Chapter 3: Aunt Lauren
I stripped down to my underwear, turned on the water to make soap foam in the bath tub, and immersed my body in it. In the tub, I felt rejuvenated as all of my worries faded away. I soaked in the tub for thirty minutes. When I was finished, I got out of the tub, washed my teeth with my pink electrical toothbrush, put on my towel, and exited the bathroom to my clothing wardrobe. I grabbed any dress from my closet that my hands could. I'm not a picky person. I put on a violet cotton over - sized hoodie with a blue jean bumper short and headed to my vanity to use the face lotion Aunt Lauren had brought for me. I don't like applying cream on my body because it seems like too much labor, so she purchased me face cream instead could grasp. I stared in the mirror at the glum and stressed-out Jess, and realized it was me. I sat on the vanity's stool and knotted my hair before applying lip gloss.
Aunt Jessie called from the dining room, "Jessie darling, come have your breakfast."
I exited my room and headed to the dining room, where Aunt Lauren had already served us breakfast of bread buttered bread and tea. I sat close to Caitlin. Caitlin is Aunt Lauren's daughter; although Aunt Lauren is not married, she became pregnant for a dickhead while in college. She was forced to become a single mother after her boyfriend ditched her.
Caitlin, 16, stood up violently and tried to leave the dining room as soon as I sat down next to her.
Aunt Lauren yelled at her, "Caitlin, get back here and finish your food!" She sat back, furious, and continued eating. It's not Caitlin's fault; she's never liked me from the start, and now that I'm living with them, she feels claustrophobic by me.
I ate in silence.
"Jessie, why aren't you dressed yet?" my aunt Lauren inquired, having just spotted my lack of outerwear.
I stopped eating, and all of my fears resurfaced to me.
"I'm not going, Aunt," I replied, turning away from her.
"It's your dad's one-year death anniversary," Aunt Lauren complained, "why won't you go?"
I rose up, grew enraged and depressed, and exclaimed, "I'm not going because I don't want to see him. He ruined my mother's life; she is now in a psychiatric facility because of him, and my brother and I are no longer together because of him", Tears poured down my cheeks.
It's been a year since the incident at my parents' in Florida. I've felt guilty about everything since I discovered my mum had post-traumatic stress disorder, which she had developed five years before to the incident. Two days after the incident, mum was admitted to a psychiatric hospital for psychotherapy, and her recovery date was unknown, and Jake was taken by dad’s parent.
I understood that my life was a complete disaster. I sped down the street toward the expressway on my bicycle. I was so engrossed in my thoughts that I didn't know I wasn't paying attention to my pedaling and collided with a guy crossing across the street with two grocery bags in each hand. I crashed my bike into the ground, injuring my knee. The guy likewise fell, and all of the groceries he had purchased were scattered all over the ground.
"Why would you attempt to ride a bicycle if you know you can't? It's not your fault; after all, who buys a bicycle for a 15-year-old kid? Because of you, all of my groceries have been ruined ", as he rose up from the ground, dusting off his clothes, he remarked.
I was still enraged and on the ground "Who the heck do you think you are to make a snide remark about my riding? You weren't looking where you were heading either. Do you have no eyes at all? I am 19 years old ", I screamed at him.
He became irritated and snarled angrily, "What!?" Is that how you apologize to someone you just ran over with your ridiculous bicycle and you don't even appear to be 19? "These days, kids lie about their age."
"I'm sorry for destroying your groceries, but you were also at fault," I groaned as I tried to stand up but my painful l knee wouldn't let me. "You weren't looking out for approaching vehicles, and you insulted my riding. Why am I apologizing to someone who does not respect a lady?"
"Is that how you apologize?" he asked, his hands on his waist. "You, not I, are in need of assistance. You're on the floor, crying because your knee is hurt."
"I'm not wailing like a baby and I don't need your help," I said, annoyed at him still holding my injured knee. I tried to stand up using my bicycle as a support, but I fell back down with my bike.
"Fine, bye then," he smirked and sought to leave me there.
I was in desperate need of his assistance "Sorry for the inconvenience. Please assist me. It was my fault, I accept "
He didn't listen and continued to ignore me. He'd already taken eight steps away from me.
I apologized once more. "Please accept my sincere apologies. You'll need assistance with your groceries "
He returned to assist me in getting up.
"Now assist me with my goods," he ordered.
I sneered and limped away, leaning on my bike for support.
I grinned as I tilted my head sideways and stuck out my tongue at him. I had nearly gotten halfway home when I realized I had fooled the guy. It had been a long time since I had laughed so hard that my stomach hurt. My bicycle served as my walking stand when I entered the compound.
I entered the house after resting my bike. Aunt and Caitlin were worried in the living room.
When they spotted me, they stood up, and aunt ran over to me and grabbed me fiercely "Jessie, where have you been? Do you realize how closely we've searched for you? I was under the impression that you had abandoned us ", she cried out, terrified.
I muttered wistfully, "I'm sorry, Aunt. I had no idea what had happened to me", I stepped out of her grip, I noticed a tear had trickled down my cheek and wiped it away with the back of my palms.
Caitlin folded her arms and stated angrily, "Mum, tell your darling niece that whenever she wants to leave our house, she should inform someone," before storming into her room.
I smiled as I understood Caitlin is concerned for me as well, but in her own unique way.
Aunt returned to the couch and picked a volume from the table next to her. "Jessie, please come sit next to me," she urged, indicating an open spot on the couch next to her for me.
I sat down with a nod.
"Jessie, it's been approximately a year since you went to college. "You're 19 years old, and now is the moment for you to shine academically," she remarked, concerned.
"Aunt, I know," I replied, clearing my throat, "but I haven't found a good college for myself."
"You don't have to worry about that," she replied, handing me the volume. "I've already enrolled you in KIM HUGH COLLEGE," she added with a cheerful smile.
"Thank you so much aunt," I exclaimed as I leapt to my feet and hugged her.
"You don't have to thank me, Caitlin picked," she chuckled. "You don't have to thank me," she chuckled, "Caitlin chose the school, so go thank her instead."
Aunt and I both burst out laughing at aunt's quip.
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone