As soon as Mike drove away I walked back into the house. Diego was suddenly no where to be found so I turned in the direction of the stairs.
My foot landed on the first step I smiled to myself and gazed to the rest of the steps waiting for me to climb.
I think the stairs hate me or something so I'm always usually careful when climbing one.
I fell down this same set of stairs twice when I was in highschool. The first time I was running away from Drake and the second I was crying about something a boy did.
Don't ask what happened
Funnily both of those times I always broke or sprained something.
"You need help?" Diego asks looking up at me from the side of the stairs.
In my thinking haze I notice that I only managed to climb four steps.
"Nah I'm fine" I reply going back to my task.
Diego nods wordlessly and watches me.
After a few seconds of silence he says "I'm going out for a while. Will you be fine?"
I'm not a baby and I don't need a babysitter.
The words linger at the tip of my tongue but I swallow it down along with my saliva.
"I'll be fine"
"Alright. Amelia should be back any minute"
I take the next step and the next then Diego leaves.
Few minutes later I'm in my room staring through the window at the garden Mom and Dad have invested so much in.
Their time, efforts and money.
So much greenery and beautiful flowers.
There's a swing set there meant for couples so Mom and Dad stay there most evenings smiling and sharing stolen kisses.
I close the curtains deciding it is time I take a shower because I still smell like the hospital.
I decide to have a quick warm shower instead if sinking in the bathtub.
Once the water is in the perfect temperature I let it run then I scramble out if the bathroom to get my clothes.
Once I get new clothes to wear I close the bathroom door behind me. I start to remove my current clothes and one by one I toss each of them in the laundry basket.
A breathy sigh that oozes relief slip past my lips as the water comes in contact with my skin.
I stay still for a minute enjoying the feel of the water as it flows down my skin to the floor finally disappearing into the drain.
I rake my hands through my shoulder length hair letting the water have it's way with it.
When I'm all clean and extremely wet I put off the water and hop out of the bathroom with a towel on my head.
Seated on the floor beside the legs of my dresser is the bag I took to work yesterday. Mike must have brought it up here.
I move towards the chair behind the dresser and take a seat bringing up my bag to my lap.
I dig through it and find my phone.
The screen lights up when I press the power button.
10 missed calls from Mike.
3 text messages from Mikey
3 missed calls from Amy
5 missed calls from Drake.
A missed call from Carl.
I place my phone down on the space next to a deodorant I hardly use.
I busy myself with towel drying my hair. Once it dry enough I apply coconut oil and brush through it.
Once I'm satisfied I pick up my phone and move to the decorated window seat.
I first call Amy knowing she would be worried and possibly busy.
She picks on the third ring.
"Hey Amy"
"Hi girl. I've been calling your phone. Are you okay?"
"I'm fine Amy"
She sighs when neither of us say anything.
"What happened yesterday?"
She doesn't give me a chance to answer "You promised that you will take better care of yourself"
I sighed feeling a like reprimanded kid.
"I'm disappointed Lin"
"I'm sorry" I weakly say. I can imagine her rolling her eyes as she chuckles.
"I'll be monitoring your drug and food intake so that this doesn't happen again".
What?
I already have enough people on my back for that.
"What...."
"There will be no complains from you missy"
"Aarrgh"
She laughs "How about we talk later missy? I'm kinda busy right now".
"Okay"
"Bye" she squeals in a song voice.
The line goes dead after the beep.
I scroll to Carl's contact and proceed to call him too.
I call Drake next he asks me a number of times if I'm truly fine. I manage to convince him not to come home.
The door to my room burst open the moment I drop my phone.
I stare blankly at Amelia who is now sporting a mischievous grin.
She's the last born. A very annoying one at that and you guys know how annoying this evil creatures can be.
"Hi Big sis" she smiles closing the door and throwing her school bag on my bed.
Before I can reply she already has her arms around me in a bruising hug.
"How was school today?" I ask once she released me.
"It was fine" she answers.
She shrugs off her jacket letting it fall to the floor.
She doesn't pick it up instead she walks over the crumpled mess of cloth or my dresser.
I watch as she picks up a bottle of perfume. She sniffs it and a hum of approval comes from her. I watch as she goes on to spray it all over her body.
Once she's satisfied with the results she puts the cap back on the bottle.
She turns to me and smiles widely.
In my mind I facepalm myself.
No amount of words can deter her.
"So what are you up to?" she asks coming to sit opposite me on the window seat.
I try not to choke on the excess perfume as I open my mouth to answer.
"Nothing"
She nods and looks around the room.
"Are you feeling better now?"
I nod and offer her a small smile "I'm better now"
"Let's go to my room" she suggests.
My questioning look makes her rephrase her words
"You are always cramped up in here. Let go to my room instead please"
"I'd rather stay here"
"Pretty pretty please. You know you don't really spend time with me"
Did I also mention that she was very persuasive?
"Okay fine. Just this one time"
She squeals and jumps to her feet.
She rushes to pick her bag from my bed. She almost at the door when I remember her jacket still lying on the floor.
"Your jacket" I call out.
She doesn't turn back when she opens the door she turns back to look at me.
"Please bring it with you when you are coming to my room. Give me ten minutes and then you can come. Thank you Lin"
She rushes out her words and when she's done she closes the door so loud that I press a hand to my ear.
I shake my head in her absence.
"So you're telling me you want to watch all these movies today?" I asked once I settled in her bed.
There was an array of movies scattered on her pink bed sheet along with snacks and candies.
I wasn't really allowed to take too much sugar but once I saw all the chocolate bars she picked from the pantry I couldn't resist the temptation.
"Yes" she answered oblivious to my tone of doubt.
"Tomorrow is a school day Amelia"
She shrugs and picks up a movie case.
"Do you like this one?"
I stare at her blankly.
Everyone in this this house knows I don't know anything about movies.
"Oh right. You don't watch movies"
She smiles "Not to worry. You are going to like this one"
"Whatever you say"
She puts the movie on and sits back down in the bed.
"Sebastian said to tell you hi" she says just as the movie begins.
"I have no words for that boy"
Sebastian is a boy in my sister's grade who I've been told has a crush on me and he is completely comfortable with expressing his feelings.
I find him weird though.
She laughs then hands me the popcorn bowl.
An hour and forty seven minutes later I find myself staring at the screen of the TV which is now playing the cast and crew of the movie.
Wow!
Just Wow!
"Oh my God. I loved it"
Amelia laughs and leans into my side resting her head on my shoulder.
"I knew you would"
"But wait" I suddenly speak out.
Amelia moves away slightly her gaze still on me.
"What?"
"There has to ba a part two right? I mean he just can't go on like that. She's going to come back right and her family oh poor Joey" I ramble on unaware of the stream of excitement coursing through my blood streams.
Suspense.
That's one thing I absolutely hate.
I just hate being in suspense. It's exciting yes but damn sometimes it's killing.
"Where's the part two?" I asked looking through the scattered cases on the bed.
Amelia laughs loudly like I've said something extremely funny.
"Where's the part two Amelia?" I ask once she comes back down from her high of laughter.
She eases of the bed and takes cautious steps back.
"It isn't going to be out until next year"
"What?"
She laughs looking for a way to escape as I stand from the bed to advance towards her.
We go around the room in a cat-and-mouse fashion until she opens the door leaving me to follow after her.
I chase her down the hallway amazing myself at this sudden rush of energy.
I feel hyper, happy and at peace.
It's a new sensation for me and I decide I like the feeling.
I collide with Amelia when she doesn't decide fast enough which corner to turn to.
We fall in a heap to the floor our laughter echoing off the quiet hallway.