The Unexpected

Chapter 7

Chapter 7

"Ricki." I was being shaken, quite hard might I add. "Ricki, hon, get up."

I opened my eyes, but only so my mother would stop acting like a massage chair. I glanced at the clock on my nightstand. My eyes widened when I saw it was five after six. If that wasn't bad enough, it was Saturday.

I sat up and wiped the sleep from my eyes, even though the only thing I wanted to do was tell my mom to get lost and go back to sleep. "And you are waking me up why?" I questioned.

"Ric, we're leaving," Mom replied. Oh yeah, today was the day my parents left for Colorado- without me. "I wanted to say bye before heading for the airport," she continued.

"Are you sure you don't want to take me with you?" I asked for what had to have been the hundredth time that week. Mom and I were standing by the front door, exchanging 'good-byes' with our arms around the other.

She kissed the top of my head before shaking hers. "Sorry, hun, but we havn't changed our minds."

My dad came back from putting the suitcases in the car. He gave me a hug, we exchanged good-byes and see-you-soons, and then my parents were walking out the door. Mom turned back at the last second

"Oh, and Ricki," she said. "Don't worry about being alone for too long. Your grandmother offered to stay with you. She has plans tonight, though, so she won't arrive until tomorrow."

My jaw dropped, but before I could protest the door shut and they were gone. It was like she knew I would refuse to stay with Rose. Not because I was too old to be babysat- even though I was- but because she and I couldn't be alone in a room together for two minutes without butting heads. I loved Rose, and she loved me back, but we were both thick-skulled.

It was also because- beside the stubbornness and looks i obviously inherited from her, we were nothing alike. She insisted on being called Rose instead of Grandma or Nana because it made her sound like a "chubby, smiling, cookie baking old woman" (her words, not mine). To Rose, the worst thing somebody could be was old. Or at least look like it. So, in spite of my dad's complaints, Rose got in touch with a plastic surgeon, ordered everything and anything the Mary Kay consultant had to offer, and started a diet. Thus created Rosalie Young- the big-haired, high heel wearing, sixty-five looks thirty secretary at Kingston High.

I, on the other hand, wore little to no make-up and went for a bowl of ice-cream with Emma at least three times a week- something that horrified Rose.

I wasn't going to last a day with Rose. I didn't blame my mom for not wanting to be here when she arrived. This is going to be fun.

...........

I ended up going back to bed after my parents left. The next time I opened my eyes, it was almost eight. Well, two more hours of sleep is better than none.

Not bothering to spruce myself up (my only planned company was the free wifi that comes with staying home), I just threw on sweats and a 'Pink Week' tee before tromping downstairs. After fixing my normal breakfast- which consisted of a piece of toast and O- I settled down on the couch, my laptop resting on my crossed legs. I scanned over my previous chats before a pop-up notified me that Emma was also logged on. I messaged her before leaning back. I sipped the orange juice while I waited. Even though I enjoy being home alone, when it's quiet and relaxing, it doesn't mean I don't enjoy talking to my best friend. Wouldn't want to be a hermit, would we Ricki? Maybe Emma'll know the answer to that really hard math-

My laptop dinged.

EmMaGuRl: Sorry, can't talk. At some kind of youth function my mom dragged me to. Says I need to be more social with the community or something.