xXx

Disclaimer: I do not own Paramore, but they are pretty awesome. Neither do I own iTunes, and be sure of that, because I don’t want to get myself sued for all I’m worth, which is all of two cent and a pack of beans. I don’t own Internet Explorer, I just use it. I don’t own Facebook or Naruto, but I’m obsessed with both. Healthy obsession, of course.

I stared at the alarm clock in a sort of mellow annoyance. The green numbers read out 3:28. Great. Only two hours before I have to actually start getting ready for school.

I grunted and got out of bed, scratching my long, quarter-of-an-inch hair. I opened my door to the darkness beyond it and walked to the computer, effortlessly dodging the sofa, loveseat, coffee table, and mom’s beloved peace lily, named Betsy, on a memorized path I’d traveled nightly.

Tapping the spacebar lightly, I turned and retreated across the living room to the kitchen, guided by the flashing lights given off by the starting computer. I opened the top cabinet on the left side of the refrigerator, grabbed an oatmeal crème pie, and tore into it. Then I took another.

I sighed, satisfied. At least until breakfast, anyway. I sat in the office chair and automatically opened iTunes, then quadruple-clicked the Internet Explorer icon. The first song I played was ‘Fences’ by Paramore.

I’m sitting in a room

Made up of only big white walls

And in the hall there are people looking through

The window in the door

They know exactly what we’re here for

Don’t look up just let them think

There’s no place else you’d rather be

You’re always on display,

For everyone to watch and learn from

Don’t you know by now?

You can’t turn back

Because this road is all you’ll ever have

And it’s obvious that you’re dying, dying.

Just living proof that the camera’s lying

And oh, oh open wide

‘Cause this is your night, so smile

‘Cause you’ll go out in style

You’ll go out in style...

Two windows of Internet Explorer opened, and in the first, I checked my email; in the other, I went on Facebook. Both boring.

So then I decided to spend the rest of the predawn time to catch up on the Naruto

xXx

Disclaimer: I do not own Apple Computers Inc., the iPod title, and I have no connections to either Gym Class Heroes or Fred Hammond.

I grabbed my iPod and collapsed on the bed with a deep sigh. My psychological evaluation and the day's events had exhausted me.

“Krystle, I need you to come and do the dishes!”

I didn't move. Instead I turned over and buried my face in my pillow.

Maybe if you stay that way long enough you'll smother yourself to death!

Thanks for the optimism. Don't tempt me.

“Now!”

With a groan I rolled out of my bed onto the floor with a dull thump.

“What are you doing?”

I murmured in response and remained immobile.

“Now.”

I flopped over and stood up hitting my elbow on the bedpost in the process.

“Son of a biscuit!”

“What?”

“I said I’m coming!”

I descended the stairs while simultaneously inserting my iPod earphones into my ears. By the time I reached the kitchen Mother was yelling about something else. Unfortunately for her I couldn’t hear her. It was amusing watching her lips move but not hearing what they were saying. It almost seemed like Gym Class Heroes lyrics were coming out of her mouth. I smirked.

Now noticing that I wasn’t taking her seriously I watched as her expression grew in intensity as she started to yell louder. Yet and still I couldn’t hear her. I turned away from her and towards the sink and started to run the water for the dishes. I skipped the next song in the shuffle sequence and for a brief second I caught a snippet of her rant.

“You kids, you’re so lazy. I work all night and y’all don’t do nothing around the house at all!”

I rolled my eyes and turned the music up louder.

Lazy. Right. That’s why I’m sitting here running water to wash dishes that should be condemned for bio-hazardous material.

I started singing and I could feel the intensity escalate. I paused Fred Hammond for a second to hear her reaction.

“You don’t have to sing loudly to let someone know you’re ignoring them.”

“I’m not ignoring you, I can hear you just fine. I was just singing.”

No response. Thus trumping her argument I went back to my music and what seemed like an unconquerable mountain of dirty dishes.