"Sorry." I blurt out, quickly. He moves to take off his earphones, but I've been staring for too long, and have to walk away.
I chew on the inside of my cheek, as I scan the items. That was probably the second most embarrassing moment of my life. I bet he thought I was crazy.
After paying for my junk, I return to Adam's car, where I find him singing along to a catchy nineties song.
"Don't go chasing waterfalls.
Please stick to the rivers and lakes that you're used to."
He's not a great singer, but his cheerful spirits help me get over the incident with the cart.
I relax in my seat, and begin digging through my shopping bag for something to call breakfast. I settle for the popcorn, and pull the bag open in one quick motion. The smell of salty caramel combined with butter, hits me, and my mouth begins to water. I'm about to pop one in my mouth, when Adam snatches the bag from my hands.
"Hey, I bought it," I begin to protest.
"You can't have popcorn", he says. I narrow my eyes at him, is this his way of getting payback?
He sighs, "braces, remember?"
Oh.
It's only been three days since I got braces again, and I've already reverted back to my old habits. I settle for a slice of the cheap bread instead.
<><><><><>
Half-an-hour later, Adam pulls into Plainview street, and stops in front of my house.
I try not to dwell on the fact that after the intense year I've had in college, I won't get to blow off steam and splurge on a fancy hotel or Airbnb, somewhere near the beach.
The house displayed across from us has been my home, for as long as I can remember. Growing up I was proud of the blue two story, our great trees, and cozy little backyard. Most of the buildings in our neighborhood are not as well off, as we are. But after living in campus for a year, where the surrounding boroughs are full of mansions and driveways packed with Bentleys and BMWs, I can't ignore the contrast between two different parts of town.
After I say goodbye to Adam, I walk up the stone steps with my boxes, and knock on the yellow door. I expect mom to answer, ready with a hug for me, but instead my youngest brother pokes his head through the door. Elliot adjusts his square glasses, and glances up at me. His brown hair has gotten shorter, and now barely reaches the top of his ears.
"Charlie?" he asks.
"Hey," I give my favorite sibling a smile.
"Why do you have braces again?" He narrows his eyes, as he stares at the shiny metal on my teeth.
"Because dad's genes suck, E." I push past him, and set my stuff on the floor as soon as I find the empty space. Our living room is a square box, that barely fits a tv set and beat-up couches; but everyone still tries to dump all kinds of junk on the floor and coffee table. Elliot closes the door behind me. "Also, I lost my retainer."
"I guess that makes you a nerd like me now," he points a thumb at the set of thick glasses rested on his small nose. Elliot is only ten, but he's already learning high school algebra.
"I never stopped being a nerd to begin with." I start to climb the stairs in the hall, with Elliot on my heels.
"I agree," a masculine voice responds from the top of the stairs. A tall figure is leaning against the back wall, and when I make out his tousled hair, I recognize my other brother.
"Beck, I see you still like to lurk in the shadows."
"It's called brooding," he says, as he detaches himself from the wall.
YOU ARE READING
The Last Wild Flower
General Fiction"If this is a garden, does that make me a flower?" "Charlie, you're the only flower in a garden full of snakes." ~~~~~~~ Perfect student Charlie has her entire life planned out, and in it, there is no time to party or find love. But everything blows...
