Chapter 10

The following morning when I awoke, I groggily rolled over to my side and groaned. The sun had yet to rise and when I looked over at my alarm clock it read ‘3:34 AM.’ That would explain why the sun hadn’t risen.

I murmured to myself as I got up from the bed, heading over to the en suite bathroom in a setting of darkness. Something hard hit my foot and I gasped, standing still for a moment. I kicked it again, confused, and found it was warm. I stepped over and scurried to my bathroom, switching on the dim light.

When I looked back I found it was none other than Ellie sprawled across the floor. She lie there with her mouth hanging open and her mascara from a few hours ago smudged under her eyes. I sighed and rolled my eyes, entering the bathroom and ignoring her. I hadn’t even known she fell asleep in here.

I did my business and washed my hands with sleepy, unfocused eyes. I exited the bathroom and clambered back into bed clumsily, slipping under the warm covers. Except, even as I closed my eyes and lay motionless, I couldn’t lull myself to sleep. I tossed and turned but ended up laying there, still and unmoving until I saw the first morning light through my blinds.

As I lay there, I watched Ellie while she rolled around, mumbled, and sniffed as she lie on the carpeted floor. She was not, by any means, a peaceful sleeper. She was like a level-five hurricane when she slept.

I heard my family begin to stir when the clock hit 5:00. Mom was the first, which was no surprise. 5:00 was her idea of sleeping in. Once, I slept in until 7:00 and she about lost her composure.

There was a ruckus downstairs, the sound of Dad and Mom talking, the stove turning on, the coffee pot brewing. I finally urged myself from under the covers by 5:16 when Ivy opened the front door to go on her morning run.

I did my whole routine from the shower to my teeth, my hair, my clothes, and makeup by the time Ellie awoke. She whined and rolled onto her back with a dramatic sigh. I was standing at my mirror and applying the clear mascara of which I had ‘snuck’ past my mother. She did not like us wearing makeup, only on special occasions.

Behind me in the mirror I watched Ellie as she sat up and ran he hands through her unruly brunette hair.

“Rough night?’ I teased, turning to her with a smirk. Her eyes were lazy and unfocused as she blinked up at me.

“Thought you were my mom…” She murmured playfully, smiling up at me lazily, clearly a jab for my tease. I rolled my eyes at her with a sassy hand on my hip. “Tired…and my brain feels like it’s pushing against my skull.” She groaned.

“Hungover and you can still be sassy,” I sighed as I put in a pair of pearl earrings. “That’s why you shouldn’t drink…says it in the bible.”

“Eh… it’s fine. I’ll repent my sins with Preacher Dave.” She teased as she fell back on the carpeted floor again.

“Don’t call my father by his first name.” I scoffed a laugh of amusement.

“Me and Dave are chill like that,” Ellie murmured, rubbing her eyes. “Why you all dressed up, though? Trying to impress me? ‘Cause you don’t needa do that, Evie.” She joked.
“Not for you,” I huffed. I put on the back of my left earring and then turned to her with my hands on my hips again. “For the wedding, idiot. Your aunt’s wedding.” I sighed.

“Right…aunt’s- Oh my gosh, my aunt’s wedding.” Ellie gasped, suddenly jumping up. She stumbled on her own socked feet and ran her hands over her face. “Mom is gonna kick my ass.” She groaned, already heading for the window.

“Language.” I reminded her.

“Butt.” She corrected as she clambered down from my window and onto the Oak tree, making her descent to the ground.