"Mierde," Alicia swore, flying out of bed. Why hadn't anyone woken her? She was sure she'd told them she had an important final this morning.
"Hello?" She called down the hallway, peeking out her bedroom door. "Estamos aqui?" When no one answered her she threw the door open and ran naked for the shower, snatching an orange from the fruit bowl on her way.
"Mine?!" Squawked Rodrigo, a harsh-voiced parrot that her parents were re-habbing after being poorly kept as a pet.
"No, whoreson d'estupido," she muttered, slamming the bathroom door and smirking at the thud and flapping that came from the other side.
She stepped into the shower and turned on the water, stepping back against the wall to avoid the initially cold stream. Alicia admired the way her nipples pebbled from the cold while she broke the skin on the orange and tore the fruit in half, using her teeth to pull a segment loose and eat it. Once the water was hot she stood with it running over her, dropping orange peels as she made short work of her morning routine.
She washed her face and ran her soapy hands over her body economically, wishing she had time to do something to ease her jittery nerves. She used the hand-held showerhead to rinse, perhaps just a bit more thoroughly than hygiene required, and promised herself more later for a job well done, shutting off the flow of water reluctantly.
Her tatas danced erotically in the bathroom mirror while she brushed her teeth and she wished she had time to take a video of it, but alas. She'd forgotten a towel so she had to make an exhilarating dash back to her bedroom to get dressed.
"Puta!" Screamed Rodrigo, clawing at her shoulder as soon as she emerged from the bathroom. Alicia screamed and batted at the bird in self-defense, taking cover in her room before he could get another attack in. He'd left four deep scratches, bleeding faintly, from her shoulder to mid-back. She muttered foul curses about him while she dressed, checked the contents of her backpack, and hustled out the door as fast as she could.
"Fuck!" She screamed at the jungle, staring at the spot where her jeep should be parked, right next to her parents'. Both spaces were empty.
"Mama and papa borrowed your jeep for an important rescue," came a muffled voice from behind her, making her jump. She looked around, but saw no one.
"Diego?" She asked, squinting into the forest beyond their clearing. She couldn't see her brother, but his backpack was lying in the driveway.
"No, yo soy," came the voice again. Alicia walked over to it and flipped it over with her foot.
"Phew. Gracias," the backpack said with its creepy face. She shuddered and stepped away, racking her brain for a plan.
"I could help," offered the backpack's voice, from the ground.
"No thanks," she snapped nastily, feeling crazy for talking to a backpack.
"Suit yourself," retorted the backpack, aloof. "I thought you had something important today,"
"I do!" She stressed, stomping her foot angrily. "If I don't pass this test today, I can't start medical school in Sao Paulo this fall!" She screamed in frustration, hands fisted in her hair.
"Can you make a jeep?" She demanded, having reassessed her options.
"Diego doesn't have his driver's license yet," pointed out the backpack.
"But I do," she countered between clenched teeth.
"Doesn't change my programming," he answered, unapologetic.
"So what... can... you... do?" Alicia demanded angrily, fighting the urge to kick the stupid thing.
"Al rescate, amigos!" Shouted the backpack abruptly, powering up. Alicia rolled her eyes.
"I can turn into a pogo stick. Will a pogo stick help Alicia get to her class on time?" He asked cheerfully.
"No," she snapped tightly.