Sprinkles

Chapter 2. Cup Noodles For Dinner

Hey hey! It's finals week and I'm dying because physics. Yeah, that sentence ends there: physics. Btw you'll read later on, but insert a fountain to the front of the house in the banner, use your imagination. I probably won't be able to post for the next two weeks or so. Hope you enjoy the chapter!!!! :)

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I woke up the next morning to a loud thump. My eyes flashed open and I sat up. The first thing that hit me was the pungent scent of stale saltwater. My hair was matted and I was still wearing my clothes from yesterday, bikini and all. I hadn't showered, and I realized the seawater smell was coming from me.

I got up and took a quick shower, and wore a pair of sweatpants and a black tank top. After I brushed it, I tied my hair up into a messy bun and padded down the stairs. I got downstairs to find a couple of suitcases and cardboard boxes in front of the door.

"Yes, over there." I heard my dad's voice. I went into the kitchen only to see two burly guys carrying out dining room table and chairs out. They shuffled past me with grumbles of 'scuse us' and I rushed into the kitchen.

"What's going on?" I said.

"Piper, honey...we have to leave by tomorrow at least. If we could get out today it would be better. They need me at work as soon as possible." My dad stated. My mom was nowhere to be found.

"What?! This is ridiculous! Can someone pinch me or something?!" I screamed. James came up behind me and pinched my sides. I jumped and slapped his arms. "James!"

He laughed and ruffled my hair, making my bun messier. "Need help packing?" He asked. I looked around the house, noticing immediately that all of our furniture was gone. The house seemed bigger and I felt like a crushed ant.

"No." I trudged upstairs and called Marnie and Jesse, two people who could definitely make me feel okay again.

...

"This is absurd!" Jesse said, flipping her long black hair over her shoulder, putting my black lava lamp in a box.

"I know!" Marnie was folding my clothes and filling the third suitcase, my closet nearly empty.

"Right?" I shoved a fluffy pillow in another box.

"Have you seen the house, at least?" Jesse said.

"Nope. All I know is that it's been owned by my family for generations, and that my dad inherited it. He told me there's an inscription out front that says 'The Delaine Family' so I guess it must be pretty old." I told them.

"What if it's like totally run down and there's no running water? Oh my god!" Jesse exclaimed.

"Jesse!" I grumbled. "Don't make it worse!"

Marnie laughed. "I doubt it. Wasn't your grandpa pretty loaded? He bought you a lot of presents all the time."

"I don't really know. He didn't visit much the last few years because he was sick. And my memories of him are vague from when I was small."

Our conversations drifted off as Marnie opened up some music and we packed in silence. It was about 7:30 when my room was a ghost town.

The moving guys had dissembled my bed and armoire, and taken them away. My closet was empty, all my clothes were in suitcases, big and small. I had peeled off years of posters and pictures off of my walls and put them in boxes. My room was empty. Lifeless.

Jesse, Marnie, and I stood back and analyzed our work. We stood in silence and Marnie sniffled.

"I guess we should get going." She mumbled. The three of us hugged fiercely.