Plains

Chapter 9: Mockingbird

June 23rd 7:19 am Bailey's POV

"Shit!" I yell as I'm so violently awoken by my phone ringing loudly in my ear. 

Yesterday I met the rest of the crew, there were well over 60 new people and I don't even remember half of them. Jose is the leader of course. The other four are 'top dawgs', and the rest have a complicated ranking system. The crown, (Jose) The gold,(The four) The silver (me plus a few others, The bronze, and The Reds. They are the top ones, but after The Reds, they have another ranking system just for the lower ranks. After The Reds, you can be apart of orange, yellow, green, blue or purple, but are collectively called Lowies. Oranges have the best chance of becoming Reds, but a purple or blue, highly unlikely. I haven't the slightest idea what depends on where you stand, but I'm a silver because Jose mentioned something about me being a valuable asset later on. Whatever that means. (Yes I'm well aware, just curious.)  

I look at the caller ID and realize it's my cousin Samantha. I sigh falling backwards into bed, and reluctantly answered the phone. "Samantha do have any idea what time its?"

"Yes, it's 7:19am exactly, I think a Harvard student would know exactly what time it is silly." she giggled. "Right." I sigh "Why are you calling? We're not supposed to go shopping until like eleven. Oh and my friend Douglas is coming with us." 

"Oh that's great! Someone for Bradly to hang with. I was calling because I was wondering if you wanted to get a jump start on the day! I have lots to get! I'm not down here in southwest Georgia everyday." she laughed lightly. "Harvard life you know. Besides, I've already spoken to Bradly and he's up and ready to start the day, I was hoping we could eat at IHop." she spoke so sweetly I could hear her smile through the phone. 

"Most stores don't even open until at least ten, and if you prefer to eat at IHop over Waffle House then I'm sorry we can't be friends." I say, hearing her laugh on the other end, obviously not getting that I was completely serious.

"Okay silly, I guess that does throw a wrench in our plans, but hey, we haven't seen each other since I left for collage over a year ago, I'm ready to see you already!" 

"That makes one of us." I whisper.  "What?" 

"Nothing, I'll be over there soon, but don't be surprised if it takes a while Douglas is a heavy sleeper." 

I hear a quick "see you soon" before hanging up and rolling over, lying there for a moment, dreading the day ahead. 

I felt bad for not wanting to spend time with her but honestly she's a nightmare. I know I'm not perfect but it's like she always wants to be seen as perfect. 'Oh I go to Harvard!' and always doing public displays of affection with Bradly. Poor Bradly.

"This is exasperating." I say to myself, getting out of bed and rummaging through my closet until landing on a gray Beatles shirt, ripped black jeans with fishnet stockings underneath, my favorite black combat boots and a black lace choker to complete my wreck of an ensemble.

I bike over to Douglas's house trying my best not to sweat through my extra strength deodorant. I pick up an obviously fake poop in their yard (seeing as they have no pets other than a goldfish named Chexmex) and pulled a silver key out from under it and let myself into the house before placing the key back under the fake poop. 

I silently prance up the stairs of the quickly lightening house, and into Douglas's bedroom which had dirty clothes flung thoughtlessly onto the floor, reminding me of my room. A tall bookcase full of science fiction books sat on the wall opposite his tiny twin bed that he was a bit to tall for. Pictures of me and him hung on the wall along with one of his mom and dad on their wedding day. A small desk sat in the corner with a book To Kill A Mockingbird opened to page 196 with a blue bookmark in it, which he meant to close but left it open, slowly flattening itself until it will always be gaped when closed. 

I flipped the front cover over so the front of the book would be facing up. I run my hand over the cover sighing, feeling it's every indent and crease, wondering what all this one book has seen. 

I was deep in thought staring blankly at the book when a sharp high pitched scream cut through the air making me spin in place.

Douglas was sitting straight up in bed, holding his thick dark blue comforter over his bare nipples like he was a girl in a bikini whose strap broke. 

"What the frick Bailey you scared the crap out of me." he said relaxing, dropping the comforter, allowing me to see his chest. My eyes lingered there longer than I care  to admit.

"Bailey?!" he shouted snapping me out of my daydream. "Sorry, Samantha called and she said her and Bradley are ready to go, she absolutely just can't wait to see me. So I came here to tell you to get ready." 

"Couldn't you of called instead of giving me a heart attack. Is that what you're wearing?" he asked getting up and sitting on the edge of his bed. "Why?" I ask glancing down at myself.

Douglas smiled that smile that made my heart skip a beat. "You look really nice, Samantha won't know what hit her." he giggled, going over to his walk-in closet. 

After a few minutes later he came back out wearing dark blue jeans, a bright re Coca-Cola shirt  and white tennis shoes. 

"You ready?" he asked picking up his backpack. "Pick out a book, we'll need it, driving with those two nut heads." he said picking up To Kill A Mockingbird from his desk and setting in his backpack.

I went over to his bookshelf and scanned shelf after shelf, searching for the book I wanted. On the third row I found his Harry Potter collection and picked up the first book even though I've already read the entire series. 

We strolled out the door, leaving a note for Douglas's dad before we left.

My aunt's house was only a block away so we decided to walk.

.............

Hello, I hope you enjoyed this chapter of Plains, the next chapter will be them shopping, but don't worry drama is coming quick! Please vote and comment if you liked this chapter.

-IHeartDennis <3