Just A Girl

Please share, vote, and comment if you like it. ____________________ The relentless pounding on my door shattered the stillness of dawn. Groggy and disoriented, I peeled myself from the warm cocoon of my sheets. My hand searched blindly for the clock on the nightstand as a dull beam of light filtered through the gauzy curtains. Five a.m. A groan escaped my lips. "Rey, for the love of sleep, go away!" I yelled. "It’s my last day off. I need this." A pause. Then a crash. Something heavy hit the ground outside, and my half-hearted annoyance twisted into alarm. I scrambled out of bed, feet tangled in my blankets, cursing softly as I stumbled toward the door. When I yanked it open, I expected chaos. What I found was far more unnerving. Lia Mom. Draped in black from head to toe—sleek trousers, a fitted turtleneck, and her signature long coat—she stood poised, arms crossed, her suitcase sprawled beside her from the crash. "Good morning, darling," she said coolly. I froze. No words. No witty comeback. Just a tight knot in my chest. She was home. Before I could speak, she reached out and tugged my ear. "Ow—Mom!" "You forgot to pick me up. Again," she said. Her tone was calm, but her eyes were sharp. Before I could stammer out a half-baked excuse, Ace and Rey emerged from behind her—clearly caught in the act. Ace gave a small, guilty smile. "We… got caught, didn’t we?" "Swear on that one time Ace accidentally sexted the family group chat, we really had a plan," Rey added shamelessly, straightening her hoodie. Ace’s eyes widened. Without hesitation, she reached over and smacked the back of Rey’s head—not hard, but enough to make a point. "Ow! What was that for?" Rey rubbed her head, though grinning. "For bringing up the forbidden tales of the house!" Ace hissed, cheeks turning bright red. "I was trying to forget that day existed." "You sexted Nana! That day is immortal," Rey whispered dramatically, eyes wide with mock horror. "Her response was a prayer emoji. A PRAYER, Ace." "I was trying to send Amar the lunch menu!" "Lunch menu my foot," Rey smirked. "Next time just label it 'Warning: May cause Nana to clutch her pearls and schedule a family prayer Zoom." "You're the reason family therapy apps keep showing up in my ads," Ace muttered. "Pfft, I’m the comic relief in your trauma arc," Rey shot back. Eva rolled her eyes. "Can you both stop? Mom’s right here." "Exactly," Lia chimed in dryly. "And I’ve had to operate on a man while mentally trying to bleach that memory out of my brain. Still did a perfect bypass. You're welcome." Lia raised an eyebrow, clearly fighting a smirk. "You girls think I don’t see through your lies? I lived through the group chat trauma and still made it to surgery on time. You can’t shake me." We all burst into awkward laughter and leaned in for a hug. She smelled of roses and faint antiseptic—a strange comfort that only she carried. "Welcome home, Bear Mommy," I whispered. Lia pulled back slightly and met my gaze. "I wanted you to come to the airport because I had someone I wanted you to meet. A suitor. Someone I think you should consider seriously." My body tensed slightly, but I didn’t pull away. Not yet. ... Later, over coffee and Rey’s gloriously burned toast—which she claimed was "charcoal-infused for gut health"—we caught up. "You look tired, Mom," I said. She sipped her espresso. "Tired, yes. But content. Surgical residencies drain the body, but not the soul—not when I know I’m coming home to you girls." Ace reached across the table and squeezed her hand gently. "You’re here now. That’s what matters." Rey, never one for tenderness, rolled her eyes. "Is it just me, or is this kitchen starting to smell like a Hallmark movie?" "Says the girl who cried watching a shampoo ad," I shot back. "It had emotional depth!" Rey protested. ... "We’re late," I announced, tugging on a sweater. "One minute!" Rey called from inside her room. When she finally emerged, she strutted like a model in her new maroon heels. "Paris, kneel before your queen." "Fabulous," I said, dodging the kiss she aimed at me. "Now let’s move." "I’m driving! Thanks, Di. You’re the best," she grinned, grabbing the keys and skipping down the stairs. The car ride was exactly what you’d expect with Rey at the wheel—half thrill ride, half stand-up show. Paris gleamed in morning gold. Today was the day our boutique came to life. ... Elegance stood proudly between a flower shop and a quaint café. Its freshly painted sign shimmered, just like the dreams stitched into every wall inside. Boxes were everywhere. Workers moved in every direction. The air smelled like paint, lavender, and adrenaline. "Alright, team! Let’s finish this!" Ace and Rey disappeared toward the fitting rooms. Lia Mom and I tackled the window displays. For a while, it was perfect chaos. Until the yelling started. Rey’s voice. I rushed to the back. Rey was glaring daggers at a worker who looked entirely unfit for duty—red-faced, unsteady, and clearly drunk. "You think showing up drunk to our boutique is okay?" Rey growled. The man laughed, reeking of cheap liquor. "I’m here, aren’t I?" Ace appeared beside them, nervous. "Rey, let’s just talk to the manager—" "You want to braid his hair while you’re at it?" Rey snapped. "Ace, he’s ruining everything." "Rey," I said firmly, stepping between them. "Outside. Now." She huffed but followed me out. "Eva Di, we’ve put our souls into this place. He could destroy it. One unstable shelf and the whole window collapses!" "And blowing up on him won’t fix it. We’ll talk to the manager. Let me handle it." We did. The supervisor arrived and quickly told the man to leave. As the worker walked out, he brushed past Ace and leaned in with a smirk. His lips moved just enough for her to hear something. Her smile faltered, but she said nothing. No one noticed but me. She stood still for a heartbeat too long, then turned away as if nothing happened. ... By late evening, Elegance sparkled. Velvet drapes, gold accents, warm lighting—it was everything we had dreamed it would be. "You did it," Lia said softly, her eyes lingering on each of us. "All of you." "No," I said, pulling her into a hug. "We did." Ace lingered near the dresses. She kept looking over her shoulder as if checking for ghosts. ... Rosie’s café was our sanctuary. The pastries were flaky, the coffee strong, and Rosie herself the unofficial fourth sister. At forty-two, she was as sharp as ever and one of Lia’s closest friends. "My favorite chaos queens! How’s the empire?" "Exhausted but thriving," Ace said, her voice light but distant. Then Amar walked in. His presence changed the room. Soft, grounded, warm. "Hey," he said, locking eyes with Ace as if no one else existed. "I brought your migraine meds. You didn’t ask, but I know the signs." Ace’s face brightened for the first time in hours. "You’re getting too good at this." "I have to be. You’re terrible at asking for help." He brushed a loose curl behind her ear. "You did amazing today. I’m proud of you." Ace swallowed thickly, and her voice came out small. "I’m glad you’re here." Rey made a dramatic gagging noise. "Oh my god. Can you two take your emotional rom-com somewhere else? I’m trying to digest." "Don’t be rude," Ace said, flushing. "I’m not being rude. I’m being honest. The rest of us are third-wheeling your fairy tale like unpaid extras." "Rey!" Ace blushed. "What? You two are so sugary I think I got a cavity just watching." Amar grinned. "Jealous?" "Jealous of what? That you can memorize Ace’s med schedule? Please, I barely remember where I parked the car." Laughter burst from everyone—even Lia cracked a smile. ... The door flew open with flair. Rebekah entered like a caffeine-charged storm. Leather jacket, red lipstick, the walk of a woman who knew the world was her stage. "Eva," she said, strolling over with a grin, "you and I are going out tonight." I raised an eyebrow. "I just survived boutique birth and a near brawl. Can it not be tonight?" "Listen, future nurse, our final semester starts next week. This is our last night before we sell our souls to hospitals. No strobe lights. No chaos. Just a chic rooftop party. Smart people. Good music. Clean wine." I hesitated. Rey leaned in. "Please say yes. I want to see how Eva Di parties without a clipboard." Ace gave a knowing smile. "You deserve a break." "Alright," I said, finally standing. "Let’s go be bad decisions with good shoes." "Yes!" Rebekah clapped. "Have fun, Eva Di!" Rey called, grinning wickedly. "And don’t forget to hydrate, Grandma." As Rebekah linked her arm through mine, I took one last look at the boutique glowing through the café window. Something stirred in my chest. Change. Anticipation. And perhaps—just perhaps—healing. Tonight would change something. Maybe everything. ______________________________________ Here goes the first chapter! Tell me your thoughts about it. How was the chapter? What are your thoughts regarding the characters? Whom did you liked so far? Please vote and share ~ Much Love ❤ Riya