The obnoxious sound of the abused alarm clock attempted to rouse Arie St. James from her already interrupted nights rest. She reluctantly sat up in bed and sighed. Her favorite time of the day had already passed the few blissful moments of ignorance before she fully remembered where she was and why. She was sadly reminded of both by the television set blaring from the next room over.
Arie sighed and fell back to the hotels worn mattress. She covered her face with the pillow, trying to drown out the sound she knew she would hear next. Every morning it was the same thing. Her uncle would be fixing coffee while her Aunt Sybil came and pounded on first her twin cousins hotel room door and then her own. This, of course, depended on whether she had to share a room with the two.
Unfortunately, sometimes her cousins would go out at night. It was as if they didnt care about their own welfare. They would always turn up sometime during the free continental breakfast and then sleep all day. Arie was the one that had to deal with the incessant knocking until she put on her bathrobe and went outside to tell her Aunt Sybil that her children would meet her at breakfast. Leave it to Crystal and Caleb to push their incompetence off on Arie.
This morning they had managed to get in by the scheduled eight a.m. pounding. Two weeks Arie had been on the road with them and only two days, including this morning, had they managed to return by eight. Arie had learned quickly that if she wanted any peace or quiet at all while getting out of bed that she would have to cover for them.
Crystal had her mothers Scandinavian features natural blonde hair and blue eyes with just a hint of green. Crystal had taken it into her own hands make her hair even more blonde. She highlighted it to the extent of giving herself a cheap blonde look. Combined with her poor choice in clothing and colorful reputation, Arie often referred to her as the cowgirl slut.
Aunt Sybil was the most insane of the four. She was temperamental, controlling and completely oblivious to her childrens actions. Not to mention slightly paranoid. Arie could understand why even her father avoided his sister-in-law at all times.
Uncle Jeff was actually sane half of the time. He was incredibly sports oriented, a little overweight and Arie didnt think he knew the meaning of the words womens liberation, but he kept to himself most of the time so she got along with him okay.
Caleb had unruly strawberry-blonde hair and green eyes. Sybil was always saying how much of his fathers Irish heritage you could see in him. He was a lot like his father in the sports obsession category. He was quite a bit louder and if it was possible, more opinionated. He was a normal teenage boy in the fact that he tried to use every girl he met. He had even hit on Arie before he had the knowledge that they were cousins. Arie was disgusted by Calebs entire being. The only time she had ever enjoyed being around Caleb was the first night they had met. Aunt Sybil had come over and exclaimed how surprised and delighted she was that the cousins were getting along so well. Caleb had turned at least three shades paler. Arie had delighted in watching his jaw drop and drool run down his chin to form a small puddle on the floor. He had a way of hitting on girls where if they thought about it afterward, they would doubt that he had even come onto them at all. Arie never doubted her instincts for more than five seconds. She was more cultured than that. She was above Caleb and always the huntress, never the prey. She took pride in knowing that she could turn the tables on anyone and took pleasure in doing it.
Arie! Time to get up! The pounding started.
She pushed the musty pillow off of her face. Im up, Im up, she mumbled while her eyelids still refused to open.
Time to get up! The pounding persisted.
Im up already, Im up! she yelled. She stumbled out of bed. Deaf, psychotic, freak-show running little Arie muttered under her breath.
The thought of coffee and a shower kept her going even after hitting her elbow and stubbing her little toe on the cheap wood-substitute television stand. Hot showers were better, but apparently the hotel water heater was non-existent, so she settled for an ice-cold one. It was a hurried shower, as always, but an awakening one. If there was a way to keep water liquid way below the freezing point this was that water.
Arie dried quickly. She wrapped a towel around her hair and slipped into the sleek black bathrobe she had brought with her from the place she supposed she used to call home. It had just been a two-bedroom apartment she had lived in alone and paid for herself. Every once in a while her father would show up and stay with her for a day or two before disappearing for a few more months.
I thought it was a little dark in here, so I opened the curtains. Aunt Sybil came up behind Arie while she was trying to make coffee.
Wonderful. Aunt Sybil, I have to get dressed. If you wouldnt mind, please close the curtains on your way out, Arie hinted, trying to keep a smile on her face.
Oh, I get it. You need your privacy. Im hip. Ill be in my room if you need me. Arie listened for the door to shut behind her. A satisfying slam pleased her ears.
Oh, yes Aunt Sybil, I do so enjoy being sneaked up on right after getting out of the shower. My favorite thing to see first thing in the morning is your so very, very obnoxious face, Arie said sweetly into her dark-roast coffee. She turned off the light and walked out of the bathroom to be greeted by blinding sunlight. Apparently her Aunt hadnt closed the curtains.
She squinted, looking for the window and trying to be able to take her hand away from her face. She slowly made her way over to the curtains. She missed hitting the television stand by only a centimeter. She grabbed the drawstring to pull the drapes closed and noticed Caleb staring into her hotel room from the outside. He leaned back against their black sports utility vehicle and grinned. Arie closed the curtains and shuttered. There was just something so off about that boy.
Note to self: get bigger hotel room tonight, she glanced at the door, and make sure that youre the only one with a key.