Inachevé

Twenty-nine: Abandoned

The sound of stiff bristles against her teeth ticked loudly as she moved the toothbrush mechanically back and forth.  She looked up in the mirror and grimaced at the bags tugging at her eyes.  Staying up till 5:00 in the morning writing her final essay had taken everything out of her.  Skylar Lopez was an average seventeen-year-old girl in the United States.  She had a mom and a dad, two younger siblings, one cat, one dog, and three snakes. 

She lived in a large neighborhood in which no one really knew each other.  Skylar drove to school, talked with friends, and partied on the weekends.  She was single with long brown hair, plump lips, round cheeks, and a sturdy body.  She was no model, but she wasn’t heavy.   Skylar had a problem with acne, which gave her the nickname “Beehive.”  Skylar wore ripped jeans and dull blouses.  She had no interest in fashion and would rather dirt-bike with the boys than get ready for prom.

Skylar had a temper, but her innocent and cherubic personality won the hearts of those who knew her.  She didn’t care for personal company, as she did not like sharing her feelings with people.  Parties were exceptions because no one there cared to know about anyone’s story—they just wanted to have a good time. 

Skylar threw her toothbrush into its blue cup and left the bathroom.  She, her arms moving back and forth like an ape and her steps thudding against the floor, made it to her bed.  She threw the covers up, smoothed out the wrinkles, and arranged the pillows to her liking.  She straightened up her shoes and tossed her dirty clothes into the laundry basket.  She flew down the stairs, almost knocking into her golden retriever, Mraz.

“Ooh, sorry, boy, excuse me!”  Skylar patted the velvety head and slid in her socks to the kitchen.

“Morning, Mom!”  Skylar whipped out a glass and shook up the orange juice carton.

“You’re in a hurry—where are you off to?”  Skylar’s Mom asked as she hung up the wet clothes in the doorway.  She hung the clothes in such a way that they could be moved aside like a curtain.

"Robbie’s cruise trip.  You said I could go.  Can I still go?”  Skylar asked as she gulped the rest of her juice down.  She patted her mouth with the back of her sleeve and waited for her mother to reply. 

"I forgot all about that.  Who’s Robbie again?”

“Someone’s friend at school.  I wasn’t invited by him, my friend, Chin-Soo, invited me.  It’s only two days, I’ll be back.”

"Oh, it’s not that.  I just don’t like all the drinking and partying that happens.  And you’re seventeen.  If a boy lays hands on you, you two could get in big trouble!”

Skylar groaned and threw her head onto the stove. 

"I didn’t say you couldn’t go, so don’t get ugly, or I will have to say no.”

"I wasn’t being ugly,” Skylar argued as she lifted her head and walked up behind her mother.  “Sorry.”

"It’s OK.  Are you going with anyone?”

Skylar nodded her head as she swept the wandering strands of hair from her face.  “Uh-huh.  Melissa and Lizzy are coming with me; their parents, I think, are coming, too.”

"Well, now that I know there’ll be parents there, I’m more comfortable to let you go.  When are you leaving?”

"Lizzy is picking me up in an hour. I’ve got everything packed and ready to go.”

"I wish I had known about this earlier and I could’ve helped you get ready.”

"No problem, Mom, I can always borrow from some of my friends anyway.”