Reasons to Live

Chapter 3-

"Dad, are you coming down yet? It's really late and I have tons of homework today," I complain over the phone. Suddenly a breeze blows by. I wear my jacket to keep warmth. "It's also cold," I mumble.

"Just wait for a few more minutes ,sweetheart," he replies.

"Fine," I grumble before hanging up. The vibrations of my phone make me look at it again, in hopes that my dad is calling to tell me that he is right outside. But, I only received a text message from Joshua.

"Yo! I just finished basketball practice. Guess who got Charlie Lee's number? Me!" I roll my eyes at his text message. I jump in surprise when I hear someone coughing. I turn around and see my dad's boss and co worker, Jerry and Marcos. Both of the men are around mid-forties.

"You are Reina Ceverly, right?" Jerry questions.

I nod as they both grin widely gives a grin that makes my hair rise and my blood run cold.

~~~~~

"Reina, it's time to wake up for another beautiful day!" someone sings to my ears. I quickly sit up and smack whoever he or she is.

"Ow!"

I open my eyes and see Joshua rubbing his cheek.

"What are you doing in my bedroom at 6 a.m., you idiot!?" I exclaim, trying to calm myself. I realize that I have been experiencing shocks quite often lately. "Joshua, how did you even get in here?"

"First of all, it's already 7:15 a.m., and second, your sister let me in. She said she's leaving with her friends so don't bother waiting for her," Joshua scowls, still angry about the fact that I punched him first thing in the morning. I don't feel guilty because he deserves the smack.

"I think I'm going to get a bruise," he mumbles as he continues to rub his cheek in dismay.

"I can't wait to spread the news around. Joshua was punched by a girl," I say as I roll my eyes at him.

"You do that and I will go and tell everyone that you have a crush on Justin Bieber," he threatens. I frown at his words, but happily reply, "But I don't."

"So?"

He lies down beside me and begins reading my magazines. I lie back down and request, "Wake me up after ten minutes." I trust that he won't do anything I wouldn't want him to do while I sleep. Besides, we see each other as nothing more than just siblings.

"No Reina, you have to get up now. My car is already downstairs and I also need to pick up Calvin and Megan, if Megan is even awake yet."

Joshua, not noticing my reactions to his mentioning Calvin so suddenly, flips through the magazine.

"Now get off that lazy butt of yours and hurry up before I leave you," he commands. I stick out my tongue a him as he chuckles and says, "Don't make me do some other things to that tongue of yours."

I make an ugly face at him before going to the bathroom to get ready. When I'm alone, I slowly roll up my sleeves and look at the cuts I got yesterday. The cut is now closed up but blood stains mark my hoodie. I groan. Another hoodie is ruined because of my carelessness.

I quickly brush my teeth and shower. I grab another hoodie from my closet and wear it along with my skinny jeans. I slowly make my way downstairs. Joshua looks at me with curiosity.

"What's with you and hoodies lately?"

"They're comfortable. Besides, it's September. The temperature is dropping, " I point out with relief that my excuse passes as valid. We make our way into the car as I turn up the radio, making myself comfortable in the front seat. As I place my bag in front of me, Joshua laughs.

"What?"

"It's just that Calvin usually calls shot gun. He's not going to be too happy about this," Joshua chuckles as he starts up the car. I suddenly feel like I should walk to school instead. Joshua notices my change of mood and looks at me with a worried expression.

"Are you feeling well?"

"Just fine," I say in a low voice. He gives me a puzzled look but quickly turns his eyes back onto the road. We stay silent until we are in front of Calvin's house.

"Hey man," Joshua says as he gives Calvin one of those guy handshakes. I try to ignore Calvin's presence.

"Hey back at you," Calvin says in his usual cool and soft voice. I look at the interior rear view mirror and come in contact with Calvin's dark, brown eyes. My heart races, not because of his looks, but because he is staring at me with cold, distant eyes.

"Morning, Reina," he greets with a nod. This surprise Joshua and I, Calvin barely talks to me, let alone say good morning.