Roots showing (Chapter 1)

I woke up in a start.

        Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. Rain swirled outside in an unexpected thunderstorm. It was absurdly cold in the room, especially since summer has yet to even end. I didn't particularly mind the cold though, it reminded me of the winters back in Russia. The rain thundered on. It was warm in the bed with my brother sleeping beside me. It was the first time in years we had seen each and for the past week we've slept in the same bed like we did as little kids. In my drowsy state, I vaguely exhibited annoyance for his new found lack of a shirt. He must of thought the bed was too hot. Lazily, my eyes drifted towards the alarm clock and I slowly registered it was only four in the mourning. In the back of my mind I recalled an important day was to begin tomorrow but I couldn't place what it was nor did I care to rummage through my weary, sleep stained mind to remember it. 

        I sat in the consumed silence of the rain thinking of nothing. I listen to my brother's breathing, I listen to my own, and I listen to the rain. After a while I began to feel more than just silence in the dark. I felt afraid of something I couldn't place. Perhaps, it was what was to happen tomorrow. My body began to demand return to slumber and I willing sunk back into the silkiness of sheets. I tried to settle in comfortably without disturbing by brother but every side was wrong. I had originally inched away from brother but began to find my way into his embrace. There was nothing wrong in wanting to be held by my brother, I knew that. I was simply afraid and wanted protection. What I was afraid of was lost to me though, but in my brother's arms I was safe. Closing my eyes, I willed myself to return to my slumber. I do not know when I truly returned to that abyss. 

Tap.            Tap.            Tap. 

"RISE AND SHINE MY LITTLE SACKS OF..."

"Anya, there's no need for that."

        My brother and I awoke in a familiar start. I instantly recoiled from the sunlight and shielded my eyes. My god how that burned. I could have sworn someone had put smoldering coals in my eyes. Slowly, I lowered my arm and as my vision began to clear; I was given the view of the very so voluptuous form of my older sister Anya and my precious little Sasha, so petite and refined. I could hear the muffled groans of my brother who smothered his face between a pillow. I began to notice a faint scent of burning cookies in the air before a chill ran down my spine as Anya ripped the blanket away from my brother and me. I hugged myself instantly, "I'm up. I'm up," I whispered an attempted scream. My voice was so horse. Every word I uttered felt like drinking sand. I slid out of bed wordlessly and dragged my equivalent of a caracas to the dresser to get dressed. I grabbed my clothes and hobbled over into the bathroom where I miraculously got ready for the day. When I exited I was dressed in and obnoxious orange hoodie and jeans. I had examined myself and unfortunately the literal roots in my hair had grown back. To combat this I threw on a black beanie and went ahead and wore most of my piercings. 

        In the background I could hear the screams of Anya trying to awake Dimitri. I wandered over to the kitchen and saw little Sasha carefully taking the burnt cookies out of the oven and begin throwing them away. "No its okay I'll eat them," I said stopping the horrid act in its track. Sasha simply shrugged and placed them on the counter. I went to the fridge and got some goat milk and casually began to eat the cookies. Sasha watched in perhaps disgust but I honestly could care less. "You know I love cookies." 

        Anya soon came out of the bedroom in seemingly victory for I could hear the steps and rummaging of my brother. She is not a morning person like the rest of my family. After taking one look at me and she curtly stated," You're wearing 'that'?" I simply nodded already knowing her disapproval in advance. She then sighed and looked as though she was about to give me a tongue lashing but then decided against it and grabbed a cookie instead. I suppose the verbal brawl with Dimitri took out her morning venom. As we both ate in mutual silence I pondered my new found home. I had only moved into my sisters about a week ago and the apartment was too small for four to say the least. It was a nice apartment in a fancy building. I'm sure my sister payed the outlandish rent for the amazing view of the city skyline. It was a two bedroom, one bath, and a kitchen/ living room apartment. My sister did a nice job adding her own little touches to the place. It was a light hardwood floor with simple furniture to match. The walls were a light grey and the room was filled with vases of flowers. My sister adores roses. She even goes so far as to stuffing her mattress with rose petals. Our heritage lets her extends their life a lot longer than it normally is so she likes to indulge in this luxury. There is of course a vintage looking couch and a Tv with an xbox for all of our, but mostly my, enjoyment. The apartment is fairly simple but, in its own way, homey. I especially love the city we live in, Monstropolis. Its a pretty big city with a great dimensional transport system. I'll be taking the metro, as soon as I can figure it out, to school. It's a business town, kind of like NYC. My sister used to work in Paris while she was studying but now she works at a bigger fashion firm here. Right now she's working on her own small line in a show coming up. I would be excited for her and go see it but I'll probably have to work it. 

"What time is it," I questioned indifferently. "7:50." I slowly began to realize that... 

"Umm School starts in ten minutes."

 In a fury of her eyes wandering and the inevitable attempt to scream,"Shi-." 

"Anya, please."

        She screamed for Dimitri to get out now and for everyone to go to the car. Through a blur of grabbing my backpack and kissing Sasha's head goodbye, I dashed to my sister's black bug. In what had to be most attempted swearing, successful swearing, car horn honking, and outlandish speeding ride in my life, I spent most of it watching the the scenery. I listened to the music playing and tried to ignore the the raging monster that was my sister. Soon enough I was shoved out of the car and sent to the entrance of my new school.

Monster High.

        As I head in with my brother, we quickly get separated and I am lost in a sea of flesh and other materials. I felt a little claustrophobic in the hallway with all the yelling teens. I'm not really used to being around so many people my age. I walked past some manster and his friends and they snickered. "Who would wear that?" Then they all busted into laughter.

What about you? You're wearing the exact outfit from the cover of Mansters Fashion Weekly. The one they recommend for your first day of school. 

        I laughed a little at my own thought. Eventually, I find my way to the announcements hall. As a headless woman gives a long, uninteresting speech I listen to the murmurs of other students. I hear their voices and the things they say if they are close enough.

"Oh hey ghoul how was your summah?"

"It was increeeeeeedible. I met this hot honey and we got all hot and heavy all night long."

"Oooh gurl you so nasty."

        They both giggled and I cringed at their conversation. I honestly can't stand monsters talking about their sex life. It's a private thing though I don't really understand the appeal in sex to begin with. Occasionally, remarks would be directed towards a figure soundly much like my own. There would then be attempts from faculty to silence the constant murmur of the school until we were eventually released and sent to our homeroom to be given our schedules. "Good mourning everyone. My name is Ms. Gumiho. I am your home room teacher and this is the part where I'm supposed to tell you about what to expect this year. Now some of you all ready know me from last year as Fresh-meat but we have some new monsters here this year so bare with it and listen to the rules which I know you forgot... SooZee." Some students laughed. "Anyways back to business. I'll start first with introducing myself in a little more depth. As I said before my name is Ms. Gumiho. My first name is Nana and I am the child of the kitsune. In case you do not have me as a teacher I am the clawculusas  and number theory teacher. Now on to rules. First off and lastly because your smart kids and I doubt you'll do anything bad...", she paused for a second then shook her head to herself," Just use common sense and you'll be fine." She then called out our names and gave us our schedules. "SooZee," Ms. Gumiho said as a colorful android girl bounded down to the front. "Hey Ms. Gumi. How was your summer? A bore without me right?" The android girl joked a bit. Ms. 'Gumi' seemed a little worn down just from the sight of this little monster. The bell then rang and I headed onwards in the battle of where to sit and where not to sit. 

        My first class was Science. The teacher began with the normal name and little bit about him. Then he continued with asking various students to talk about their summers and what they hope to gain from this class. Some had interesting tales of going to faraway places in whole other universes and others said they simply played video games. I personally chose to not participate in these activities. I prefer to keep my private life as it is, private. Some students attempted to make the class a little more up beat by making some smart ass comments here and there. I would have added my own but I thought it would be too rude. I wonder if Dimitri is doing a similar act... or flirting with ghouls. Probably the later. As time passed the bell eventually rang. The class was over all enjoyable despite the dull introduction required at the beginning of every class. Next was history.

    I learned very quickly that learning from the past was not going to be an act I enjoyed doing. I'm not particularly fond on dwelling in the past. Good or bad is irrelevant. The teacher for this class was also quite fearsome, and not in a good way. His monotonous lectures and glaring gaze left me leaving the class with chills running. Again, not in the good way. This tedious schedule unfolded out until lunch where I decided to nap out front to catch up on sleep. The sun felt nice on my skin that was exposed and my sweatshirt gave me with feeling of being in a warm cocoon. I could have lied there for hours. Unfortunately, the bells of the school did not permit such indulgences. I then continued to roll about to my next class. I do not recall the rest of the day. It was all a blur of repeated acts from the class I first had. The occasional interest would pop up from some ghoul or guy but for the most part they were all the same.  I was honestly quite disappointed throughout the the day. I had no classes with my brother and none said a word to me. Not even teachers. I suppose I had expected in school for some talk but all I got were glances. 

        I got home and felt defeated. I suppose I feel as though High School will be a long, lonely time. Dimitri carried on well enough and I believe was get rowdy in the back of some ghoul's car in the parking lot across from school. I decided to go onto my video game account and play some guitar hero online. I began battling away at other people winning time after time again until one player rivaled me. "Oh hell no," I said selecting cherry bomb on expert. I'm a cha-cha-cha-cherry bomb! "No no no no no no no no... NOOOOOO!" I couldn't believe it, I lost. I lost at Cherry bomb. At that moment in time I contemplating ending my existence temporarily, online that is, online. "XXcrayonXX?" I then heard the sound of a friend request. I laughed to my self silently and accepted thinking my only friend during school is online. I also thought if you can't beat them join them. I then began chatting with said player and learned he or she had also started school today and it was very interesting, except for the head mistress's speech. 

        We talked for awhile when we both agreed it was time to do homework. I wordlessly went through the tiresome task and then got ready for bed. I ate some cookies, showered, put on some pjs, and curled up into bed. I was wearing my standard pjs, flannel boxer shorts, black wife beater, and a flannel shirt. Not to mention my green fuzzy socks. The green always matches my skin and makes my feet look like toe-less flippers. It always makes me laugh. I tried to fall asleep but the bed felt very empty without Dimitri. Eventually I heard him slip through the door and get ready for bed. He then slipped in beside me and whisper,"Hey, you still awake?" I felt the pull to not respond but then decided to whisper back," No I'm asleep." He chuckled some and pulled me close to his side. "How was school for the first time?" I sighed and unhinged myself from his hold and slipped out of bed. "It was bearable." I couldn't see any look of forced disbelief but I could feel it even through the dark. 

"Were people nice to you?"

"People were polite."

"That wasn't the the question."

"But that was the answer. Look Dimitri I'm not used to being social like this. You know that. I was grateful for the lack of questions pressed upon me and I certainly wasn't expecting for them to be pressed at home. Besides I'm going to school for my education not relationships. I don't need anyone to lean on, I've done fine on my own. I just need to keep my priorities straight and graduate with good grades and high marks."

        There was hanging pause in the air until he said," If your so independent why do you hide under my arms while we sleep." I feel my cheeks go hot. "I was cold that's all!" He made a sound of disbelief and started to fall underneath the covers. "Whatever." I decide to sleep on the couch and began to back out of the bedroom. "What are you doing?" 

"I'm sleeping in the den. You reek of sex and its kinda disgusting." 

He let out what I assume is an indifferent sigh,"... Whatever."