"Lissa!"
"Lissa!"
If there's one thing I hate more than raisins, it's being woken up from good sleep when I'm not ready.
Groaning, I stir in bed. "YES!", I call out to my step mother. Pushing the bed sheets away, I scoot to the right and out of my bed to my slippers. I make my way downstairs to the smell of fresh waffles. As I try to grab one from the dining table, I get a painful slap to the hand causing me to rear back. I watch as my mom grabs a lunchbox and slides it on the table towards me.
"We're having breakfast with the Masely's today and I made those waffles for them."
Right. The neighbors we started the weird tradition of having breakfast with every year on August 1st. We've been close with them since I was 8, and if it wasn't for the strange stares and the awkward silence I face whenever I'm around them, I'd actually feel less unenthusiastic to go.
"Do I have to go with you this year? I don't think they like me."
"Yes you do have to and they do like you. In fact, they even told me that Lily is excited to see you there. I called you downstairs to remind you to get ready."
"You know they don't like me. I'm always eating alone from a separate lunch box while everybody else, including Lily, eats at the same table."
"Don't be dramatic. Go dress up, we leave in 10 minutes."
I turn to go upstairs but halt.
"What's the point of me coming anyway?"
"I said go dress up," she responds.
I open my mouth but close it when she pins me with a stare that tells me that there's no room for any arguments.
I close my bedroom door shut and open the closet to look for something presentable to wear before my cat comes strutting out. Her black fur softly brushes the side of my leg as she moves past me. Everyone always ignores the cat but Gertrude has been with me for years. Even though my step mother and brothers gave me strange looks, I know they've seen me with Gertrude more than once. So, I let myself believe that my stepmom just doesn't want to acknowledge anything or anyone that can bear to keep me company, hence why I find myself getting closer and closer to Gertrude every year. We both get the same treatment from my family and everyone else, which has kept me feeling less alone.
Right when I find my light pink dress, I hear a light knock on the door shortly before my doorknob twists. Aeron, one of my step brothers, steps in and looks around, wide eyed.
"I thought mom told you to clean your room, it looks like a rats nest. And what's that smell?" His nose scrunches up.
He wasn't wrong. "Sorry, I know. It's Gertrude's food. It's been there for 2 days straight", I said, looking at the corner of my room in shame. I can't believe I forgot to clean that up. "I'll get started on cleaning when we get back."
I turn back to Aeron looking at the cat then at me with a look of confusion or maybe pity. I've always gotten this look from him. It always kind of reminds me of my step mom, and their similarity has always struck me. They have the same Greenish-Hazel eyes, small button nose, and olive skin. The only difference being their hair color, where my step mom's is light brown, Aeron's hair is ginger.
"What?," I ask.
"Nothing, I just came to tell you that we're all outside and ready to go, so hurry up. And Julissa?"
"Yes Aeron?"
"Your going to be a Sophomore next year, and Sophomore year can be tough so be prepared, try to make some friends."
I'm surprised at the sudden piece of advice, probably because Aeron has only done this once before, a long time ago. "I think I'll be ok, you don't have to worry about me," I respond.
He nods. "Alright then."
"You're lucky though.....I can't believe you're graduating soon."
"Why? Are you going to miss me?" he says with a small playful smile. Many girls my age and above have a crush on him, including Lily. In fact, she'd only talk to me to get as much information as she could to get closer to him. That's partially why I didn't want to go have breakfast with her family, I don't want to have another one of those conversations with her.
I give Aeron a small smile of my own. "No," I respond.
Still smiling, he rolls his eyes and takes a step out the door before closing it behind him.