Don't Call Me Little Miss - The Rebel Selection Series; book 1

It all started with an apple

A high pitch scream suddenly woke me up from my long earned sleep. It took me quite a while to adjust to the pitch-black darkness, but I already knew the scream was probably my own and quickly shut my mouth. I crossed my fingers hoping I didn't wake up Mum, but to my worry, I already heard her running up our old squeaky stairs. "Mamma Mia, here we go again." – I sang jokingly under my breath. Unfortunately, I knew well what was going to happen in the next couple of minutes; my pregnant Mum would enter my room worried...ask what was wrong and if I again had a nightmare because of him... yeah my basic night routine, because why not.

I just wasn't the kid that spends its childhood bathing in gold; I stood firmly on the ground and didn't go banging around with my head in the clouds. I was the person all the good kids avoided...

As to confirm my words, Mum rushed into my room with a cup of coffee in her hands. "Honey, what's wrong? It's again because of him isn't it?" – Her soft melodic voice tore me from my thoughts. I knew well what I had to answer: my well-learned verse... But with every night full of nightmares about him...it was harder and harder. - "No Mum, - I sighted tiredly, this question is making me sick..- I just had...wait you weren't sleeping!?" – I shot a glance at the old broken clock on my nightstand; 3 am. "Mum! You're pregnant you can't be just hanging around at this time?!" - I shot a worried look towards the cup of coffee in her hands. And drinking coffee - I added in thought. – "Honey, I'm sorry I just got a brilliant idea at this Sonatine; at first it would be a simple sad melody... - she trailed off – and then there would add another soft melody turning it into a happy spring breeze as they fell in love..." - she dozed off about her idea.

You see, my Mum is a passionate music writer, she lives in her world of music all the time, and now when she is pregnant it's even worse. She's from a family that is quite a lot involved in present music. I knew she would love to also play at palace balls as her siblings did, but here I was stopping her dreams...

– You didn't answer my question Scarlett Whines – Clurrent. – She again tore me from my thoughts.

– No, mother, it wasn't because of him, I...Just had a bad dream, I'm good now... - I got up from my bed and took the cup of coffee from her hands – ...and I think we both should go to sleep." I shot her a look; you're-a-pregnant-mum-that's-up-at-3am.

–"I know you're right but.."– She further tried to persuade me. – "No buts mum, you're pregnant isn't that enough? Don't you care about my little sibling?" –I knew how to push her buttons.

- "Scarlet, don't ever repeat that. I know you're just trying to push my buttons because you're worried about me, but sabotaging isn't going to help. Besides, you know that you and your little sibling" – She raised her voice.

– "I will repeat it if you don't go willingly to sleep right now" – I said with a smirk. - "Ok ok, I lost this time... - She replied with a chuckle. – ..But promise you'll go also go to sleep."

- "Yes mum, I'll just take your cup to the kitchen. " – "Goodnight honey" – She replied yawning. I shook my head – "Goodnight Sleepy"

On my way downstairs I heard a quiet slow whistle. "Probably Mum left the kettle on the stove "- I assumed. When I entered our old kitchen I put the cup in the iron sink and checked the kettle. "Weird, the kettle is in the cupboard... – I stood still and listened, but there was nothing except a pin drop silence - I'm probably just very seriously sleep-deprived, I should go to bed asap. I was in the hallway when I heard the whistle again. I grunted with annoyance, ran to my bedroom ad locked the door, careful not to wake up my mum.

                                                                            **********

I woke up to the sound of a familiar bluebird chirping on my windowsill. – "Good morning my lovely living alarm clock – I chuckled – let's get you your breakfast.