Until the End of Time

Chapter 2

"McKenna!!" My mother's voice rings through the house, pulling me out of my deep sleep. Nothing can pull me awake quite like my mother's voice. I rub my eyes to wake up, catching sight of the word "of time" where my band had slipped up onto my hand during the night. I'm a very fussy sleeper, and even though I'm 17, I still sleepwalk like a little kid. Just another quirk my soulmate will have to deal with.
"What, Mom? It's Saturday!!" I call with a groggy voice down the hall.
"Yes! And it's your brother's birthday! Your point is?" I rub my eyes and turn to my alarm clock, which has the date. 9:45 am on Saturday, May 5th. Jacob's 21st birthday. I don't know all of why his tattoo is, but the first word of it is "I'm" soooo... that's not general or anything.
"Coming, Mom!" I sit up in bed and comb my fingers through my wavy brown-to-blonde ombré hair. 13 more days until I graduate. My 18th birthday is on July 25. I secure my favorite wristband, turquoise with silver threads sewn in, around my arm, pull a light, springy sundress over my head, and messily tie my hair up, before running down the hall into the kitchen.
"There she is! The gorgeous daughter emerges from her room!" my dad narrates.
"Haha, Dad. Good morning to you, too," I respond sarcastically. Jacob, my brother, is on the couch with a plate of pancakes, yelling at the English Football game on the television.
"Good morning, Mr. Greater-Than-Thou-Cause-It's-Ma-B-day. Love you," I tease, kissing him on his forehead to make sure he's fully embarrassed. He, of course, takes it like a champ, setting his pancakes aside and pulling me over the couch in a great big bear hug.
"Just 'cause it's my birthday doesn't mean I don't love ya little sis," he tells me before an all-out tickle war ensues, with my parents joining in, which eventually dissolves into a family group hug.
Happiness, togetherness, joyfulness.
It's our family motto, and we hold firm to it.