cynosure

chapter one

Poking my head around the corner of the door, the chipped paint scraped against the palm of my hands, leaving peelings of dried paint stuck uncomfortably.

Dusting my palms against the worn out shirt, I stepped out of the room carefully. Taking light steps on the old wooden floor, avoiding any rotten wood that would creak at the slightest of pressure. The sweet scent of strawberries becoming stronger with each step. My thoughts of cautiousness were replaced with dazed dreams of breakfast. Grimacing at the rumbling in my stomach, I began walking down the hallway absentmindedly, memorizing each floor board through years of practice.

While walking down the stairs, my shoulder collided with something that shouldn't have been there. Shaking my head from its daze I looked to my left only to see Vincent.

Vincent is my little sister Sophia's best friend, they'd been together since elementary school.

"Oh. Hey Vin, Sophia should be in her room."

"..."

With that, I continued on down the stairs, wondering what was for breakfast.

Dancing around the furniture in the living room, I entered the dining room and sat down quietly, watching my mom set the last of the breakfast down. Smiling, satisfied with herself, she looked at the wall clock and began to shout.

"Kids Breakfas- ahh!"

Silently watching my mom as she placed a hand over her heart, a little smile crept onto my face.

"Suzanna! When..did you...get here!?" She exclaimed through shuddered breathes.

"Good morning to you too, mamá."

Sitting down, she shook her head giving me a pointed look. "Good morning."

"I was wondering when you were going to notice me." I smiled, placing my head in my palm.

"You're just like your father always sneaking up on someone-"

"Who's always sneaking up on someone?" A gruff and teasing voice chimed in.

Watching my mother jump and turn around to playfully slap my dad's arm, I laughed at the small and affectionate display.

"I swear, one of these days you two are going to give me a heart attack." She grumbled teasingly.

"Relax vieja, it's not our fault you jump at the slightest of sounds, ain't that right mija?" He winked at me, putting his hands over his wife's shoulders.

"Just sit down, and eat your breakfast before it turns cold." She huffed, biting a piece of toast as to prove her point.

As I filled my plate with eggs and bacon, my brother's heavy footsteps could be heard thundering down the staircase. Just as I was about to bite a piece of bacon, it was snatched from my grasp, and into the mouth of someone else.

"Thanks squirt."

Rolling my eyes, I grabbed another strip from my plate and bit into it. Watching my brother stuff his mouth with food, I looked away and saw Sophia and Vincent stroll in.

Swallowing his food, Santiago looked up at our parents, and began to stand up. "I'm going out with the boys, I'll be back before night." With that he walked out of the dining room, and grabbed his car keys. As the front door was shut, Sophs and Vin sat down and began eating.

"Uhm..Suzanna?"

Looking at Vin, I nodded, waiting for him to continue.

"Why..Why don't you urm..have any...bottoms on?" He stuttered, looking away.