Chapter One
Joy:
I groaned as my eyes scanned over the houses we passed. Ugh, why am I here? I wish I knew. I leaned back in the seat of my Dad's white Range Rover before looking over at Sonia, my sister, who was older than me by a year. Her earphones plugged into her ears as she nodded her head to the music. I looked forward to the rear view mirror making eye contact with my dad who shot me a sweet smile.
I couldn't help but smile back before turning my eyes to my sister Angie who was taking pictures of herself with her phone. I scoffed quietly and rolled my eyes. Angie flipped her shoulder length hair to the left side of her shoulder and began taking more pictures from a different angle.
Now Angie isn't self centered at all, she just loves taking pictures. She wants to be a photographer. Something that won't happen. Not cause she can't make it, cause my father won't allow it.
Sonia wants to be a dancer, she loves to dance. When music plays, she can't stay still. Sonia can dance many different styles. Name it, she can do it. If she can't do it, she'll learn it. Yet, that dream won't happen either. Not even if the whole world wanted it to. Why you ask? My father.
My father is Pastor Ronald James of Anointed Blessing Chapel. Yup, my father is a pastor and my mother is a pastor also. We love church and we love God, but It can be tough being their daughters. It seems like everyone in the church expected us to act certain way our whole lives. I've never had a grade lower than an A-. Don't believe me? I can show you every grade report I have ever had, plus all of my awards.
It's the same thing for my sisters. It's always been that way. Our parents are so strict with everything. You can't do this, can't do that. Remember I love Church and the Lord but my parents are the type of christians to take EVERYTHING to the next stage. It's to the point where we have almost no friends at school if they're not church friends. All the lesbian and gay people in our school think we hate them and they feel the same way about us. It's too the point where I'm over it. I don't even care anymore.
I was pulled from my train of thought when my mom's roaring voice called out, "Are you girls alright? You all are very quiet." I looked at my mom's concerned face and met my dad's concerned eyes from the rear view as he drove.
My mother's long brown hair was pulled up into a fancy bun with some hair curled, hanging for her face, near her temples.
"Yes, we're fine mom." I said before looking back down at my book. It was one of those Twilight books. I bought it a few years ago and lost it in my room, yet found it when I was packing.
Oh, I didn't tell you?
My sisters and I are going to spend the summer with my, crazy, overly protective Aunt Lucy. I rolled my eyes at the thought of seeing her again. I groaned in frustration and looked to my left to see Sonia raising an eyebrow at me.
"Are you okay?" She asked taking an earphone out of her ear. Sonia is 18. Angie is the oldest, being 19 years old.
"No," I whispered, knowing our parents were listening.
"I know, I don't want to see Aunt Lucy either." Sonia spoke a bit too loud, catching our father's attention as he stopped at a red light.
"Sonia, stop it. You're being rude! Your Aunt is a lovely woman of God and you must show her respect. I didn't fly all the way from Virginia to Los Angeles for no reason. She's the only family member that wasn't traveling. You'll love the summer with her. Your mother and I must travel around the United States, then we have to go to Europe and a few places in Africa. We couldn't take you even if we wanted to."
Sonia didn't seem to be listening to whatever my father was saying. She slipped a ponytail holder off her wrist and started pulling her long black hair, with the back blond, into a messy bun. She leaned back in the seat and plugged in her other earphone.
"Did you hear me?" Dad called out as the light turned green.
Angie shook her head, "I don't think she heard you dad."
He rolled his eyes and exhaled slowly, "I should have known. I'm about to take that iPod thing from her. Is she even listening to good music?"
I glanced over at Sonia's iPod that laid in her lap. She was listening to Kirk Franklin.
"Yes Dad, she's listening to Kirk Franklin." I answered. A smile stretched onto his face and he nodded his head slightly.
"Yes, yes. That's good to know." He murmured to himself.
I sighed and looked back down at the book in front of me. I didn't speak anymore. I just kept quiet, ignoring the small chatter that my mother and father shared with each other. I was one about chapter 12 when the car came to a soft stop. My eyes didn't move from the book. I thought we were at a stoplight. I was snapped into reality when the car door slammed close on my left side.
Sonia had stepped out and Angie was looking down at her phone yet she had one hand on the door handle. I set my book down, not caring about it. I then slid to the other side and opened the door stepping out the car looking at Aunt Lucy's big 3 story house.
Oh yeah, that's why I always loved coming here! Her basketball court and pool made up for her unpleasant and rude personality. Not to us, Aunt Lucy has never been rude to us a day in our lives, it's other people she has problems.
"Girls!" She screeched as she opened the door poking her head out before running up the driveway. My aunt is a thick woman. Thick as in, big in the butt and a bit in the thighs. I mean, that's how all the women in our family are shaped. It's an african thing you could say. Well, we're not fully african.
We're mixed, my sisters and I. Jamaican and Brazilian on my mother's side and Ghanaian from my father. You could say we're all over the place.
I shut the car door just as Angie stepped out from the other side. My lips twitched up in a small smile as Aunt Lucy ran to Sonia, pulling her into a tight hug. She caught Sonia off guard so her arms stayed plastered at her side. She finally released Sonia. Sonia let out a huff of air as Aunt Lucy's eyes scanned the place. She spotted me and grinned waving me forward. I didn't run but I wasn't hesitant to walk to her. She hadn't changed since the last time I saw her in early January.
Her hair was no longer in braids, she wore her natural black hair, about neck length with straight bangs. Her brown clear skin seemed a bit darker than the last time I saw her.
When I reached her she wrapped her arms around me and squeezed. It was a very tight hug. I felt oxygen leaving my lungs as she did so.
"Auntie," I croaked. She loosened her grip then dropped her arms.
"You've grown so much!" She exclaimed walking to Angie. I narrowed my eyes for a moment.
"But...you saw me in January." I muttered to myself. My dad was getting out bags out the trunk, dragging them into the house. I pulled my phone out checking the time.
10:34 am.
Yes, I can still sleep. I walked up the driveway and into the house closing the door behind me. I walked up her big grand staircase, not paying much attention to anything. Her house hasn't changed at all. All the same paintings hung up in the very same spot. I walked up stairs and stood there for a moment before going down the left hallway to the 3rd door on the left. One of her guest rooms. I threw myself on the queen size bed and sighed.
"Joycylynn!" I heard someone call. Probably my aunt, She's the only person that doesn't call me by Joy.
I groaned and sat up on the bed.
"This is gonna be a long summer." I muttered.
-----
Make sure you guys comment! :D Tell me what you think of it! And be honest! :D
Picutre of Joy at the side ------>
