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Way too bright and early if you asked me.
No matter what time I fell asleep, six a.m. always came far too quickly. The sun was barely peeking through the vertical blinds in my studio apartment when my eyes finally started fluttering open.
“Uhhh…” I groaned, trying to find the button to shut off my alarm.
I didn’t get home last night, or should I say this morning, ‘til a little after four a.m., but who’s to say what time I actually found sleep.
“Alright, Camila, get up,” I ordered myself, shaking off the tiredness I still felt.
The smell of coffee brewing in the air was the real reason my ass got out of bed. Thanking God I remembered to set it to automatic brew, needing the caffeine in my veins. Though it was the music on my phone I turned on before I jumped in the shower that really started waking me up. The beat to “7 Rings” by Ariana Grande blared through the speakers as I washed my face.
Singing, “Been through some bad shit I should be a savage, who would have thought it turned me into a savage.”
Using my shampoo bottle as a microphone, I broke it down. The girl spoke to my soul. I danced around, singing as loud as I could while I washed my hair and body.
“I bought a crib just for the closet.”
By the time Ariana and I were wrapping up our number one hit, my shower was over.
“That’s right, girl, one day I’m going to want it and get it too,” I laughed, drying myself off. Thinking about how much money I’d be making once I was a registered nurse.
I went about my normal morning routine, deciding to dress in some skinny jeans with holes in them and a white cotton t-shirt I tucked into the side of my pants. Giving me that comfortable put together look I always wore. I’d be hanging with Little Miss most of the day, so being comfy was key.
I left my hair to dry naturally curly and just sprayed some product in it to control the frizz, or else I’d end up looking like a French poodle.
There wasn’t much I did to my face, except add a little concealer under my eyes and some mascara to my lashes to appear more awake. At the last minute I decided to apply a bit of blush and gloss on my lips, and I was out the door with a bagel in one hand and a coffee in the other.
Making sure to grab an extra bagel for Little Man who I knew would be waiting outside his door for his breakfast. We’d made it a habit of walking to the bus stop together, his for school and mine for wherever I was headed that day. Public transportation was a way of life for me. I didn’t own a car, I couldn’t afford one.
Today, it was the Pierces.
My first day of working for them.
“Hey, baby,” Curtis greeted, leaning against his door with his arms folded over his chest. The same shit-eating smirk appearing on his face.
I rolled my eyes, ignoring him. “Curtis, did you study for your math test?”
“Ugh, why you always gotta start the mornins’ off with askin’ me ’bout school?”
“Because someone has to,” I reminded, handing him his bagel.
“Did you use the cream cheese I like?”
I arched an eyebrow, waiting.
“I mean, thank you.”
“Yes. I used the cream cheese you like.” Nodding to the stairs in front of us, I ruffled his dreads. “Come on or you’re going to be late.”
“Camila, I don’t wanna go to school,” he whined as we made our way down the stairs.
This was the biggest problem in our neighborhood. Parents making babies when they had no right to. They could barely take care of themselves, let alone the kids they were popping out left and right. Not giving them any encouragement to want to do something better with their lives.
“Then who’s going to take care of me when I’m old if you don’t get an education?”
“There are other ways of makin’ money other than school, Camila.”
“Is that right?”
