Chapter 4

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Sarah's P.O.V

My eyes flutter open as the morning light shines through my white and gold curtains. I sit up with a groan "Oh! your awake, good!" I jump a bit shocked by someone being in my room when I woke, "wha? Nicole?! what're you doing up?" I say turning to the girl sitting against my bed post.

"I woke up before you so, I decided to sit and wait for you to get up"

"How long hav-?"

"Three hours" she answers bluntly "t.three hours?! why didn't you wake me up?!" I asked rising my volume slightly. The girl stared at me with a bored expression "first please lower your voice, you're being loud it is still early y'know and someone might've just finished their night shift" "s.sorry.." I say feeling embarrassed,

"It's fine, second you looked like you needed the sleep anyways"

"Oh" I start rubbing my neck awkwardly.

"What time is it?"

"Almost 6" she answered.

"Okay"

I hop of my bed giving one of my arms a stretch.

"What are you doing?"

"Correction, you mean 'what are we doing' my friend"

"What?" she asks looking at me questionnaire "we're getting dressed, come on" I say blankly, she sighed "alright let me get my clothes from yesterday-"

"Nope! your borrowing day clothes as well, you're not wearing dirty clothes from the day before"

"But-"

"No buts! you are wearing a new, fresh, clean pair of clothes today" I say demandingly, sticking my hand infront of me for dramatic effect as I spoke. She groans "fine, but I'm picking out what I am wearing", I smile at her as she rolled her eyes. 'She's funny' I thought as I made my way over to the dresser picking out a white long-sleeved off the shoulder crop top and some high-waisted denim jeans, paired with a plain rose gold chained necklace.

I took the fabric pieces and chain in my arms, walking over to the doorway stopping there. "Get up, pick what you're wearing and wait by the bathroom. When you have, knock and I'll come out okay?" she nodded, I turn around and leave. I sauntered over to the bathroom, opening and closing the door behind me.

I sat the items on the toilet, riding myself of the pajamas I wore. I start to slip on what I was going to wear that day.

*Timeskip*

I put on the plain rose-gold chain, it being the final items for the ensemble. I twirl around to face the mirror that's hung on the back of the door, I adjust a few things fixing the placement of them. I gaze at my reflection with a sleepy expression on my face, 'hm it looks fine' I thought lazily chuckling. I heard a knock at the door as I pick up my discarded clothes off the floor "okay, I'm coming!" I called to the person on the other side. I open the door with my left hand, since the other was full of clothes, and slide through the doorway being meet with the girl. The girl who I knew would be there. She leaned against the wall with a bored expression on her face, having her own bundle of clothes in her hands. I slide out of her way, letting her be able to go inside the bathroom.

*Small time skip// I know lazy//*

I stare tiredly at the wall in front of me, waiting for Nicole. I was starting to feel the fact that I haven't ate anything dawn on me. I hug my stomach hoping to subside my hunger, even the tiniest bit, but it did nothing. My stomach continued to roar, being displeased by me. "Hey sunshine! Let's go, I want breakfast" I heard a voice beside me say, it was feminine, it sounded familiar almost like...Nicole!. I turned to see the one and only, Nicole, staring back at my me with arms across her chest. Looking over what she was wearing I noticed she wore a plain white t-shirt, a dark grey hoodie over it, and blank ripped skinny jeans. I stared back up at her eyes, finally noticing how blue they were. It was the only thing that stood her apart from other's, the rest looks like she's trying to fit in. Like she's trying to hide what makes her special. I wonder why.

"Hey Sare! I know I'm ugly, but you can wait to notice after we get food" Nicole stated bluntly, rolling her eyes to emphasize her slight annoyance. My cheeks heaten as I realise I had been staring, I nod pulling her with me to the kitchen. As we walked, I asked myself why she had called herself ugly. Because it was untrue. She was quite attractive I must say, who told her she wasn't? Whoever it was their going to regret it. Making it down to the kitchen, I sit Nicole into a chair causing her to look at me confusingly. "What do you want for breakfast" I say happily walking over to the counter, "um not to be rude or anything, but, can you even cook?" She asked. "Well no" I say quietly, sort of embarrassed. She sighed chuckling a bit, "okay sit down, I'll do it." She says calmly. I sit patiently, more rather impatiently, waiting for whatever she was making to be ready. I had tried earlier to get what it was to slip out her lips, but my attempts came unsuccessful in their journey. I silently noted, even if I found it annoying at the moment, that she was very good at keeping something a secret. Which was helpful. She had rolled up her sleeves, or should I say mine since they were my clothing?, making sure they didn't get dirty while she cooked whatever she was making. "Can you please tell me what you're making?" I begged trying one more time to get her to say, sinking deeper into my chair "wow your annoying" Nicole said jokingly, turning towards me. I pouted, frustrated. "You'll eventually know, but I guess I can give you a hint" she said chuckling, I perked up. Feeling happy to finally know something about the thing she's been keeping secret. "It's an almost stereotypical American breakfast, that isn't cereal" she said with a smirk. My mind began to ponder on what it could be, but came up with nothing. "Nothing? Thought so, anyways, it's done" Nicole said placing a plate in front of me, handing me a fork and knife, setting one down for herself as well sitting across from me. "Bacon and eggs?" I mumbled confused, staring down at the plate, never really having this combination before. "Yeah, does it look bad? Do you not like eggs and bacon? Sorry I should've asked, I just wanted to surprise you..." she said quietly, looking down at the table full of guilt, "no, no, no it looks great! I-I just never had it before!" I say panicking a bit, not wanting her to feel bad. "Oh! Okay..." Nicole said, loosely smiling. "Wait, so why haven't you had bacon and eggs before?" She asked, clearly confused. "Well, my mama never cooked them for us back home because she hadn't grown up with eating bacon and eggs and had more traditional dishes that my grandmother made instead. There really good! You should try them some time. And my mother the only one who's had them before but she's never really home, so I just never had it. But I have had bacon and eggs in separate dishes, just not together" I said rambling, realizing I had I apologize "uh sorry I began to ramble". Nicole chuckled before saying "it's fine Sare" I blushed lightly as she continues to speak "you should eat before it gets cold" pointing to my plate with her fork. While we both begin to dig into our plates, I couldn't help but stare at Nicole. She had pale skin, close to the colour of birch, carmel brown locks that was tied into a low ponytail, and the most amazing dark blue eyes I've ever seen. I still didn't see why she thought herself as ugly, it doesn't make sense. I look down noticing she still had her sleeves rolled up so it went as far as her elbows, and upon further inspection I also noticed Nicole had some scars on her forearms that appeared to have been very deep cuts at one point. Did she do them?. "Sarah?" I broke away from my thoughts by Nicole's voice "yeah?" I answered, "you okay? You looked like you were spacing out" she said bluntly. "Um yeah just not fully awake yet that's all! Don't worry I'm fine" I said reassuringly, giving a small chuckle. 'I'm not the one I think needs help here' I thought grimly. I slowly pick up my plate, bringing it over to the sink. Rinse my plate as Nicole came over to do the same.

I look over to the other side of the kitchen, checking the clock on the wall for the time. '6:41'. "We should start packing up and doing the rest of the stuff we need to do" I say, 'okay' was all the other replied with. We decided to spilt up to accomplish more at once. I went to brush my teeth while Nicole got our backpacks. Once I was done she handed me my backpack, having her already on her shoulder, going to brush her teeth as well. I had left out a spare brush for her to use when I was in there earlier. I was now making my way to my parent's room. Opening the door and going inside, I walk over to mama to wake her up before I leave as always. Mother had already left little over an hour ago for work, she's always there earlier and leaving late. She says "it makes it so I get the most important of my work done there, so I can spend time with my family after I come back home" but I wish she was home more. She used to have more time for us back in England, especially on her days off. She used to take me out for quality time with her and to bond, we would go and see the newest movies and shit on them. We didn't care what movie. We used to watch whatever was advertised the most and JUST WATCHED IT, laughing about how bad it was after. Now she doesn't have any days off, mother says it's because she hasn't been there a month yet. I'll never say it to her face but I don't care, I want my mother back. She doesn't even have time for mama anymore, I can tell they both miss seeing eachother.

Mama groans, sitting up and rubbing the sleep out of her eyes. "Hey honey bee" she said groggily. "Hey mama, it's time for you to get some coffee in you" I say, helping her up "oh your so sweet dear," she cooed kissing my forehead. "But you might want to get back to your friend she doesn't know you were waking me up, correct?" She asked, teasingly. 'shit'. Race down the stairs, panicking. 'what if she's worrying where I was? Or worse, she already left without me!'. I grab my shoes putting them on as I walk around the house to look for Nicole. "Nicole?" I rang out making my way to the kitchen, "Nicole?" I say again starting to think she actually left. "Yeah dude?" I hear a voice from behind me say. Turn around to see Nicole sipping from a mug that I assume has coffee in it, "uh where were you? I was worried that you left.." I asking having a small pout on my face. "Yeah sorry I was looking for your laundry room at first because your mom told me she wanted to wash my clothes from yesterday and I guess the pajamas I borrowed last night, but she didn't tell me where it was so it took a bit" she began stopping to take another sip from the mug she's holding "then I went to make myself coffee to wake up" she finished taking another sip of, what I know is, coffee. "Yeah, I'm sorry too, I should've told you where I was going first so you would've known where to go to ask me" I say feeling guilty. "Nah don't sweat it, it's fine" she said calmly with a smile.

"Morning darlings!"

My mama walked it surprising both of us as she went over to the coffee machine. "I hope you left me some dear" she continues with the same cheery tone she always has, grabbing a mug and pouring herself some coffee. "Yes, of course Mrs." Nicole reply, politely. My mama shook her head, having a playful smiles on her face "I told you to call me Denise sweetie, Mrs. is too formal for someone like myself. Plus your family now! You don't call family Mr and Mrs, no no unexpectable, but I would call my wife Mrs. Madison until she gets to know you. Okay?" She said, placing a hand on Nicole's shoulder. I noticed that Nicole's eyes light up when mama said she was family, she seemed both surprised and delighted to be excepted into our family. My mama finds all my friends, her friends, my mother's friends and certain people from the diner she works at to be considered family. Some even show up at our Thanksgivings or Christmas dinners. "Right, sorry Denise" Nicole said, giving a nervous smile to my mama. Mama smiled in return, giving her a pat on the shoulder. "It's time for you to start getting to school dears" mama said, calmly. Nicole and I both looked at each other, having a panicked look on our faces. I grab my backpack from Nicole putting it on as she chugged the last of her coffee, already having her backpack on. She quickly slipped on her sneakers. We both say goodbye to my mama as we start making our way to school. I don't live that far but it's still a good distance.

Nicole and I made it with a minute to spare. 'awesome'. We were both out of breath but I seemed to be more than she was. 'does she run alot? I'd she part of the track team? Or does some sort of sport?' I thought being quite curious. But before I could ask the school bell rang and we had to go inside. We checked our schedules to see if we have any classes together. Our first three morning periods we had separate but we had fourth period before lunch together. Nicole had math first, which she seemed happy about, and I had science which I wasn't that excited for. We said goodbye to eachother, going our separate ways.