Until Then (NaNoWrimo 2021)

Chapter 5

                                                                                            ****

"Love is a risk, there are no guarantees, and if it finds you again do not fight it."

Chapter 5

Amy had a huge smile on her face as she ran out of the school gates and headed straight for Archer's waiting arms. Holding his sister tight in his grip Archer spun her around as he stood to his full height and her giggles made him feel lighter inside. Archer's life was filled with a lot of darkness with little moments in between where he was able to genuinely laugh and smile, one of those moments was always with his sister.

"You're in a good mood." Archer stated as he placed Amy back on solid ground and then grabbed onto her hand as they began to walk home.

"Hmm, I had so much fun in school today and I also made a new friend." Amy's excitement was palpable as she told her brother about her day at school and stammered through most of her words.

"Really, you made a new friend? Wow, it's only your first day and you're already so popular." Archer praised and Amy swelled up with pride.

"His name is David and we colored a dinosaur together in class." Amy explained further and Archer abruptly stopped in his tracks.

"It's a boy?" Archer asked looking down at her with a frown and Amy nodded. "Chestnut, how many times have I told you that you can't have male friends, boys and girls can never be friends don't you remember?" Archer asked patiently.

"That's not true, boys and girls can be friends. You're only against it because you don't want me hanging around with boys like yourself." Amy countered but Archer was too involved to even feel insulted at her words.

"Any guy that wants to be friends with a girl is a bad person because he's only doing it with exterior motives. Boys are scum and animals, you cannot get involved with them." Archer insisted.

"It's alright if you want to insult yourself along with the rest of the male population but don't drag us women into it, both men and women are first-class animals you know." Amy pointed out and then walked away leaving her brother behind.

"Damn it, that kid is too smart for her own good." Archer grumbled underneath his breath before rushing to catch up with Amy and then took her hand in his once more.

When they arrived home it was late, inside their small apartment Archer noticed that a few things had been left out of place and the kitchen was a mess which only meant that their mother had come out of her room during their time away.

"Do you think mom is feeling any better?" Amy asked as she took off her shoes while Archer immediately started to put things back in order.

"Maybe." Archer answered as he noticed that their mother had eaten the soup he had made for her this morning.

"Then does that mean she'll have dinner with us tonight?" Amy asked hopefully as she dragged a stool over to Archer so she could stand next to him over the sink.

"I'll ask if she's feeling up to joining us tonight." Archer promised but he knew that it was pointless, their mother wouldn't come out of her room but he didn't have the heart to disappoint his sister like that. "You don't have to help, go take a shower while I make us dinner okay." Archer suggested with a smile helping Amy down the stool before she nodded and trotted away.

While Amy was gone Archer cleaned the kitchen and arranged the living room neatly before making pasta for dinner. He still needed to go grocery shopping and he also needed to get some essentials for the house but time seemed to be working against him, they were also running out of cash as well which meant that he needed to find a job fast.