I went straight to my bedroom right after I finished my breakfast and quickly locked my door. I just laid on my bed and stared at my black ceiling with the galaxy painted on it. I remember my dad and I worked on this when I was just eleven, and it always brought back sweet memories. Sometimes. I wonder where my Dad went because he literally went out for like ten hours already.

The calendar caught my eye and saw what day it was. Monday. And the concert is on Sunday. So in short, I only have six days left before I'll be squashed into powder.

"Cav? Can I come in?" I heard Charlie called out from the other side of my door.

Trying to name the constellations in my ceiling, I replied with a simple "Sure." I was too lazy to get up and open the door for her so she might as well let herself in.

A few shuffling past, she yelled. "Your door is locked!"A loud thud made my door shake, and I just could imagine her kicking my innocent door. Curses after curses broke the silence and I sighed dejectedly. I shook my head and walked to the door and opened it just to witness Charlie hopping in one foot while she squeezed the other.

"What?" I snapped at her. After a few calming breaths, she entered my room and laid on my bed, arms widespread, and seemed like she was making a snow angel. Cray.

"You want your gift today?" she asked and grinned widely. Her head was now resting atop her closed palms as she looked at me with so much interest and mischief.

But what did she mean by gift? As far as I was concerned, my birthday was set for December.

I think she could read my mind as she said, "Since you're going to the concert with me, might as well give you a reward."

I was only half-joking earlier but seemed like the blonde took it seriously. "Oh. Uh, okay?" I answered, and confused when I got pushed inside my bathroom. "What am I supposed to do here?"

As if I asked the most stupid question in the whole universe, she rolled her eyes at me. "Duh! Go take a bath! We're going to the mall today!" I stared at her even more confused. Sighing, she continued, "My gift for you is there. Oh and, don't take too long. I'm giving you 15 minutes. Or else."

"Or else what?"

"You're gonna go bye-bye to these," she said and held up my favourite pair of suspenders. That got me moving.

I nodded my head furiously and closed the bathroom door. I stepped into the shower. Quickly taking my clothes off and shooting it in the laundry bag, I turned the knob and let the cold water pour down on my body. I shivered a bit at the temperature. I'm not expecting that. Fuck the heater.

I finished immediately when I hear her counting down. Her voice now coming from the other door that led to my walk-in closet. I walked inside as soon as I wrapped my body with the towel which I almost let go of when an alarming scene caught my eyes.

There she was. Standing in front of my cabinet and throwing all my clothes out of it. My garments all over the floor, all the drawers were opened, making it a scene straight outta war.

Taking a deep breath, "WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING HERE?!" I yelled at her and she quickly covered her ears with her hands.

"Cav, shut up! You're making my eardrums explode," she exclaimed as she winced as another set of screams erupted from my lips.

Breathe in. Breathe out.

"You!" I pointed at her. "You're gonna clean this mess! And no way! I won't help you! If even one piece of my sock will be misplaced, you're going alone to that dubious band's concert!"

Surrendering, she said, "Okay! Okay! Just calm down will ya? God." She had the guts to roll her eyes on me, nonetheless, started folding my clothes that were spread out all over the place. I wasn't sure if she was just being her turtle self or she was doing it to get on my nerves. I'm betting for the latter.

"Goodness gracious," I murmured and sat on the floor then copied her movements. I looked at her and she has that I-really-love-you-grin.

After a few minutes (more like half an hour), the place looked livable although I have to double check my stuff later on.

"Done!" Charlie squealed and acted like she was being tickled with the endless giggle fit.

I glared at her as I gripped the towel tighter. My hair was sticking all over the place, almost dry from the air conditioning in the room. "You haven't answered my question yet," I said as I put the last garment on the drawer.

She tilted her head to her right and blinked. "What question?"

"What are you doing here?" I replied and stared at her menacingly.

"I'm looking for some appropriate clothes for you to wear to the concert," she stated in a matter-of-fact tone.

Offended, I grabbed the nearest shirt. "These are appropriate for a some band's concert." And to add effect, I put one of my hand on my waist.

"Yeah, it is. If the person who will wear this is a guy," she snapped at me. "Cav, I'm not judging your fashion sense but you have to take into consideration that you're already 18 and yet you wear these. You're a girl, not a guy. And tbh, you can do whatever but you need to adjust or people might think that you have a different gender preference. And you're growing up. You can't be stuck with clothes like this," she lectured and I sighed in defeat.

"I know, I know. But can't I just enjoy my freedom while I'm just a teenager? Wait, why are we having this kind of conversation for the nth time?" I noted and turned back on her.

"You're going to college by next year. You're not a teenager." I was about to argue when she put up a finger against my lips. "Nah-uh. We're going shopping. Today."

I knew I lost this battle before it even started. Sweat formed against my palm and I rubbed it on the towel. Tiredly, I looked at the blonde. "Fine. But can you please get out so I can change? Then we can go to the mall," I said.

Without another word, she left the small room.

I put on the shirt in my hand, which was a black MCR shirt, and I grabbed some jeans. Frowning since the jeans were loose on my waist, I put on a white suspenders before going through my shoe rack. It took me five minutes to realize that my white sneakers were missing.

It has to be downstairs. With that in mind, I set out to find my shoes. I went back to my room and picked up my brush, trying to calm down the wild mane which is my hair. I grabbed the necessities and pulled a black lace up to my wrist for later.

I was on the staircase when I heard a loud yell and I just knew it had to be Charlie. Quickening my pace, I jumped the last steps with a yelp.

Charlie handed me a pair of shoes. My lost pair of white sneakers. "Thank you," I said and sat down on the nearest chair to toe my laces.

I saw mom's feet towards me and I looked up just in time to take my keys from her. "Thanks, Mom. We'll be back in a few hours," I told her as Charlie kissed her cheek. I rubbed her bulging belly and waved to her whilst sprinting towards the door.

Charlie got inside my car, a nice grey Jeep Wrangler Pickup when I started the engine. It roared back to life and without waiting, I floored the gas.

She turned on the radio and opened the windows, singing in tune but losing herself like she was filming a music video. I paid no heed to her. My mind was focused on the road in front of me. The drive to the mall was merely half an hour, saved from the traffic that doubled up the time in normal circumstances, but I always kept to the speed limit. I never wanted to injure myself or anyone for that matter. I've watched enough news to know that recklessness can cause unwanted deaths.

I turned slightly to Charlie and was just about to speak when a nice white Rover zoomed past us in a blur. I could hear the music blasting from the fancy car that I almost rammed into if it had not been for my foot automatically hitting the brakes. The sudden action made the seatbelt dug into my skin and I winced. I looked over at my cousin, fully now, and I saw her hand rubbing her chest just below the seatbelt.

"Well, ain't that fun," she commented as she smiled at me, showing that she was okay.

I sighed and carefully drove back again. "I'm sorry. They came out of nowhere." I apologized and she just hummed. Our eyes trailing the Rover that kept switching lanes.

After a few minutes, I heard her mutter. "It was never your fault."