If You Can't See The Sign, Wait For It

the secret to humor is surprise, but I ain't joking

Next day, a beautiful Saturday morning. Birds twittered blissfully from outside my window and I woke up into an empty house. Dad's work keeps him away from home and mom's constantly traveling and promoting her own cosmetic line. So, they don't talk as much as they did before, but when they do is like a constant battle. Those meaningless and pointless fights that had now become as regular as brushing my teeth.

Walking down the hall I heard the soft purr of a car engine coming from the driveway. Then -

Honk. 

Honk.  

HOOONNNKKK.

I hurry to the front door. Sleepy as I was I got blind for two seconds because of the shiny morning sunlight. 

"You still on your pajamas?!" Shouted an irritated Lola. In a blink of an eye she was already in my porch. "I thought we were going to the beach." Her voice in a disappointed tone. Honestly, I've forgotten and wasn't in the mood. 

"Ugh, get in Lola," I said taking her by her wrist, "help me get ready."

"Aren't your parents home?" She said as soon as she stepped in. 

"I woke up by the sound of emptiness." I said bitterly. She laughed even though it doesn't sound funny to me. 

I walked into my bathroom and started to get my clothes off, meanwhile Lola stayed in my room watching TV. 

Hot water streamed down my skin and my mind couldn't stop thinking about what happened yesterday at school.

"... I've came here so we can work things out." Andres' words replayed perfectly in my head.

Marcus', in the other side resounded forcefully. "We're done, brother." And his bitterly tone sent shivers all over my body. 

Wait. What? Why was I thinking about it? It wasn't of my concern. What I should be thinking is about whether I should call this Tyler boy or not. All of a sudden, I caught myself daydreaming about him. He was very cute in a boyish, easy way. His green eyes avoiding my gaze until the last minute as he moved his fingers playfully through his light brown hair and-

"Did you drown?" Shouted Lola from the other side of the wooden cherry door. 

I chuckled. "You wish."

Then I turned off the water, wrapped myself like a toddle in my turquoise towel and headed to my room. 

When I got in Lola was nowhere to be found. I went to the living room, thinking that she might have bored and was reading one of the hundreds of magazines that were under the little dark wooden table near one of the sofas in front of the large TV plasma. 

She wasn't there. 

I looked outside through the window; her car was still parked in front of the house. So she didn't leave, I mumbled to myself. It wasn't until I scanned the entire house that I heard some whispers coming from my parents’ room. 

I frowned. I didn't hear anyone stepping in. My grandparents never come home without calling first. Dad was in New Zealand working on some business deal and he's staying there for another week. And mom is probably out with some of her friends. 

I opened the door and saw Lola's glistening hair as she hurried to hide something tiny and silver in her pocket. 

"What are you doing here? I looked for you everywhere!" I demanded.