another side

chapter five

"Sylvia, what's wrong? I heard you scream!" Maya shrieked, dashing into the bathroom in her purple and pink dressing gown that was far too small for her but she insisted she wear anyway.

I turned to look at her slowly, exposing the right side of my head which saw a blue paddle brush tangled up in my bird's nest hair. Maya clasped her mouth in her hand, but her tiny bursts of laughter managed to spurt out through the cracks. I continued trying to tug at my hair, my eyes streaming from the pain.

"How the hell did you do that?" Maya asked, rushing over to inspect the side of my head.

"Because I'm an idiot, that's how." I deadpanned.

"You got that right." She scoffed. She pulled on the handle slightly and I yelped. "God, it's really in there."

She kept tugging and tugging, batting my hands away when I tried to stop her and telling me to shut up when I screamed. Eventually, she had managed to weave the tangled mess apart and not only was the brush free, but my hair looked somewhat alright.

"Thanks, May." I sighed in relief.

"Whatcha getting ready for?" she queried. "A daaaate?"

"No." I muttered. "I have to go work on a project for English. With Carmen."

"Carmen?!" Maya spluttered, looking horrified. "God, you will do anything for a good grade won't you? I'm surprised you haven't given Fry a blowj-."

"What the hell, Maya?" I cut her off. "Do you even know what that means?"

"I'm not a kid, Sylvia." She drew her arms to her chest and folded them triumphantly.

"Yes you are." I retorted.

"Fine. But I'm not that much younger than you." She continued to protest.

"Whatever." I withdrew, throwing my hands up. "I just don't like the idea of my little sister knowing what a blowjob is, okay?"

"You ever given one?" she fired back.

"DUDE!" I shrieked.

"What?" Maya giggled. "It's only natural. You gotta keep em satisfied."

"Oh my God, get out!"

"But I need the bathrooooooom!"

"Fine. Then I'LL leave."

I practically bolted out of the room then immediately kind of regretted it because I felt as if I was going to hurl. What did Maya know about keeping a man satisfied? I hoped to God she didn't know anything, but even knowing nothing would be knowing more than me. I know less than nothing, because everything I think I know turns out to be completely and utterly wrong. I really hoped Nate never thought about blowjobs when he looked at me. The thought made me shudder.

I went into my bedroom and shut the door tight. Hopefully Maya would get the message and not barge in asking if I'm a spitter or a swallower or whatever other God awful question could possibly come next. I decided to pour all of my focus into looking at least half presentable. I wouldn't want to show up looking a mess because then Carmen would have something bad to tell her friends about me. Or maybe she would tell them I looked bad even if I didn't. Maybe I always looked bad. There was honestly no telling.

I laid out my makeup on my dresser and put it on, layer by layer. I didn't want to be too intricate, because then I'd look like I tried too hard. But I also didn't want to look like a slob. I decided foundation, eyeliner and mascara would do the trick. I was only a little more heavy handed than I would be on a school day. I glanced down at my almost brand new Christmas pyjamas – pink with little reindeer heads - and I remembered that I also had to choose an outfit. Just leggings and a tshirt. That would do. Who could fault that?