Wearily, I rubbed my eyes and stretched across the bed, blindly fumbling for my annoying phone. The insistent buzzing was the third and final alarm, a digital threat to get the fuck up or face being late. This one had a math problem blah. I sighed, quickly solving the 3 problems to silence the noise before finally climbing out of bed. I grabbed my clothes and a towel on the way to the bathroom, removed my shorts and shirt, and stepped into the shower. It was a short blast of heat, just enough time to shave my legs and scrub my hair with minty shampoo. My short blonde hair was blessedly easy to manage. Stepping out, I grabbed the towel and dried myself off, wrapping it around me.
My reflection in the mirror made me pause. Dark circles underscored my muddy green eyes, a clear consequence of my late-night reading. I knew better, but sleep had been frustratingly elusive lately. My thoughts kept circling back to Dawn and this sudden request for help after 10 years of barely anything. Why the secrecy over the phone? I shook my head, trying to banish the nagging questions until I actually saw her. A little makeup would have to do over my pale skin. I quickly styled my hair into a messy fohawk and then finished drying the rest of me. Slipping into a familiar pair of jeans, a comfortable shirt, and my trusty boots, I gave myself a final once-over in the hall mirror. This is as good as it gets, I thought with a small, tired smile before heading out the door.
Later that morning, I sat in the busy coffee shop, a knot tightening in my stomach as I wondered if I would recognize Dawn after all this time. It had been so long. I'd tried, God knows I'd tried, to stay around for her, but the constant fighting had become unbearable. My stepfather Jay —her dad—and I were like oil and water, and when Mom finally kicked me out, Dawn knew that slamming the door was permanent for someone as stubborn as me. So, I'd stayed away, sending gifts when I could afford them, answering every phone call, but it never felt like enough. We were just too broken. What I didn't understand was why was she reaching out now?
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The bell above the door rang announcing someone. It was her, so different from the girl etched in my memory, yet the underlying structure was undeniably the same. I was always struck by the contrast between us. Her long, golden-brown hair flowed in soft curls around her slender shoulders, a picture of feminine grace. Standing at a softer five-foot-six, she was only a few inches shorter than my own five-foot-ten frame, a height that always made me feel gangly and less traditionally feminine. Her skin was a beautiful olive color thanks to her Brazilian heritage. Dawn, a youthful 23 and I keenly felt the five-year gap between us.
The one constant, that fun genetic quirk we shared, was our eye color. Now those familiar eyes narrowed with what I could only read as disappointment, it would be mildly amusing if I wasn't so tired. Dawn slowly assessed me. I decided to take a sip of my coffee as I waited. Not bad I thought, the lukewarm liquid doing little to calm the beating of my heart. Breath Jade remembered to stay in control. “ Well Jade it's been too long” Dawn said with a smile that i remembered well it my family. It told nothing. No, if you wanted to read my family, it was all in the eyes and Dawn’s eyes said she wanted something from me. I raised an eyebrow “ What is it Dawn? Last time we spoke, you never wanted to see me again.” she sighed dramatically, eyes rolling “ You never did like small talk. Fine, My fiance and I have this project in a new game coming out. Well he needs volunteers and I volunteered you.” My eyes jumped up to her face. Wait what. But before I could voice my objections Dawn screeched “ Excuse me for thinking my sister that was more like a mom to me would do one small favor for her future brother in law. I know we have had our differences but I thought blood meant something“
