Vivid

Chapter 8

Around 5 o'clock I told Aaron I had to go but there was more soup on the stove if his sisters got hungry again and I would come back and make more tomorrow if he needed me to. I called my mom and told her I was coming home so I could fulfil my promise to Sophia and make cookies with her.

I said my goodbyes to the family and started my walk home. I put my headphones back on and sort of skipped back home. For some reason being with Aaron and going home to be with Sophia has me in an unusually good mood. I came home and put my stuff in my room.

I changed into an oversized black shirt and some fluffy pants. I walked over to Sophia's room to see her reading at her desk. I stood in the doorway and she immediately saw me and smiled.

"YOU'RE HOME! IT'S A COOKIE TIME!" She squealed as she jumped out of her chair and bolted to the kitchen.

I started pulling out ingredients and placing them on the counter when I got a call.

"Hello?" I asked not to recognize the number.

"You weren't in class today and I wanted to make sure you were alright" I knew by the voice that it was Mr.Moon.

"Yeah I was taking a mental health day. How did you get my number?" I asked thinking he hacked into the school system to get it.

"I have all my students' numbers" I could tell by his hesitation that he was lying.

"Okay. Well I am alive and well so bye now" I said hanging up before he could talk anymore.

I put my phone down and looked back to Sophia. She had her hand in the chocolate chip bag. Her face was priceless, like a deer in headlights.

"At least give me some," I said, trying to sound serious.

She handed me a few and we started baking. I told Sophia to measure the flour and instead she threw a handful at me. She was laughing to tears until I threw some back at her. By the time we were done the black kitchen counter was white. It didn't matter because I would clean it up anyway.

"Okay! Okay! Truse?" I managed to say between laughs that I wanted to get the cookies in the oven soon.

"Yeah okay!" Soph said giggling on the floor in a cloud of white.

I wiped down the counter and pulled out the baking sheets. I told Sophia to make the cookie dough into little balls. She did what I asked but when she wasn't she put the sugary ball of dough in her mouth.

"That's not what I meant," I said, trying to sound serious but I ended up just laughing at her innocence.

She nodded and started putting the dough on the baking sheet. By the time we were done it was late and Sophia was passed out on the couch with a half drank glass of milk and a bitten cookie in her hand.

I wiped the last bit of cookie crumbs off her face, took the cookie out of her hand, and carried her up to her room. I laid her on the bed and pulled the covers up to her chin.

I cleaned up the dishes and the rest of the kitchen before going to sleep myself. Today was amazing, which made me less excited for tomorrow. But at least tomorrow is Friday so I'll have the weekend to figure things out.

I woke up and got ready, faster than usual. I grabbed a few cookies and walked out. I was going to have to talk to Mr. Moon today which I was not looking forward to but I was going to stop at Aaron's after school to make more soup for his sisters.

Today's walk to school seemed much faster than normal but I didn't really mind. I went into class and said hi to Mrs. Arrows and took my seat in the back. She probably knew something was off with me since I usually sit and talk with her for a little while but she didn't say anything so I didn't mind.

The class was sort of boring today since she was talking about our next project but I was zoned out anyway. The bell rang and I mindlessly shuffled to my next few classes. I bumped into Aaron and talked to him a bit but Mr. Moon wasn't there and that was concerning on top of everything else.

My classes seem to zoom past and I forgot most of the conversations I had with people including Aaron. Nonetheless I still went to his house after school. I knocked on his door hoping he would let me in.

"Hi dear! Aaron is upstairs doing his homework. He mentioned you came to help the girls. That's so sweet of you! Come in please!" Aaron's mom said when she opened the door.

Mrs. Swanson was always like another mother to me. She loved me like one of her own. That's why I love helping Aaron and his sisters so much. I owe her so much and she keeps doing more for me.

"I'll go let Aaron know you are here sweetheart. If you want anything you know where the kitchen is." She said as she went upstairs.

I said hello to the girls on the couch who seemed ecstatic to see me. Most likely because I was making them their favorite soup.

I was cutting up vegetables for the soup and singing to random tunes in my head when someone came down the stairs.

"You get better at singing by the day" Aaron said, scaring me and then laughing when I jumped back.

"DON'T SCARE A GIRL HOLDING A KNIFE!" I yelled at him.

"Y'ALL WOULD BE SO CUTE TOGETHER!" Rosie, Hannah, and Sarah yelled from the other room.

I laughed at them and Aaron looked at his mom, hoping for her to be on his side.

"Don't look at me! They are right" Mrs. Swanson said, smiling at me and giving me a small wink.

I finished the soup and poured it into bowls for the girls and an extra bowl for Aaron. I brought it to them and they smiled immediately after eating it up. I got them another bowl and then sat down across from Aaron.

"What do you think happened to Mr. Moon?" He asked not to look up from his bowl.

"I don't know, but he called me when I didn't show up to class yesterday," I said looking at him.

I wish his sisters were right and he would date me. I think I am catching feelings for him but that could end horribly and I can't risk that right now. The conversation about Mr. Moon ended quickly because Aaron's mom came in and asked him to go to the store and grab a few things.

"You can stay if you want Phoenix, he'll only be gone a minute" She said.

I wasn't going to say no because I loved it here. I sat down on a couch close to the girls but not right next to them and they were watching movies.