Chapter 24: Waking Up and Pancake Love
*Neeta’s P.O.V.*
I groaned and opened my eyes. Kayla’s clock said ‘4:15 PM’. “Wake up guys,” I said, “We pulled an all nighter.” I pocketed the song we had written until about 6 AM.
“Oh my gosh, we have to get ready.” Mia said shoving me into the bathroom, “GET READY AND MAKE PANCAKES.” I hurried and got ready, taking a shower, fixing my hair, the essentials.
As I walked out, I heard the other showers running and walked downstairs. I took the pancake mix and got cooking. Putting on my apron, I put a flame on the stove and stirred the mix. The clock said ‘4:45’ now and I had finished the batter. The girls were struggling in the bathroom to get ready.
I yawned and rubbed one eye as I heard the doorbell. I opened the door and smiled to see Kevin, Joe, and Nick there, “Hey,” I said, “Come in.”
“What’s up?” Kevin asked as we four piled into the kitchen.
“Not much,” I said shrugging, putting some batter in the pan, “Making pancakes.” I took out the butter and syrups, setting out seven plates on the huge island in Kayla’s kitchen. I flipped the first pancake and Mia and Kayla marched down, taking their respected seats. They all gestured a hello and I turned to them, “Who wants the first pancake?”
“ME!” Mia said, waving her hand in the air furiously. I smiled and set it on her plate. I put some more batter in and began with the next; she covered the pancake with syrup and butter.
“Neeta,” Kayla said and I turned to her, “You okay?”
“Yeah,” I said smiling, “Just a bit tired.” I set out the next pancake and I didn’t see who took it.
“Nice apron,” Nick said grinning.
“Do we have to listen to it?” Joe asked raising an eyebrow.
“Nope,” I said, “I’d rather you don’t anyway. My dad gave it to me; he always gets me silly things for my birthday.” I shrugged, setting out pancakes more quickly. “You guys are here, ten minutes early.”
“Better to be early than late,” Kevin said biting into a pancake.
I shrugged and put down some pancakes for myself, “Anyone want more besides Mia?” I asked as Mia blushed furiously.
“I’ll take one,” Kayla said.
“Yeah,” Joe said, “Me too.”
“These are good,” Kevin said smiling and Nick nodded. I made one more round of pancakes for everyone and sat down with them. “What’s your secret?”
“What secret?” I asked him back, quite confused.
“This isn’t like the mixes you get in most boxes,” He said finishing his last pancake, “What’d you put in them?”
“Ah,” I said grinning, putting away my apron and taking the dishes, “A true annoying cook never reveals her secrets.” He huffed and pouted, “That won’t work, sorry. Mia’s even tried that, my cooking is the one thing that even cute cannot penetrate.”
“It’s true,” Mia said quickly, “Even Ben’s tried to get her to cave, it doesn’t work.” Kayla nodded as I put the dishes in the dishwasher, cleaning the counter. “So… Shall we leave?”
“Yeah,” Nick said, “But our mom is at Mia’s house.” There was a slight pause and my phone vibrated. A normal ringtone came on, signaling home.
“Hello?” I asked as mom’s tone raged through the phone, “Uh-huh. M’kay, yup… I’ll be right there… Nope, sorry. Oh, Darnit…” I sighed closing the phone. “Yeah…”
“Go,” Kayla and Mia said automatically.
“I’ll be at Mia’s in fifteen minutes.” I said quickly waving goodbye and walking outside. I sighed and drove all the way to my house, it was quite boring.
I walked in the front door and my mom and dad were sitting there, “Mr. Jonas and Mrs. Jonas just came by,” Mom said, “I don’t think you should go.”
“Mhm,” I said in my normal bored mood. She turned toward me with a look that was ferocious.
“It cuts into your school schedule, and I can deal with that because of the private tutor,” She said trailing off and I knew where this was going, “But I don’t really trust you with those boys.” Here we go… Fight-o-mania.
“What do you think we’ll happen?” I asked raising an eyebrow, keeping my cool, and sitting down. I looked to dad for help, begging him to take my side.
“I think you’ll do something stupid with one of them,” She said, “Like get pregnant.”
“Mom…” I said quietly, “They all made a promise, to be pure till marriage and I’m not that stupid. I may be stupid, but not that stupid.” I looked up from the floor, “This is something I love to do, and no I do not care if I don’t get the spotlight, I love to drum. It’s in my blood, even though I’m talking to you right now, all I can here in my head, is a drum beat.”
“I understand that,” She said, “But I still do not think you’re old enough either.”
“You’re just going to keep thinking of excuses aren’t you? Mom, this is my chance to get away, and to be someone. I don’t want to keep sitting here and be under you control, because it’s not worth it. You guys say I should take on things and try them, and care about the stuff that I love. I’m taking a stand right now,” I said standing up, “Whether you like it or not, I’m going on this tour.”
“No you’re not!” She said her tone rising.
“Yeah, I am,” My tone was clear and solid.
“No you are not, you’re irresponsible and incompetent, why can’t you just listen to me for once?!”
“Because you’re not right this time,” I said, and she stood up, and I felt a stinging on my cheek the next second. I winced and looked at her, “You’re not.”
“Yes I a-“ She was cut off by my dad.
“Stop it,” He said for once taking a stand, “Neeta, go.” He said clearly and I nodded. I walked out of the house hearing a scream, and then talking. I walked over to the car and wondered what the girls were doing. As I drove to Mia’s house I sang a bit, quietly.
“I’m not going to hide,
Under this shield anymore,
Your opinion isn’t valued,
When it comes to how I see myself.”
***Alright, here's my chapter. It's kind of... Jacked up. xD