Written. (JB//Complete)

Chapter 24.

Scarlett

I wake up and almost panic due to two things: Justin's absence, and the fact that I'd fallen asleep with him here. I wonder when he left. I remember him saying that he was leaving, but let's face it. I never know what is and isn't real life when I'm half asleep.

As I'm sitting up in my messy bed, rubbing my eyes and yawning out my sleep, I look around for any sign that Justin could still be here. But when I realize that everything is still in its orderly position, I know that he'd left when he said he would. I flop back onto my bed, a groan escaping my mouth in a raspy morning tone. I've woken up much too early, eight fifteen.

My mother probably has a list of today's plans all set and ready to go too. I wonder if I could just pass for today, just one single Sunday. I need a break sometimes. Why should I even bother? Once Mom had everything planned out for anything, not one miracle could change it. Here comes the busy bee herself barging into my bedroom.

"Up, up, up! You know the drill," she sings, patting my bed. Heck yeah I know the drill.

I obnoxiously moan and cover my face with my pillow. "Can I please just stay in for today? I'm so tired."

"I don't think so. Come on, there isn't a lot to do today." She doesn't even seem the least bit attentive to my plea.

"What do you need me for today anyway?"

"Well, I just thought you'd maybe need a dress for this huge occasion of your high school career called Prom? Sound familiar?" she sarcastically says, digging through my closet for my outfit for today. Prom? I'd completely forgotten about that. It amazes me how my mother knows more about my school schedule than I do at times. Prom is coming up real soon, this Friday, five days. I don't even really want to go. Who would I go with? Ryan? There's probably a few girls who have already asked him.

"Oh, yeah. That's right," I say with barely any enthusiasm. "But can't we order it online or something?"

"No, I need to see how it's going to fit. Now come on, get ready. We'll leave in thirty. Chop chop!" I reopen my eyes and sit back up in my bed when I hear her high heels stomp out of my bedroom. Are any stores even open this early?

I finally obtain the energy to get my butt out of bed and dress myself in the clothes Mom had sat out for me: a striped three-quarter length shirt, maxi skirt, and sandals.

At least it's comfortable. Once I slip everything on and do my hair and brush my teeth, it's been about thirty minutes and she'll come stamping out of her bedroom and flying out the front door, with or without me. So I find it best that I wait by the door before she gets out here. I wonder what Ryan is doing.

I pull out my phone and give him a quick call to check up on him. Then that's when I remember that he's still with Sophia. Before I'm able to hang up, I hear his groggily morning voice on the other end.

"Hello?"

"Uh, Ryan, sorry. I forgot that it's early and, um, that you're still with Sophia," I stutter.

He lazily chuckles. "That's alright, we were just about awake anyways. What did you need?"

"I was just wondering if you were doing anything today. But that was before I recalled that Sophia—"

"Don't worry about her so much, Scarlett," he laughs. "We're all caught up now. I'm free today if you want to do something, and Sophia won't mind if she came either."

"Oh, are you sure?" My mom then comes out of her bedroom and straight to the front door right past me, her heels clacking on the ground probably being heard on Ryan's end, as well a bit of shuffling from my additional movement, on Ryan's side. "Wouldn't you think she'd want to do something with you? Maybe rest or relax?" Relaxing... That sounds familiar, just from last night.