Wow, the prologue hit off pretty good. Thanks to all that have reviewed/faved/alerted. It means a lot. Well, instead of rambling on, I'll keep going on then. Hooray for rapid updates!
Also, if this chapter reaches at least 10 reviews, I will update the next chapter within one week.
Beep! Beep! Beep! Beep!
With a groan I roll over onto my stomach, slamming the palm of my hand upon the alarm clock. My fingers don't find the "off" button right away and the wretched noise kept blaring in my tender ears. Like a fish, my hand flopped all over the alarm clock, hoping to somehow find that blasted button to end the stupid noise. My efforts were futile as the obnoxious beeping kept going.
I growled. "Shut up!" Lifting my head off the pillow, I pushed the button and instantly it stopped, but I still kept hearing the ringing in my head.
Sighing, I rubbed the heels of my palms over my eyes, wiping away the remnants of sleep. With a breath, I looked at the time to find the same thing every morning: 6 a.m. It was still a little dark outside, barely dawn, but I had gotten used to it. It was always cooler this time of day.
Lifting off the bed, I stumbled to the door and opened it, allowing myself into the hallway. It was darker than the waking world outside, but I had learned to navigate the darkness and walked across to the door in front of mine.
"Annie," I called as I let myself into the room. The ruffling of sheets and a light groan were my only answer. "Come on, get up." Fumbling against the wall, I found the light switch and flicked it on, flooding the room with bright yellow light.
Anberlin winced away from the light and turned over on her side. "No," she moaned, tossing the blankets over her head.
I sighed. Anberlin was always the most difficult to get up in the morning; ever day was a battle. "Come on, get up." Grasping the blanket, I pulled it off her, watching as she struggled to keep herself in bed. "School's gonna start soon."
She turned over to face me, eyes squeezed together from the brightness of the light. "It's six in the morning," she pointed out, "school doesn't start for another hour."
"And by the time you're finished getting ready you'll have fifteen minutes," I shot back in a calm voice. We had had this battle before and each time she lost. "Come on, you need to take Alyssa with you and you two can't be late." I gave a small smile as she tumbled from the bed, almost zombie-like, and placed her feet on the floor. "Thank you."
Leaving the room, I traveled further down the hall towards the master bedroom, stopping just outside the door. I always got queazy whenever I approached this room. It had been my mother's and Dad's and I had always treated it as holy ground that shouldn't be trespassed on. This happened every morning and like all of the previous mornings, I had to find the courage to open the door.
Drawing in a breath, I reached for the handle and turned it.
"Alyssa?"
The bed was made and ready, as if no one had slept in it at all. Turning further into the room, I noticed the light in the bathroom was on and ventured further in. I smiled upon seeing Alyssa making up her hair in front of the mirror, trying to tie it back in a black ribbon.
I chuckled, leaning against the doorway, arms crossed. "Need help?" I offered.
"No, I got it," she insisted. With small fingers she struggled to pull the hair up into the ribbon. She lost her grip on the shiny black strip and her blonde strands fell down in a cascaded of gold. She pouted, throwing the ribbon down in frustrated protest.
"Here." Walking up behind her, I took the brush and ribbon in my hands, combing back her hair into my palm. Alyssa's hair was always soft, like rabbit's fur. The brush lifted out any tangles that could be found (there were none) and the hair dropped in a long waterfall down Alyssa's back. Taking up the ribbon, I curled it beneath her hair, right at the base of her skull, and pulled both ends up before tying the ribbon together. After a once over in the mirror, I placed my hands on her shoulders. "Okay, you're done."
She turned back to me with a bright smile, blue eyes shining. "Thanks." Hopping off the stool, she proceeded to walk towards the kitchen to get breakfast, like she normally did every morning. For being only four, she was pretty self-sufficient.
I watched her leave, shaking my head and smirking. It was amazing how she could stand to have so much energy early in the morning while Anberlin and I were still dead tired. It just went to show that even with so many things missing from our lives, there was still cause to be joyful.
Turning off the bathroom light, I exited the room, closing the door on my way out. I would never go into the room again until the next morning, when the cycle would start all over again.
Entering my room, I gathered up my work uniform from a small pile on a nearby chair. In addition to other clothes, I would wear that uniform for the majority of the day until I had to change into regular clothes and go to my second job. I hated changing clothes so much (one outfit for the whole day would do just fine) but I didn't have a choice.
Turning out of my room, I walked out into the hallway and headed towards the shared bathroom at the end of the hall. I always made a point to keep my steps quick since Anberlin and I liked to shower in the morning and would often race to see who would get there first. For two weeks in a row, she had beaten me and use up all the hot water, but today I would get my chance at a nice hot shower. I was no less than two feet away from it, my fingers barely grazing over the knob, when a blur whizzed past me and flung open the door.
"Beat ya!" Anberlin called as she slammed the door in my face, promptly locking it.
The color drained from my face and irritation flared up in my body. "This isn't fair, Annie!" I howled, pounding my fist against the door. "I have to go to work!"
"And I have to go to school," she shot back. "Just go use Mom and Dad's bathroom. It's always free."
I recoiled and shrunk away from the door. I never told anyone how I felt about going into that room and I wasn't going to start now. I decided to try harder to get my shower. "You know the water doesn't work when used at the same time," I argued weakly. It was a total lie, but real enough to be legit. "I'm giving you ten minutes and if you're not out I'm shutting off the water."
She snorted. "You're bluffing." The water turned on.
"Am I?" Turning on my heel, I passed Alyssa in the kitchen and headed straight for the garage. In the corner of the garage was a box that housed all of the switches for the water, gas, electricity and the like. It came in very hand in times like this. Pulling open the box, I located the strip of tape labeled "water" next to the switch. I grinned. "This ought to fix her wagon." With that, the switch flicked off.
The water heater in the garage groaned before clamping and shutting off. Promptly, a cry rocked through the house.
"NATSUKI!"
I couldn't help but smile.
The garage door opened in a flourish and there stood Anberlin, wrapped in a towel, drenched, and fuming. She glared at me a moment, a tight frown on her lips, but it did nothing to faze me. I had gotten used to her teenage attitude long ago.
"Fine, ten minutes," she grumbled. "Just turn on the water. I'm freezing." Se disappeared back into the house, racing to the bathroom.
I couldn't help but laugh. That was the maddest I had ever seen her over a petty thing and it was very amusing, just what I needed to start my day on a high note. I didn't like being cruel to my sister, but sometimes she needed to be reminded of just who it was that paid the bills in the house.
Flicking on the water again, the water heater gave another angry hiss before settling into its routine gurgles. closing the box, I headed back inside to wait by the bathroom door, counting down the minutes so that Anberlin wouldn't over and I had to turn off the water again. However, she seemed to have learned to her lesson rather quickly and like clockwork, after ten minutes she emerged with a sour look on her face.
"All yours," she grumbled, sulking past me on her way back to the room, promptly slamming the door.
"Thank you," I called back. Gathering up my uniform again, I went into the bathroom.
It was cleansed with a wall of warm steam from ceiling to floor, drenching me in one go. Water drops dripped from the ceiling and onto my head, reminding me of one of those wet saunas I sometimes say advertised on TV. The humidity hit me first and I struggled to take in a decent breath of air.
Closing the door behind me, I left it open a crack to allow the steam to escape so that the air would be more breathable. Shedding my clothes, I stepped into the shower and closed my eyes, allowing the hot water to rush down me and wipe away the previous day away from me. I loved this time of day, when I would be alone in this shower of warmth. It always comforted me.
While in my warm trance, I didn't notice the door opening and a figure slipping into the bathroom. I failed to pay attention and in one swift moment, I heard a giggle then the swirl of the toilet being flushed. Instantly, y eyes snapped open and I tried to get out of the shower as fast as I could, but it was too late. The water in the shower raised by several degrees and seared my back, causing me to cry out in pain.
Anberlin ran out of the bathroom, laughing.
Pressed against the farthest end of the shower, I cringed at the redness on my back. That was a terrible trick and I vowed that I would get her back: no more hot showers for her.
With my shower ruined, I washed quickly and turned off the water. Throwing on my uniform, I gave my hair a quick blow dry and pulled it back into a ponytail to keep it off my neck. Quickly brushing my teeth, I left the bathroom to get a quick bite to eat.
Anberlin and Alyssa were at the table, getting the final touches for school. Alyssa had already finished her breakfast and was washing her dishes in the sink while Anberlin was settling down to buttering a slice toast. She grinned upon seeing me. I could only glare.
"Hey, Natsuki. Have a nice shower?" Her tone was mocking.
"You're gonna get yours," I called back, making my way into the kitchen. "Mark my words, Annie, you're gonna get yours."
She snorted and bit into her toast, wiping crumbs from her lips. "Yeah right. Keep wishing."
Rolling my eyes, I turned away from her. She would get her just reward sooner or later, I would just need to find the right opportunity.
There was nothing in the fridge of interest, just what we had managed to not go through in the previous days. I reminded myself that I would need to go food shopping soon, but decided to put it off another day. There would be time for that later. Picking out a small pack of yogurt and some cheese, I leaned against the counter and enjoyed the rest of the morning before things started to take off. When life is busy, I can't help but enjoy the simple things.
"Do either of you have any tests coming up?" I asked. I always emphasized a good education and since I didn't go to college, I wanted to give them the greatest opportunity they could get.
"I have a spelling test," Alyssa said. She put her dishes in the drainer where we kept most of the dishes we washed until further use. We never did utilize the cabinets much. "It's really hard."
"Did you study?" I asked, munching on a cheese cube.
She nodded. "I tried to . . . but some are still a little hard." She looked up at me with her bold blue eyes. "How do you spell cat?"
I smiled. It was an easy word in my mind, but to a kindergardener it must have been a hard word. "Just do the best you can and if you still don't get it, we'll go over it when I get home." I turned my gaze to Anberlin, a frown on my face. "And what about you?"
She didn't pay any attention to me and I knew something was up. Avoiding eye contact was the worst thing she could have done.
"Anberlin?" I asked.
"What?" she replied with an attitude that screamed "get off my back".
"Do you have any tests today?" I repeated.
She huffed and rolled her eyes, a sure sign that she indeed had something but was refusing to tell me. "Maybe a math test," she finally said.
"And are you ready for it?" Anberlin had always had a bad relationship with math. Ever since she had started algebra in junior high she hadn't gotten anything more than a B.
"As ready as I'll ever be." She removed herself form the table and gathered up her bag slung on the back of the chair. It always concerned me how that bag was always nearly empty. "Alyssa, come on. Let's go."
"Have a good day, alright?" I called as they went towards the door. "Mai might be coming over to watch you two while I work tonight."
"Got it," Anberlin called back as she closed the door.
All of a sudden there I was, alone in the house just like I had been multiple times. I used to like being alone, but now . . . I don't know. To have no one talk or to even have a sound save for the soft munching of a cheese cube, it unnerved me. I finally had a glimpse into what isolation was like.
With a sigh I tossed the empty yogurt cup into the trash and dusted my hands free of cheese residue. Even though it was still early, I could go to work and in any case traffic might take up some of the time. Grabbing my house keys, I traveled into the garage and pulled out my bike. Since I didn't own a car and bus fare was a little expensive, I had to get a bike to get me places. It had its benefits though: it kept me in shape and I didn't have to pay for gas. The only downside was when I would get a flat tire or the chain would need cleaning. Bringing it into the house, I parked it by the door while I ran to get a bag with clothes for my second job. Slinging it onto my back, I opened the door and walked the bike outside. Locking up, I mounted the bike and pedaled off down the street.
Another day had begun.
The morning was as crisp as always with the sign peeking over the many buildings lining the streets and a fresh coating of dew on the sidewalk and windowpanes of the homes. I always liked riding to work so early in the morning, it made me feel so fresh, so alive.
The streets were swollen with people on their way to work or otherwise. Some were dressed in business suits while others were wrapped in plain clothes like myself. Each was doing a different activity like talking on the phone, listening to music, or just focused on their destination. It always irked me to see people talking on their phones while walking because they're not focused on anything else. So when people on bikes, like me, come their way they don't see us and get run over.
I stopped with a group of people at a crosswalk and steadied the bike until the light changed. I had always been claustrophobic and never liked really large crowds so close together. It makes me feel small and like I can't breathe, like I'm suffocating. So when the light finally changed, I couldn't pedal fast enough.
My first job was a popular coffee shop right at the center of town and with it being so popular, there was never a slow day. I was put on the morning shift which was always the busiest since everyone needed their morning coffee rush. Parking my bike into the bike rack, I chained it up before dashing into the shop.
The moment I stepped in, the shop was already in full swing. People were lined up to the door and the coffee was bubbling in the pots, the aroma warming my nose. The people behind the counter were rushing around trying to fulfill all orders before the customer got angry. In such a lucrative business, customer dissatisfaction was a big no.
Mai caught a glimpse of me from behind the counter. "Natsuki! Hurry up, we need your help."
"On my way." Pushing past the line of customers, I race towards the door that read "employees only" and disappeared behind it. Ending up behind the counter, I set my bag down in a safe place and immediately jumped into the fray. I had had this job for nearly two years so I knew how everything worked. Having worked in the same place so long, I got to know some of the regulars and what they ordered so as soon as I saw them come through the door, I already had their order brewing.
The morning rush lasted right up until midmorning when the pace began to slow to maybe three or four per half hour, which gave us just enough time to relax and ease into a pace. After handing one customer their order, I rested against the counter and looked at Mai, sighing. "What a morning."
"You're not kidding," Mai replied with a sigh of her own. She wiped her brow with the back of her hand. "I think this was one of the busier days. Glad you could make it on time."
"It wouldn't be very good if I didn't come on time. I need the money."
Mai frowned. She knew of my history and how tight finances were and always offered to help, but my pride would never let her which didn't make sense. If I had let her help out with money then maybe I could sleep easier at night.
"Are you sure I can't give you something to help pay the bills?" she asked. "Aren't you behind?"
"No," I instantly replied. "Everything's fine, I'm handling it." Truth be told I was running a little behind on gas and electricity and with all money being poured into that, that didn't leave much for water and food. And with Alyssa and Anberlin being in school and constantly needing supplies, it didn't help much either. Still, I put on a brave face. "Thanks for the concern though."
She sighed. Her heart was in the right place but my stubbornness always won out. "Alright, but if there's anything you need just ask. I'm always ready to help."
"Actually, could you watch Alyssa and Anberlin tonight?" I asked. "I need to work a shift at my second job and I won't be home until late." Even though Anberlin was old enough to look after herself and Alyssa, I didn't like them being alone for so long in the house.
Mai brightened. "Sure, I'll bring Takumi over and make some dinner. It's been a while since they've had my cooking and I'm sure they would like a nice hot meal."
I smiled. Mai was always such a good character and always there when I needed her. Alyssa and Anberlin always enjoyed her meals and they liked having the company of Mai's brother, Takumi. He was a good artist and would enjoy having him draw things for them.
"Thanks Mai, I owe you."
I tightened my ponytail to get ready to take on the next wave of customers.
"Anytime, Natsuki."
At around three in the afternoon, I booked out of my uniform and into some plain clothes to get to my second job. My shift started at four and since it was a little bit away, I needed to make good time.
Unchaining my bike, I jumped on and sped off. Pedaling was always the hardest thing to do and by the time I reached the first crosswalk my legs were burning. People were almost all the way across the street and the light was about to change but I told myself I would make it. Pumping my legs faster, I raced towards the crosswalk and was about to make it over to the other side when the light suddenly changed on me.
What happened next was a blur. All I could recall was the honk of a car horn, people yelling and a flash of yellow. The next thing I knew I was hit in the side with what felt like a sledgehammer and fell to the ground, hard. I was in a daze, but came to my senses not long after that. Sitting up, I pulled myself out from under a taxicab and cradled my head. A line of blood dripped from my forehead and scrapes lined my elbows and knees. I groaned.
Bystanders as well as the driver came over to check on me, helping me up and insisting I go to the hospital. I couldn't comprehend what they were saying, still in a daze and shock. I couldn't believe it; I got run over by a car. I was lucky I wasn't dead.
"Where's my bike?" I asked, looking around. "Where's my bike?" I spotted it not too far away . . . but I wasn't sure it was a bike anymore. The metal was twisted and crumpled like a pretzel and one of the wheels had completely popped off. The handlebars had been ripped apart and the chain had broken. There would be no way I would ever use it again.
I swore, now I was going to be late.
"Crap!" Breaking past the lines of people, I raced as fast as i could down the street. It was a little difficult seeing as how I had so many scrapes and cuts and I had twisted my ankle, but I wouldn't let anything hold me back. Getting to this job was my best priority.
"You need to get to a hospital!" I heard people say behind me, but I ignored them. They didn't understand that I needed to get to work (not to mention I couldn't afford a hospital).
With my injuries and the distance, I made it to work an hour and a half late. As soon as I walked into the store I knew I was in trouble. I had been late before because of family emergencies with Alyssa and Anberlin and had been warned that the next time I was late I would be fired . . . well that was this time.
Immediately I was called into the manager's office and the manager, an empty shell of a man, wouldn't take any excuses. Even with all of the injuries to prove it, he claimed he had seen his fair share of fake injury make up and wouldn't be falling for any of my tricks. I tried to explain (rather angrily) that this wasn't a trick and that I had been hit by a car, but he wouldn't hear any of it.
I was fired.
Never before had I felt so devastated and I stormed out, feeling worse than any physical injury could make me feel.
Since I didn't have anywhere else to go, I walked back home. The normally half hour trip by bike took me an hour and a half by foot and with my injuries it slowed me even more. While walking all I could think about was how to get more money. The one job wasn't enough and with the other one I had it was barely making ends meet. Now that I only had that one job left, I wouldn't be able to make payments and that would put Alyssa, Anberlin and me in an even worse situation.
We could potentially lose the house and have nowhere to go. I could lose my sisters to foster care, since they were underaged and I wouldn't know what to do then. I would be a failure to Dad for not being able to take care of them when I promised I would and it would prove to my mother what she thought I was: a failure. I stopped by a crosswalk, hands in my pockets as I sulked. I could lose everything.
"No," I muttered shaking my head. I was only psyching myself out with possibilities of what could happen. The game still wasn't over yet and I could still look for more work . . . I just needed to look in the right places. I could still make Dad proud of me, n matter what it took.
The last stretch of sidewalk home was even slower than the whole trip. I didn't want to worry my sisters about the job situation, so I spent time perfecting my poker face. I had to be brave for them, I had to reassure them that nothing was lost yet.
Putting the key in the door, I opened it up and was instantly met with the scent of Mai's cooking, and from the smell of it it was spaghetti. My mouth watered and I couldn't shut the door fast enough before I got in. "I'm home."
The whole party looked up.
"Natsuki, you're home early," Mai said as she finished tasting a bit of spaghetti sauce. "I thought you'd be home late."
"Well turns out the shop didn't need my help today." When I stepped into the kitchen there was an immediate uproar.
"What happened to you?" Mai came over with a wet rag and pressed it to the dried blood on my forehead. Even Anberlin and Alyssa seemed concerned. "And where's your bike?"
I cursed. I should have had enough sense to try to clean myself up before I came in the house. I sighed. "I was hit by a taxi on my way to the second job. It totaled my bike."
"Are you okay?" Mai asked again. "Is anything broken?"
"Yeah I'm fine," I waved. "Just a few scrapes." I enjoyed all of the attention, I hadn't been the center of attention for a long time and I soaked it in like a sponge.
Mai wasn't convinced, but the way she looked at me said that she wasn't overly concerned. I was alive and had walked all the way home, so that meant I was okay. "Alright, go wash up and dinner will be ready soon."
I couldn't help but smirk. Mai acted like such a mother sometimes, but I didn't mind. There were even times I wished she was my mother, as odd as that sounds. "Yes, ma'am." Before she could make a comment about that, I dashed off to the shower.
After washing the blood away and putting on a fresh pair of clothes, I came back out just as dinner was being served. We all had healthy portions and I was glad that Mai knew how to cook so well. I really needed a good meal after a long and disappointing day. With all of us sitting down at the table, we dug in and spilled the events of the day. I kept mine at a bare minimum, coming up with details if needed be. I was still determined to keep my firing a secret.
"Natsuki! Guess what? I spelled 'cat' right!" Alyssa beamed.
I couldn't help but smile. "Good job. See, I knew you could do it." It was just the news I needed. I then looked to Anberlin who ate her meal quietly. "And what about you?"
"I don't get the score back for a couple days," she replied, taking a swig of water. "I'll let you know." She then faded out after that but automatically I knew she didn't do too well.
"Alright." Munching down on my food, I thought more about how I was going to make more money and finding another job . . . and another bike. I couldn't afford another so I would have to walk or run to make better time. Still, despite my anxieties, I couldn't focus on that right now. All I could think about was spending time with my family and friends and soaking in the peace and . . . normality of the moment. This was just the kind of relaxation I needed.
Once dinner was done, Mai and I packed up the leftovers for the next day's dinner. Alyssa was watching Takumi draw and Anberlin got busy with what was left of her homework. While Mai and I cleaned up the kitchen I took that as the perfect opportunity to talk with her.
"Truth be told, Mai," I whispered, "I got fired from my job."
She whirled on me, but kept her voice low. "What? Why?"
"I showed up late again, so I was fired." I sighed and ran a hand through my hair. "I don't know what I'm going to do . . . I was hardly making ends meet as it was." My eyes drifted to a calendar on the wall and I groaned. "And I have a court date tomorrow. I completely forgot!"
Mai frowned and seemed to think something over before reaching into her shirt, right between her breasts, and pulling out a couple of bills. She handed them to me. "Here."
I shook my head. "No. You know I don't accept handouts." Though I was really tempted to take the money. There must have been a hundred dollars there!
"Just take it," she whispered stubbornly. "It'll help make it through the week until you find another job and help pay for a lawyer. And I'll come over and cook to give you guys food." She smiled warmly. "You're not going to drown, Natsuki. I won't let you."
I didn't know how else to thank her. I don't know what I would have done without Mai in my life . . . she was only one of a few things in my life I was thankful for.
"Thank you. I don't know who else to repay you."
She smiled. "Anytime Natsuki. Just keep yourself out of trouble, that's all you can do to repay me."
Another chapter! Yeah!
Thank you all to who have commented/alerted/faved. I didn't think it would take off so good. Your support means a lot to me. Thank you.
Important info:
Natsuki: 21
Anberlin: 16
Alyssa: 4
I did math calculations from the last chapter so that I could be accurate because I'm a stickler for accuracies and details!
This chapter was meant to be a sort of outline as to what daily life is like for Natsuki, Annie, and Alyssa now that they're on their own. As you can see, it's a little hard and of course Mai's there to help out. She's such a good friend!
Oh! What's this? A court date? Get ready for some drama and a first-encounter with a very lovely lady. Fate is about to be changed!
Chapter Theme: Struggle No More by Anthony Hamilton
Ooh I'm Ooh I'm (sick and tired sick and tired) Ooh I'm
Ooh I'm Ooh I'm (sick and tired sick and tired) Ooh I'm
Ooh I'm Ooh I'm (sick and tired sick and tired) Ooh I'm
Ooh I'm Ooh I'm (sick and tired sick and tired) Ooh I'm
Well...
Lately It's been hard times
I'm talking about them
Financial sides
(It's rough out here, son)
And they say when it rains it pours
Well it's flooded at my door
If it ain't one thang (one thang) it's another
And I'm so glad that we got each other
I'm so sick and tired of being stressed out
Lord please, Lord please help me from this mess I'm in
Lord lift me over the hurt and pain
Deliver me from the rain
See I don't wanna stress over stress no more
I don't wanna strug-gle no more
So lift me up over the hurt and pain
Deliver me from the rain
See I don't wanna stress over stress no more
I don't wanna strug-gle no more
Every day and every night I pray
Lord help me find a way (help me find my way)
To stay strong
And to keep my sanity
So I can provide for myself
And for my family
I'm so glad they believe in me cause the love it gives me energy (see the love gives me energy)
And with out them I couldn't make it no way
So I'ma keep pressing on on and on, on and on
Lord lift me over the hurt and pain
Deliver me from the rain
See I don't wanna stress over stress no more
I don't wanna struggle no more
So lift me up over the hurt and pain
Deliver me from the rain
See I don't wanna stress over stress no more
I don't wanna struggle no more
I wanna see my family
Get what they want have what they need
(I want a scene with the finer things like the drop and the watches reminding me)
I don't wanna strug-struggle no more
I don't wanna live out here broke
(Stay on the scene with the finer things, like the spot that I got that's reminding me)
Lord lift me over the hurt and pain
Deliver me from the rain
See I don't wanna stress over stress no more
I don't wanna struggle no more
So lift me up over the hurt and pain
Deliver me from the rain
See I don't wanna stress over stress no more
I don't wanna struggle no more
No more(3x)
No more(3x)
No more(3x) (I wanna give my kids the best, I shouldn't have to settle)
No more no more no more (nooooooooo)
