I slung my bag over my shoulder, rubbing a finger under my lip simultaneously, my hair blowing back wildly behind me. I frowned and leaned back from the mirror, examining myself.
I hadn't had that many choices. Since I had been shuttling through exam week, I had therefore completely forgotten to do the laundry. So there I was, suffering the consequences, in a plain white tank, and jeans all the way from back in eight grade, torn in the knee and too many sizes too small. I had thrown on scuffed Converse, as if that made up for the fact that the jeans were awkwardly short after my recent growth spurt, leaving three whole inches of my leg uncovered. I had also donned a large cardigan, which would've been cute if I hadn't been wearing it over clearly ill-fitting jeans and a cotton tank top. As if in a last minute attempt to salvage the outfit, I'd thrown on a statement necklace. I scoffed at my own desperation in my mind. The only statement I'd be making is the truth, which would hit everyone in the face like a stink bomb and scare them away- I'm a poor single mother.
"Ellieee!!!!!" came a wailing sob. I sighed and rubbed a hand over my face. And speak of the devil...
But the little girl that came waddling over into my arms was anything but devilish. I whipped my head around and found my little baby sister running into my room as if she was being chased by wild horses. My mouth opened a little bit in surprise. She came hurtling into my arms with all her toddler glory. I wrapped my arms around her chubby frame instinctively, holding her close to my heart and smoothing her hair. She tucked her face into my neck and I rubbed her back, pressing her body into mine protectively. I tilted my head up, arching my neck and breathed in deeply, closing my eyes. This girl would be the death of me, but I would give my life before I let her go. I let her sob into me for a couple minutes before I finally pushed her back a little and looked into her eyes with a tired smile.
"Hey there, sweetheart. I didn't know you woke up," I said, wiping her tears away with my thumb.
She smiled at me through her sobs, rocking back in my lap.
"What's wrong?" I ask finally, pushing back her damp hair from her face.
"Mommy..." she sobs again.
I frown a little. "What?" I say. "Mommy what?"
But she just shakes her head and hides her face in the crook my arm. I sigh exhaustedly and let it go. I'd check on mother before I left.
"Come on, Mickey," I say. "Let's get you cleaned up and put some breakfast in your little tummy." I poke her stomach and she giggles, wrapping her arms around my neck as I pick her up and head into the bathroom, glancing at the clock for half a second as I walk past the hallway, cursing in my mind. Thirty minutes to school...
****************************************
I pant ridiculously, swerving through the hallways before skidding to a halt in front of my locker. Damn high school... I think angrily, pushing my locker open and shoving my bag in and pulling out my English journal viciously with my other hand. I slam the locker door closed and turn and scream a little.
My best friend stands right next to my locker, as if she owns the place, her mouth agape, staring at me as if I'd grown a second head.
"Oh my- Fuck! Harper! The hell, what are you doing there, you scared me, oh god, okay, help me, we're gonna be late!" I huff, finally pushing past her and powerwalking through the mostly empty halls.
Harper laughs a little. "Bad day?" she asks simply with a smile, her beautiful red hair flowing behind her as she catches up with me, hardly bothered by my rant, her long legs strutting down the hallways in a way that should be illegal.
