Second Choice

A New Day

The morning comes too soon. My hand remains sore and swollen. Ever so gently, I rub it, thinking of the day before. Dusty triggered so many memories making that prank call, but the more I awake, I can't seem to get the odd sound of two women's voices out of my head. "God, I just want to sleep." I moan and pull the blanket over my head.

 "Psss, hey you. Wake up." I hand tugs my blanket down past my shoulder.

"Holy hell! Is that what you look like in the morning?" Laura teases.

 "That's some scary s**t, Bailey," Laura smirked, looking and my hair sticking up from the pillow.

"You're not funny."

I look at the clock; it is only six-thirty. "What are you doing here so early?"

Another head pops around the corner in my room. A young girl with shoulder-length blue hair and big, round chestnut eyes. Her dark blue denim pants are sticking to her skin, and her blouse is right at her thighs. "We just figured you would try to make excuses, so we started earlier."

"Janie?" I ask, gawking at what is supposed to be my sister. "What happened to your hair?"

Janie rolls her eyes. "I wanted to change it. What's the big deal?"

"Yeah, but... blue?" I ask, sitting up.

She crosses her arms and fusses. "You color your freaking hair all the time!"

"I color my hair blonde... I am a blonde, Janie! Not blue like a blue crayon!"

"I'm not a crayon!" Janie hisses.

"Hey," Laura puts her arms in between us. "I think we are getting off to a wrong start here."

Laura guides Janie to the door. "We are going to start some coffee while you brush that hair of yours and come downstairs."

"If it is about the house, I am not selling it. End of story."

Laura and Janie glance at each other, then to me. "Please, Bailey. Just come down for coffee."

"Whatever."

"If you don't come down in five minutes. We will carry your ass to the kitchen." Laura warns and walks out of the room.

I shake my head. God, they are a pain in the ass. 

Just for Laura, I brush my hair and teeth and join them in the kitchen. It is odd seeing Janie at thirteen with blue hair sitting at my table drinking coffee. Did sending her away changing her this much? Janie doesn't look up as I make my coffee and sit down. Laura joins us, and after moments of silence. She clears her throat."So, about this place."

"Laura, this answer is no," I say firmly.

"Why won't you even let her speak about it?" Janie asks while staring into her cup.

I shake my head again. "Fine, what is it?"

"Just hear me out, okay?"

"I said that I'm listening."

She sighs, "Okay." and begins again. "Last night, after we hung up, I was so excited for you that I kind of jumped on it." She reaches beneath the table and gathers her purse.

"Jumped on it?"

Laura sets her purse in front of her and unzips it and stops. In slow motion, my head looks up drifts away from my coffee mug. My fingers loosened, almost dropping it to the table. Her words came out so slow; it was like being stuck in a bad movie and not being able to escape."You listed my house without permission."

"I gave her permission," Janie spoke up. 

"You're thirteen. You don't count!" I glare at Laura. "You knew better than that!"

"I know but, Bailey," Laura begs. "Listen to me. We already have an offer on the house. It is double the market value. Enough to get you through your classes and set up to buy a place nearby."

She pulls out the paperwork and sets it in front of me. "Look, I know this is a big step, but I promise it will be the right thing to do. Go, Bailey. Follow your dreams. You deserve this."

"I don't know..."

"Look, I will set it all up, the movers, the sale, all the legal s**t. Hell, I will even find you a place by the campus. All you have to do is get yourself set up there with the books and classes."

"Do it, Bailey. Do it for me. " The same innocent eyes came back to Janie. The ones I remember from the night of the fair. 

My heart softens. For my sister, I will do anything, "Fine. Whatever. I will."

They both maul me over at the same time and embrace me into their arms. "You are squishing me."

"We know." Laura and Janie laugh.

"Dammiit, you two suck ass!" I sigh, knowing they won.

We stop and look around. The stained walls, chipped cabinets, and tile, the dripping faucet, and creaking steps are soon to be a memory."This buyer sure has his hands full."

"Yes, he does," Janie agrees.

"What is his name?" 

Laura looks away then back to me. "I can't remember. I will have to check my email."

It is strange for Laura to forget her client's name, but I let it go because I have so much to do.

"Okay, enough of this." Laura pulls away. "I have to get going and get things ready to meet up with the client."

Yeah, me too. I have to get back. I have classes." Janie says regretfully.

"But, you just got here." 

"We will catch up soon. I promise." She says, "Laura is already giving me a ride back."

"Okay..."

Laura and Janie say their goodbyes, leaving me to the reality I will not see these walls much longer. My phone buzzes against my pocket. I pull it out. A new number pops up. One I have not seen before. I open the message to discover it is from Dusty.

Thank you again for yesterday. You really saved us. It may take a lifetime, but I will make it up to you. Promise.

Dusty xoxox