My alarm jolted to life!
And for once, the sound wasn't an enemy pulling me from sleep.
This time, it was a welcome disturbance, a call to destiny.
This wasn't the usual rude awakening. No, this was the kind of beep that said, "Get up! Your dreams are waiting for you!"
I've done it! SkyView Academy of Sciences had opened its doors to me, and I was about to step through them.
Calling it a dream school almost felt too small—it was more like my whole future wrapped in one big, shiny package.
For as long as I could remember, my ambitions had always led me back to one place: SkyView.
I practically annoyed everyone in high school with my nonstop chatter about SkyView—how I'd study there, graduate there, and build my future there.
Stories of lab experiments, late-night study marathons, and epic campus events filled my head, and I couldn't wait to dive in.
Somewhere deep down, I always thought, What if I don't make it? That little voice of doubt never left me alone.
I worked hard, nailed my grades, but that test? It had me second-guessing everything.
But here I was, proof that miracles—or at least hard work—could pay off.
Time to shake off the nerves and start my day right, one step at a time.
As I stretched and yawned, my eyes fell on my bags, neatly packed and lined up like soldiers waiting for duty.
I'd packed everything last night in a frenzy, my nerves refusing to let me leave a single sock behind.
Hands on my hips, I gave my bags a once-over, mentally ticking off my checklist before heading to the bathroom for step two of my morning ritual.
*
*
Ding ding ding dong!!
Suddenly, the doorbell erupted, its sound slicing through the calm like a battle cry.
Whoever was out there wasn't giving up—they rang like their life depended on it.
Of course, I was mid-soap and completely unprepared to deal with this nonsense.
I groaned.
No prizes for guessing; Only one person in this house had that kind of energy—my little brother, Bob. He was relentless, a human tornado with a mischievous grin.
The ringing didn't let up.
I was mid-lather, the soap sliding down my arms, when I sighed and turned the shower on full blast, letting the water wash over me.
Wrapping a towel around me,
I made a dash for the door, water droplets still clinging to my skin.
My half-closed eyes and probing glare were all the warning Bob needed.
I peeked through squinted eyes, clutching my towel tightly, my voice ready to scold.
"What do you want now?" I demanded, blocking the doorway like a fortress gate.
Bob just stood there, rubbing his messy hair like he'd done nothing wrong.
"Mom said you've got ten minutes left!" he announced, trying to sneak past me into my sanctuary.
"Don't even think about it, Bob!" I warned, holding my ground.
"Why not?" he asked innocently, feigning cluelessness.
"Because I said so, and because it's called privacy!" I snapped.
Ever since I hit the big one-eight, I'd drawn the line. No more sharing space with Bob.
Playtime was over; I was the responsible older sister now.
I even lobbied Mom and Dad to enforce the rule, and they backed me up. But Bob? He clung to the good old days when we were inseparable, like he was still my twin in spirit.
"C'mon, just let me in! I wanna check out what you packed," he grinned, rubbing his hands like he was plotting world domination.
"Also," he added, leaning casually on the doorframe, "clock's ticking…you've got eight minutes left. Might as well open the door and save time."
Half of me thought he might be telling the truth. The other half? It screamed, Don't fall for his tricks!
There's no way Mom would give me a ten-minute limit. She always gave me plenty of "lady time" to get ready.
"Nice try, Bob. I'm pretty sure you're just making this up so I'll open the door," I accused, raising an eyebrow.
Bob flashed his signature gap-toothed grin, that awkward phase where one tooth had fallen out and the new one wasn't fully in yet.
"Believe me or not, but don't say I didn't warn you!" he said, his hand hovering over the doorknob, daring me to let him in.
"NO! Mooooom!" I hollered at the top of my lungs. "Bob's trying to barge into my room during my private time!"
Bob froze, slapping his hand over his mouth and widening his eyes in pure shock.
He couldn't believe I'd snitched on him that loudly. It was an unexpected low blow.
Unfortunately, Mom didn't storm upstairs like I hoped; she was too busy dealing with something downstairs.
But her voice boomed up the stairs like a judge's gavel.
"Booooob!"
"Yes, Mom?" he yelled back, all fake innocence.
"Leave her alone right this second!"
"But, Mom, I was just…."
"No buts! I said NOW!"
I couldn't help but smirk at his crushed expression. I was about to stick my tongue out in victory when…
Mom's voice snapped back at me. "And YOU! Why are you still up there arguing with Bob? I said TEN minutes!"
Dad's voice chimed in casually from the living room, backing her up: "Yeah, listen to your mom!"
Before I could process it, Bob spun around and gave me the tongue-out treatment, victory now his.
At least he left. I shut the door and turned back to the monumental task of getting dressed.
*
*
I threw on my underwear, but the jeans? They had other plans.
I'd picked these jeans out myself, convinced they were the perfect fit.
Sure, Mom was there at the mall, but I chose them. Yet here I was, wrestling with denim like it was a full-contact sport.
Tight jeans were the trend, right? That's what I told myself as I managed to get them halfway up my legs.
That's when it happened—the door swung open with a bang.
I froze. My stomach dropped. My mistake? I'd forgotten to lock the door.
There he was, Bob the Menace, sprinting into my room, giggling like he'd just won the lottery.
"Bob! Get out! NOW!" I yelled, but there wasn't much I could do. There I was, standing in my pink panties, caught in the most humiliating big sister moment imaginable.
Ignoring my shouts, Bob dove into my carefully packed bags, rummaging like a treasure hunter on a mission.
I hopped toward him like a deranged penguin, the half-worn jeans making movement nearly impossible.
"Uhhhhh, what's this?" he said, holding up an item like it was a rare artifact.
And, of course, it had to be the tampons and pads. Perfect.
I groaned and slapped my forehead. Just bury me now.
"Put that down, Bob! That's none of your business!" I snapped, my voice an octave higher.
As if tampons weren't enough, he fished out my cartoon-face pajamas next, waving them around like a trophy.
Bob burst into uncontrollable laughter. "You still wear these?!" he wheezed.
Yes, I was eighteen. Yes, I still had a soft spot for my childhood cartoons. Sue me.
Then he grabbed that thing…the one I really didn't want him to see. I lunged for it, tripping over myself as he held it out of reach, laughing maniacally.