Fire and Ice

Chapter 3: Designing and Shopping

Under normal circumstances, the soothing sound of birds that emanate from my phone is what wakes me up. Today is not one of those days.

"Wakey wakey sleepy head half the town is probably dead!  Rise and shine we have a big day today!" my dad yells as he bashes his fist against my door like a madman. 

Sighing, I run my hands down my face wiping the sleep from my eyes. 

"Relax I'm awake!" I yell back at him which succeeds in resolving the banging.

"Okay, but hurry up we got a big day ahead of us!"

"That's not a good reason for robbing me of sleep," I groan.

He hits my door three more times.

"If you go back to sleep I'll just keep hitting your door."

"You're acting like a child! Is this how you're going wake me up every morning?"

"If you don't get ready and come downstairs in the next ten minutes then yes!"

Just like that, with that one simple statement, a firecracker lights up inside me and I jump out of bed. My dad knew exactly what he was doing when he gave me that time limit. He knew it would strike the iron otherwise known as my competitive nature.

Ten minutes, that's hardly enough time to do my whole morning routine, so I'll just have to cut back on a few things, such as my morning shower.

Great now I'm going to feel gross the whole day, I think as I rummage through my backpack and throw on the first decent set of clothing I grab. 

Even though I got dressed in a hurry I still look good, well good enough for my standards. However, I think it's about time my standards change up a bit. I've always been more of a tomboy than a girly girl. I prefer hoodies and jeans over dresses. Sneakers over heels and I hate make-up, but this year with a new school I want to loosen up a bit and have a fresh start. I'm not going to do a big thing, just change my style of clothes a bit.

However, for today I'll stick with my dark blue jeans, a black T-shirt, and a grey hoodie. Besides, we are going to be doing some painting today and the last thing I want is to ruin good clothes with paint. 

As soon as I complete the rest of my routine I run down the stairs with four minutes to spare. I hear my parents in the kitchen so I hurry to meet them there. When I walk in through the doorway my dad's face turns to one of shock.

"Looks like you are not going to be waking me up with yelling anymore," I chuckle and playfully punch his shoulder.

"Yeah, looks like it," my dad sighs in disappointment. His face hangs and he has to rest it on his palm so that my mom won't complain about how miserable looks. 

"What time are the boys coming?" my mother asks my dad as she sips on her cappuccino.

"They should be here in about half an hour," he declares as he looks down at his watch.

"Mom, can I go shopping after we're done?" I ask as I rock back and forth on the balls of my feet.

She leans against the nearest counter, gazing at me with calculating eyes. She always does this when I ask to go out. She thinks it makes her intimidating. Sometimes it does but today is not one of those days and I have to use all of my strength to hold back my laughter. 

"Why?"

I shrug. "I just want to get some new clothes for school." 

"Oh, I get it you want to impress the boys. I'm not blind, Vega, I can see right through you," my dad says with a coy smile.