Most of the Time

Chapter 10

When I walked in, the smell of spices hit me instantly. I head straight for my room somehow almost blinded by the smell. I wanted to send a long text to Lily about how we should stop including Justin in our summer plans. Before I could make it up the stairs, I hear my mom calling me from the kitchen. For a second, I thought about pretending not to hear her, but then I remembered I have a Caribbean mom, and that would not be smart.

"What's up Mommy?" I say. I am 18 but somehow never seemed to make the transition from mommy to mom.

"What's up?" she says confused at the question. "What's up is that you have been gone all morning and I have not gotten one text from either you or Lily. Do I need to give another lecture on the importance of communication, especially in your condition? Because I can come up with one, no problem."

"I'm okay" I say quickly before she continues talking

"Good, now I need help. You say you know how to cook so wash these vegetables for me. So how was your sleep over last night?" she says as if she was not just yelling at me less then 10 seconds ago.

"It was fun...I had fun" I say reflecting on last night 

"That's nice, what did you eat this morning?"

In panic my eyes go wide trying to think of something to say. I hate liars so naturally I hate lying. "Some eggs and fruit" I say keeping my head down. I did not technically lie but my face is known to give away my secrets.

We were in the kitchen cooking and talking for a couple hours. My hands became tinted green from rubbing pesto into the chicken. I forgot about my plan to text Lily in the mist of our cooking. It was just my mom and I that evening for dinner. It was around 7 and I still had enough energy in me to be awake for a little while longer. I finally make it to my room after being home for hours and immediately text Lily to see if she's still up for the beach. In true Lily fashion, she texts "I've been ready for hours, I'm coming to get you." 20 minutes later I hear Lilly knocking on the door. I answer the door seeing a practically naked Lily staring back at me.

"Where are your clothes?" I question

"I know you're new to the concept of going to the beach, but this is the attire." She says gesturing up and down her cream lace coverup over her yellow bikini "Now let's fix yours"

I sat on my bed watching Lily raid my closet. I examine her choice outfit again seeing her long light brown hair braided in two. Truly the perfect look for the beach, I noted to myself. She's way better at this then I am.

"Remind me to take you shopping. You have no clothes" She says

"I don't go anywhere remember"

"Here put this on" she says throwing me a red bikini and jean shorts.

"I'm not wearing this" I say

"You own it. Why not?"

"Fine" I say knowing she is right. I own it, I guess I might as well wear it.

"I'm wearing this cardigan too" I say grabbing a cream lace cardigan, like Lily's 

"Awe, we kind of match" she says nudging my arm. "Let's go, Hannah said they are almost there. And empty out your tubes, they're full"

I empty out my drainage tubes and quickly take one of my pain pills. It was a couple hours before I should have taken it, but I didn't want to take any chances.

We make it to the beach and quickly spot Hannah's blonde hair in the dimness. I have rarely been to the beach let alone at night. It's somewhat scary and colder than I expected. "I should have worn an actual shirt" I say blaming Lily.  I somehow just notice that withLily's yellow bikini and mine red, we look like ketchup and mustard