We carried the equipment back to the van. Everything hurt. I really didn’t want to come back to this school so soon but this was my job. Emiko took me home.
“Are you sure that you don’t want me to take you back? I can just drop off the stuff and come back.” She offered.
“That’s all right; I’ll ask Kara to give me a ride.” I declined.
“Okay then see ya.” I shut the door and watched Emiko and Aisling drive off.
I slowly walked into the house and was greeted by a wonderful fist to the face.
“What the hell is your problem Ryuu? You’re out all day, then you don’t come back home till 6 in the morning.” My older sister Takara shouted at me.
She was my Irish twin. Although we don’t look like it now. Her hair color ended up as a light blue color and she had brown eyes like our mother.
“Why can’t you be like a normal sister for once and not sock me in the mouth when I walk in? Oh and that’s for the early birthday present.” I added holding my now bloody mouth and walking over to the sink. I’ve been awake for thirty-two hours now and that’s the first thing I come home to.” I grumbled spitting the blood into the sink.
“Well it’s your last day being 16. And I’m still your older sister and grandmother put me in charge of the house while she’s gone remember?” She stated.
“My birthday isn’t until 18 hours from now. And I’m really not in the mood.” My lip finally stopped bleeding so I went up stairs and took a shower. I put on my ebony jeans and a plain white t-shirt. I came back down into the kitchen when the phone rang.
“Hello Nori residence Takara speaking.” She answered.
I walked over to the medicine drawer took out some Advil from their package then swallowed them.
“I understand; Thank you for calling Uncle.” Her voice was a bit scratchy. “I’m fine. Don’t worry I’ll tell them… No we’ll be fine…ok bye.” She hung up the phone.
“Hey what’s wrong?” I asked walking over to her.
“Grandma died in her sleep last night.” Kara was able to choke out.
I wrapped my arms around her and she cried into my shoulder.
“Is our family just cursed with bad luck Ryuu?” She sobbed into my shirt.
I kissed her forehead like her boyfriend always does and rubbed her back.
“It’s not fair you’re 11 months younger than I am so why do you have to be taller then me?” She laughed trying to cheer herself up.
“We might be Irish twins but no one ever said that we had to look alike when we got older.” I stated.
“This is a horrible way to spend your last day as a 16 year old.” She mumbled into my shirt.
We stood there for about a half an hour until she calmed down.
“You know what you make you the best older sister in the world?” I asked finally realizing that I had to get to school.
“What’s that?”
“If you took me to the school that I was at all night. Em signed me up to investigate during the day as a student.”
“Well you fit the part.” She laughed. “I’ll go and get my keys.” A minute later she was back and we were out the door.
We got to the school around 7:15.
“Tanks for the ride.” I said getting out of the car and shutting the door.
She rolled down the window “What time do you want me to pick you up?” She asked.
“I have to work tonight.” I answered walking away from the car.
“Fine but I’m texting you at midnight to say happy birthday.” Kara laughed waving.
“I’ll be waiting every agonizing moment.” I laughed waving good bye and walking into the school…again.
There were a few students there and they stopped what they were doing to look at me. It was like they’ve never seen a kid with slate colored hair before. Or was it because I was in casual clothes? There where a lot of options here. I walked into the principals’ office and she gave me a schedule and some notebooks. The entire day bored my brains out because she stuck me back into my junior year. Yes I’m a senior. Takara graduated at the top of her class last year. I didn’t mind the classes but it was the fact that I had to go through it all over again is what annoyed me like all get out. Ms. Carlson the principal told me to keep an eye on Mari but I can’t exactly do THAT when she’s not even in school.
My favorite part of the day was when the final bell rang. Scratch that, it was at 5 pm when everyone finally went home. I walked around the halls for a bit trying to stay awake then at 6 pm I couldn’t take it any more and I sat down. Started dozing off at 7 then I heard the front entrance door slam shut. I quickly stood up and ran to the doors. And with my luck it wasn’t Em and Aisling like I was hoping. It was Nino and Matsu. What a wonderful way to spend the last five hours as a sixteen year old.
* * * * * * * * *
That’s all I really felt like writing today and I almost got a page and a half this time. I did leave out a good section of what I actually wrote because I read Mari’s post and she wasn’t in school so I had to cut out that part where Ryuu and Mari are talking. Oh well hoped it helped a bit.