New Saturday, New problems

LEAH'S POV

I woke up early on Saturday morning, feeling refreshed and determined. After yesterday's events, I decided to take a break from skirts and opted for comfy baggy pants and a fitted t-shirt instead. I styled my hair into a neat bun, feeling a sense of empowerment.

After a quick breakfast, Emily and I headed to the Sydney Food Bank to volunteer. We spent the morning helping prepare meals for those in need. It was a fulfilling experience, and I loved seeing the smiles on the faces of the people we served.

As we finished up, I thought about my dad and how he could make a difference in the food bank. If only my classmates knew, I'd be treated like royalty, but I hated the idea of fake friends. I wanted genuine relationships, not ones based on my family's money.

I spent the morning volunteering at the Sydney Food Bank with my sister Emily. After we finished serving meals, Emily headed off to meet her friends while I stayed behind to chat with some of the people there.

I struck up a conversation with a girl around my age who had come to the food bank for a meal. She was lovely, with a bright smile and sparkling eyes. We talked about school and education, and I found myself opening up to her about my struggles with finding my passion.

"I'm not really sure what I want to do with my life," I admitted. "I'm not a big fan of school, to be honest."

She nodded understandingly. "I know how you feel. But I'm determined to become an engineer. I'm fascinated by how things work."

I was impressed by her enthusiasm. "That's amazing! You seem really smart and focused."

"What's your name, by the way?" I asked her.

"I'm Sophia," she replied with a smile. "And you are?"

"I'm Leah," I said. "Nice to meet you, Sophia."

We chatted for a while longer, and I felt like I'd made a genuine connection with her. "Hey, Sophia, want to grab some real food with me? I'm starving after all that volunteering," I said, laughing.

Sophia grinned. "Sure thing, Leah. I could do with some junk food."

We walked to a nearby restaurant and ordered some burgers and fries. As we waited for our food, I couldn't believe my eyes when the waiter approached our table. It was jake...

"Hi, jake," I said, trying to sound calm despite my inner turmoil.

He smiled and nodded. "Hey, Leah.

I couldn't help but think about yesterday's incident, and my anger resurfaced. But what was the point? We didn't even talk, and I was just being paranoid.

Sophia noticed my expression and whispered, "Hey, everything okay?"

I nodded, not wanting to make a scene. "Yeah, all good."

Jake took our order and left, and Sophia raised an eyebrow. "So, what's the deal with you two?"

I sighed. "Long story. Let's just say we don't really get along."

Sophia nodded understandingly. "Got it. Well, let's focus on the good vibes then."

As Sophia walked away, I waved goodbye and leaned against the wall outside the restaurant, waiting for my driver to arrive. I pulled out my phone and sent a quick text to my dad, letting him know I was safe and waiting for my ride.

I glanced around, taking in the sights and sounds of the bustling street. People walked by, chatting and laughing, and I felt a sense of contentment wash over me. It had been a great day, and I was grateful for the new friendship I'd formed with Sophia.

I checked my phone again, seeing that I still had 20 minutes before my driver was due to arrive. I sighed and decided to take a short walk around the block to pass the time.

"I arrived home around 4 pm, feeling exhausted, and headed straight to bed. Emily wasn't back yet, but our maid, Maria, was there and greeted me warmly. We chatted for a bit - she asked about my day and I shared some stories. I soon drifted off to sleep. When I woke up at 8 pm, I realized I had slept for a good four hours. I decided to call my mom to check in and catch up. We haven't lived together since my parents' divorce three years ago, and I miss her a lot. But my dad has always been there for us, and we've been doing okay as a family. Next on my list was calling Fattuu, but first, I needed to shake off the sleep and get myself together."

"I searched the house frantically for Emily, but she was nowhere to be found. I tried calling her phone, but she didn't answer. Panic set in as I imagined the worst. I reached out to her friends, but they hadn't seen her all day. However, they gave me some leads, and I decided to investigate further. I asked my driver to take Maria and me to a party where I suspected Emily might be. When we arrived, my heart sank. I spotted Emily sitting on a boy's lap, kissing him passionately. He looked older than her, and my protective instincts kicked in. I rushed over to her and tapped her on the back, my anxiety and concern evident on my face."

"Emily spun around, her face etched with shock and anger. 'Emily, we need to talk,' I said firmly, my expression unwavering. She stood up, giving the boy a chance to slip away, and snapped, 'Why do you always have to ruin my life?' Her words stung, and I felt a lump form in my throat. I struggled to maintain my composure, fighting back tears. 'Let's leave,' I said, my voice steady. 'You wouldn't want to embarrass yourself here.' I felt a pang of regret and sadness, wishing my mom was there to handle the situation. In that moment, I felt overwhelmed and frustrated with my life."

"As we stepped into the house, the tension between us was palpable. I hesitated, unsure of how to break the silence. I broke the silence,'we'll talk later,' her eyes flashing with defiance as she said we're going to talk about nothing. Just leave me alone, fuck off, I hate you!' The venom in her words stung, and I felt a pang of regret and sadness. Before I could respond, she slammed the door in my face, leaving me standing alone in the foyer, feeling helpless and at a loss. The sound of her door slamming shut echoed through the hallway.