"Sooo…. is this my room?" Becca says, sounding excited. She jumps into the middle of the room and looks around, inspecting everything from the bed to the closet. "Wow, the style in this room is a bit lonely. Maybe a poster or two. I love decorating!"

Standing in the doorway watching Becca talk about my room like that irritates me. "This is my room." I point vigorously to an empty space in a corner next to the entrance "...and that's your space, I'll be back with some bedding." I shrug. "I guess for now you can go down for dinner."

"Oh, thanks Ginger, Sorry, your room looks nice," Becca says stopping mid-spin, "I'll head down then." She says, smiling shyly, slowly walks past me.

My heart pinches. I didn't mean to snap at her. I guess I was getting tired of her being so happy-go-lucky and being in my space.

Taking in a deep breath, I turn my attention back to my task. I need to get the bedding before they eat without me. Mom didn't even tell me a guest was arriving, so I doubt she made enough food for us all.

I quickly turn on my heels and grab sheets, a pillowcase, and a couple of blankets from the hall closet.

Grabbing the bedding, I quickly toss it onto the unaired mattress, then plug in the pump and turn it on. I need to hurry, Mom doesn't take long arranging our plates.

Skipping steps on the stairs, I arrive at the table to find a full plate at my place and their plates still full.

Sitting back in my spot, I glance at Becca who sits over on Mom's side. Luckily away from me.

Dinner passed with ease; Becca told us about her hometown in Pottoob, California. Mom even told us about her time in California, and how she met Becca's parents in college.

Becca offered to wash the dishes which encouraged Mom to have me help clean up the table. After cleaning up, Becca said goodnight to Mom and we went upstairs.

"The bathroom is on your left, I'll be in my room," I say, showing her the bathroom.

"Thank you, I'll go brush my teeth. If you need to use the bathroom please go ahead. I'll keep the door open" Becca says, smiling while heading into the bathroom.

Walking into my room, leaving the door open. Unplug the pump that I left on downstairs. I flop down onto my bed, checking my phone in boredom.

After Becca finishes her teeth, she leaves the light on and smiles at me as she walks into my room and over to her air mattress. I quickly head to the bathroom and lock the door.

Once I finish my bedtime routine. I head to the bedroom to find Becca getting comfortable in her corner. I instantly start feeling bad for her but then quickly disappear when we make eye contact. I quickly looked away, hand hovering over the light switch, I turned it off and headed straight for my bed.

"Goodnight!" Becca says before we both drift off into slumber

-------

Morning rises and still no sign of Jennifer. Dragging my feet I head to the restroom to find Becca brushing her teeth. I sigh remembering everything that happened yesterday. Sadly it wasn't a dream.

"Gooh mahing!" Becca says excitedly, toothpaste bubbling out of her mouth. This is why I've never asked my parents for a sibling, people are too much and I like having my own space. Even though Jennifer is always in my space.

"Hey…" I awkwardly reply as I walk away, not facing her.

I'll just use mom's bathroom, she should be downstairs around this time getting ready to wake me up.

I walk across the hall into mom's room. I quickly glance around her room; nothing's changed since I "borrowed" a comb from her last June. Walking past her bed to get to her bathroom, but before I go in, I see something move in Mom's bed. "Fjsdjfh!" I scream, jumping back. As I do, I realize Mom is still in her bed. Is the world ending!?

"What!?" Mom says, jerking upright and looking around lost.

"Why are you still asleep?" I say while my blood is boiling. There's too many changes happening for one; Jennifer hasn't shown up since last night and then the new girl is everywhere. Now, mom sleeps in late. Did I walk into the twilight zone?

"Stayed up a little later than I usually do. Is everything okay? The house burning? Hows Becca?" Mom says rubbing her eyes and yawning.

"Everything is fine," I say, muttering "I'm just weirded out that everything is going wrong,"  under my breath. Massaging my temple.

"Ginger, if you don't need anything Ima need you to go. Didn't you say you had somewhere to go today? Don't forget to take Becca with you. Ima have a 'me day' today. Night." Moms says laying back down, already half asleep.

What just happened? Who am I? Where am I? Because everything feels wrong. Before I think anymore my blabber starts to scream at me. "I need to pee!" I whisper to myself

"Umm… sorry to disturb you but Ginger I'm done with the bathroom," Becca says from the other side of Mom's door.

"Yeah, thanks," I say rolling my eyes, heading back out of Mom's room.

"Go make friends. Also, don't talk about 'you know who' to Becca. I'm warning you" Mom says before going back to sleep.

I quickly walk out of the room without using mom's bathroom. I might as well use mine since Becca's already done.

Walking past my bedroom door, I see Becca looking at my big pile of books in the far right of the corner.

"Hey, in twenty minutes be ready," I say before closing the bathroom door.