Air

3. Bridges, Rainstorms, and Romance

 Chapter 3

10 Days later

In the middle of the night, my alarm clock goes off. "Darn it!" I complain and then smack it. My alarm clock falls to the floor and keeps playing "Slow Down the Sun" by Selena Gomez. "I just wanna feel your body right next to mine, all night long baby slow down the sun!" My alarm clock wails.

"SHUT UP!" I say, bending over and picking it up. I punch the snooze button. The power must have gone off and then come back on last night, because it was set for 12:00 , not 5:45.

I notice it's raining outside. I look out my window and see that the moon is blocked by clouds. Rain pours down onto the concrete walkway in our backyard. Little puddles are forming in our garden. "Poor strawberries..." I mutter. It's April, and our little plants have started sprouting. This year we are growing zinnias, sunflowers, tulips, strawberries and even watermelons (I found the seed growing kits at Target and I got really excited that I could grow watermelons!).

I feel soft, curly hair brush against my leg. I'm too tired to react. I look down and see a tiny hairy figure staring lovingly at me. "Hi, Harry. Good boy!" I pet my kitty's brown fur and look into his pretty eyes. "I love you so much, I wouldn't trade you for One Direction Harry..." I say.

I'm so tired, but I can't go back to sleep. I decide to climb into the top bunk of my bed. We took out the matress and now there's just a basket of books and a pile of blankets. I remember how I used to climb up here as a little girl and jump off, pretending I could fly. I always try to get Harry to come up here with me, but he's too afraid.

Brittany and I think that Harry can't handle the thought of flying, he's too afraid of small heights..

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"Jackie! Again? JACKIE! SCHOOL! YOU HAVE TO GET UP EARLIER FROM NOW ON BECAUSE YOU TAKE SO LONG TO GET READY!" My mom is yelling. Loud.

I open my eyes. What, where am I? I'm not on my matress. I realize where I am, stand up and start to tiredly climb down. Ugh. Once I reach the bottom, my mom is gone. I pull out my iPhone. 6 o'clock. Well, I'm not that late. I walk into the hallway and take off my pyjamas, throwing them in my laundry hamper.

Once I'm in the bathroom, I hop into the shower. When my hair is wet, it's down to my hips. I started growing it out a year ago. I squirt some Mane N' Tail conditioner into my hand and massage it all over in my hair. Then, letting my childish urges flood over me, I stand to let the water run down my arms so it looks like I'm shooting water out of my hands.

I get out of the shower after washing my body and wrap my towel around me like a dress. I used to pretend I was a princess in my towel gown. Now I just do it without thinking. I did everything with my imagination surrounding  my mind when I was a kid. Now, I just do what needs to be done and get on with my life.

I make my way over to my room and pick out my outfit. Hmmm... it's storming today. I can't decide.

Bethany Mota, I type into the search engine of my laptop. I click the link of her rainy day outfit ideas and watch the one for warm days.

I look in my closet and pick out a cute burgundy lace dress and a black, knit long-sleeved cardigan. I put on my burgundy Doc Martins with black laces. I decide to curl my hair today. First, I spray in my protective spray. Then I blow dry and start to curl. I quickly apply dark raspberry lipstick. Then I put on a sort of silverish eyeshadow.

I run downstairs and snatch up a carton of blackberries and a tub of Greek yogurt. Then I pour a glass of some Iced Mocha with almond milk that I found at Whole Foods. I eat my breakfast. I took too long in my shower, it's already 7:00 and my school starts at 8:00.

I decide to walk to Jordan's house and then walk to school with her. But when I step outside she's waiting there for me. "Hey Jackie- o'lantern!" She calls.

"Hi, Jordan.... uh.... Darn it, your mom picked a good name." I smile at my best friend since she was moved here in sixth grade. Her black hair is pulled into a messy bun on top of her head and she's wearing a short red dress paired with a brown moto jacket. The moto jacket is tight, defining her tiny waste and on her feet are tall brown boots with red zippers. Jordan has pretty pearl earrings in her ears and I notice she got new silver cuff earrings for her cartilage piercings. She looks perfect.

"Oh my gosh, you look amazing." I say.

"No, you look better. At least you did something with those eyes of yours. The silver really draws attention to how green they are. I was too lazy, so I just put on some red lipstick and blush."

Jordan's almond shaped eyes are bare. But I still think she looks a lot better than me because her red lipstick looks amazing against her tan skin. She looks just like her mom, a pretty lady from China.

We walk most of the way to school in silence. As we start to crosst the bridge that leads over the creek, I realize my back feels light. "Oh my God, Jordan. l left my backpack at home!"

"You mean this?" A deep voice comes from behind us. I turn around and see Noah holding a grey rucksack with silver Aztec print from Pink. "You left it on the porch and I noticed from my house across the street. You guys started walking, and I was half dressed! I tried calling your cell phone and realized it was in the bag."

"Thanks," I feel myself blush. No. I don't like him. He cheated on me. CHEATED. With a capital 'C'. And cheaters aren't worth it.

I put on a serious face and try to look stern. "Thank you, Noah." I say. I take my bag from his arms and turn around. He chuckles. I spin on my heels. "What?"

"You're cute when your trying to be mad." He blushes. I blush too. "Do you wanna maybe grab a Starbucks after school? I mean, you owe it to me. You said we could still be friends and I know that doesn't usually apply, but  you're special."

I feel so overjoyed when he says that. I feel... worth it. I smile. But then I think. My smile fades and is replaced with a frown. "I'm sorry, Noah. I have plans after school. Yoga and swim team."

Noah looks really upset. "Okay. Tomorrow?"

"Darn," I say. "Tomorrow is Friday. I have to go and volunteer at my little cousin's babysitting service at our church. Then I'm booked all weekend. On Monday, I leave for vacation to the Bahamas. I can't."

"In April?! How long is your  vacation?" He asks. I can tell Noah wants to spend time with me. I want to spend time with him too.

"8 days," I say, feeling truly sad. I look at him and feel a connection when our eyes meet. His amazing blue eyes, his perfect brown hair. His kind smile. Noah. He feels sorry, I can tell. I remember when he broke up with Ashley last week, the girl he cheated on me with.

I realize, then and there, that I still have feelings for him.

"So, Noah... Do you want to walk with us? I mean, your already here, and..."

"Sure."

Jordan is standing awkwardly next to me, clearly feeling weird that she saw our sort-of-personal moment. "Come on, Jordan. Let's walk." And with that, we set off to face the big brick building that is our school. Noah holds out his hand for me to take. I pretend not to notice. I'm not sure if I'm still mad or not. I've gotta decide. But I do know that Noah is trustworthy, even if he did cheat on me. I just know that if anything were every to happen, he'd be there with a smile on his face.