Because of the fire.

chapter six

"morning," he said in a sleepy voice.

"Earl, hey.. Where did you get my contact," I said trying hard to be calm.

"I  broke into your house, stole your phone from your bedside, exchanged our contacts and put it back. Of course I got it from you last night remember.. Yeah you probably wouldn't remember cause you were so absent minded."

Right. I'd been too busy stressing out about the text I sent to Kyle and why he hadn't replied.
" I remember now. Why do you sound like someone who just woke up?" I asked.

" cause I just woke up. What time is it anyway? "

I laughed, "seriously it's way past eight. You're always that late? "

"no. It's just that today's a Saturday," he said.

"the same Saturday that we're supposed to go to the mall... Or you forgot that again?" my voice was stern.

"of course I didn't. It's why I called you, I wanted to ask what time we're leaving."

"you're already late as it is. Everyone here has already left. For someone who's got to shop from scratch, I should have started already before it gets busy."

"don't worry, I won't be long. Gimme five," he said.

"I'll just add another five for the time you'll take to have breakfast," I said trying to sound bored.

"what do you think I've been doing? I was having breakfast as we spoke right now," he laughed.

"what? How's that even possible?" I was puzzled.

"I am a quiet chewer," he said in a very serious tone.

I laughed, "please."

"come over and wait for me here. It'll make me faster," he said.

"sure," I said before hanging up the phone.

A few minutes later I was knocking at the Thorntons' door.
"hi," Cara said sweetly as she opened the door.

"hey Cee how are you? " I smiled genuinely. I had always wanted to have a little sister and it took everything in me to stop myself from picking her up and running away with her so I'd have her all to myself.

"I'm fine, do come in please," she said with that effortless smile that every family member seemed to be blessed with.

Aww so polite.
I went into the lounge after her and we sat together on the couch watching Disney Junior.

"you like princesses?" I asked her.

"yeah, absolutely," she replied.

"tell you what?"

"what? " she asked, her blue eyes widening in curiosity.

"if you were a Disney princess, you'd be Snow-white. Caring and sweet," I smiled at her.

"Awww she's my favorite," Cara's eyes gleamed.

"really?" I asked in surprise.

"yeah, she's on my bedcover, my crayons and... " she started giggling.

"what? "

She drew closer to me and whispered in my ear , "my knickers."

I put a hand over my mouth and pulled a dramatic face,"aah.. "

We both burst into laughter.
"tell you what though," Cara said.

"what?" I asked.

"if you were a Disney princess, you'd be Belle. You're smart and beautiful," she said earnestly.