Macy Espinosa P.O.V
"I just didn't know what else to do, Dawn." i hear in my sleep, but i know her cries were way too clear to be in a dream.
I've always been a light sleeper. I don't even know how it happened. You used to have to nudge me and shake me just to get me to wake up. And now, even the slightest flicking of a lightswitch can wake me up. It's almost a gift and a curse. But, when it interrupts my sleep, its definitely a curse.
I continue to hear them talk, but its too muffled to understand. And no matter how many times i shut my heavy eyelids, their voices keep me awake.
Please, please, please shut the fuck up and let me sleep. I think to myself. But once I'm awake, i cant go back to sleep.
So, finally, after many attempts of falling back asleep, I decide to roll out of my bed and go upstairs to see whats going on. I don't even bother fixing my tangled up, bed head or putting on a bra. Au naturale.
"Honey," my mom greets me as she sees me at the top of the stairs. My blurry vision immediately goes to two people, a woman, and im assuming her son, sitting on our couch. "You remember Katherine and Jack, dont you?"
I literally don't even remember my name right now, mom. This isn't time for trivia crack.
"No." i yawn and rub the crust out of my tired eyes.
After my vision becomes clearer, i see the woman holding tissues in her hands and wiping her swollen eyes. Next to her, is a tan, dark-haired boy giving the carpet an icy stare.
My mother tried to jog my memory by telling me all the things Jack and I did as kids, but not one thing she said made his face anymore familiar.
Apparently, Katherine and my mom were best friends in college and ended up getting pregnant around the same time. Jack was born in September of '96 and i was born in January of '97. How fun, another hormonal teenage asshole. Yay.
My mom actually looks a bit shocked that i dont remember, but she continues on with a smile. "Well, Jack and Katherine are going to be staying with us for awhile. They've been having some problems at their home lately. And i just wanted to give them a place where they can feel comfortable and safe."
If i wasn't so tired, i would've showed more emotion, but its literally 4 o'clock in the morning and i dont know their situation.
"So, is everything okay?" i direct my question towards Katherine, but of course, my mom answers for her.
She sends a smile at her, letting her know that she doesnt have to speak and Katherine nods. "Everything's gonna be fine. They'll just be here until they get back on their feet, that's all."
After a minute of silence, me and my mom both look at the clock at the same time. Its 5:06 AM and i dont wanna be the one to rudely end this conversation.
"Well, i think everyone's pretty tired and stressed out," my mother begins. "How about we all go to sleep...let this all sink in, and start fresh tomorrow?"
We all agree, we're just too tired to move.
"Alrighty then," she makes her way to the linen closet and pulls out 2 duvets, a blue one with white stripes, and a green one with white stripes, handing each one to Jack and Katherine. "We have plenty of rooms, so finding a place to sleep shouldn't be a problem. Finding your way through the room will be a problem."
My mom tries to lighten up the mood, but no one laughs.
"Jack, Macy can show you downstairs to Matt's old room, and Katherine, follow me up to our guest bedroom."
Of course.
Theres literally no reason why he has to sleep right across from me when we legit have 2 more guest bedrooms and bathrooms upstairs.
Its like she doesnt want me to have my own space, but i insist on the new adjustment.
"Okay," i sigh. "I'll show you around."
He followed behind me as we traveled through the kitchen and went downstairs into my humble abode, blocked off from the rest of my house. Well, used to be blocked off, now its a shared living space with a kid i just met 5 minutes ago.
"Over heres the bathroom," i point to door between our two rooms. "Here's your new room, i guess."
As he opens the door, a rush of cold air hits our bodies and sends chills down my neck.
"Oh yeah," i remember. "It gets really cold down here at night, so i dont care if you turn up the furnace, i usually just grab a few extra blankets and call it good."
He still doesn't speak. He just sits his blanket down on the bed and looks around the room with cold eyes. It looks as if hes lost.
I awkwardly stand there and watch him sit his duffle bag on the bed and unzip it.
"Can you go now?" he rudely asks.
Wow, the first 4 words he's said to me and i've been nothing but nice.
I'm taken back, but i still try to be polite, not fully understanding whats happening. "Yeah, sorry." i back out of the room. "If you need anything I'll be right across the hall."
