1
Ariella shuts down her laptop, and glances at the digital clock on her bedside table; the neon lights glowing 4.30 in the morning.
Groaning she crawls into bed trying to get some sleep before leaving for school. It’s the second term of her final year of high school.
As soon as she hits the bed she’s drawn into a deep sleep.
It scarcely feels like minutes when a voice coaxes Ariella from her dreamland and into the world of the living.
She turns away from it trying to go back to sleep. But the voice persists, calling out to her. She grabs the pillow and presses it over her head trying to block it out, but to no avail. She turns and slowly tries peeling her eyes open but they feel like they have been sewn shut...
‘Fuck!’
“Miss Ariella, please, you need to get up or you’ll be late for school.” Ariella drowsily looks at the elderly woman standing beside her bed.
She has the warmest smile.
“Good morning, Miss Ariella”
“Morning, Mrs Luis.” She responds despondently. “Thank you. I’m awake now. Will be down in a minute.” She smiles intending to go back to sleep as soon as the elder leaves.
Mrs Luis, sensing her intention, gives her ‘The Look’ over her glasses. The Look that makes her quail. That says, ‘You better get up now, child. Or I’ll have to tell your brother.’
She always plays the brother card.
“Okay, okay. I’m up. I’m up.” She kicks the sheets off her body in agitation. She scarcely had any sleep. Her eyes are too heavy to keep open.
“Very well, Miss.” Mrs Luis smiles and leaves the room.
Ariella sighs and rolls her heavy tired body off the bed.
Mrs Luis is the head attendant of the Smith family. She oversees the household affairs with her husband. She has taken care of both Ariella and her elder brother since they were young. She has the utmost respect for the woman.
Ariella drags her body through the hall, down the stairs and into the kitchen with a tired shuffle. When she walks in the smell of strawberry waffles invades her nose.
Her big brother moves about gracefully in the kitchen making breakfast. She doesn’t know why he bothers to cook. They have more than enough servants to do that.
Slowly she makes her way behind him and wraps her arms around his waist hugging him from the back. His body tenses for a bit before it relaxes again.
“Good morning, sweetheart.” She feels his smile. “Did you have a good night?”
Ariella hums tightening her hold. It’s been just him and her, ever since she could remember. Their parents died in a plane crash when she was a year ago. She doesn’t remember them. The only memories she has of them are through the family photos her brother keeps and the stories he tells her about them. He’s her mother, father, and sibling, he’s everything to her... Her only family.
“You seem overly warm today. What do you want?” She sighs against his back. He knows her too damn well.
“Can’t I give my dear big brother an endearing back hug without being accused of wanting something in return?” she feigns hurt.
He chuckles before wriggling himself free of her grip to look at her. He jumps, startled — rather dramatically — as he takes in her dishevelled appearance.
Ariella rolls her eyes “Ever the drama queen.”
Her long raven hair’s uncombed and it covers most of her face. She has dark circles under her eyes from lack of sleep. Simply put, she looks like a ghost – not to mention the white sleeping gown she’s rocking.
He moves his hand from his chest as he eyes her up and down. She rolls her eyes again as she slips onto one of the bar stools around the kitchen island.
“What?” As soon as her butt connects with the stool's surface, she lays her head on the kitchen countertop closing her eyes.
“Why the hell do you look like that?” A plate of food is put beside her. She ignores him and the food. “I’m serious, Ariella. Why aren’t you dressed for school yet? It’s already late. And why do you look like that.”
She sighs opening her eyes. “Can I not go today? I’ll go tomorrow, promise.”
“Ariella.” He says sternly.
“Shaun,” She responds just as stern.
Shaun raises his eyebrow in a warning and she slouches in the sit as she picks up the fork and digs into her breakfast.
“I’m tired, Shaunie. I barely slept for an hour.” Ariella isn’t certain but that’s how it felt like. “Just let me sleep in, just for today, please,” she whines.
“What do you mean you barely slept? You went to bed early last night. What were you doing up all night?” Ariella opens her mouth to answer but he stops her. “And it better be a legitimate reason, Ella.”
“I was finishing up my holiday school projects,” she mumbles stuffing her mouth hoping he didn’t hear that.
“I’m sorry, what?” Shaun pinches the bridge of his nose. “I think I’m getting old and my hearing is failing me. Could you repeat what you said? I didn’t quite hear you.” Ariella doesn’t respond.
Shaun sighs and looks up. “Ariella you had a whole month to do it. Why did you wait until the last minute?”
“If I had told you about it…would we have gone on vacation?”
“What?” Shaun stares at her incredulously.
“Now that I think about it. It’s all your fault.” She accuses pointing her fork at him.
“How is it my fault? I most certainly didn’t stop you from doing your projects.” He defends.
“Yes, you did. You were the one who said ‘family bonding time.’ Taking me to all those nice fun places. Having fun and all that. Because of you, I forgot I had a project to do.”
"You. Told. Me. You didn’t have any holiday projects.” He points a finger at her and then at himself to emphasize his words.
“Did I? It must have slipped my mind. And you should know better than to believe everything I say.” She shrugs.
Shaun sighs again, pinching the bridge of his nose, a calming gesture. “You’re unbelievable. God, what did I raise?” He mumbles throwing his head back and looking up for some sort of divine intervention but it doesn’t come.
“The most loveable little sister ever,” Ariella answers grinning.
“Yeah, but where did I go wrong?”
“Nowhere, I was born this way. Or you must have dropped me on my head a few times when I was a baby.” Shaun snorts before giving her a small smile, he takes off the apron and strides towards her placing a kiss on her temple.
“Fine... But only for today. Tomorrow, I’ll drag you there myself. Got it?” She quickly nods, her grin growing wider. “I’ll be home late. I have a dinner meeting with the senator. Don’t wait up for me.”
Ariella frowns when she sees him grab his jacket, puts it on and buttons the middle button.
“Aren’t you going to have breakfast?”
Shaun shakes his head. “Can’t. I’m already running late for a breakfast meeting. I’ll have my secretary get me something later.”
“Aren’t you the one who always tells me not to eat junk food for breakfast? Not to eat junk food, period.”
Shaun rolls his eyes. “It’s just coffee and maybe a muffin.”
“Fine... But only for today.” She echoes his words. “I’ll bring you lunch, kay.” Shaun nods.
“I have to go. See you later. Love you.” He says as he walks out the door.
“Love you too.” Ariella finishes her breakfast and carries her plate to the sink before washing it.
She walks to her bedroom. Her school uniform’s already set. She rolls her eyes. “You’re too late, Susan!”
She grabs her phone and sets an alarm for eleven o’clock before throwing the covers over her head and falling asleep.
