“Jazzy?...”
"...Nn.."
"Jaaaaazzzy?~"
"..Ugh…five more minutes…" I mumble as I curled up under the covers like a bug cocoon. if I stay under the blanket, she'll give up and stop bothering me.
I was proven how persistent this little eight-year-old girl was as she proceeded to yank on the sheets, enough to unveil my head. The brightness of my bedroom the window to my right blinding me. I hissed and groaned from being rudely awoken by my unusually energetic kid sister, Jocelyn. Why couldn’t she wait for meto wake up on my own? I reluctantly sat up and wiped the tiredness from my eyes only to see a phone screen inches from my face.
“What the-?” I wasn’t expected to be woken up because of a text.
“Look, Sissy!” Jocelyn excitedly pointed at the screen on the phone. My phone.
“One, Jocelyn, why do you have my phone without my permission? And two, can this wait?"
"Nooooo, cuz it's already past noon. And this text is from your friend. I think his name is Jeff."
"What? He is NOT my friend, Jocelyn."
"Oh yeah?Then why does he ask if you want to hang out at his place? And his mom is baking those yummy muffins. No fair! I wanna go too!"
" Huh, muffins?? Let me see that."
I took the phone from Jocelyn. Clear as day, there's a text from Jeff.
Jeff: Hi Jazz, wanna hang today? My mom is making muffins.
I didn't like the fact that Jocelyn texted me in the chat.
Jazz: If my little sis can tag along, sure.
If I wasn't half asleep earlier, I'm wide awake now.
"Jocelyn! Don't text someone like you're someone else. And don't text anyone on my phone, period!"
"Eep," Jocelyn squeals. "But Jazzy, I wanna go too since he’s offering to share those muffins with you. Plus those muffins are really good."
I sigh. I know this girl doesn't really understand what she did wrong and just wants some of Mrs. Dellwill's muffins. Not going to lie, those muffins are good. Real good.
"Come on, Jazzy. Please? Can I go too?" Jocelyn tilts her head down and looks up at me, acting all sad and trying to win my invitation to join me to Jeff's place. Pfft as if. Not happening.
"Joce, no."
"Awwww, why not??" She whines.
"Cuz I said so. Plus I'm not going."
"Huh? But the muffins?”
“You don’t need those muffins. You’re not going if I’m not going and that is final. Now get.” I lay back down in bed and turn over.
I could hear her making a fuss about it which I easily ignored. Then I could hear her moving around and heading to the door.
“Oh! Mama said get out of bed and don’t sleep your whole day away! And get your clothes from the dry-!!” She quickly slammed the door and ran off when I threw my pillow at her .
Ugh…she irks my soul I thought to myself, grunting as I moved out of bed as slow as a sloth.
I can’t believe I slept until noon. Again. A habit of mine everytime I am off from school and extra activities. Today should be no exception since I have to go back to school after a few months of summer vacation. Some folks would make the most of this day to go to the mall, watch a movie, go to the beach, and most importantly hang out with friends. Tch. “friends” is something that everyone wants or desires to have at my age. However I am not like everyone else and rather enjoyed my own company. To those that say it's sad and lonely, it isn’t for me. Especially since you’ll get yourself hurt by others if you get too close to them.
Heading downstairs I walk past the kitchen to the laundry room. I see a black laundry basket set on top of the dryer. I take all my clothes out and place them in the basket. Heading over and passing the kitchen, I notice that Ma was awake and talking to Jocelyn about something. I’m standing in the doorway when Ma noticed me.
“Good evening, my chile. You’re finally awake.”
“Hi ma.” I said, passing through before she said something that caught me off guard.
“Jocelyn told me Jeff invited you to come over to hang out. Why don’t you wanna go?”
“!!” Why that lil-
“I wasn’t interested, ma.”
“But his mother has made some muffins. I thought you really liked them.”
“I do, ma.”
“Then why not go? You have nothing else better to do beside staying in your room all day. Have some fun on your last day of summer, chile.”
“Come on Ma-”
“No excuses. And take Jocelyn with you.”
“ What?-”
“Yaaay! Muffins, here I come!” Jocelyn cheered.
“Also, you didn’t eat breakfast this morning either. So it would benefit you going.”
“But I’m not even hungry th-” My stomach betrays me by growling from hunger.
“Mh mhm. Thought so.” Mom nods. “Jocelyn, get ready to head over to Mrs. and Mr. Dellwill’s home.”
“Ok mama!” Jocelyn happily skips past me to go upstairs to get ready. I swear I saw her make a smug look on that little face. That brat.
“Sweetie, what is the matter? Don’t you want to go to your friend’s house?”
“He's not my friend, ma.”
“Oh? It doesn’t seem like that to me.” She drys her hands with a towel before heading over to me.
“It seems like this Jeff boy wants to be your friend. But you keep pushing away..”
“...” How…How Ma so good at reading me? Does every mom have some kind of hidden sixth sense power?
“Mi hija,” she gently cups my right cheek, causing me to look up at her. I can confirm that I got most of my looks from ma. We both have the same face. The only difference is our skin tone. Mine skin is more dark red with an orange tinge and Ma’s is a dark brown.
“I know you are afraid of getting hurt again. But trust me, there are good people in this world and I can tell Jeff is a good person. Give him a chance.”
I was quiet for a moment before I spoke.
“Ma, you don’t have to worry so much about me. I am not who I used to be. I am strong so I will be alright.”
I did my best attempt at a fake smile to reassure her that I’m really fine. I think it was effective because she plants a kiss on my forehead and lets go of my cheek.
“Ok, my chile. Enjoy yourself at Jeff's place. But not too much. I’m too young to be a grandma.”
“Eew! Gross, it's not like that.”
“There is such a thing as a friend with benefits.”
“Mama!” I almost lost my appetite while Ma got a kick out of my reaction.
I slip on a tan crop top hoodie with high-waisted jeans. Putting my hair in a ponytail,I walked out of my room. One of the rules of this new house is to cover yourself before leaving your room. Especially since Ma let a guy named “Greg” into this household. It’s annoying to do so cuz of a man that is not Danta or Papa. Greg is not even worth anyone's time. I hope Ma dumps that preppy and uncultured ass dude soon.
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