falling down - wyatt oleff

chapter 08

  OLDEST WILKINSON.

08 — Florence

California always looked gorgeous from the window in my room. Not my room, but the room I share with mom. Anyways, the busy streetlights and speedy cars blurred the background of the tall buildings was an aesthic of mine. It just pleased me so much that I'll watch the cars race others for hours until I get bored, but usually I don't get bored of it.

It was the Fourth of July and the morning was starting on a rough one. The smell of burnt pancakes filled the atmosphere, an alarm waking mom and I later than usual, and splendid news mom wouldn't dare to tell me was crammed into an hour after we woke up. Pa was on his own though as he strolled down the hallways to get to one of his old high — school friend's apartment.

"Why won't you tell me?" I asked, begging her to slip out one small hint about where we were going today, but her annoying — self wouldn't give one dang clue. "Fucking christ, it's not even that big of a deal!"

  Her mouth gaped open and smacked the end of the newspaper on my head, shrieking, "How dare you say that? Unbelievable. Who told you to speak to your mother like that? I certainly did not and your father did not either!"

  "Mom, I was joking —"

  "Well, no more joking for you then!" She exclaimed and shoved the newspaper under her armpit, snatched my uneaten plate of burnt pancakes beside the bowl of fruit, and rush out of the room shooting daggers for eyes at me.

  I striked my forehead with my hand and groaned under my breath. My eyes averted to the open spot that held my breakfast and I furrowed my eyebrows. "Mom, can I please have my breakfast back?"

  "Not until you've fixed that mouth of yours!"

  [ | ]

  About half an hour after mom abruptly stole my only breakfast, I piled a bowl of cereal down my stomach and was forced to get ready for whatever was planned for the afternoon. Mom told me to look as casual as I could, so I wore black leggings and a baby blue t — shirt with flip flops to match with it. My usual frizzy brown hair was down by my shoulders and I looked like a hideous lion with a poofy mane.

Mom was already in the car since she had gotten ready an hour ago, so I dragged myself down the endless hallways and off the elevator to the parking lot. Her ebony black chrysler stood in the nearest spot under the light shade of a tree, glistening as she played loud music with the windows rolled down. I wasn't into loud music so as I approached her, she dialed the music down a notch and I entered the passenger seat.

"Hope the weather stays as marvelous as it is today," she says while driving out of the crowded parking lot and into the traffic onto the streets. "Not to hot, not too cold."

I grinned as my hair whipped behind from
the brisk wind lashing at my face. It was a lovely day outside; it wasn't a scorching hot day, but a breeze was along the warm, sunny day and I loved it. Especially the fact that the weather isn't causing me to sweat my ass off.

  As a song from the 80s starts to close off, the car slows down by a two — story house beside a stunning park. It was designed with a rich brown and lustrous windows. The black roof was giving off a murky look to it, but it was too much of an aesthetic of mine to dislike. Shortly, mom stopped in the driveway and we exited the car to walk to the front door as I began to wonder who's house it belonged to.

  I reached out to ring the doorbell and before I could, the door briskly opened and revealed a tall figure with a mop of crinkly black hair and an outfit that would not meet mom's standards at all. My mouth dropped and a terrifying screech filled the atmosphere.

"Lord, Carter it's you!" Mom exclaimed and squished my brother with a massive, bone crushing hug. He only replied with wrapping his arms around her shoulders and averting his eyes at me. "It has been ages and I swear, you keep on getting older every minute."

"Mom, it's wonderful to see you again," he said and smiled, showing his pearly white teeth in her direction. I will only say this once: Carter has gotten ten times attractive over the years and I can tell why so many girls swoon over him. Those splashed of freckles across his nose and cheeks will give many girls heart attacks.

"It's not wonderful, it's tremendously astounding to see each other!" She corrected and gave him a big kiss on the cheek. He instantly wiped off the lipstick stain off, but failed as it couldn't leave his cheek.

He finally acknowledged me by opening his arms and pulling me into a warm, sibling hug that you'd probably not want; a hug where one squeezes the death out of the other while managing to mess up their hair. As Carter tries to mess up my crinkled black hair, he deserved a painful pinch on the arm in return. He let out a girlish scream and I giggled, smiling at him.

  "I miss you a ton, Carter," I whispered and he grinned. Then he stood out of the doorway and allowed us to take off our shoes to come inside.

  The interior was stylish, but messy here and there. A pretty pale grey was splashed on the walls, dark brown wooden floors, and random decorations around the house. I liked the living room though, it reminded me of our living room back at home.

  "Sit," he mentioned as we walked into the living room and he disappeared into another room. I glanced at mom and stepped onto the white rug to sit on the milky — colored couch. Mom sat beside me and Carter came back with two water bottles and a bowl full of different types of candy.

  Carter rested in the armchair, gazing at the both of us while silence rang through the room. "How was Michigan?"

  I glanced at mom and back at him, answering with, "It was beautiful, but not as fun without you."

  He smiled again, but a hint of sadness was twinkling in his amber brown eyes. His eyes scattered across the room and landed on a large box sitting on an obsidian shelf, making him stand up and approach it. With his hands reaching to open it, he questioned, "Lor, do you remember when you said you've always wanted that vinyl from Mac Demarco?"

  My insides began to jumble and I felt myself getting anxious. "Yeah, why?"

"Well, this will get you on the edge of your seat."