Finding Ourselves Together (READ REVAMP VERSION - IN WAVES)

01 | It Starts with a Crash

"You're the one who left your stupid books in here, Lia!" He huffed back in frustration.

My books?

"What the hell do books have to do with it? It's not like the rats are here to read them, you idiot!" I fired at him with heat and there was no turning back. A screaming match followed as we yelled about nothing and wasted time getting in bad moods.

Faces turned red, spittle flew around, veins popped, and then—

"Enough!" The whole room seemed to shake as my mother's voice stopped us in our tracks. She hurriedly walked over all the garbage with her hand covering her mouth in disgust. She looked so out of place in the room, her short brown hair was tucked neatly behind her ears and she was dressed for work already. She smoothened out her blouse and pushed back her glasses that had slid down her nose.

I had always thought my mom looked good for her age, I had seen photos of her when she was younger and we looked almost identical, so I could only hope that I could follow in her aging process too. My whole family shared the same tone of olive skin, but there was no doubt that Rob had taken after my dad and I took after my mom, both in temperament and looks. With Rob and my dad, it was from the same strong jaw down to the shape of their eyes and their love of rebelling. With my mom and I, it was from the same nose shape down to the blue eyes and the need for order. The only thing I got from my dad was his raven colored hair and stubbornness, that's it.

"Why all the yelling? You're both going to be late!" She shot us an icy stare as we caught our breaths. My blood was still boiling, and I couldn't help but express my resentment for Rob.

"I left a few books in his gross room and he totally lost his temper, I'm sorry but he's being completely irrational." I folded my arms and didn't make eye contact with him.

"Me?!" He chimed back with disbelief. "Oh, like you're so rational all the time! Don't even get me started—"

"Stop!" Mom held up a finger to interrupt before we start again. "I'm sick of these petty fights you two have. Roberto, you're starting your senior year! What kind of example are you setting for your sister?"

"Please don't call me Roberto." He sighed into his hand in exhaustion. Whenever she called him by his full name, that was how he responded, and she never listened.

"Okay, you know what?" She shut her eyes and pinched the bridge of her nose in irritation. "I'm trusting you kids to get to school on time. The health inspector is coming to the restaurant and I really can't deal with your attitudes right now."

"Sorry, Mom." We apologized guiltily in unison like little children. She looked at her watch and her eyes widened at the time.

"I'm going to work, get your butts downstairs and have breakfast with Derek," She referred to our step-dad; a bland, middle-aged accountant who she got together with a few years after our dad left. "Lia, remember you have a shift after school. Rob can drop you off." She still spoke while walking to the door and her voice trailed off as she shouted the end of the sentence from the hallway. Ugh, right. I still had work after school. This day was going to kill me.

"C'mon, we can't be late for school...Roberto." I called to Rob as I ran out of his room, I heard him laughing at my sudden change in tone towards him. That's just how it was, fight for a few minutes, and then we were good again.

After a quick shower, I threw on a thin, maroon sundress I knew would prevent any sweating through the day, quickly braided my untamed curls to the side so my hair rested over one shoulder, and did my makeup, hoping I didn't miss anything out in the hurry. I checked my phone and suddenly realized how late we were. Rob and I inhaled the decent (albeit slightly burnt) breakfast Derek had made and we left in a rush, Derek throwing Rob the keys to his car as we ran out the door.