Kaleidoscopic Daylilies (Brittana)

Rush Hour

Aloha all! This is my second book (the first one is unpublished because I wanted to start anew with one that was more planned out :), though I may go back to it at some point in the future). I don't really have much else to say except that I'm sorry this chapter is so short- it's merely and introduction chapter. Anyway, have fun reading and don't forget to vote and comment!

I didn't want to wake up just yet. I knew that if I did, I would be forced to deal with the unpacked luggage sitting in the middle of my dorm. Quinn had complained earlier, saying that she almost tripped on it coming home the night before yesterday. It's not my fault that she's a lightweight drunk and got carried away with Puck's party.

Just as I was going to drift back into a dreamless sleep, I realized something. My alarm hasn't gone off- and I had awoken without hearing it? That, or I was up earlier than I needed to be? I knew that I had never gotten up before eight in the morning without some form of alarm pushing me awake. So, I hesitantly opened my right eye only. The crack between the blinds and the window sent a sliver of light into the room, and I winced due to looking directly at it.

I quickly looked over to my alarm clock, and I practically had a heart attack. My first lecture for the day started five minutes ago. It's not just any lecture, it's a lecture by Ms. Sylvester. Yeah, I'm totally dead.

I know what you're thinking- "it's just a lecture, you'll be fine!" I won't. Firstly, Ms. Sylvester is practically the scariest woman alive. That's saying a lot since I don't get scared at all. If you mess up the tiniest bit under her watch, you're chopped liver. Secondly, I'm studying Neuroscience at MIT. Let's just say that this study doesn't really have any room for mistakes. Mistakes like being late.

I should really stop thinking and just get ready, I'm losing valuable time!

I shot out of bed, almost tripping on my opened suitcase. I'm also supposed to drive four hours out to my dad's house today. He wanted to have a get together with me and my brother, but I know that's not how it's going to turn out.

I brushed my teeth as swiftly as I could, somehow managing to brush my hair at the same time. Afterwards, I threw on dark grey jeans and a Rolling Stones t-shirt. Since I didn't have time to really care about appearances today, I just put on a light coat of mascara. I took a quick look at myself in the mirror, making sure I looked somewhat decent before snatching my textbooks and booking it out of the door.

The lecture hall was about a five minute walk, and it took me about three minutes to get ready- impressive, even for me! I was already late so with that added time, I'd be thirteen minutes late. Oh, god. Ms. Sylvester is going to humiliate the fuck out of me!

Today's lecture wasn't really the one to miss out on either, it about the neurobiology of slow synaptic transmission. Big words, I know. I don't even like studying neuroscience, but someone has to make my mother proud.

My mom had a freak accident on the freeway two months ago, and it hasn't exactly been the easiest time for me. She was honestly my biggest supporter. She was honestly the best person I've ever met.

After her funeral, my dad went haywire. My parents were already divorced before my mom's death, but they still talked. My dad started to drown himself in the taste of beers and hard alcohol. My brother is a whole other story. He disappeared for two weeks, then came back begging for money from my father. Turns out, he was a pretty big druggie.

I tend to steer away from talking about my family, only because these last two months have made the situations way worse. It took me a minute, but then I realized that someone has to make my mother proud, and it sure as hell won't be my brother or my dad. So, I took it upon myself to start studying neuroscience.