Zero to Eighty

My head was not pounding. Thank God. But my coarse throat, and my stomach said otherwise about my current condition. I lied face first into my pillow groaning at the stream of sunlight that blinded the only eye I had open. One arm lazily fell off the side of my bed as my mouth stayed slightly agape. I swallowed and winced from the dryness of my throat. With as much strength as I could muster, I pushed myself up from the bed only to have my feeble arms succumb to the dead weight, and my face met the confines of the fluffy pillow again.

Knock. Knock.

The door creaked open and my nostrils were welcomed with the strong scent of sweet pea and cotton candy clouds of utter perkiness. I felt my bed dip and a gentle hand rubbing my back softly.

"Wake up Sleeping Beauty," my sister chimed merrily. How she managed to be this chipper in the morning was clearly the work of the Devil. Though I couldn't see her face, I could feel her dimpled, well-acclaimed smile piercing my back. "We've got a fun day ahead of us."

"Yeah right," I grumbled under my breath, as I flipped over to face the animated, pink lip glossed woman smiling down at me.

"Why don't you freshen up and have some breakfast downstairs. I made french toast," Ella said in a sing-song voice, "your favorite."

I rubbed my eyes, adjusting to the light. I sat up with my back against the sophisticatedly crafted velvet headboard, "yea, sure thing. I'll meet you downstairs."

Ella nodded, sensing my attempts to shoo her away and stood from the bed. I gazed up at her perfection--- her small figure fitted in a light pink floral romper, her Pantene Pro-V jet black hair that cascaded down to her hips, and even with the littlest amount of makeup, she still managed to look like a super star.

Ella proceed to the door, but before walking out, she turned back towards me, "I am really glad that you're home Kenzie… Regan was always your favorite sibling---"

I lurched forward and opened my mouth to speak, but Ella shook her head and held out her hand. I slumped back down against the headboard.

"No, it's okay. I always knew that you wanted to be like him… Secretly, I wanted to be like him too," Ella admitted, biting her bottom lip. She let out a huge sigh and left my room.

That was something I definitely did not expect to come out of Ella's mouth. I wanted to be like him too. The words hit me but it didn't resonate with my mind right away. And at that moment I wasn't exactly sure if the words even left Ella's lips. For most of my life, Ella spent every waking moment coercing me to join her on the dark side of frills, lace, crossed legs, and gossip over manicures. After years and years of trying to make me strive to be just like her, I could not believe that inside of Ella, was a piece of her that looked up to Regan too.

After showering, and changing into a pair of distressed, high waisted jean shorts, a tucked in white tank top, and flannel wrapped around my waist, I headed down to the kitchen. The warm aroma of cinnamon, and maple syrup invaded my nostrils, and my body immediately was hugged with welcome.

"There she is," my dad beamed from behind his Mimosa, and iPhone. "Morning sweetheart. Sleep well?"

"Yea, I did," I sat across from my dad, piling a few slices of french toast onto the plate before me. I took a bite of the syrup-smothered breakfast item and wallowed in the amazing taste.

"Did you get enough sleep? Seeing that you snuck out last night?"

Fuck. I forgot.

I turned my attention to my mother who was pouring coffee into a mug. She approached the table and took a seat next to dad before continuing, "I saw the car out on the driveway this morning instead of its usual place in the shed. Exactly where were you last night?"

"No where important mom," I grunted, dropping the fork onto my plate.

"Not important?" she seethed with a raised brow, "it must've been, seeing that you had the nerve to go behind our backs and go galavanting all throughout the night!"

"It's not a big deal. I just wanted to go see some old friends," it wasn't a lie, but it wasn't exactly the whole truth either.

"Old friends? Kenzie, were you at The Warehouse last night?" mom guessed, setting her coffee down with vigor, a few splashes landing on the wooden table top.

I shrugged, "maybe."

"You know how I feel about that place… it's taboo. I will not lose another child to that Hell hole!" mom angrily disclosed.

"Nora, tama na**. We can't blame Kenzie for wanting to see friends. She hasn't been home in three years," dad defended. His voice never raised in decibels unlike my mom's.

But before I could speak, the Devil in Prada quickly added, "we should've gotten rid of that car like I had originally planned."

"What the hell?!" I slammed my fists onto the table, causing the fork to clank against the glass plate. "Don't you dare get rid of that car. It's mine! Regan gave that to me!"

"Kenzie, shhh, it's okay," my dad cooed, patting my back.

"It's okay? Dad, did you not hear her?" I gestured towards my mother, "she wanted to get rid of my car! My car!"

"We would've gotten you a new one in replace," mom stated nonchalantly, as if the idea of new car would suddenly ebb my ire.

"You're ridiculous you know that?" I yelled, standing from my seat. "Just because you suddenly call me Kenzie means absolute shit to me. The red car that's sitting outside on the driveway next to your precious Benz is more than just a means of transportation to me."

"Kenzie, I don't mean to upset you but that car, and everything about it is, is---"

"Is what mom?" I interrupted, absolutely fuming, "if you get to keep Regan's room as some kind of shrine to the sick memory of his last day with us, then I get to keep the only connection I have of him!"

I stormed away on that last note, and I could see my mother's face fall into the palm of her hands from the corner of my eyes. I headed for the front door, bumping into a very stunned Ella.

"I heard yelling. What's going on?" Ella asked.

"I'll be outside waiting for you," I ignored her question, and continued towards the heavy, wooden door.

I slammed the front door shut and took a seat on the curb in a huff. I sprawled my legs out in front of me, looking behind at the red car glimmering in the sunlight. I couldn't believe, actually strike that, I could believe that my mother actually considered getting rid of my car. That car was like a teddy bear to me; a safety blanket. That car encompassed everything Regan stood for, and the fruitful nineteen years he lived. Throwing out that car meant throwing Regan's memory out the window, and would only exhume the feelings I worked so hard to bury.

Grinding gears echoed in my ears and I turned my attention to the garage door sliding up to reveal Ella's white BMW convertible. The engine rumbled and a moment later Ella backed out of the garage and onto the driveway where she turned her head in my direction. Though I couldn't see her eyes through the expensive, oversized Gucci sunglasses that embellished her thin face, I knew she was looking directly at me.

"Come on Kenzie!" she shouted, nodding her head.

With a sigh, I stood up from the cub, dusting off my bottom. I sat in the passenger seat the same moment Ella let the top down from the car. She turned on the radio and some punk rock song about American Apparel underwear infiltrated our ears. Ella continued to back out of the drive way before cruising down the street and out of the gated community.

"Do you want to go to the beach later?" Ella asked as she slowed down the car at the stoplight. "We can get some sun, chill out, blast some music. I'll even make you a cocktail. Non-virgin," Ella grinned, attempting to sway my decision in her favor.

"Eh, I don't know Ella," I grumbled. Spending quality time with Ella wasn't exactly in my top ten list of fun things to do.

"Oh come on sister! It'll be super duper!" Ella pleaded, making a left turn at the green light, "if you want we can have a bonfire at night instead! Call up some of your old friends to come over. And non-virgin drinks are still on the table."

My mind immediately drifted to Eleanor, Danielle, and Perrie, who I met less than 24 hours ago, and I was already contemplating their company more than the idea of gossiping over Peach Mojitos with Ella. I vacillated the suggestion, and shrugged, almost succumbing to one of Ella's super duper fun schemes.

"I guess I could hit up some of my friends and ask if they're down," I sighed, and Ella squealed with excitement.

"Oh my gosh, I am so excited!" Ella declared. She was such a stereotypical Southern Cali girl that the Orange County Facebook page should change their profile photo to one of Ella in a bikini soaking up the Marlow Point sun. "I'm totally going to bake cookies or cupcakes or something! Maybe I should order food from The Mantra Grill? We're going to need more cranberry juice, and some peach schnapps and pineapple juice! Oh! And I can't forget about s'mores! This is going to be so much fun…"

I cracked a smile listening to Ella's voice trail off into waves of squeals and excited outbursts of ideas for that night's kickback. Despite the fact that it was my sister planning it, who got all her OCD slash perfectionist instincts from our mother, tonight may actually be fun. I just had to make sure the girls were down, but I was pretty sure that the mention of free alcohol would easily convince them to come over.

Ella parked her car in a side parking lot off of one of the main shopping districts downtown. We both walked down the sidewalk and around the corner to a small, yet elegant boutique named Isadora's Bridal. The moment we walked in, a tiny bell chimed and the strong aroma of potpourri graced my nostrils. Suddenly, a woman about Ella's age emerged from the back room. She was just as gorgeous as Ella with dark skin and long black hair that was tied delicately at the nape of her neck.

"Rochelle," Ella greeted, her arms wide open.

"Ella my love," Rochelle embraced my sister, giving her a kiss on both cheeks.

"Meet my sister Kenzie," Ella introduced, pushing me forward. I gave the girl a small smile and a quick wave of my hand. Though that didn't satisfy her, and Rochelle pulled me into a hug. She smelled like the inside of Bath and Body Works.

"Nice to meet you Kenzie. Are you excited for your sister's wedding? It's the talk of the town you know," Rochelle said matter-of-factly.

Ugh. So I've heard.

"It's great and all, but shouldn't there be other front page worthy news? Like, I don't know, the kidnapped Nigerian school girls or Peru pushing L.B.G.T. rights?" I haphazardly proposed. Ella and Rochelle just stared at me with curiosity. It wasn't until I forced a laugh did they loosen up.

"You're funny Kenzie," Rochelle chuckled, followed by Ella who still eyed me with suspicion,

"Yea… Any who, Rochelle do you have Kenzie's bridesmaid dress ready to be fitted?"

"As a matter of fact I do. It's right here," Rochelle led us into the back room where six empty dressing stalls were.

The lighting was bright as an intricate chandelier hung from the center of the room, just above a circular raised platform. A large floor-length mirror garnished the charming dressing room in front of the platform, and a vase of faux vegetation sat in the corner. I entered into one of the stalls where a stunning dress hung from the hooks. I was slightly taken aback by Ella's selection because it was a dress not meant for a hanger, but meant to fit around a human body… my body.

"We'll be out here when you're done changing," I heard Ella announce as I closed the white shutter door behind me.

I took off my clothes and plucked the blush-colored strapless dress off of its hanger and stepped into it. The dress fell right above my knees, and the lace bodice was a tad tight around my girls, but did wonders in terms of cleavage. It cinched nicely at the waist with a satin ribbon and the bottom half was made of several layers of tulle. Without looking at myself in the mirror, I opened the dressing room door and walked out into the main area where both Ella and Rochelle gasped with joyous frenzy.

"Kenzie you look gorgeous," Ella professed with her hands to her mouth.

"Absolutely jaw dropping," Rochelle added, taking my hand and leading me to the platform where I finally got a look at myself.

"Whoa," I whispered to myself.

If it weren't for the tattoos on my skin or the the shining lip ring, I wouldn't have recognized the girl I was staring at in the mirror. I turned around and looked down at Ella and Rochelle who started to examine the dress on my body. A tape measure was pulled out, along with some pins, and a pad of paper. Both fashionistas padded me down, touching my body and scribbling down a list of numbers and side notes.

As I stood stationary, tuning out the mumbo jumbo that came out of Ella and Rochelle's mouths, my eyes meandered to the window directly in front of me. I watched as cars drove by, and people pass, only stopping for a moment to take a look at the dresses displayed on headless mannequins. Right when my eyes were to drift away, they landed on a familiar face. In a simple white shirt and an olive green beanie that pushed most of his brown curls out of his face, Harry sauntered pass with his attention turned in the direction of the shop. His eyes rapidly scanned the items at the window, but then his gaze went pass the frilly dresses and pass the diamond-encrusted heels until his green eyes caught my own.

I gasped.

** Translation: "…that's enough."

Notes

Happy Friday everyone!

Hope all is well with you. I'm doing swell myself, but enjoying my summer break with friends and family. Here is Chapter 9 for you all. Hope you all enjoyed it! Thank you all for reading, and all your sweet comments. If you haven't already, please send me feedback if you have any, subscribe and vote up. Thank again for taking the time to read my story. Greatly appreciated!

-Erica Jaine <33