Finding My Way Back

Chapter 2

                                                                                                      Aria  

I shot up as my dream starts to fade into my bedroom. The room turns a bit fuzzy as I wake up a bit, and I noticed I’m breathing heavy. I looked around to make sure I was in fact in my room and not one of those dreams that feel real but is really a dream. I start to calm as I noticed my daughter sleeping soundly next to me, then feeling the heaviness of the real world that I never felt in my dreams. I look at the clock to notice it was 7 am, just an hour before I actually had to get up. Knowing that I will never get back to sleep, I slowly get up so not to wake Avia and wrap my robe around me, as it was a bit cold in my room, then went downstairs to start the coffee.  

I got my coffee cup out of the dishwasher and sit it on the counter, then I go get some milk and pour it into my coffee mug, put the milk back in the fridge. I then pulled over the jar of white chocolate chips and the sugar that my mom started to put it in, knowing that I and my dad use it in our coffee. Putting the white chocolate chips in my mug and stuck it in the microwave for two minutes. Standing there waiting for the microwave to beep, I start staring at the wall thinking back to that dream I had. It seemed so real like even tho I know I had never been in that place or seen that guy before they seemed familiar. I can still feel the breeze I felt in the dream, the smell of the grass and the smell of water mixed in. I could even swear I still felt the gorgeous man’s arms around me. Hearing the microwave beep I grab my mug, filled it with coffee and pour two spoonfuls of sugar in it. I stir my coffee and then put the spoon in the sink and took a sip of the miracle that is coffee. 

I went back upstairs, slowly opening my bedroom door so not to wake up Avia. She didn’t need to be up for another 45 minutes. As I walked in my room and my gaze went straight to the bed to see her still sleeping peacefully. Which thank gods that she was still asleep cause this means I can take one of those rare showers that I get all to myself. 

I drink more of my coffee as I turn on the water to get it to the perfect temperature of the water.... Nice and hot! I finished the last drop of coffee and start to get undressed and step into the shower and slid closed the door. Standing there just letting the hot water flow over my tired body enjoying it as it flows down my body. Once the last of the sleepiness washes away I start washing my hair and then my body so I can do my makeup and hair as it’s the first day of spring term at the community college and I have a class at 11 am, which means I got to leave here at 9:45 am so I can get Avia to preschool before making my way to my class. I get out of the shower and quickly dried myself off and then wrapping myself in a towel then wiping the fog off the mirror. I wash my face, then put on some makeup that’s pretty much just a natural look. I don’t really like drawing attention to myself, not after the time I got r***d the night of my graduation night, as you may have guessed I ended up pregnant with my adorable daughter Octavia, but everyone calls her Avia. I wear baggy hoodies as long as I can before the Indiana heat gets unbearable to stand being in a hoodie, which is about 5 months out of the year. I dry out my hair since it was super cold outside and didn’t want to get sick cause of it. I then thru it in a pony tail.  

I walk out into my bedroom to see that my daughter was still asleep. I started talking to try and get her awake while I get dressed. I pick out a pair of light washed jeans with flare legs and a hot pink t-shirt that had a mermaid shadow on it with the words, “This is my human costume, I’m really a mermaid,” knowing no one will see it. All I get in a response from Avia is groaning and then the blanket cover put over her head. She is definitely not a morning person, like her momma. As I start put my last piece of clothing on, I start to sing knowing this usually works and as I start picking out her clothes, she sits up and stretches with a big yawn. I turned and said, “good morning Bug! Did you have good dreams?” She responses by nodding her head. I held up two outfits for her to choose, one was a yellow striped shirt with a daisy on it and leggings with daisies all over them and then a mermaid themed long sleeved dress with a pair of leggings with mermaid scales on them in pink.  

“Which one do you wanna wear today?” I asked. 

She points to the mermaid dress and says, “that one.” 

I had her outfit to her with a pair of underwear and tell her to get dressed. While she gets dressed, I go to pick out socks for both of us and then pack up my bag and then hers with a change of outfit and her stuffed doggie that she takes everywhere with her. I had gotten it for her when I found out she was a girl. The dog was a stuffed dog from build a bear workshop with pink eyes. I grab her shoes in pink so it matches her outfit. I put the socks and then shoes on her after she finishes getting dressed and then take her to the bathroom where I unfolded the bar stool, I had bought to do her hair on.  

“Do you want one pony tail or two?” I asked her. 

“Two!” she response. 

I quickly sprayed her hair with detangler and set to work to giving her two french braids. After I finished with her hair, I get her tooth brush ready and set to brushing her teeth. After about a minute she goes, “My turn!” I give her the tooth brush and then set to get my teeth brushed. After we finish brushing our teeth, I held out my hand and helped her jump down.  

“Let’s go eat breakfast before we go to school.” I spoke. I grabbed her bag and put it on her and then grabbed mine. As we make our way downstairs, we set our bags near the front door and then go into the kitchen to find my parents and little sister getting breakfast ready. 

“Hey Avia will you come take over turning these pancakes?” my father asks. 

“Yeah, I can do that.” I respond.  

My father picks up Avia hugging her while spinning her around and says, “Good morning my little granddaughter! What a pretty outfit you have on.” 

Giggles she says “Good mornings Pop Pop, thank yous. Now put me downs, please.”  

Giving her a quick kiss on the cheek and then sat her down. My mom then came over and give her a hug and said, “Good morning princess, do you want to come help me set the table?” She gave her a nod and went with her to help set the table. I smile as I see how my parents love their granddaughter. I even see my sister from the dining room giving her a good morning hug and commented on her outfit and hair. This wasn’t always like this, well my parents freaked out when I told them two weeks after graduation of high school. They asked me was it that night and I shook my head yes and I told them what really happened. My father went into a frenzy of anger and my mother started to cry, my little sister came over to me to give me a big hug. Cause I had been r***d by one of the hot shot football stars that night at the senior bonfire that every senior class has the night after graduation in an abandon field out in an old corn field next to a dense woods. All the townspeople knew that it happened and were pretty easy going about it, because they knew that the cops usually breaks it up around midnight saying they got noise complains which since no one lives around here it's always a lie, but they do it so there aren't any drunk drivers causing car crashes. They usually bring a couple buses to cart everyone that doesn’t pass the breathizer to the jail area to have their parents come get them. Usually if it’s a first offense they let them off with a warning if not their first time they get charged with underage drinking. 

I shake that memory out of my head not wanting to linger on it as I flip the pancakes with the rest of the pancakes that my dad had already did. I also see a pan of scrambled eggs and turkey bacon. My parents always made the best filling breakfast when the new term started. I loved this tradition, it's always something different and always very yummy as my dad makes the best pancake batter. They are so fluffy and light, he also makes homemade strawberry syrup which is so good. I bring the pancakes into the dining room and say, “Let’s eat it’s getting late.” 

After we finished eating, I took Avia into the kitchen to put our plates in the sink after rinsing them off. I then grab a wash cloth and wet it to wipe off the syrup from Avia’s hands and face. I then lead her to the front door grabbing her winter coat off the coat rack, I then put her hat and gloves on and put her backpack on. I grab my coat and backpack then grab my keys. 

“Let’s go bug.” I say. 

“Oh, ok momma.” She says as she reaches up to grab my hand. 

After I packed her into the car and then scrap off the newly fallen snow off my car. It was only about an inch of snow, we set off to her preschool. I dropped her off at about 9:45 as it isn't very far away from the house. I then start driving to my class, the college was about a 45-minute drive away in the morning rush.  

I pulled up into a parking space near the college. Seeing that I have about 30 minutes before my class started, I decided to go get me a coffee before I head in the direction of my class. I was such a coffee junkie. After grabbing my white chocolate mocha, I start heading in the direction in my class. When I got to the right room, I peered into the room to see no one was in the classroom. I always liked when I was first in the room, as this means I can get a seat in the back where I couldn’t bring any attention to myself. I set out my stuff I will need for this class and a pen, I also hooked my headphones into my phone to listen to music as I wait for the teacher to come in the room and start teaching. I also bring out a book that I’ve been reading. As the time goes on a few more students show up, they don’t even pay attention to me and sat away from me, which suite me just fine. 

I looked to the clock above the door to see we had about 10 minutes left before the class started and that’s when I see the sexiest man in the world came walking in the room.