When I wake up I feel a small weight on my feet as one of my arms hangs off the bed and the other, across my face.
I move so I can see what's on my feet. Sarah lays sleeping peacefully at my feet. Her head lays on her paws on my shins while the rest of her covers my feet.
"Come on," I say quietly as I move Sarah. She yawns adorably before as she stretches and I stand up and do the same.
Sarah follows me to the bathroom where I quickly shower and throw on jeans and my "Death By Rock N Roll" t-shirt before brushing my teeth.
We go into the kitchen where Dad and Olivia are cooking. Bree sits at the bar as they all laugh.
"Morning," I fill Sarah's food and water before sitting on the stool next to where Bree is.
"Hey, Bree and I are going to be looking for a place later. We can drop you off at school and pick you up later if you want," Olivia offers.
"You don't have to drive that far just to drive back and forth," I shake my head as she flips bacon on a pan.
"Oh, we're going to town either way," Bree states.
"Yeah, I'm gonna show Bree some stuff before we start the search," Olivia confirms.
"Oh, then sure. We have to stop at the store, though." Dad and Olivia put food on four plates before we all eat.
"Why?" Bree asks.
"Because," I hesitate. "That's where I meet my friend, Lizzy, to pick her up every morning." I don't say the real reason. I don't think Lizzy wants anyone to know she lives in an RV.
"Oh, okay. After breakfast, we'll go."
"I thought you got Lizzy from her house," Dad gives me a confused look.
"No, I pick her up from the store and then we go to school," I clarify.
"Oh," he nods. "Okay."
Sarah barks at me as if she knows something.
"What?" I smile at her. "Want some?" I give her the last piece of my bacon before she barks happily and I finish the rest of my food.
"Okay, let's go," we all take care of our dishes and get into Bree's truck. I sit in the back while Olivia and Bree sit in the front.
"So, who's this girl we're picking up?" Olivia turns in her seat.
"My friend," I state the obvious. "She moved here the other day."
"And how's Riley and the others?"
"Fine, Jackson got a new truck, Dani's brother is moving out and Riley's starting to be a bit more outgoing than usual," I answer.
"Dani's brother is moving out?" Olivia looks shocked. "I always thought he'd be living at home forever. Besides, he was always kinda cute." She smirks and glances at Bree who looks at her with an eye roll.
Is that jealousy in her eyes?
"Anyway," I drag the word a little. "How've you been?"
"Fine, been staying with Bree at her cousin's apartment." Olivia sits the right way around in the seat.
"Did you know your sister's really messy?" Bree glances in the rearview mirror and smirks.
"Yes," I smile and nod.
"Hey!" Olivia lightly shoves Bree after I dodge her attack on me.
"Don't attack the driver!" Bree laughs. "You'll get us all killed."
"All right, fine. But neither of you have room to talk," Olivia crosses her arms. "You both leave dirty dishes in your rooms. A lot."
"I have an excuse," I defend.
"And what's that?" Olivia turns to me again.
"I can transf-'' she slightly nods her head to Bree while she gives me a warning stare. "I have to take testosterone," I change my statement. "That makes me more hungry than usual, which leads to dishes in the bedroom."
"Okay, you use that excuse," Olivia nods and sits back the right way.
"We're here," Bree smiles as she pulls into the parking lot.
"Really? It didn't feel like that long a trip," Olivia seems shocked.
"Well, time flies when you're arguing with your family," I smile.
"I guess," she shrugs. "Where are we stopping?"
"Just here," I point to an empty spot a little bit away from where Lizzy is sitting on the stairs of her home. "You guys just wait here, I'll go get her."
"Okay," Olivia shrugs and I quickly get out.
Lizzy notices me and I wave her over. As she gets closer she gives me a confused look between the truck and me.
"My sister's friend is driving us to school today. They're in the truck," I tell her.
"Oh, so they know I live in that?" she points to the RV.
"I didn't tell them, they think we meet here before school," I shake my head slightly.
"Good," she sighs. "The fewer people knowing I live in an RV the better."
"You know, it's not a bad thing. I mean, it's not ideal but it's nothing to be ashamed of," I put my hand on her shoulder hesitantly. "You are close to the store so if you need something you don't have to drive for half an hour to get it."
"True," she chuckles.
"And if you ever need it, my place is an option," I take my hand away from her shoulder.
"Thanks," she smiles.
"Alright, you two are gonna be late," Olivia almost shouts.
"Olivia?! How long have you been there!?" I ask turning. She sits halfway out the window of the truck.
"I didn't hear anything, don't worry," she winks and I roll my eyes.
"Let's go," I sigh and we get in the back seat as Olivia gets back into her seat.
"So, you're Lizzy?" Olivia looks directly at her with that protective sister look in her eyes.
"Yes," Lizzy nods, looking intimidated.
"Good, I'm Olivia and this is Bree," her expression changes to a happy smile as Bree nods and starts driving.
"Nice to meet you," Lizzy smiles shyly.
"Trav, says you just moved into town this week, how do you like it so far?" I pay full attention to Lizzy's answer.
"It's nice, quieter at night and Travis and his friends are really nice to me," she nods. She seems genuine.
"Yeah, you'll get used to it though," Bree's accent comes out slightly as we pull into the school parking lot. "It took me almost a year to get used to the quiet before moving to the city."
"And now you have to live with Olivia's snoring," I grin.
"Alright, get to class," Olivia reaches back and barely hits my knee as I laugh and Lizzy and I get our stuff and get out.
"Meet you here after school?" I question.
"Yeah," she nods and I close the door before Lizzy and I find our group.
The next week and a half go by quickly as we all hang out during and after school. I spend most of my free time playing with Sarah, training her, and hanging out with Olivia or my friends. It's Wednesday now and I park my bike before taking my helmet off.
I checked the mail at the head of the driveway to find a medium-sized box next to the mailbox. I hold it under my arm as I do with my helmet and go inside to set my helmet by the door.
"What's that?" Olivia asks as she and Bree turn to look at me.
"I think it's the helmet I ordered for Lizzy," I take my boots off and sit next to Olivia.
"You got her a helmet?" she eyes me as if I'm acting suspiciously.
"Yeah, I drive her to school and back every day. Might as well make sure we both have helmets," I nod as I use my house key to rip the box open. Normally I would've just made my claws come out to open it but Bree's right here so I can't.
As I open the box I can already see the ocean blue color of the helmet. It's definitely not like my helmet. Mine is dark red and bigger than hers.
I hope I got the size right. Mine was a bit big on her.
"Makes sense," Bree nods.
"You think it'll fit her?" I ask them.
"How should I know?" Olivia shrugs. "I don't know her size."
"Alright, I'm gonna take my shot and find something to do," I stand and set the helmet next to mine before the two on the couch nod as I leave the room.
I go to the bathroom and go through the process of taking my testosterone shot like every week. As I reach my bedroom the door's cracked a few inches.
Weird. It was closed when I left for school this morning.
I shrug it off and push the door open the rest of the way to find Sarah laying at the foot of my bed, curled into a ball.
Someone must've let her in.
I smile and pet her, making her yawn and stretch as she stands.
"Hey, girl," I smile and sit next to her. "Wanna go for a walk?" she barks happily and jumps, causing me to laugh lightly. "Alright, give me a second and we'll go."
I give Sarah a treat before making sure my phone and keys are in my pocket before we go through the living room, Sarah on my heels.
"Where you goin'?" Olivia asks, glancing from the TV to me and back to the TV.
"Taking Sarah for a walk," I answer as Dad comes through the front door.
"Take the trash out while you're at it," he nods to the bag tied full of trash.
"Okay," I nod and pick the bag up, hearing Olivia giggle as the TV plays the theme song of She-Ra.
Sarah follows me all the way to the trash can before I turn around and head down the trails in the back.
We walk for some time before I start to feel like I'm being watched. I try to shrug it off and continue walking but I still have that feeling.