Until the Sun Falls

Chapter 4

Jackie

When I awoke for school Friday morning I could immediately tell it was going to be an off day. My body ached and my eyes were sore from being up so late the night before. 

I had been sitting at my easel well into the evening, trying to find the right shade of deep scarlet paint for the crow on my canvas. It was nearly midnight before I remembered that I had promised to come up with a few universities for Johnny and I to apply to together the next day. To do this I had stayed up to an hour I knew I would regret the next morning in an attempt to make a short list of schools that were both out of state and in warm places. By the time I had began looking into Arizona I had drifted off at my desk. I had awoken what easily felt like ten minutes later, slumped over my laptop and a pen still in my hand. But it was not ten minutes later. My blaring morning alarm on my phone let me know that it was in fact 6:15 am.

Blinking my eyes to clear them of sleep I turned off my alarm and tried to focus on the list I had sacrificed sleep for. I was pleased to see I had found five universities that met the criteria I'd been looking for. I looked hard at the last university on the list, which was just Arizona sleepily scribbled. I crossed it out.

While standing up to stretch I quickly peaked through the blackout curtains. I was greeted by a disappointingly cloudless sky that was pink with expectation of the sun. Skinny jeans and long sleeved shirt it was.

I went to Eilene's room across the hall and knocked. I could hear her snoring still so I pounded the door loudly.

"Whaaat?"I heard her mumble groggily.

"Can I borrow the car today? Do you have to work?" I asked in a yell, hoping she hadn't already fallen back asleep.

I heard nothing for a few seconds.

"Eilene! Am I walking to school or wha--"

"I'm up. I'll take you." She surprised me by opening the door and staring at my face. "You look horrible."

"Thanks." I grumble, trying to rub sleep from my eyes. "I was researching schools for Johnny and I to apply to."

"Oh, well...good luck with that." Eilene whispered, though I knew she was being genuine. We both knew how my parents would react the moment they figured out I was planning on going to college out of state. I bulked a bit at the thought.

My sister yawned before closing the door in my face, and I was glad that I would at least have the bathroom to myself for a few moments.

The outfit I chose consisted mainly of black and perfectly fit my dreary mood. I decided to go ahead and put on a thick smudge of black eyeliner across my eyes today in hopes it would counteract the dark circles beneath them.

I grabbed the university list from my desk before heading downstairs to the kitchen where my mom was washing produce as usual. Today every inch of counter space was covered in some sort of fruit or vegetable. Even the table was hidden from view.

"Good morning, sweetheart." Mom said, handing me a plain cream cheese bagel. "Sorry about the mess. You're going to have to eat standing today."

She also handed me a steaming mug of tea and I could smell the bitterness of the black leaves and the acidity of citrus. "My baskets are all full to the brim, and that is the overflow." She pointed to the table before placing her hands on her hips triumphantly.

It was a moment before she noticed me struggling to juggle the bagel, mug, and the university list in my hands.

"What's this?" Mom asked curiously, grabbing it out of my hands.