Finding Me

Chapter Three

"Well congratulations, there's a bathroom downstairs too."

"But it's cold!"

"And it's only going to get colder." She responds before moving on to her room. Sometimes I really hate Minnesnowta but other times it's my favorite place to be - not that I've been many places before.

The door lock on the bathroom clicks and Miguel gets out, his hair not looking any different than it did before he went in. "About time." I mutter as I push past him into the bathroom.

After relieving myself of the torture and washing my hands I finally begin to get changed, forty minutes after my alarm rang. I don't even take that long to get changed, I just pull on the uniform which consists of khakis and a navy blue shirt. My hair though is a different story. I think the importance of having good hair runs in the family.

My head is still throbbing so a bun and ponytail is out of the question. Braids, although I love them, can A) Take too long or B) Get me all hot and bothered throughout the day as my hair just rests on one side of my face. Instead, I decide to do a messy half ponytail. It doesn't take much of my time and allows for my hair to both be down and out of my face.

I prepare my binder while putting my computer into the front pocket and putting all required homework assignments in their designated area. When I finish making sure nothing important is missing or left behind I leave my room - making sure I have my slippers on this time - and walk to the living room. The couches are filled with coats and backpacks and hats and mittens leaving almost no room for my belongings. Deciding I don't really care, I scoot Miguel's things over and put my things in the space I made myself.

"Amelia, I'm going to be leaving for work soon, make sure your siblings get on their bus and if the bus doesn't show up take them con tu Tia Evelyn." My mother says as she puts on her boots.

"Yup!" I nod at her before going back to my room to get my jacket and hat. I lost my gloves a week ago and haven't gone to check the lost and found yet. Heck, I still don't know where the lost and found is. I didn't even know we had one until last year!

After I set everything out I go back into my room to do my bed. I always make sure to leave my bed for last because Victoria always throws a huge fit when I make my bed at the same time she does. Apparently I throw her 'off focus'. Whatever that means.

"I'm leaving!" I hear my mother yell from the living room.

"Bye! I love you!" I call back to her. The door closing is my response.

It doesn't take long for Miguel and Denise to start going at it again. "Stop touching me!" Miguel yells at her.

"I wasn't doing anything to you!" Denise yells back. They continue back and forth again and again. I gave up long ago trying to shut them up.

Knowing my phone is on mute, I go turn the volume on in case someone calls. Last time Victoria didn't answer the four times our mother called her we got our phones taken away.

'It's Friday!' Faith had texted the group chat. 'Last day before the weekend!'

'We can sleep in!!!' Andy texted back. It looks like I had helped her after all.

'You can, I can't.' I type back. 'I have church school at nine tomorrow.'

I turn my phone off and slip it into the back pocket of my khakis. The one thing I love most about these pants are that they have back pockets, unlike other years where I didn't have them and I had to carry my phone around in my hand.

Denise is arguing with Miguel about something when I enter the kitchen. A glance at the clock has me widening my eyes. "The bus comes in five minutes!" I scream at both of them. That doesn't shut them up but it makes them scurry nonetheless.