Water Works

"Three more days of sweet, sweet freedom," Perri daydreamed.

"Oh God, not again," I replied to my best friend. School was just about to start. I only had three glorious days left of summer.

She glanced around. "It's so hot! Come on, please come to the pool with me?" She begged with wide eyes. "We don't have much time left to go."

I glared at her. "No," I said in a threatening tone. I had never especially liked to swim, but I completely stopped when I turned thirteen. It wasn't that I was scared, it was that I just didn't enjoy it.

"Why not? I think I deserve to know what makes you so afraid of something so stupid," she pushed me.

"I'm not afraid. I have a condition."

"A phobia?" she guessed, squinting.

"Something like that," I muttered. I put my head down on the soft ground. I always loved the San Diego parks and the green grass that smelled like a new dew fall. I sighed. "How's your life?"

"The parents? Same old, same old. Always fighting, arguing, shouting. They still refuse to get divorced, 'cause they think it will hurt us. What a surprise. Do they honestly believe I don't know what's going on? My dad sleeps on the couch every night. My mom eats dinner in a separate room," she said, her voice extremely sharp.

I gave my friend a caring look. "You can always come over... you know that, right?" she nodded.

"Well, how is Jack doing?"

She shrugged. "He doesn't understand what's going on... he's too young."

I nodded as she sighed, "Sometimes it just feels good to vent, you know?"

"Mhm," I looked down at my watch. 1:30. "You wanna come over then? I think I'm gonna go home," I asked.

"Nah, I'll stay here for a little longer."

"Bye, see you at school," I stood up and brushed off my jeans. I wished I knew what to say. I just couldn't imagine life without my parents together. I waved to her and climbed into my red Toyota corolla, starting the engine. I was really grateful for my home, and Perri really showed me that.

I reached my house and went inside. Scrambling upstairs to my room, I plopped on my bed. Finally, some alone time. I curled up and closed my eyes, wishing I could melt away.

THUD!

My eyes shot open, thinking something had broken. I went through my bedroom door, looking down I saw a girl about my age. "I'm sorry, do I know you?" I asked her.

She just scowled at me. She had medium black hair with red at the bangs. Her eyes were a light amber color as they viciously stared at me. When she stood up, I noticed she wasn't fairly tall but held herself high. Her pale skin reflected the light above us.

"Congrats. Welcome home. Roommate."

I looked at her a moment to see if she was being sarcastic. Nothing. Panicking, I pushed her out of the way and ran down the stairs as fast as I could. "MOM!" I screamed. I reached the kitchen and looked around, waiting for an answer. I turned my head violently and saw a woman, not my mom, standing in front of me.

"Hi! I'm your aunt, Nena," she spoke in a cheery tone.

"I'm sorry?" I frowned. Aunt Nena?

The porch door was suddenly opened, and my mom walked into the house. "Runa! I see you met my sister. Unfortunately, something has happened, and your aunt and cousin, Bianca, will be staying with us. It'll be a new experience."

"Foreclosure?" I questioned.

My mom gave me a look that could have withered a flower. "It's not any of your business. Your cousin will be staying in your room, so go help her unpack."

"But I would know if I-" I started.

"It's not a suggestion."

I rolled my eyes and stomped up the stairs. Great, I now had a rude girl staying in my bedroom, school was in three days, and I had no idea where Bianca was going to sleep.

At the top of the stairs, I picked up a box and met her in my room.

Bianca turned her head toward me and her face diplayed a look of utter disgust. "Don't touch my stuff," she spat in my face, motioning to the box. She gulped, took a deep breath and regained her composure, faking a smile. "Thanks for bringing it in."

I looked down, frowning, at the closed cardboard box and slipped it into her arms. She continued to watch it, almost as if it was made of diamonds. As she set it down, I saw something black and shiny. She shuffled out the door, slamming it behind her.

I walked over to my bed and closed my eyes, soon falling into a deep sleep. I slept without any interruptions until I heard my mom calling the family for dinner. Slowly, I opened my eyes, letting the previous events rush back. A strange scent filled my nose as I stared at my newly furnished room. Another bed was shoved in the corner of my room, on top a wooden stick laid carefully down so that it stayed propped against the pillow. A dusty black rug lay underneath and a side table made of dark wood was on the floor by her bed. On my old trophy shelf were now jars of strange components, liquids and solids, mostly black and green. The crown jewel was the jumbo black pot in the corner of the room, filled to the brim with a smelly, steaming liquid. My life was definitely about to get a little more interesting.

My new roommate thought she was a witch.

My new roommate was crazy.