chapter 10
965 Words
Mara's POV
I reluctantly stood up and dragged my feet to the kitchen.
Opening the fridge, I took out the chicken and set it on the counter.
"Why did I even agree to this?" I muttered to myself as I grabbed the pasta.
I filled a pot with water, added a pinch of salt, and placed it on the stove.
While waiting for the water to boil, I seasoned the chicken.
"Liam better appreciate this," I murmured, throwing a glance toward the living room.
A soft giggle from Mum’s direction caught my attention.
"You don’t need to do it if you don’t want to, honey," Mum said with a knowing smile, leaning against the kitchen doorway.
"I know, Mum. But I also need the tutoring," I replied with a small pout.
She chuckled and returned to the living room, leaving me to deal with my decision.
---
After a while, I finished cooking and plated Liam’s pasta with the chicken neatly placed on top.
"Liam!" I called out.
He dashed into the kitchen almost immediately, grinning ear to ear.
"Wow! Smells amazing!" he exclaimed, grabbing the plate.
"Don’t forget your promise!" I reminded him.
"I won’t. Thanks, Sis," he said before rushing off to eat.
I rolled my eyes and grabbed a cookie to snack on, deciding that was enough kitchen duty for the day.
---
Bryan's POV
I stared at the phone in my hand. It was brand new, sleek, and expensive.
Mara’s old phone was practically smashed to pieces after Jessie’s outburst.
I had planned to get her a replacement anyway, but now, I felt the urgency to make things right.
"Rollins," I called out, breaking the silence in the car.
"Yes, sir?"
"Drop me off at Mara’s place first thing tomorrow," I said.
He nodded, and I leaned back, staring out the window.
The city lights blurred as we sped through the streets, my mind swirling with thoughts of how Mara would react.
Would she be happy? Or would she scold me for spending so much on her?
One thing was certain—I couldn’t wait to see her again.
---
🌹Mara's POV🌹
The next morning, I woke up earlier than usual, feeling unusually refreshed. Maybe it was the excitement of seeing Bryan again, or the thought of finally resolving things with Ellen.
I got dressed quickly, picking a light blue skirt and white blouse. After tying my hair into a neat bun, I grabbed my backpack and headed downstairs.
Mum was already in the kitchen, humming as she made breakfast.
"Good morning, Mum!" I greeted cheerfully.
"Good morning, sweetheart. You’re looking lively today," she said, placing a plate of pancakes on the table.
"I guess I am," I replied with a smile as I sat down to eat.
Just as I took my first bite, Liam walked in, his hair disheveled.
"Morning, grumpy," I teased.
"Morning," he mumbled, reaching for a pancake.
As I ate, I couldn’t stop glancing at the clock. Bryan was supposed to pick me up again today, and I didn’t want to keep him waiting.
---
After breakfast, I heard a car horn outside. I grabbed my bag and rushed to the door.
"Bryan’s here!" Liam called out with a smirk.
"I know," I replied, slipping into my shoes.
When I stepped outside, there he was, leaning casually against his car. His smile widened when he saw me.
"Good morning, Mara," he said.
"Good morning, Bryan," I replied, walking over to him.
"You ready?" he asked, opening the car door for me.
"Yeah, let’s go," I said, sliding in.
As soon as we were on the road, Bryan pulled out a small box from his bag and handed it to me.
"What’s this?" I asked, eyeing it curiously.
"Open it," he said with a grin.
I carefully lifted the lid and gasped. Inside was a brand-new iPhone—the same color and model as the one Jessie smashed.
"Bryan, I... I can’t believe this!" I stammered, overwhelmed.
"You deserve it," he said. "And don’t worry, I transferred all your old data to this one."
I threw my arms around him, hugging him tightly.
"Thank you so much, Bryan. This means the world to me," I said, my voice muffled against his shoulder.
"Anything for you, bestie," he said, patting my back.
---
When we arrived at school, the day seemed brighter. With my new phone in hand and Bryan by my side, I felt unstoppable.
We walked into the classroom together, drawing the usual stares from our classmates. I caught sight of Ellen at her desk, her expression unreadable.
"Good morning, Ellen," I said, mustering a smile.
She glanced at me briefly before turning her attention back to Bryan.
"Good morning," she said curtly.
I sighed, realizing that our friendship might take longer to repair than I’d hoped.
---
The day flew by in a blur of classes and laughter. During lunch, Bryan and I gave Kelly a tour of the school.
"You guys are amazing," Kelly said as we showed him the library.
"Thanks. You’ll get used to this place in no time," Bryan said, clapping him on the shoulder.
By the end of the day, Kelly had settled in well, and I was starting to see him as a potential friend.
As we walked back to the car, Bryan turned to me.
"You know, Mara, you’re one of the best things in my life," he said suddenly.
I blinked, caught off guard.
"Where did that come from?" I asked with a laugh.
"Just felt like saying it," he replied, smiling.
My heart fluttered, and for a moment, I wished things could always stay this way.
But deep down, I knew there were still unresolved feelings—feelings I wasn’t ready to confront just yet.
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- Writer
