Disco Balls and Plane Tickets
Chapter 14
Melissa: I heard the dull sound of a phone ringing in the background as I slowly woke up, not even trying to open my eyes to the bright sunlight now entering the room. I heard Lillie’s voice as she answered it then clumsily rolled out of bed to get me up. “Melissa, up now. It’s 8:30, time for breakfast. Get up,” she pulled the covers off me exposing me to the cold temperature of the room. In defense, I grabbed the covers back and curled up in an attempt to return to my sweet dream. “Aren’t you meeting Taylor today,” Lillie called from her suitcase in the corner of the tiny hotel room. Suddenly, sleep didn’t sound so great anymore. I pulled myself up, “yea,” and yawned. “I knew that’d work.” I shot her an evil glare, then, “socks, khaki shorts, and orange tank top, please.” “I’m not your slave. Get your own clothes!” I moaned and, thinking of the angel otherwise known as Taylor, forced myself up and crouched beside the big blue bag rummaging through heaps of clothing. I finally found what I was looking for and darted into the bathroom before Lillie could even say a word to claim it first. Five minutes later, I stumbled out of the bathroom in an orange, lacy, Gap tank top and khaki, Old Navy shorts. I made a dash back to my bag for my toothbrush, but when I turned around again, the door was slammed in my face. “Lillie,” I whined, “I just need to brush my teeth.” “Well, you’re just gonna have to wait, “she shot back from the other side of the door. I rolled my eyes and, irritated, plopped down on a bed and searched for the TV remote on the end table. Click! The once jet black box filled with life and color before my eyes. I saw bright images, but the only sound my ears were subject to consisted of a jumble of foreign words that made no sense to me, only sparking a sense of wonder into my curious mind. I wondered what they were saying. That curiosity soon gave way to aggravation as I furiously flipped through a variety of channels with not one in English. Click! The bright color and light faded back into the void of nothingness. Letting out a deep sigh, I dropped back onto the bed and closed my eyes. Black. Darkness. Something that, in time, I had grown to live with, I feared. To divert my mind from the not so pleasant past, I concentrated on my breathing. I heard the door open but didn’t even bother to open my sleep-deprived eyes. “What in the hell are you doing?!?!?” “Haven’t you ever heard of relaxing,” I told Lillie, eyes finally being exposed to the blinding light surrounding me. She sighed, shaking her head. “I thought you were in a rush to brush your teeth,” she stood over me as I lay starting to count the dots on the ceiling. “I am,” I jolted up so fast that she jumped back and without a word, I made my way to the bathroom, toothbrush in hand. “I’m goin’ down now,” Lillie shouted. “Ok, I’ll meet you in the lobby,” I tried to get the phrase out through a mouthful of toothpaste as I heard the door slam behind her.
Chapter 15