A Long Way From Home

Chapter 6

The morning sun shone in through the wall of glass. Damnit, I thought, I didn't close my fucking curtains. I got up and shut them quickly, then glanced at the clock on my bedside table. 7:34 in the fucking morning. 

I threw myself down on the bed and shut my eyes, hoping for a few more hours of sleep, but I knew it was just wishful thinking.

I opened the door slowly and tiptoed down the stairs to the one place I'd been dying to explore; the kitchen.

I opened the enormous fridge carefully, trying to be quiet.

It was full of everything good in the world. Two Domino's pizza boxes, juice, a Styrofoam leftover box from who knows where, boxes of Chinese take-out. This fridge was packed with everything, and the freezer was just as full.

I rummaged through cabinets and drawers, but found nothing interesting, so I went right back to the fridge. I grabbed a slice of pizza and the juice carton, then proceeded to find a cup.

"Pizza at eight in the morning?"

I jumped, spilling the orange juice onto the marble counter.

"Damn," I muttered, looking for a napkin. Dylan walked into the kitchen and pointed. I followed his finger and found a roll of paper towels. 

"Thanks," I said softly.

"Aren't you going to heat that up?" he asked as I took a huge bite of my pizza.

"I think the fuck not," I declared, looking mortified.

"You're just gonna eat cold pizza?" He looked confused.

"Are you suggesting I microwave it?"

"Uhm, yeah?" he said, making it sound more like a question.

"You disgust me."

"Anyway, Dad told me to take you shopping, because you have no clothes here, obviously," he said, "But I told him I'd only do it if Matt and Lenny could come."

"Who's Lenny?" 

"Me," Lennox said, waltzing into the house like he owned the place, Matt trailing behind.

"Let's go!" Dylan exclaimed, ushering us all outside.

"Shotgun!" Matt yelled, climbing into the front seat.

And so I was in the back with Lenny. I reached into the far back and grabbed my book bag, which I had forgotten last night. "Dibs on picking the music!" I shouted, pulling my phone out of the bag.

Dylan groaned, but reluctantly handed me the aux anyway. "If you play girly pop music, I'll open the door and shove you out," Lenny said.

I laughed and chose a song they should all know. Everyone knows this song. Everyone who matters, at least.

"Goddamnnit," muttered Dylan as the song  began.

"We're soarin', flyin'. There's not a star in heaven that we can't reach!" I sang loudly.

To my surprise, Lennox and Matthew joined in. I don't give a good god damn what anyone says; High School Musical will always be the best movie of all time. And yes, I do have every single song downloaded.

I stopped paying attention to the road and got lost in the moment. All the windows were down, my messy hair was blowing every which way, and I was having fun. 

That's when I realized, this was the most fun I'd had since I started high school. I had friends, and a dad, and a brother who wasn't a cock. Only one thing was missing: my cat.

"Guys," I said.

Dylan turned the music down. "Yeah?"

"I need to go back."

"Back? Back where?"

"To my mom's."

No one spoke for a few seconds. "W- why?" Matt asked, "Don't you like it here?"

"Of course! I just need to get my cat," I replied.

The guys laughed. "We'll go pick him up after we're done shopping," Dylan said.

"Her." I corrected.

"Hush." And with that, he turned the music back up, and we all began singing along to I'll Make a Man out of You from Mulan, my other favorite movie.