Live my last years

Mika's world

*Bailey:* "Mika! Mika!!"

Mika opened her eyes. Everything looked blurry. She adjusted herself.

*Mika:* "How did I get here?"

*Bailey:* "You were drunk, and that's unlike you." Bailey sat close to Mika. "Sweetie, is anything bothering you?"

*Mika:* "No, Mum," she said as she jumped down from the bed.

Bailey stared at her and then headed for the door. "Get dressed for church."

Mika was already in the bathtub, so she didn’t respond.

Bailey met Isabel in the kitchen. Isabel was preparing coffee and was already dressed for church.

*Isabel:* "Bailey, good morning."

Bailey smiled at her, walked to the fridge, got water, poured a reasonable amount into a cup, and gulped it down. She placed the cup on the counter and then asked about Gabby.

*Bailey:* "Where's Gabby?"

*Isabel:* "I haven't seen her this morning," she replied without looking up.

*Bailey:* "Is she not getting ready for church?"

*Isabel:* "I have no idea."

Bailey walked toward the stairs. "Gabby! Gabby!!"

Gabby ran out of her room angrily.

*Gabby:* "What the hell is wrong with you, Bailey?"

*Bailey:* "Gabriella, are you not going to church?"

*Gabby:* "Who cares about church?" She turned back to her room.

Bailey called out her name again.

*Gabby:* "This is a new week. Don't start this with me. You're not even my mother. I'm not Isabel or Mika, who gullibly accepted you as their stepmum." She walked into the room and slammed the door.

Isabel walked up to her and hugged Bailey. Bailey sighed and wiped her eyes.

*Bailey:* "I'll be fine. Let's hurry. We're almost late for church."

Isabel walked up the stairs, still looking at Bailey. Bailey walked out to service the car.

David rushed down the stairs in his blue shirt and black trousers, with his tie around his neck.

*David:* "Good morning, Mum. Good morning, Isabel."

Isabel smiled at him, and they both walked to the car.

Isabel dropped her bag on the front seat and went in to call Mika.

*Isabel:* "Mika!!"

Mika rushed down the stairs. She was holding her open bag. She wore a blue sundress with a white basic top underneath, had styled her hair, and wore black flat shoes.

*Mika:* "I'm ready." She rushed down the stairs and into the car.

They were all settled in the car when David asked about Gabby.

*David:* "Where's Gabby?"

*Mika:* "Who doesn't know Gabby? She must have picked a fight with someone today, and now she's not going to church. She only goes to church whenever Dad is around. I'm just sick and tired of her."

*David:* "Says someone who got drunk last night."

Mika turned to him with a disgusted look.

*Mika:* "Are you talking to me?"

David got a bit scared.

*David:* "I didn't mean what I said."

Mika wanted to reply but just eyed him.

*Mika:* "You know what? f**k you."

Isabel tried to intervene.

*Isabel:* "Hon, please take it easy. He's just joking."

*Mika:* "I hate jokes. Don't use me as an example."

Bailey turned to her and smiled.

---

They drove into the church. Bailey found a suitable place to park, and they all got out of the car and walked into the church premises.

After the service, David had to stay back for practice because he was the keyboardist, and Isabel was the leader of the choristers. Maya was just a benchwarmer. She didn't participate in anything in the church, so as usual, she sat at the back, pressing her phone, when Noah walked up to her. He came and sat beside her.

Mika looked up.

*Mika:* "Noah! How are you doing?"

*Noah:* "I'm fine." Noah waved at her, and Mika put her phone in her bag.

*Noah:* "Mika, right?"

*Mika:* "Yes."

*Noah:* "Okay, so I just got admitted into St. Nova's High School, and I heard that you also attend the school. I was wondering if you could show me around tomorrow."

Mika smiled and agreed.

*Mika:* "That's the least I can do."

Noah smiled and walked away.

They headed home.

---

*Monday Again*

David and Mika got ready for school, and Bailey drove them because she was still on leave.

They got to school and waved at Bailey as she drove off.

Still standing at the entrance, Noah walked onto the school premises. He sighted Mika and waved at her. Mika smiled and walked into the school.

Mika met Aviva at her locker, arranging it. They greeted each other, and then Aviva walked to the front while Mika followed.

*Aviva:* "I can't believe Mr. Phin wants us to have a group project, and this time he split our group. I went to meet him, and he told me, 'Aviva, you don't have to decide everything. I'm the teacher here.' I was dumbfounded." She concluded as she walked into the class.

Mika dropped her bag and joined Aviva at her desk. Shayla and James walked into the class, smooching. She kissed James passionately, and then James left the class.

Aviva gave a sarcastic look. She pretended like she felt like vomiting and then looked away from them.

Lucy came in looking stressed. Her hair wasn't well done, and she dived into her seat without saying a word to her friends.

*Aviva:* "What the hell is going on with our friends?"

Mika laughed hard.

*Mika:* "They're probably having the best moments of their lives."

Aviva stared at Lucy for a while and then looked away.

*Aviva:* "What's going on with you and the guy staring at you?"

Mika turned around.

*Mika:* "What guy?" She turned and saw that it was Noah. She quickly turned back to the front. "That guy attends my church. He just joined our school, and I offered to show him around."

*Aviva:* "Oh, I see." Aviva smiled sheepishly, turned to the back, and waved at Noah. Noah waved back.

*Aviva:* "He's cute."

*Mika:* "Do you have to tell me that?" They both burst into laughter.

The bell rang, and Mika returned to her seat. Mr. Phin walked in looking disheveled. He held his bag, and in his other hand was a rough textbook.

*Mr. Phin:* "Good morning, students."

They all answered, and he placed his bag on the table.

*Mr. Phin:* "Today we were supposed to have our final test, but I've decided we'll do a project instead. I've divided this class into 4 groups, and the group leaders are Mika, Aviva, Daniel, and Carley."

Most of the students murmured about how Aviva and Mika weren't in the same group.

Aviva got angry and flared up.

*Aviva:* "Can you guys shut the f**k up?" She glared at them, collected the list from them, and walked back to her seat.

Mika looked closely at the list and saw Paxton in her group. She stood up.

*Mika:* "Paxton barely comes to class, and then he..."

Mr. Phin interrupted her.

*Mr. Phin:* "Deal with it." He walked out of the class.

Mika sat down and buried her head on the table.

It was recess, and Noah walked up to her.

*Noah:* "Hi."

Mika looked up and then put her head back down.

*Mika:* "Oh s**t, I made a promise."

*Noah:* "It's fine. If you don't want to anymore, I honestly understand."

Mika stood up and walked out with him. They walked around all the classes, and Mika told him everything he needed to know. Then they started talking.

*Noah:* "Can you tell me more about yourself?"

*Mika:* "Me?" She grinned softly and continued. "I'm Mika. I've been in this school my whole life. I live with my parents. My dad stays in Toronto but comes home every summer. I stay with my stepmum, my two sisters, and my brother David. I guess you saw him this morning."

Noah nodded as she continued. "I have three friends: Lucy, Shayla, and Aviva, but I'm closest to Aviva because she's bold, beautiful, brilliant, and also friendly."

She concluded and smiled at Noah.

Noah returned the smile and began talking about his life.

*Noah:* "I moved to America with my younger sister and my grandma when my parents separated."

Mika looked at him.

*Mika:* "I'm so sorry."

*Noah:* "You don't have to be sorry. My dad was an abuser. He treated my mum like trash, so I wanted better for them. We are safer here now. I currently live with my mum's mother. My sister Taylor is a very sweet person, and I'll be so happy if you meet her. You'll love her."

Mika smiled at him.

They arrived at the field, and Paxton was there playing football. He sighted Mika and waved at her. Mika ignored him, and he smiled.

Noah tried to ask her about it, but she told him not to worry.

The bell rang, and Mika and Noah returned to class.

*To the audience:*

*Are we Team Paxton or Team Noah?*

*Watch out for Chapter 4*