Chapter 2: A Typical Saturday

Anna woke up at 10:15 in the morning. She usually didn’t wake up until then anyway, so her parents weren’t very concerned.
After a quick granola bar Anna hurried into the bathroom to fix her hair.
When she finally gave up on taming the wild beast her hair had become, it was already past 11, so Anna had her usual lunch of ramen noodles.
She had lately become so obsessed with this food that she perfected her heating and water-conjuring spells so she could sneak some up to her room and eat it at any time. Today she put little bits of leftover shrimp into her bowl.
While eating, she decided that she would call her step-sister, Mariana.
It took Anna two attempts to remember her step-sister’s number. When she finally remembered the right one, she quickly dialed it and waited for an answer.
“Hello?” a voice asked.
“Hey, it’s me!” Anna said.
“Hey, you! What’s up?”
“Nothing much, I just wondering if you wanted to go on a bike ride with me…?” Anna asked.
“Hmm…I have a little housework to do first, but maybe around 2:00?” Mariana said.
“That’s fine with me, see you then!” Anna answered.
“Bye, Anna!” Mariana said as she hung up.

“Hey Mom,” Anna asked, “Can you help me get my bike down from the rack in the garage?”
“Ask your father, he should already be out there.” Her mom said.
“Alright. I’ll also need his help to blow the tires up. They’re probably flat because I haven’t ridden my bike since those few warm days in the middle of winter.” Anna said as she walked out of the door.
Anna found her dad in the backyard picking up the rose bush clippings.
“Hey Dad,” She asked again, “can you help me get my bike down from the rack in the garage?”
“Sure, if you’ll wait until I’m done here. I’ll only be a few minutes.” Anna’s dad answered.
15 minutes later Anna was putting the air pump back into the garage. She wheeled her bike to one side of the driveway and stood it on the kickstand. She thanked her dad and went inside to check the time.
Slightly disappointed that it was only 12:35, she settled down in her favorite chair in front of the house with a book.
She was still reading almost two hours later when she heard the familiar sound of her sister’s truck turn into the subdivision. She raced outside, forgetting it would take two more minutes for Mariana to get to the house from the subdivision entrance.
When Mariana did get to the house, she got her old pink bike from the trunk.
“Ugh, you still have this thing?” Anna wrinkled her nose in mock disgust.
“Well, yeah I still have it…” Mariana said defensively, “I mean, it’s the right size and I like the color.”
“That’s exactly why I think it’s gross. How in the world can anyone like the color pink?!” Anna poked the handlebar cautiously, as if she feared it would try to bite her.
“Just because you don’t like the color doesn’t mean no one else does.” Mariana snapped, pulling her precious bike away from Anna.
“Whatever. Let’s just go ride, okay? It’s your turn to pick the trail.” Anna hopped onto her nice blue and green bike and quickly peddled away, leaving Mariana yelling after her to wait.

2 hours later both girls walked into the house tired and sweaty.
“Oh hello, Mariana. I didn’t know you were here.” Their mother said.
“Well as soon as I got here I went on a bike ride with Anna, so I didn’t get the chance to come in and say ‘hi’.” Mariana walked over and hugged her mom.
“Would you like to join your step-father, Anna, and me for dinner tonight?” her mom asked.
“I’m sorry, I can’t, I’ve still got a lot of stuff do back at the house… I never knew moving could be so stressful!” Mariana exclaimed.
“Well, I think it’s worse for you because you found out that your so-called ‘boyfriend’ was dating another girl on the side.” Her mom explained her theory.
“Mom!” Mariana exclaimed, but they all started laughing anyway.
Just then, Anna’s dad walked in, dirty and sweaty from working in the yard all day. He saw Mariana and said “Hey there! How’s my favorite step-daughter? I’d give you a hug but…” he gestured to his dirt and sweat covered clothes.
“It’s okay, Dad, I’ve gotta leave anyway. Bye, everybody, see you later!” and she walked out of the door.
Anna watched from the front window as Mariana packed up her bike and drove away.