CHAPTER 7

"You don't mean it?" Amy screamed with wide-eyes.

I nodded and dabbed at my tears-filled eyes. "He asked me to come and work in his restaurant."

"That's so sweet of him. I'm happy for you. Most especially for the fact that you are no longer leaving Boston again. Now that Davis has gone to Australia, everywhere would have been boring without you, if you had gone back to New York."

I smiled. "You have a choice, you know?"

"What do you mean?" She pouted and drew me closer.

"You can go stay in the school dorm so you won't be the only one at home", I suggested.

"I hate that." She grimaced.

"Whatever."

She stood up and began jumping on my bed. "Get off my bed", I said, hitting her with my pillow. She laughed instead of doing as I instructed and continued jumping. I stood up and hit her again, trying so hard to make her stop. She kept laughing and took the other pillow to hit me too.

"Pillow fight, uhn?" I retaliated and we both ensued in a pillow fight, laughing and cursing till we both got exhausted.

Mason dropped me off at home that night and immediately I entered my room, I saw her there, waiting for me to spill whatever was making me grin so much.

I laid down beside her on my bed, still in my red dress, when she said. "I wanted to ask if he kissed you since this is your first date, that's was why I was waiting for you. It turned out what you got was more than a kiss."

"You are silly. Why would he kiss me?" I smiled to myself, hoping it would happen someday.

"Don't you see how he looks at you?" She questioned, resting her chin on her left hand, to watch me. "He likes you. It's just a matter of time before he will ask you out."

"Whatever", I muttered, to hide my anxiety.

"Tomorrow is Sunday", she announced, as if that wasn't obvious. "We're going to party all night", she squealed excitedly and began to jump on my bed again.

I narrowed my eyes and yelled, "Amy."

She stopped jumping and frowned her face.

"I'm not going to any party. Work starts on Monday and please stop jumping on my bed that way like a 5 year old child."

"You are crazy", she uttered. The frown of her face had deepened and I knew she was going to try her possible best to persuade me.

"I know and you are too", I replied and I got up to removed my dress. After ripping off my cloth, I thought of taking a shower but I felt tired of a sudden so I took my nightie and wore it over my head before turning back to walk to my bed, with the intention of throwing Amy out so I could sleep, when I bumped into her.

I didn't even know she was right behind me. She engulfed me in a tight hug and I rolled my eyes, wondering what that was for.

"I love you."

"I love you too, crazy", I told her and chuckled.

"Let's celebrate the good news babe", she disengaged from the hug. I also have a test in school on Monday, so it's not a big deal. Don't be a boring girl."

"Amy, I can't afford to go late to work on my first dayyyyy", I stressed on the 'day' for her to know how important it was. I really did not want to leave a bad impression on my first day. Mason was being good for me and it will expected of me to do my best by being punctual and effective. "I don't want to take advantage of Mason's likeness for me."

"Alright", she said. I thought she had given up until she added. "We would be back before dawn."

"Amy?" I groaned.

"Come on." She persuaded.

"No."

"Please", she pleaded.

I exhaled deeply and stared at her cute face. "Ok, fine. We would be back before 12am."

"Before 3am", she contradicted.

"Amy", I snapped at her, standing up to throw her out.

She eyed me with her hands around her bosom. "Fine", she said and stormed out.

"I love you", I yelled after her as she slammed my door shut.

"I hate you", she retorted back, earning a chuckle from me.

I laid down on the bed, pulling the duvet to my shoulder with a big smile on my face. I thought of home and I wondered how I would be doing if I was home at that particular time. I realized I missed David. I missed the yelling and our constant bickering. I loved him, no doubt but he was an arrogant, annoying and stupid boy. I know there was no way he would change within a week, that was impossible. I was sure he was happy that I ain't home anymore, to give him any more headaches.

'If I go back home, mom might stop with the yelling for a while. But even if she does, I know her love for her son will never surpass mine. He is her blood and I ain't, I thought to myself.

That house was a home from home but ever since dad's death, it became a hellhole for me. But staying with Amy had been great.

Amy and I met in a mall when we went shopping before dad's death and we became friends. We always visit each other at home in New York before she moved to Boston. I loved her like my sister.

Now that Davis was not around, I would be free and Amy and I would have a great time, I thought to myself. I was no longer going home, I decided. My plan was to start work, save enough for college and begin to plan my future, probably with Mason. I giggled at the thought. I know he would make a good husband.

I yawned loudly and turned to the other side, still smiling to myself as sleep overtook me.

****

"Zara", Amy called barging into my room.

"Zara", she called again and I groaned as she sat on my bed, ruffling my sheets and throwing my duvets off me.

"What is it?" I asked with a sleepy voice.

"I'm excited about the party. Susan just informed me now that Blake is going to be there. So I want us to go shopping. Sunday shopping", she finished with a beam.

Blake was her crush who doesn't even know she exist. He barely noticed her despite Amy's effort. I wondered why she was still crushing on him. If it was me and the feelings wasn't reciprocated on time, the crush will fade off.

"Shopping?"

"Yeah. Davis gave me enough before he left and dad would send me some money before the end of the week, so don't worry about the bills."

"Amy", I rasped as I sat upright, putting the duvet over me. I was feeling cold.

'I'll have to go out with a coat, I thought to myself.

"Can we make do with the dress we have in the closet? If you aren't fine with yours, you can come check mine for something fancy enough to catch your crush's attention. Don't be extravagant."

"Don't be silly. I have the money so let's go shopping. It's been long since I last shopped." The grin was back on her face. "Besides, you didn't even come to Boston with enough clothes. We can use this opportunity to get some wears for your work."

I totally forgot the clothes I took from New York wasn't much. I was in so much haste to get out of the house. I realized I don't even have enough wears to start work with. I know she was right and her mind was made up about the shopping and the party.

"Can I at least go back to sleep? We can go shopping by noon, unless you want me to sleepwalk to the mall", I said, laying back on the bed with a yawn.

She giggled. "Can you call Mason tonoon come pick us up? We might have to pick up a few groceries, the fridge is empty."

"Amy, no!" I snapped.

"Lover girl, he will gladly do it. Why is...."

"Amy, get out. You are a talkative", I scrambled out of bed to push her out. She was getting on my nerves with her incessant demands.

"I'll come get you by 12 noon." She shouted as I succeeded in pushing her out of my room.

"Crazy girl", I muttered and flung myself to the bed, praying to the heavens  to get enough sleep before the crazy girl comes back knocking for us to go shopping.