Beep! Beep! Beep!

"Ugh," I moan groggily, turning over on my side to smack the annoying alarm clock with a fist propelled by maybe just a little too much force.

Beep! Beep! Bee - Smack, crunch, sigh.

Looks like I'd have to buy a new alarm clock today. Great.

I guess I'd go to Target later...though that may be a bit too expensive. Maybe I could go to Wal-Mart. They have some pretty cheap clocks there. Which could be especially useful considering my current income, which is currently equivalent to that of a hobo. Oh well, it's not like I needed an alarm clock anytime soon. It was summer for crying out...Wait.

My alarm clock was never set.

There could only be one reason that it had just set off today, practically deafening me with it's repetive beeping.

Today was the first day of school.

"Nooo..." I mumbled to myself, pulling the thick covers over my head and rolling back onto my back. I did not want to start another year of high school. Freshman year was bad enough. Sophomore was sure to be the same.

A voice called to me from outside my door.

"Rigo. Get up! You're going to be late!"

I could practically see the scowl sure to be obvious on my mother's face as she stood impatiently outside my door, hipped most likely cocked to the side. I mumbled something unintelligble and used the most will power I could muster to toss my blankets away from me and sit up on the edge of my bed.

Time to get ready.

Clothes had always been fairly important to me. I couldn't stand looking like I had just jumped in front of a few cars and then taken a hit by a thunderbolt. And trust me, some of the kids at Regis High School looked like exactly that had happened to them. But it's not like anybody ever noticed what I wore, I was just a loner that wasn't spared a second glance by anyone aside from the small circle of friends I was included in. Nevertheless, I threw on an ironed white polo, courtesy of the Moms, and pulled a pair of dark, brand name jeans over my my legs.

Bathroom time.

After emptying my bladder, I moved to the mirror and sink. Since I worked at the family restaurant (underpaid may I mention), my money was fairly low. To make things harder, the parents never bought me anything. I wasn't sure exactly why they insisted that I buy my own stuff. Well, that's not entirely true. Sometimes I suspected it had started in seventh grade, when I had come out as gay to my parents. Ever since they had grown cold and indifferent. But maybe that was just me and my mind. I knew they didn't like "my choices concerning sexuality" but really, it didn't feel like a choice. So now I bought my own stuff, shoes and all. Sure it was hard, but it was better than being dependent on my parents I guess.

So I picked up the one splurge I had made in the hair product category. Extra-Bouncy-Curls spray. Though my hair was straight as a stick, it helped to add shine. Strange? I know. Ten minutes later, I opened the door to my bedroom to find my mother still there, scowl and all.

"Finally!" She exclaimed in an exasperated tone. "Now go get some breakfast." She stood there for a second, looking as if she wanted to say something, but then walked down the hall.

Oh, sweet mother.

Gently closing the door behind me, I scurried down the hallway and down the stairs to the kitchen.

I was never very hungry in the morning, but the Mother always got upset when I didn't "fill up my stomach with nutritious food". So I popped a bagel into the toaster just in time for her to see as she came speed-walking into the kitchen behind me.

My little sister, Tanya sat at the small four person table we owned, eagerly stuffing pancakes smothered in jelly into her mouth, which was also chattering away about all the new friends she was going to make. Quite a multi-tasking feat if you ask me. I loved my little sister so much. She looked up to me like I was her hero or something. Though her constantly running mouth could get quite annoying at times, she could always make me smile, intentional or not. And she was only in second grade.

"You must be so excited, Rigo!" she said animatedly, pancakes spilling out her mouth. "Going to school and all," she added bouncily with a slightly crazy giggle thrown in.

Oh yeah. So excited. If I had any more excitement I might just die. Someone save me.

"Did you get your lunchbox? I got mine!" she asked, using both of her hands to hold up a Hello Kitty lunch box.

"Umm...I don't have a lunchbox, Tanya. I buy lunch. With money." I rubbed my fingers together, trying to indicate money.

"Oh, ok!" She giggled again.

Sometimes I seriously wondered if my mother was secretly feeding her crack.

Bing!

The bagel flew out of the toaster as my hand unconsciously formed a fist, demolishing the defense-less machine. I really needed to work on my reflexes. They weren't exactly useful. Looking up I noticed that Tanya's mouth had formed into a perfect wide "O", her eyebrows arching high beneath her flouncy bangs. After a second, the look of surprise was quickly replaced by a face of horror. She knew that I would get into a lot of trouble for that when Dad came home.

She laughed nervously, stuffing another pancake into her gaping mouth.

I grimaced apologetically at her, grabbing my bagel and hurrying towards the door, not even bothering to check if I was early to the bus stop. I didn't care what the clock said, it was time to leave.

I reached the door and turned around, watching my sister gaze forlornly at the smashed toaster, it's parts spilling out it's sides. I would buy a new one on my way home. Along with an alarm clock.

"Tanya?" I asked.

"Yes?" She replied, facing me with a huge smile.

"Don't tell Mom," I pleaded.

"'Course not!" She grinned angelically.

"Thanks!" I yelled, turning back around and rushing out the door.

"Don't forget your lunchbo-" I heard her yell behind me before the slam of the door cut her off.

And then something else went wrong.

And no, I did not smash anything this time.

I looked across the street to find the bus, pulling away from my stop.

Looks like somebody is going to be getting some exercise today.