“Lucas! Lauren! Get your butts up right now!” I shout from the bathroom. “This isn’t your first time guys come on,” I shout again. I somewhat hope I wake up Mom and Jason. I give up with my hair and just throw it up in a ponytail so I can make sure the twins wake up. In their room I rip off their blankets. “Up, up, up,” I chant.
“Go away,” Luke whines.
“School can wait,” Lauren mumbles.
“No it can’t. I’m going to be late and then you’re going to get your butts handed to you,” I say. Luke sits up and rubs his eyes. Lauren rolls over onto her back and screams.
“Shut up,” Luke shouts over her. I roll my eyes, but don’t stop her. Why should they have to be quiet for Mom and Jason if they’re never quiet for us?
“Fifteen minutes, ready or not,” I say, “I’ll leave without you if I have to.” I turn and walk into my room. It shouldn’t be my responsibility to get them up and get them to school, but it is.
Fifteen minutes comes and goes, and we’re in the car on the way to school.
“I want to go home,” Lauren whines.
“Yeah, me too, but we can’t skip school all the time,” I say.
“Why not?” Luke asks.
“Mommy and Daddy will get in trouble.” I say.
“I wish they would take Daddy away,” Lauren says.
“Me too,” I say, nodding.
I sign them in and walk them down the main hall.
“Will you come see up today?” Luke asks.
“I’ll try,” I say. Usually I see them during my lunch period. “Have fun guys.” I watch them walk into the class. They both wave, and I wish I could stay with them. Do pre-school things instead of high school things. Instead I sulk to my first period, which I happen to be exempt from. I may have a crappy home life but I know how to take care of myself. I took enough high school classes in middle school so I can graduate a year early, and enough college level classes to be able to graduate with my Associates degree as well. So, because I already have most of my classes done, I have office aide first period. It’s extremely uneventful. Not many new students come to my small town in Washington. That’s fine, I usually just sit around or work on homework from the night before.
This morning was different. I sit in a chair behind the desk facing the door, arms crossed, and one headphone in. Two people walk in, who I assume to be brothers because they seem to be close in age and look alike. They both have black hair and piercing eyes. The younger one is taller than the older one, and they both have their ears stretched slightly. “Taylor, we’ve got a newbie,” Miss Sarah says. I stand, but leave my headphone in. It’s probably against the rules, but I’m pretty good with the office staff, so they let my slid. “This is Drew,” Miss Sarah says, handing me a copy of his schedule. I try not to look too amused. “Just bring him around and show him where his classes are, and… well you know the drill don’t you?” I nod. “Good. Come through here Drew and I’ll set things up with… Derek is it?” The other boy nods. Drew comes through the little door that leads to the exit of the office. He’s almost as tall as Jason, who is easily six four. I’ll admit, I’m a little intimidate. I don’t say anything as I lead him through the door.
“Call me Fox,” Drew says. I raise my eyebrows at him, but I just turn and lead him to his first period. “I just moved here.” I don’t reply again. “Are you a mute?” he asks. I look up at him, trying to look as annoyed as possible. “Do you know what a mute is?” he asks, talking slowly.
“Yes I know what a mute is. I am not an idiot,” I snap.
“And you’re clearly not a mute either.”
I purse my lips, “Why do you want me to call you Fox?”
“Because I like it better than Drew,” he says, “What’s your name again?”
“Taylor.”
“Just Taylor, no nickname?”
“Some people call me Tay, but I prefer Taylor.”
“Well, Taylor, how many classes do I share with you?
“Three.”
“Which ones?”
“Third, fourth, and seventh. Seventh is lunch.”
“Isn’t that kind of late?”
“I guess,” I forget that people don’t go visit their siblings during lunch. Instead they actually eat.
“Are you always this nice, or is it just because I’m a newbie?” I almost laugh.
“This is your first period,” I say, pointing to the door.
