My eyes fluttered open as the sun peaked its way through my window. I opened my eyes and squinted at my clock hanging on my wall, 6:47AM. I always tend to wake up before my alarm, I don't know why. I close my eyes in attempt to fall back asleep for a few more minutes, but was not successful. I laid quietly in bed to hear my mom moving around downstairs, probably in the kitchen starting her daily routine; wake up, coffee, shower, get ready, then go to work.
I stretched beneath the mountain of blankets that covered me and rubbed my eyes, removing the crust from the corners. I reveal my body and let the cool air embrace me, covering my legs in goosebumps. I stand up and stretch once more and walk towards my door and open it, leaving my room and continuing my way down stairs. The smell of coffee engulfs me as I turn the corner entering my kitchen. I smiled.
"Morning Mama!" I greeted the woman. She smiled back, putting the morning paper down.
"Morning baby. How'd you sleep?"
"Pretty good, how 'bout you?" I said and pouring a cup of coffee. I walk over and join her at the table.
"Good." she says and takes a sip of her coffee, finishing her cup off. She gets up to take her dishes to the sink.
"So what you you have planned today hun?" My mom asked.
"I'm gonna take a shower here shortly, get dressed, do my school work then come over the the sanctuary." I said finishing my coffee and taking my dish to the sink.
"How about you?" I asked, following my mom up stairs. We stop at the top.
"Work." She says.
"Oh cool, that it?" I raise my eyebrow.
"I might have a date tonight." She smiles. I smile.
"Oh. Great! You um excited?" I say, being happy for my mother. She nodded for a second with no words.
"No, yeah. Very excited." She said acting excited.
"So, who is he?" I ask, curious.
"Oh, no one you know." She stated .
"C'mon, tell me."
"His name is Cole." She said.
"That's all you get to know, now get in the shower." My mom said and started to get ready. I frowned and walked to the other end of the hallway to my room and closed my door. I walked to my night stand and unplugged my phone from the charger,
7:26AM. I grab a towel and walk into my bathroom, placing my towel on the counter. Turning the water on, I run my hand under it to make sure the water was warm enough. Once it warmed up I got in and let the water soak my hair and body. I lathered myself in honeysuckle body wash and lavender shampoo. After rinsing off I stood there for a few, letting the water run down my body. I shut the water off and got out, wrapping myself in a grey cotton towel. I walked out of the bathroom and into my room. Drying my body I wrapped my towel on my hair and went to my dresser and grabbed teal, floral underwear, a pink bra and put them on. After that, I walked into my closet and grabbed, "boyfriend" jean shorts, a black belt, a t-shirt with shells on it and the phrase 'I must be a mermaid'. I walked out and put my shorts on, then my shirt, tucking it in and weaving my belt through the loops. I slightly untuck my shirt to loosen it then walk to to my
closet once more grabbing a pair of matching pink ankle socks and my black high top converse. I quickly put them on and tie them. I look myself over in my mirror hanging on the back of my bedroom door. I smiled then walked into my bathroom once more. I grabbed my makeup bag and began to do my daily make up which consisted of, BB cream and mascara. I never was into make up too much, especially with everything I do.
When I finished, I brushed my teeth, humming the alphabet twice because my dentist told my as a kid that "when brushing your teeth you should be able to go through the alphabet twice", since then it's been a habit. I don't always do the alphabet, sometimes I'll hum one of my favorite songs like Sweater Weather by The Neighborhood, or Cant Help Falling in Love by Elvis Presley, either way, I get the job done. I smile at myself in the mirror and go into my room. I grab my Mac Book and sit on my bed. Just as I began doing my English assignment my mom walked in. I look up.
"Hey, I'm off to work. Won't be back till late." She said while simultaneously putting her hair in a single French braid. I smiled.
"Right, because you're going on a date tonight. Don't worry I'll behave, throw the usual party." I said sarcastically but my mom gave me the "think again" look.
"Just kidding." I added and stick my hands up in defense. I know she's just anxious for her date. This is her first date since, well, my dad. It's a big deal.
"Get your work done, I'll see you later?" She said, finishing her hair. I smiled and nodded 'yes'. She walked over to me and kissed the side of my head.
"Love you, my honey bee."
"Love you too!" I said and began my work. I looked at the time, 7:57AM.
I'm in online schooling. I used to go to public school up until the 4th grade but with my dad being stationed to different places every two years, it was just hard. We ended up staying in Miami because my dad was drafted into the war overseas a year ago. He never came back. But besides the point we found that online schooling was the best fit for me. I like it better than public school.
For English I had to start a 10 page research paper on an Ethical, Political and/or Moral Issue due in exactly one week which will be May 14th. For mine, I chose Shark Finning. It is something I am very passionate about. Not just sharks themselves, the whole marine life ecosystems. But sharks for that matter are being hunted for their fins and being put back into the ocean after being de-finned to suffocate. With this unethical practice it is causing shark populations to plummet, with also have a bad effect of other species causing them to die out. I did a bunch of research for about an hour and wrote 3 and a half pages in a half hour. By 9:30 I was done with English for the day and began my pre-calculus. Which today I have a chapter test. The last chapter test before my final. I'm very good at math. It's my one of my favorite subjects. I suppose the reason why I love it so much is the same as Cady's, "it's the same in every country" but no, I find it to be very relaxing and kind of fun. I know, need alert. It took my just about an 45 minutes to finish the test and submit it. By then it was 10:15. I decided to take a much needed 15 minute break. I went to the bathroom quick and got a quick drink and snack, I filled my water bottle and got one of my moms fiber one granola bars. After I continued my work. For marine biology, I have been reviewing for my final. I studied for about 30 minutes and began my final class, physics at 11:00. For that I watched three 10 minute videos on Kinetic energy. I wasn't too fascinated in that class but my mom insisted I take it. I do very well in it, but that doesn't mean I have to live it. I finished all my school work by 11:30. I laid back in bed and stretched from being cooped up. I sprang up, grabbed my ukulele and swung it behind my shoulder and grabbed my phone. I skipped down the stairs and grabbed my keys. I walk out of my house, locking the door behind me and grab my bike. I walk my bike to the side walk then hop on. I take in the sun and the fresh air. Smiling I take off to the Marine Life Sanctuary.
•••
15 MINUTES LATER
I roll up a large building. I hear the workers talking amongst each other and to the animals. I rest my bike against the building and make my way around the back to a large pool where the walrus's were. I see an all too familiar body figure. I smile.
"Hey mom." I said and she smiled.
"Just in time for feeding." She said handing me a bucket of fish."
"Hello to you too." I said, taking the bucket.
"Hi my sweet, sweet baby girl." My mom greeted, we laughed. I fed the walrus's, then followed my mom to to dolphins to feed then the turtles. My mom is a marine life veterinarian. She takes care of all the animals who get placed here. I volunteer and help everyday. I love it. It's kind of what I want to do. After feeding I found myself back with the walrus's. I grabbed my ukulele and began to strum.
"Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, I'm begging of you please don't take my man" I begin, and slightly struggle singing and playing at the same time.
"Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene please don't take him just because you can- okay Ronnie take it away!" Silence.
"Your beauty is beyond compare"
strum
"With flaming locks of auburn hair"
strum
"With ivory skin and eyes of emerald green" I jumped to the sound of a pair of hands clapping. I turn around and slightly frown.
"What are you doing back here. No one is supposed to be back here." I say and stand up.
"Sorry, I was being chased-"
"Chased? Chased but what?"
"Fans-"
"Fans?" I question
"Yes?"
"Is that a question?"
"No?" He said. I raised an eyebrow. He cleared his throat.
"I came here with my friend and word got out I was here, now there are a bunch of girls chasing me."
"Wow." Screams grew louder.
"Crap their coming, help, where can I hide?" He asked frantically. I thought and laughed to myself.
"Come here." I said and he followed. I pushed him in the pool.
"Hey! What are you guys doing back here. Read the sign, "Employees Only"" I yelled pushing the girls out and closing the cage and covering it with tarp. Soon all the girls left.
"I didn't mean push me in the pool, by help." The guy, still in the pool called.
"Sorry, it's what came first to my head."
"Here," I reach my hand out to help the boy out but no. I leaned over the edge and lent my hand, he grabbed it but pulled me in. What the hell! I broke to surface.
"Arg."
"Payback." He said with a laugh. Payback? I helped him.
"Help, I can't swim." I said struggling.
"Oh god!" He said trying to keep me up but I dunk him and smile once he come back up above water.
"You can swim?" He said panting. I laughed.
"Yes."
"Wow, you are pure evil." He laughed.
"I'm Bryn." I smiled and held my hand out. He took my hand.
"Austin." He smiled.
