Ayla walked backed to class to find Cassy and saw her with a group of girls, not wanting to pry, she went to her desk to grab a book and go to the library but Cassy saw her before she left
"Ayla," Cassy shouted loud enough for her to her, she freezed halting her steps. She turned around, Cassy was smiling brightly waving her over. Ayla had no choice but to go.
"Just go there greet, make small talk and leave, hey guys"
Nobody answered her, just looking at her assessing her body and her outfit, like the hell they were all wearing the same thing.
"Ayla, meet my friends, this is Stacy" she said pointing to the girl at her right. She waved at me "And this one by by left is, Daisy and the last but not least she's Kelly, guys this is Ayla"
The other two girls waved and we shook
"Hi, " Ayla said again "So, how long have you known each other from" trying to make small talk.
"We just met," Cassy responded cheerfully.
"Seriously?"
"Yes, by the time, you were talking to Alex. By the way you have to give me all the scoop"
"I'm not sure now's a good time" her head pointing to the girls."
Cassy was very slow to understand "why not come on"
"What I'm trying to say is it's kind of private" still giving her signals her voice a straining slightly
"Oh, if it's about the girls they totally keep their mouth shut, I mean right girls?" They all nodded in agreement.
"You know what, another day I'm kind of tired" giving up totally on Cassy.
"Okay, " Cassy said and continued her gossip
"I heard that Gina's family is poor now, like very poor and she is also crippled like WTF " Kelly said sparking Ayla's interest
"Yeah, that I can guarantee. Her dad came to beg my dad but we didn't want any trouble with Kyle so we didn't help." Stacy added.
"Yeah, all the girls from that day are no longer in the city, it's like they just disappeared" Stacy also said only Daisy was decent enough to look uncomfortable.
"So Ayla, Kyle or Alex?" Kelly asked unexpectedly
"What?" Ayla confused
"Oh come on we all know they are in love with you so which one is it, Kyle or Alex?"
All of them were eagerly anticipating her next words carefully
"Welllll,. I'm a hundred percent sure Kyle doesn't like me and about Alex I'm not so sure"
"But you like him" Daisy said barely a whisper
"I'm sorry I didn't quite catch that" Ayla said turned to Daisy
"It was nothing" Daisy was quick to dismiss it
"This topic is such a bore, let's talk about something juicy like," waiting for them to say something"this is the part we're you suggesting something" she said as if she was giving basic knowledge.
"I've got some scoops" Kelly said,
"Shoot"
"Well, I've got insider source that says Amanda is les" chewing her gum a little too loudly
"No way" Stacy scoffed
"I mean who will do things with her, look at her hair, her skin her everything just ewwew" Kelly ever the people pleaser, said with a gross look
Ayla was about to say something when someone beat her to it "That wasn't very nice, both of you"
Stacy looked annoyed"yeah, boo hoo you don't tell me what to do"
"Well, I do know you can't talk about people like that, well good people I don't care about the mean ones."
"Oh I get what's happening, you're les too" Stacy let out a hearty laugh "that's why you're so worked up"
"Dare at that again" her face turning ashen
She walked off and Kelly scrambled by her side. Daisy was the last to leave but she didn't follow the two in a rush she took her time.
"That was very nice of you, you're not like they say" Daisy calmly said, Cassy was about to ask more but she had already walked off.
"Like who says?" Ayla asked Cassy
"I don't know but I will find out, those girls are going to pay. But I feel bad for Kelly
"Who?" Ayla asked
"Kelly" Ayla still wasn't getting it "the short brunette with a ridiculous pink ribbon in her hair"
"Oh, that one. What about her."
"Well, her family is facing bankruptcy and she is their last shot. She's trying to please Stacy, maybe she will invest but that's a long shot."
"And whose Stacy?"
"Daughter of some tech mogul who thinks that since Cathy bit here she runs the school now. " She didn't realize the what she said "I'm sorry "
"It's fine, so Stacy sounds just like Cathy somehow, you think she changed her name"
"That I can't deny," then Cassy made a funny impression of her name and made them laugh so much
"Are they still your friends?" Ayla asked in-between laughs.
"Probably not "
Ayla looked at Cathy grateful she had found a friend even if it was just for now.
.....
Ayla got home a little later than usual. She was helping Mrs Linsley, her literature teacher, grade the last test and ran a little late. She headed to the fridge, planning to take a bottle of water to cool off and eat whatever was left in the fridge when she heard a noise from the kitchen.
"Whose there" she shouted but no reply.
She grabbed a flower vase, throwing the fake flowers to the side for defense while slowly advancing towards the kitchen.
"Damn it," she cursed. Remembering about her phone. She wanted to call the cops or better yet Kyle.
"Whoever is there I'm warning you I'm armed" she tried intimation but the other person still didn't respond " and the cops are on their way" she used her last trump card.
Still nothing.
She slowly walked to the kitchen door hoping it was a false alarm, she knew there was nothing she could actually do. And then,
"Honey is that you?"
"Dad?" Surprise filled her. She was holding the vase hallway ready to strike when her dad came out in his ridiculous pink apron.
"What are you doing?"
"Nothing" she put on her best fake smile and put the vase down on the nearest counter. She couldn't tell her dad that she thought he was a psychopathic serial killer and she was the next victim. "What are you doing here, you aren't supposed to be back from work for another 6-7 hours."
"I know but I took a leave. I barely see you even though we live in the same house."
"Well," she began, "it's not like it's my fault," she said a little wronged.
Her dad took her into his arms " I'm sorry pumpkin, dad's been pulling all nighters but I promise from here on out it will end" he engulfed her in a hug.
"You know I can't be mad at you" leaning into his embrace. They stood like that for a while
"Dad let me go"
"One more minute"
"You're hurting my arm"
He immediately let go.
"Sorry" he apologized "Well let's go in and eat." They both walked in
"Smells so nice" Ayla taking a good sniff
"And they're all your favorite"
Ayla looked at him with doubt, and he nudged her to take a look. And true to his words all her favourite foods
"Thank you Dad" she screamed with joy.
"One sec, and there is the turkey, isn't she marvelous" looking at his work with pride.
"Sure is. Marvelous to eat"
He grabbed two plates and served dishes for both of them.
"Dad, what exactly were you doing in your firm, no lies, " she asked as soon as he sat down.
"Well first,I won't lie to you ever and we were securing a deal with a major investor and we had to make sure it was perfect. The client kept changing their mind, you know never agreeing on something and it dragged on. The client finally decided and we were able to close the deal. My team and I were given some days off as a bonus."
"And who is this client?" Ayla asked curiously.
"Company laws, cannot tell you"
"Right!" Her dad values principal and honor above everything else.
"A package came for you today, did you order anything?"
"Not that I know of," she shook her head. She racked her brain but didn't buy anything recently.
"Maybe it was a mistake. I will go check it up later." She said, Her dad nodded in agreement.
"Dad I have something important to discuss with you,"
"What?" Chewing and sucking on a piece of bone.
"Eww don't do that"
"All you Gen z and your rules, this is the sweetest part of the whole chicken. Here give it a try" handing her a piece of bone.
"Thank you Dad, I'm good. " She shifted slightly "
"Suit yourself" going back to his bone stick.
"So, dad we have our school trip coming up and I was thinking of going"
He set down the bone "Pumpkin I will live for you to go but you know I don't have the money."
"The school organized a special bonus, a free trip for the top student and as you can guess me. Dad please don't say no" she looked at him with her best puppy dog eyes.
"I'll think about it" not having the heart to say no directly.
She kissed him on the cheek " thanks dad, I'm going before you change your mind bye" she ran upstairs.
"I said I'll think about it" her dad's voice trailed as she climbed the stairs.
She saw the package sitting on her bed. It was wrapped in pink and white with this cute bear and finished with a ribbon. She opened it and gasped.
A new phone. iPhone 17 pink colour
My apologies for today – Alex
"You are forgiven " she smiled as she unboxed her gift