The annoying, earpiercing noise of my alarm was the very first thing I heard.
The next thing was a loud thud of a body coming in contact with the floor.
"Oww.....damn floor"
"Reign, come down if you're up!"
"I'm coming!"
Getting up from the floor, I grumbled a complaint at the hard ground.
I made my way down the stairs. Still rubbing my head, trying to get rid of the bloody headache that accumulated thanks to my collision with my bedroom rug.
Yeah, I hate you too floor!
"Morning"
I greeted not so enthusiastically at my mother who stood at the stove.
"Morning"
She didn't turn away from what she was....trying to cook.
Was something burning?
"Uhm... I'll get breakfast done in a minute. Just...just give me a second."
I gave her an extra five minutes to get her bearings straight, but then lost my patience with her and walked to the stove.
I looked inside the pan that sat idly on the stove pot. I had not expected to see what I saw.
Did she really burn oil?!
"Okay, thanks mum but I think I'll take it from here."
I pushed her aside and started to make a proper breakfast...you know with food!
Cracking open a dozen eggs, I placed them in a bowl and mixed them with rosemary and a little of sliced peppers.
Next was the bacon, I sliced them into tiny bits and placed them in the pan after adding a little bit of oil.
Taking a different pan I spread margarine onto it. Letting the butter melt into a golden liquid over the surface of the pan.
Once that was done I poured the mixed contents onto the pan, leaving it to sizzle.
I swiveled the bacon bits a little. Toasted a few slices of bread, spread butter on them and left the toast on a plate, sliced diagonally into triangle pieces.
Seeing the egg omelet sizzle I flipped it over to the other side. After a minute I took it out and placed it onto a plate.
Cut it into half and rolled the pieces up. I placed the two plates on the table where my mother was watching the entire thing go down.
"And voala, bon appetit "
"Wow"
I sat across her and started to chow down on my food. I watched as my mother took a bite on her side. Her eyes widened as she hummed in delight.
"Wow Reign, I had no idea you could cook! This is amazing"
I laughed at her childlike enthusiasm, anyone could make an omelet and toast. It's like the first thing I learned to make.
"It's nothing much."
"What? It's really good, how come I didn't know about this?"
"Well it's not like you and dad are ever around, so how could you have known."
I answered without thinking. Oh man I didn't mean it in that way. My mother's face fell from my words, her glimmer of happiness disappeared from her eyes.
"Sorry, I didn't mean..."
She gave a small, sad smile.
"It's okay. We really aren't around much are we?"
I said nothing to that. I mean what could I say? That it was cool my parents went out to business trips to get away from their only daughter?
Yeah I couldn't say something so hurtful...yet so true.
Come to think of it....why was she here? I mean I don't mind having my mom around once in a while but.....it's unusual.
The last time I ate breakfast with my mother was when I was eleven.
Feeling a bit awkward from the situation I excused myself from the table.
I placed the dirty dishes in the dishwasher and made my way to my room.
Closing my door with a bang, I went to my walk in closet, picked out today's outfit and made my way to the shower.
After a good scrub down and dressed in clean, comfortable clothes I took my phone and dialled the first contact number that appeared.
"Hey cuz, mind if I come visit?"
"Oh hey Reign, Nah you can come over, but I got some friends coming over later. Do ya mind?"
"Nah, it's cool. See you in a bit."
Dropping the phone I took my house keys, placed my phone into my back pocket and went out the room.
Walking past the kitchen I saw my mother on her phone seemingly in a hurry to get somewhere.... yet again.
I ignored the pang in my heart and walked out the door without saying a thing to her.
Standing on the front porch of my cousin's home I knocked on the door. A timid "come in" called out behind the closed door.
Coming inside the house I noticed the euphoric smell of a home cooked meal. Something I was not accustomed to.
I walked into the kitchen and saw a petite woman working her way around the kitchen.
Her hair was in a loose bun, a few strands of them falling out. She had the physique of a model but with curves and a nice bum. Her chocolate brown hair complimented her emerald, green eyes.
She was beautiful and very much alike to my mother. They were after all sisters.
"Hi aunt Nelz"
She turned her head to me and smiled.
"Oh dear, hello there Ray-Ray. How's my favourite girl in the whole wild world?"
She wiped her hands off on the apron around her hips and walked up to give me a hug.
"I'm good, I missed you so much you have no idea!"
She broke off the hug, and slapped my shoulder in play.
"Oh you. Always such a sweet talker aren't ya?"
I laughed as she made her way back to her cooking.
"Where's the idiot at?"
"In his room playing one of his dumb play-whatever"
"You mean PlayStation?"
She sighed and turned to me with a blank face.
"Whatever it is, it's trouble."
I laughed at her expression and slowly made my way to Chris' room.
Not bothering to knock, I swung the door open....which is a decision I will deeply regret for the rest of my life.
There stood Chris in the middle of his room, fresh outta the shower.....with no pants or towel to hide his nude.
The worst part, he was facing me while nonchalantly brushing his teeth.
I felt my cheeks furiously heat up and with lightning speed closed the door.
I waited a couple of moments and knocked this time.
"Come in"
I was wary at first, not wanting to see the horrid sight I saw ever again!
"Are you decent?"
I questioned with a wavering voice. I heard a chuckle behind the door. It swung open revealing a no-longer-naked Chris.
Sighing in relief hand on chest, I entered the room.
"Wait, you left your house cause your mom was there?"
It's been three hours since my arrival and since that little.....incident.
During that time I explained to Chris how I had breakfast and felt out of place with my own mother, in my own home.
"It's just really weird dude. I mean...yeah she's my mum and everything but like...we don't really talk or eat together or do anything a mother should do with her own child."
Chris sat there quietly listening to my ranting. He only added in his own two cents when necessary, like a good cousin should.
"I don't know man. It's like I'm living with total strangers."
Chris hummed in deep thought while I kept myself occupied with the emoji pillow I bought him for his fifteenth birthday.
"Well....why don't you try and talk with them?"
I gave him a skeptical look, making him laugh
"I mean like, make sure they don't have anything going on that day and just tell them how you feel. That you feel like they're neglecting you....or something"
I sighed and got up from my laying position on the bed. Hugging the pillow closer to my chest I sat cross legged on the large bed and looked at the blonde.
"I want to talk to them, but everytime I try they rush out of the house. If it's not that it's them not showing their faces for days, come home at night only to leave again the next morning."
Falling back onto the bed I looked up at the sticker filled ceiling. Courtesy of twelf year old Reign and Chris.
"I feel invisible to them"
Looking to my side I saw Chris give me a sad but understanding smile.
Before we could talk any further a yell called out for Chris.
"Chris, your friends are here!"
"Okay ma, be right down!"
I got up off the bed and threw the pillow down, I looked back at my cousin
"Whelp, I'll see you around."
"Yeah.....call me if you need something Kay?"
I smiled lightly at him and nodded.
Walking down the stairs I said my goodbyes to Aunt Nelz only to be attacked by a huge figure hugging the life out of me.
"Can't.....breathe!"
A deep chuckle came from the large figure
"Hey there Ray-Ray, how've you been? Haven't seen you in a while now."
Peter, my ginormous uncle greeted as he released me from the Deathtrap he calls his arms.
"I'm good uncle Pete. I guess it has been a while, hasn't it?"
He gave me a pat on the back as I promised to come visit more often.
Walking out of the kitchen I greeted Chris' friends and bid my farewell.
The Houston family were a happy bunch. Their home was big like mine but always felt warm and inviting.
A complete contrast to the cold and lonely place I called home.
I made my journey home, walking by beautiful gardens. I looked to my side and eyed the trash bins neatly stacked together on the side of driveways.
Looking up at the now purple and pink tinted sky, hands in jacket pockets, I breathed in the fresh air through my nostrils and released it through my mouth.
It was a peaceful, beautiful Sunday.
My peace and tranquility was disturbed by the honk of a car.
Startled by the sound I looked to the jerk who had the audacity to interrupt my moment of peace.
And of course it was Nicholi freaking Herricks.
How does this guy keep showing up at the worst possible moments?
"Well, funny seeing you here on such a lovely evening."
I gave him my signature death look,making him chuckle in amusement.
"Calm down kitty,no need to fight"
I ignored him and continued walking down the road.
"Let me give you a ride"
I stopped in my tracks and gave him a skeptical look.
"I promise I won't bite....much"
He smirked at me. I rolled my eyes at his comment but made my way to the car anyway.
"So where to?"
He asked as he looked at me, not yet off the side of the road.
"Home"
I deadpanned, not in any mood for his annoying act
"I don't think so"
"Wha-"
"We are going somewhere more fun. You'll absolutely love the place, trust me."
Once again I gave him a dead serious look
"I don't trust you with anything."
He laughed at my comment as he began pulling off the side of the road.
"Well you're gonna have to this time"
"Why?"
I questioned with a brow raised.
"Not like you have much of a choice now does it. Besides you need to loosen up"
I scoffed at him. Did this guy just tell me what to do?
"I don't need you telling me what I need. You don't even know me"
"Then let me know you"
Rolling my eyes I sat back on my seat and placed my elbow on the car door.
"Why? Not like you found me interesting before this whole assignment thing"
His eyes were kept on the road, one arm on the open window sill, the other firmly holding the wheel.
In all honesty, he looked really hot driving. With the wind blowing his already messy hair everywhere, the tight black shirt hugging him in all the right places. Leaving nothing to the imagination.
This fine specimen was undeniably Greek god hot.
"I've always found you interesting Reign"
His face was serious, maening he meant that. I blushed furiously and looked out the window.
That certainly shut me up.