The Waters

02.

"Rise and shine, sugar bear!"

Sam stirred in her sleep, throwing one of the pillow she was hugging down the tiled floor.

"Sugar? Breakfast is ready!"

She suddenly shot up from her bed with a terrible bed hair, sticking out everywhere. Mom never called me sugar, what the hell? As she ran to the door she nearly tripped and kissed the doorknob but somehow missed it and slammed her forehead against the wooden door, shocking the old woman on the other side of the door.

"Nana...Yes? I'll be down in 2 minutes." Sam huffed as she opened her door with her one hand and the other holding her throbbing head. Her grandma had her hand on her chest and smiled. "My, my, deary, look at your hair, let me comb it for you." Sam can't help but be embarassed.

"It's fine, nan, I can bear with this."

"Okay, be down fast or the tea will get cold."

She nodded as she gently closed the door. It's already 9 in the morning, she never wakes up this early during a break. She never thought people in the province wake up this early.

The smell of freshly baked sugar cookies coated the entire kitchen. Licking her lips was the only reasonable way to do at this moment. Her grandma was not in sight but the cookies were on the table, releasing steam and the sweet aroma that makes anyone feel like little kids again. The cutlery was neatly placed on the table. Even her uncle was not inside the dining room.

"Would it be right to eat ahead?" She tied up her still not combed out hair into a messy bun. If this was her house she would've think twice and dive in, maybe even not caring if she left some for other people but, alas, this is not her house, this is her grandmother's house, who she haven't talk or see that much. She should keep her modesty, act like a responsible grand daughter.

She decided not to eat on her own but she did take a glass of hot chocolate and a sugar cookie before walking to the living room.

It was windy outside and a mist is covering most of the lake in front and she can barely see any neighbouring house near. She stepped out on the porch and slowly closed the big wooden door. There was a wooden bench on the porch, facing the lake. Perfect. 

The place was beautiful. The cold wind caressed her skin and trees waved side to side. Birds were singing their song and she can see a squirrel jumping from one branch to another.

She took a bite of the warm cookie and felt it melt on her tongue. Mom can never bake cookies like this, she thought. 

Clouds filled the sky and the sun was out of sight. She can see the ducks taking a dip in the lake. The lake was not that far and he eyesight is not perfect but not also worse. It might take just a minute by foot to reach the lake. And if you look closely, past the fading mist, you can see only one house on the other side. Neighbour. The only neighbour in this place.

After finishing the only cookie she brought with her out, Sam spent 15 minutes just observing the place and taking all of the little details that caught her eye before going back in to get some more cookies. She left her mug of hot chocolate outside.

Going in, she met her uncle.

"Oh, Sammy, you're awake. Your grandma went to the town to pick some things for you.'" Okay, now it's Sammy. When was the last time someone called me that? I don't even remember.

They both walked to the kitchen together. "Looks like you did your makeup pretty well but disregarded your hair, huh?" he commented.

Sam looked to him and smiled awkwardly "Yeah." 

"How far is the town from here?" It might do her good if she'll explore this place and maybe buy things she might need or just want.

"Two hours and thirty minutes but only an hour if you go by car."

Sam hummed as she took a small plate for the cookies.

"You can use the pick up in the garage if you want to go somewhere, this house is pretty much built nowhere." Her uncle snorted. "Wait, you do know how to drive, right?" Sam looked at the cookies, deciding how many she'll bring to the porch then looked at him. "Yeah."

"Cool. The keys are on the table in the living room. Be careful though, it easily overheats."

She doesn't want to look rude so before moving out of the kitchen, she pointed to the direction of the porch. Her uncle nodded. Satisfied with the numbers of cookies she got, Sam hurriedly walked back to the bench, not bothering to close the door behind her.

The cold wind greeted her. She's thankful for socks and that she's wearing a thick pair because at least her feet wont freeze.

"That's weird" Sam muttered as she placed the plate of cookies down on the bench. The mug is missing. She can still clearly see the circle mark it left on the old varnished wood. "Maybe...I brought it with me inside?" She knows that she's forgetful but she's sure that she left the mug outside. And it was not possible for her uncle to take it since they met up inside and went to the kitchen together. If her mom was here, she'll probably smile at her and then scold her. "I should look for it." She said as she spun around and walked inside.

"Uncle, have you seen my mug of hot cho-" He's gone. The cutlery where he was sitting a while ago is also gone. She can see it drying in the corner of the sink, freshly washed.

"Uncle?" She called out loud as softer as she can.

"Yes, Sammy?" She heard thuds and crashes downstairs. "I'm in the basement, you need anything?" He sounded busy. Sam shrugged the idea of asking him a trivial question.

"Nothing, sorry." She then heard a soft hum. Looks like I'm not drinking hot chocolate then. She disregarded the idea of looking for the mug, maybe she did misplaced it somewhere. 

She finished the plate of cookies and washed the plate.

"I'm going out for a walk." Sam shouted for her uncle to hear. 

"Bring some umbrella, it's gonna rain hard soon." Her uncle chimed. She looks outside. The sky is clear of clouds.

"No, I'm fine." Sam walkes out and zips up her hoodie and tighten her shoelaces. A jog right now is perfect. She could also jog to town. That would be fun. She tapped the tips of her shoes one by one on the grass filled ground. Pulled out her earphones and phone and played her favourite playlist.

As the first beat blasted through her earphones she sets off.

"See you at dinner!"

She pulled out an earphone and jogged around and waved. She never got her uncle's name, it would be better if she asks her nan.

The wind was so fresh against her skin. The air is clean. She reached the lake and walked over the little, poorly built harbour looking platform. She looked at her reflection on the surface of the water and dropped down, looking at her hair. "I look shit. The bad kind of shit." She snorted. She then stood up, turned around and proceeded to jog around the lake to look at the house across their's and probably meet her neighbour and befriend someone.

She never thought the lake was that big but it took her more than 30 minutes to reach the house. Nobody seems to be home. The blinds all over the house was close and the garage door was open and no car was visible inside. It would be stupid if she knocks because it's obvious that nobody's home. She still knocked, just to be sure. She won't get hurt if she tries.