THERE'S STILL A FEW HOURS LEFT.

That was the message scrawled in large letters across the face of my old alarm clock. I had gotten a digital one recently and never remembered to throw the old one out. I did a double take when I found the sentence. It almost looked like the message was created out of the twisted bits of metal numbers, plus the three clock hands that were now nonexistent.

I don't know who messed with my alarm clock, but I sure as heck didn't care right now. It was seven o'clock and I needed to get up.

It was partly my fault, I stayed up late watching a movie, even though my mother desperately pleaded me to either study for the test today or get some sleep. Both of which I ignored, because the week had been terrible and I honestly didn't want to deal with anymore drama. So I watched as others acted it out on the silver screen for me. Which didn't help anyway.

Now I was tired, cranky, cold, hungry, and wishing I had studied for the darn test.

I dragged myself out of bed and groaned inwardly, all of my favorite shirts were dirty and I had forgotten to do the laundry. So I was left with either a short sleeved bright pink polo shirt or a faded and moth eaten dress shirt that smelled suspiciously of decaying pride.

I took the dress shirt. If I was lucky I could just wear a jacket on top.

I turned around to leave and eat something edible, and nearly jumped out of my skin.

The alarm clock was dangling from a shirt hook on my bedroom door. The giant letters staring back up at me.

THERE'S STILL A FEW HOURS LEFT.

I have no idea what it means. A few hours left of what? The day, the morning? It didn't make any sense. I didn't think about for too long, because my mind was still on the subject of food.

I glanced back at the digital clock and to my horror discovered I had spent thirty minutes in the dank and messy room I called home just clothing myself. All getting ready for a day I didn't want to face, and a test I didn't study for, a week of crammed homework, and a year of failure. I sighed and threw the alarm clock into a dark corner where it would probably be forgotten. Good riddance I say.

I dripped my way into the kitchen and tried to quietly hide my disgust at the poorly cooked food.

"Hey sweetie, how'd you sleep?" My mother asked, tossing around some blackened eggs.

"That looks revolting." I snapped.

"Gabriel!" She scolded, whacking me over the head.

"Take it as a complement, it can't be worse than your burnt orange juice." I sighed, looking around for a poptart I could just heat up.

"What's gotten into you today?" She asked, looking hurt flashing quickly in her blue eyes, which I ignored.

"Nothing, I'm not looking forward to today."

"I bet it's because you stayed up late last night, isn't it, I knew that would only end badly. You know Ephesians chapter five says, "look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is."

I rolled my eyes at her, hiding my own jolt of annoyance. "I don't need the Bible. I need the power to pass a stupid test."

"Well if you had just listened to me then you wouldn't be in this predicament, would you?" She pointed out.

"Well you can't order me around forever so enjoy it while it lasts." I spat, not backing away from the cold stare my mother gave me.

"I made your lunch for you, since you slept in." Her voice, was cold, steely now. And I watched as she shoved the eggs that had been meant for me into the trash can. "It's by the door, you can pick it up on your way out."

I decided to forget eating and just move on. A small part of me was guilty and sorry that I snapped at her, but the rest of myself was so angry. She was always ordering me around and shoving the good book in my face whenever I was feeling down. I can't wait until I get a job and move out because I'm done with living with my mom.

I take the packed lunch anyway, eating most of it while I wait at the corner for my friend Tucker. The sky was dark and drippy looking. It wasn't long before I was standing on a portraits of small dark get circles that appeared once the rain hit the concrete. I took out my phone and immediately saw he had texted me minutes ago.

Tucker: yo man where r u?

Tucker: Gabe?

Tucker: gabe

Tucker: I swear if you don't answer the flipping text...

Tucker: Fine, c u at school, hope you manage to get up in time to grace us with your presence.

The clock on top read eight o'clock sharp. I hissed angrily before shoving the phone back in my pocket. I was late. And now I was walking to school in the rain.

Just wonderful.