Beyond Friends

✧~𝑨𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒓~✧ "Morning already?" I muttered when my phone started ringing uncontrollably, my eyes still hurt but I had no choice. Mom will start yelling at me for not getting early, again. "I hate everything in the morning...." I sighed and forced my body to sit up the bed and headed straight towards my small bathroom. My room wasn't that big, but it was better than my other friends here. I looked in the mirror when I entered the bathroom and started smiling like a dummy. "You're going to work, Aster. Hurry up on brushing your teeth and take a shower, stop smiling... It's already 6 am, again!" After so many, many, many long minutes scrubbing myself, I finally got to wrap myself with a towel and headed straight to my cabinet. It was small, not big like my best friend whose closet is an entire room, but it will do. "Pfft. I don't have any choice, that's why it will always do." I just put on a pastel pink shirt and denim shorts, dried my hair and rushed towards the door when I saw the time on the clock. I just took 40 minutes! Not my worst but mom is going to be pissed. "And why are you late young lady? It's already 6:45. Are you just a visitor in this place!? We were already busy working while you were still resting!" I shut my eyes tight. Please not again.... I opened my mouth to speak but as always I couldn't answer my mother's question. I looked at my friends who were also working in the Ross mansion. But as always again, they avoided my eyes and continued what they were doing. Fake friends.... "I'm sorry, mom. I just–" I was cut off by my mom before even finishing what I was going to say. She didn't even hear the full story yet. "What!? You're going to reason without any menaing again? Stop being so–" "Isn't it too early to be angry at Astrid, auntie?" A familiar voice form behind me was heard making mom pause from what she was going to say. Xander! Thank you.... I'm tired of being shouted at again. "Xander, what brings you here?" Mom asked, changing the topic. She suddenly turned from a devil into an angel again. I rolled my eyes and went to help Lianne on the dishes. Well, I just want to transfer the dry plates and utensils from the drying rack and into their designated places. "I'll put the dry ones in their places" I said and she just nodded. I bet she's scared of mom too. "Xander?" Mom called out. Wait isn't he just here? "Oh, I just wanted to know what's for breakfast. Can I help, auntie?" I smiled when I heard what he said and instantly bit my lips. "What does he want now?" I whispered to myself. Probably going to ask another favor. Not fair.... Just a few words from him while I'll be exchanging it for a favor! "Yes, sure. Can you cut the carrots, be careful." "I will," I turned around and looked at him. He was already staring at me and I mouthed him a "Thank you" when mom wasn't looking. I just finished my job and looked at him while he was cutting the carrots. Mom was busy cutting onions, too. I just hate myself a little because I can't do it. I mean.... I can, but i'm not allowed to– Xander's rule, and that was great because the cut on my finger was in maximum pain that time. "Aster? Help me cut the onions, be careful. I'm busy with something" Mom said and I just nodded. I went to the island and saw the chopping board and knife that was placed on it with some other ingredients and specially the onion. I picked up the knife and started peeling the skin. It wasn't hard to do, but when I positioned the knife in the onion right in the middle I didn't know it would cut my finger, tears just started streaming down. "Astrid? Why are you crying? Is the onion getting on your...." I don't know why but Xander appeared and suddenly trailed off. Later that day I knew why he did. He explained that he just saw blood, the most scared kitty cat. Well.... I was also crying at that time, but his reaction was worse than mine! "f**k. Auntie, why did you let Astrid cut onions? The knife is sharp." He said rushing towards me, by now, my eyes were already blurry because of the tears. "Shushh, now" Xander hushed me down wiped my tears and held my wrist that was still holding the knife, and made me let it go. "Let's tell someone to clean the wound, Astrid. Stop crying." "I ca-can't! It's hurting!" I whined, I wanted to punch him so hard on the face. How could he even tell me to stop crying!? "Stop being dramatic, Aster. Just wash off the wound, it's going to stop bleeding soon" Was mom's simple reply. I'm hurt mom! I'm hurt! "I need, Astrid, auntie. See you later" Xander excused and without a second warning, he grabbed my wrist with the one that's cutter and pulled me out of the room. "It's going to be okay, Astrid. It will stop hurting too." He assured me while I just nodded. It was stinging, and it was hurting me! He brought me to the medical room and my wound was cleaned and treated well. She also put a bandaid, while Xander kept telling the doctor what to do. "Stop talking, Xander. They're doing their job" "No, they're not, Astrid. I bet it's only making the pain worse, does it?" He questioned me and I shook my head. "It's not? Is it still hurting?" He asked again and I assured him by shaking my head. It wasn't hurting like the freshly cut one. But, at least they got to clean it. "Be thankful she's half lying, you could've lost your job, plus you wouldn't get another job for the rest of your–" "Xander! Stop being a mean person! Say sorry, i'm going to tell mom this..." I cut him off. I was already feeling bad for the doctor who was treating my wound, she was looking scared. "I'm sorry," he apologized and I nodded my head. It felt like yesterday. It felt like I was still 15 yesterday when I cut off myself, when I got banned from holding a knife and not being allowed to cook in the kitchen. The thought of it made me smile... "Why are you smiling on your own, Astrid?" someone interrupted making me snap back to my self again.