Ambition

Chapter 6

Rosalie

Just as promised, my father and Natalie, my seven year old identical twin of a sister, left from Chicago well before I was awake. With my shades drawn, my plain white room stayed pitch black, allowing me to sleep well into the afternoon without ever being woken by the sun.

I roll over in the sheets, tangling my legs between the covers and stretch till my muscles shake from exertion. Rolling onto my stomach, I push my arms upward along my sides, feeling relief as small poping noises cascade down my back. Feeling thoroughly stretched, I climb out of bed and tiptoe to the kitchen.

Our house is too large. Half of the rooms are never used and its all much too polished to fit my own taste. My room is located in one of the farther wings of the house.The seclusion however, it one of my favorite features as it allows me to make all kinds of noise without bothering the rest of the family.

My feet make light pitter patter sounds as I pass the door to our small library, and turn the corner to wind up in the kitchen. I reach for the coffee pot, placing it under the sink and filling it with water. After adding the grinds to the disposable filter, I press brew and wait impatiently as it fills the room with a coffee aroma.

I fill a mug partway with creamer from the fridge and fill the rest with the black coffee before walking into the living room. Sitting in my spot on the small leather love seat, I flip lazily through the channels before deciding to catch up on some pissed episodes of Grey's Anatomy.

My morning goes by slowly and happily, lounging in between the living room and kitchen for most of the day. It's been so nice to just sit and relax in my oversized sleeping shirt without being forced to hold a conversation.

I begin to wonder what if my dad and Natalie have already landed in Chicago with Theo before I realize I haven't checked my phone all morning for any messages. Hoping up from my curled position, I head back to my room and unplug my phone from it's place on the nightstand.

Waking up the screen I see three messages, two being from Theo. *Have Dad and Natalie in the cab.* followed by another message from him, *Sad you're not with.*

I smile softly, my heart aching just a little for not being able to visit my brother with my family. *Me too. Glad everyone's safe. And maybe after the first summer-mester?*

I exit the messages from Theo to find one left unopened from one of my wilder friends I'd met in college, Abby. *Hey girl! I'll be in Dallas for the night so were going out?* I hadn't heard too much from Abby since leaving college for the summer, and was surprised she was here for only one night. Probably because her parents think she'll be somewhere different, my subconscious offers.

It's been a while since I've been out myself, and with dad and Natalie gone for a week there would be no one here to ask questions... The thought is tempting, and I determine instantly to text her back, trying not to think through my decision too hard. *Of course babe:) when will you be here?*

Her reply comes a few minutes later, informing me she will meet me at my house at 6:30 to pick me up. So I have an hour and a half to dig through my suitcases for something to wear, I tell myself.

Seeing as I've only been home for a few weeks, most of the stuff is still in boxes and suitcases, completely unpacked and stacked messily in my room. I unzip my largest suitcase, and luckily find the section of clothes I'd been looking for.

I dig through the piles of folded clothes, removing a few skirts and tops to lay across my bed. I judgmentally pick apparent each outfit, trying them on in front of the full length mirror in the corner. I try on a long black skirt and a pair of white shorts before rejecting them both, looking into my luggage once more. Seeing a piece of navy blue fabric pocking out, I grab onto a dress with the tags still on that Natalie had insisted I purchase at the store once. It was fairly short, but flowed outwardly instead of tight along my thighs. I grabbed a pair of cream wedges from a box in the hall and walked into my bathroom to do my hair and makeup.