Brighter Places

Prologue

The damp grass tickled my back as I laid on the top of a hill. I intently gazed at the altostratus clouds that blanketed the morning sky, which indicated a rainstorm was to be anticipated later.

I released a frosty breath and began to trace pictures into the thick clouds. All I could manage was a distorted elephant, unsurprisingly. It's not like you receive many options when the sky appears to be mainly just one dull-coloured cloud.

Time seemed to extend farther than usual. I typically soaked in my limited time here faster than you could say "banana!" I dropped my gaze down from the gloomy sky and scanned my surroundings, searching for something interesting to focus my attention on.

Then, in the distance, I spotted a small feline. I seldom saw any cats because of my mother's horrid allergy to them. As long as I managed to replace all of my clothing and wash myself before I arrive back home, it should be alright.

I pushed myself to sit up with a strangled grunt; I've never been the best at anything physical. I successfully sat up and forced myself to my feet. My clothing clung sloppily to me as they got soaked in mud.

I took long and careful strides forward, my boots squelching and splashing in the mud that coated the grass. I cringed in mild disgust.

The feline twitched and rotated its head to gaze directly at me. I froze, not desiring the cat to flee out of fear even though that's what's to be expected.

Contrary to my belief, the cat began to trudge its way towards me. My eyes widened slightly in mild shock and awe. I barely saw these creatures, after all.

I took in more of the feline's features as it gradually approached me. It appeared to be a calico cat with, not surprisingly, a coat caked in mud. It had an intense brown gaze as it strode forward.

The cat stopped right in front of me. I blinked down at it and extended an arm down to pet the adorable creature.
I let my fingers thread through its long muddy fur, collecting spare hairs and dirtying my hand with more mud; I was apathetic to that fact as my wonder dominated my disgust.

"Cute little thing," I muttered under my breath as I continued to thread my fingers through its fur. The cat craned its head up at me, its face contorted into an expression that convinced me it was going to respond. Perhaps a purr, or a little—

"LAURA ROSEMARY, GET YOUR BUTT OUT OF THAT BED RIGHT NOW!" it screamed. Wait, what? I jumped back in shock as the demonic feline continued to scream at me.

"I AM GOING TO GIVE YOU UNTIL THE COUNT OF THREE TO GET UP!" I freaked out as my environment quickly faded into a bright white. I winced and shielded my eyes.

"Finally, Laura! It's 7:20! You should know better than to sleep in the first day of school!" It was my mother, standing in my doorway with a pointed glare. "Get up and dressed right n–"

"HOLY GEEZ OKAY!" I screeched in panic, having processed the situation quickly. "I'M SORRY AHH!"

"Then get ready!" And with that, my mother disappeared back into, presumably, the kitchen. I quickly threw my sheets off me and rolled out of the comfort of my bed, crashing into the floor.

"I can't believe I slept in! What about-? Oh, forget it!" I jumped back to my feet and hurriedly stumbled to my closet, where I had already chosen my outfit for the day. "Good thing I kept that habit.."

It took me three minutes to throw on my school attire and an additional 2 minutes to comb down my matted auburn hair. After I had finished that, I raced out of my room and downstairs, tripping over the last few steps.

"Take a bagel and hop in the car! I already put your school supplies in there, seeing that you were going to be late!" Late. The word burned itself into my mind and left a sour taste in my mouth, even though it wasn't I who said it.

She didn't need to tell me twice. I swiftly grabbed a bagel from our small coffee table and stuffed it into my mouth. "Thank you!" I yelled through said bagel.

"Yeah, yeah- just go already!" She was already out the door. I sprinted after her and practically threw myself in the passenger seat of the old convertible we owned.

"7:35. School starts in ten minutes," my mother irritably muttered, starting up the car and pulling out of our driveway. "Welcome to your senior year, sweetie. This better not happen again in the future."