Only One

Chapter Twenty-Three

[edited]
When I was out of the bathroom everyone was standing by the exit waiting for me. I joined them without saying a word and then we all went back to the car. I was in front again with Mrs. Brookes driving and everyone else in back. The car was silent. Not even the radio was on. I liked the quietness, but it was getting to the point where it was becoming awkward.

"Can I turn on the radio please?" my voice cracked.

"Sure. I don't think a little music will kill anyone." Mrs. Brookes yawns. I lean forward and turn the radio on. Come With Me Now by KONGOS was on. I couldn't help but sing quietly to the song. I didn't care if anyone else was in the car. I could sing if I wanted to and if anyone told me to stop I would only sing louder just to piss them off.

"You have a nice voice," I hear Parker say.

"Thanks," I say smugly. It didn't matter if what he said was nice or not. I wans't in a nice mood.

"How come you weren't in the school's choir program?" He asks.

"I didn't want to I guess," I state. He didn't say anything else after that, so I kept on singing to myself. The rest of the car ride consisted of me singing quietly and the others humming along.

☂

After thanking the Brookes for letting me acompany them I was inside setting my purse on the counter. Mom was asleep on the couch with the TV turned to the HGTV channel. I turned it off and went to the fridge. I grabbed a bottle of water and then my purse and head for the stairs.

"So how was it?" I hear from behind.

I spin around and see mom sitting up. "Good," I lie.

"That's good. Get some sleep okay?" She smiles at me and I return it.

"Alright. Love you mom. Don't stay up too late," I remind. I turn back around and head up the steps. Normally I wouldn't be telling her to not stay up because she never was around, but now that she was things were different. When I was in my room I flicked the light switch up and was greeted to blinding light. It was times like these that I wish my room had a dimming function. I flung my purse on my bed. I went into my closet next. I stripped out of the clothes I was wearing and into a fitted cami tank top and boy shorts. The most comfortable thing to sleep in. To me at least. I walked out of my closet and then into my bathroom. I washed my face, brushed my teeth and then studied my reflection.

My eyes had gigantic bags under them and my hair looked frizzy. I brushed my hair out. I dind't braid it or do anything special to sleep in. I simply walked out of the bathroom and to my window. For the first time in forever I closed my blinds right before I was going to sleep. Because let's face it. After a night like the one I had, I was going to want all the sleep I could get.