Jump [In Progress]

Chapter Three

An alternative rock song blares into my ears at max volume, but I can barely hear it. I'm fading in and out of consciousness, and according to my phone, it's 11:59. I stare impassively at the screen, willing it to be midnight. It's not the new year or anything, I do this every night. I figure it's not very good for my health to stay up this late, but who cares, anyway? The song fades, and it's still not midnight. Another song starts up, just as the 5 and 9 turn into zeroes. Unexpectedly, my phone chimes.

u still awake, the message reads. I don't even have to look at it further to know who texted me because the only person I know that uses texting abbreviation is Joni.

Yep, I reply.

want to come over

Right now?

yes

I don't want to sneak out cause I'll get in trouble

its important

Sorry

its okay i get it

I wonder what her urgent situation is,  but try to shake off the curiosity. I'd never sneak out at night because if I got caught, my mom would ground me for life. I plan to ask her tomorrow why she needed me over right then.

Before I can think any more about it though, I pass out, music still thrumming in my ears.

*               *               *

My alarm blaring wakes me, as usual, at 6:30. I groan and fumble around for the snooze button, but I feel the fuzzy outline of a sock instead.

"Trey...", I grumble, still half-asleep. I can hear muffled giggling coming from somewhere on the other side of the room. I squint my eyes open and can see Trey in the doorway, but I'm too tired to throw the sock at him (but that's what I would do if I wasn't so sleepy). Closing my eyes, I hope to catch a few minutes more of sleep, but I hear something that jolts me awake at once.

"WAKEY WAKEY!" Trey screams in my ear. Evidently, Trey tiptoed over to my bed without my hearing of it.

"Get out of here!" I say, not at all tired now. Trey makes a face at me, then leaves, slamming the door.

Well, at least I'm awake now, I think. I get ready for the day as fast as I can and wolf down for breakfast a slice of the cake my mom made a few days ago. I know it's not the healthiest start to the day, but hey, it needed to be eaten! That cake is going stale. For some reason, my mom is nowhere in sight. I check the wall clock and decide I have some time to spare before I catch the bus. I flop myself down on the couch and read the book I'm in the middle of for a few minutes. After some stalling, I grab my backpack and head out the door, half wondering where my mom could be. Appointment, maybe? The arrival of the bus distracts me, and I put my thoughts about my mom out of my head. I plug in my earbuds, offhandedly thinking that I could be drowning my thoughts in too much music, but that seems too gloomy to want to dwell on.