’t know what I’d do without you!”  She chuckled shaking her head as she headed back down the stairs muttering something about boys will be boys.

Well at least that problem was taken care of. I really needed to start being more organized. Quickly I shut the door to my room- which was basically a heaping pile of messiness- and followed the smell of bacon into the kitchen and the sound of a screaming little child.

“Hey Kenlie!” I beamed, picking her up and spinning her in a wide circle.

Her giggles bounced off the walls, “No, no, no Sam! Down! Pwease!” I set her down on the stool and she sighed in relief, “Sit wif me?” she asked in her baby voice and big green eyes with flecks of gold that I just couldn’t refuse. I guess it would be hard to refuse any girl that knew the puppy dog face. I mean, come on? Who can refuse that?

“You two are something else.” Mom laughed as she placed a plate of food in front of me. “Eat; don’t shovel.” She said as she walked over and kissed my forehead, “Say good-bye Kenlie. Sam’s going back to school.”

Kenlie’s eyes teared up and I almost chocked on my bacon, “Hey, don’t cry. I’ll be back. I promise, alright?” Picking her up and wrapping her in a hug she began to cry, “Have mommy call me, okay? Just like before. Every night.”

“Promise?” She sniffed.

“Pinky promise.” I held out my pinky and she wrapped her little one around mine.

“Come on Kenlie we gotta get going. Good- bye Sam. Be good, understand? I love you.”

“Love you too, mom.” Hugging her tightly I knew how hard it was going to be on her for me to leave again. Heaving a sigh, I watched them leave before continuing to scarf down my food and heading out the door.

The car’s clock read 9:00 and we didn’t even have to be back until 9:30. For once I was on time, and my mom thought I should pack the night before. Yeah, right! I’m going to be early and I’m never early! Being early is for losers; everyone knew that.

A slight panic began to rise in me again, where was my cell phone?! Damn, I just can’t keep track of it! Maybe I should get it a leash. Not a bad idea for someone like- RING! RING! My cell phone! If I was on the ground I’d be doing a happy dance. In my head. Cause that would be embarrassing anywhere outside of my head.

Anyway, “Sup?” I answered not even bothering to check the caller ID.

“Dude, my parents just kicked me outta my house. I’m gonna be, like, 15 minutes early!” Trenton, my best friend, groaned. I smiled, it was good to hear from him even if he was a little crazy, as some people would say.

“Ah, me too dude. We can hang together and maybe get some dates for this weekend.” I assured, picking up speed as I hit the free way.

“Awesome, maybe being kicked out early wasn’t a bad thing after all. You heard from Wyatt?” Wyatt, my other but much more quiet friend, had gone off the grid after we left school as he always did. No one ever knew where he went or what he did, but no one questioned him either. I guess it just became normal for him.

“Nope, but I’m sure we’ll see him. Look, I gotta go, but meet me at the cool corner. Kay? See ya.” Hanging up quickly I pulled into the schools already full parking lot. Well here goes nothing.