Beep. Beep. Beep. The alarm clock seemed to get louder with each second. To avoid developing a headache from the ringing, I slammed the clock hard with my fist. It made a loud thud as it crashed onto my bedroom floor, so I knew I must of broken it. Satisfied with the new silence, I pulled the warm blankets tight around myself and let my eyes slowly close so I could drift back to sleep.
Beeeeep.. Beeeep.. I tilted my head up and to the side so I could see the ground. I guess hadn't broken it. "Damn clock," I mumbled as I whipped the blankets off me to the end of the bed. Instantly I found myself reaching down for the clock and throwing it up against the wall. It's not that I had anger issues or anything, I just needed my sleep. It was one of the only times I could let my guard down.
The clock slid down the wall to the floor, and I was positive I would not hear another sound out of it. The batteries got heaved across the floor from the hit, so unless the laws of physics were to change, I was good. Glancing away from the broken clock, I looked down at my bed. I could of tried to go back to sleep, but there was no chance of it actually happening.
Pulling my hair back and putting it up into a ponytail, I stood up and walked over towards my closet and grabbed the first thing in site. Normally, I'd put effort into my clothing choices, but since the clock thing this morning, I was in a bit of a bad mood. I had grabbed a black skirt and a red top, both of which I put on very quickly so I could head downstairs. I didn't know what time it was, I know I know, I shouldn't of broken the clock, but I had a feeling everyone else was already up. I brushed my teeth quickly as well, then followed the sound of voices into the kitchen.
At the kitchen table sat Ashley, Toby, and Toby's father. Ashley's mother was standing by the stove cooking something or another. Ashley's mom was an amazing cook. She was also an amazing homework helper, and all those other things that a mom was supposed to be good at. My mom, on the other hand, wasn't good with those things. I love my mom and all, don't get me wrong, but, she could barely take care of herself, let alone me. At least she knew what would be best for me though. Once she started relapsing, she decided it would be best if I stayed with Ashley. At first I was reluctant. Maybe if I wouldn't have stayed with Sean the first time she went through all this, she wouldn't need to go through it all again. But, should of and would of mean nothing. They're useless words. Eventually I agreed to living with the Kerwins until she got better and here I am 6 months later. Still here.
"Hey El," Ashley said to me with a smile, throwing the stack of magazines that were piled up on the seat next to her to the floor. She always looked perfect, even in the morning, and today was no exception. No strand of hair was out of place, her makeup was flawless and her clothing matched perfectly. I couldn't help but glance over myself before sitting down. My clothing looked good, but that definitely had to be luck or something, because the rest of me was an absolute mess. My hair was all over the place, and I hadn't even touched my makeup yet. I always felt so ugly without my make up on. Clearing my throat, I pulled out the chair and sat down.
"Excited about the trip?" Ashley's mom asked me as she walked towards me with a plate of pancakes and a orange juice carton. "Eat until you're full. We won't be eating lunch until late." She walked over to the cabinet and grabbed me a glass, setting it down on the table.
"Very," I said giving her a small smile. I really wasn't. We were going to spend the weekend up at a cabin 3 hours away in the middle of nowhere, where there was absolutely nothing to do. Sure, Ashley and I would find something to do, but it'll be hard to do that for 3 whole days. I gave Ashley a small smile as well, then ate my breakfast.
After breakfast was over, everyone was rushing around the house packing. I threw some clothes in my backpack along with some black eyeliner and my cd case. That was really all I needed. Within five minutes I was done packing, so I tossed my bag in the pile and sat down on the couch to watch the music video channel.
"Please Mom!" I could hear Ashley begging from the other room. I wasn't sure what it was about, but knowing Ashley, she was going to get her way. Ashley could be a drama queen sometimes, which also meant she knew how to get her way with anyone. For the course of the next ten minutes, I could hear Ashley pleading. Within another minute, her mother said, "Fine." I could see Ashley hugging her, and then running in my direction.
"Guess what," she said as she plopped down on the couch next to me. She seemed pretty excited. It was probably a small thing anyways, but I figured I'd just go along with it anyway.
"Your parents have decided to sell Toby to the circus?" I said playfully with a grin. I grabbed the remote control and turned the TV off so I could give Ashley my full attention.
"I wish," she said with a laugh and a shake of her head. "Craig's going to come with us!" she said, her smiling growing with each second. "My mom decided it would be aright as long as he slept in Toby's room."
"That's great Ash," I said, attempting to make it as sincere as I could. I followed it with a smile, and it must of looked convincing, because she ran up to her bedroom with the phone to call him. A small sigh escaped my lips. Craig was great and all, but whenever he's around, Ashley gives him all her attention. I'm not mad at her for it, after all that's how it works, but a whole weekend with them being all lovey dovey? In the middle of the woods non the less. It didn't sound too great yet.
Within twenty minutes, the doorbell rang. Since everyone was still in packing hysteria, I stood up and answered it. As expected, when the glass door swung open, there stood Craig Manning.
"Hey Ellie," he said to me as he flashed me a smile. Before I had time to respond, he walked in and threw his luggage in the pile beside mine and sat down on the couch.
Something about him seemed different. I had seen Craig a million times before, so it surprised me. His smile seemed to light up the room and he looked perfect. "Hi Craig," I said, smiling back as I shut the door and sat down beside him on the couch. He smelled good too.. I looked across the room into the mirror and it occurred to be how I terrible looked. Turning to him I laughed slightly, "I look like such a mess right now."
"Nah," he said, shaking his head in disagreement. " You look perfect." A smile appeared on his lips.
Damn smile of his. It got to me every time. I rolled my eyes, "Oh of course I do." Quickly I let down my hair to cover my blushing cheeks.
Ashley's mom walked into the room with her purse swung over her shoulder, and Ashley was right behind her. Assuming it was time to go, I stood up, and Craig did soon after. Only then did I catch the glimpse on Ashley's face. She didn't look too happy. "You two can sit back down," Ashley's mom said smiling at us. Ashley's own lips had more of a pout than a smile. " We need to run over to Toby's grandmothers for a bit. She just got home from the hospital. I'd offer to bring you but, meeting new people wouldn't be the best thing for her and-"
"That's fine," Craig said, interrupting her. A polite smile appeared. "We don't mind waiting."
I gave Craig an confused look. I didn't mind, but I was surprised he didn't as well. Ashley obviously did mind. She was still sulking. Craig always jumped at the opportunity to be with her, and once they were together it took more than the forces of the earth to pull them apart.
"Alright. Thanks for understanding kids," she said appreciatively as she headed out the door to the car which Toby and his father were already sitting in.
"I'm so sorry," Ashley said as she walked towards Craig, putting an emphasis on so. She leant down and gave him a small kiss on the lips before running out the door to the car.
Once the car had turned away, Craig turned to me. There I was, alone with him. After my realization earlier of how I felt about him, or was starting to feel, it seemed a bit awkward. "So, Miss Nash, what was that look for?" he said to me tilting his head to the side a little.
I blushed again. Look? What look? Was I staring. That'd be awful. Assuming he meant the look I gave him about not minding staying, I began to speak. "I was just surprised." I looked over to a picture of Ashley on the table then back over to him. "You and Ashley are always all over each other. I'm surprised you didn't fight to go."
"And miss some alone time with you?" he said with a smirk. He leaned back a bit and put his feet up onto the table. "Never."
I raised my eyebrows at him. Was he trying some sort of mind games? Or was I just over analyzing it all. Which ever it was, he was pretty good at it. "I see.." I swallowed a lump in my throat, and rested my head in the palm of one of my hands. "Any reason?"
"Maybe," he answered, a small laugh following. Sooner than I could notice, his hand reached across the couch and entwined with mine. I knew I should of pulled away, but I didn't. With all my heart, I didn't want to.
I glanced down at our hands clasped together, then up to him. His smile seemed even more perfect. I was speechless.