My Sunshine

The crazy weekend

ARYA

I tried once again. And again. And again.

The kitchen was a mess.

"Okay." I took a deep breath in and a deep breath out. In and out. "You can do this, Arya. You can do it!" I pat myself on the back and tried one last time before everything ran out.

I was just about to leave the house when I heard a doorbell.

"Who is it?"

When I didn't get a response I looked through the peephole, I saw Val standing there. I immediately opened the door.

"Val? What are you doing here?" I beamed but I noticed something was different. She was...different. "Val..? Are you okay?" I held both of her hands and asked

"I-..I met mom." She laughed. But it was not a real laugh, no, It was a laugh that said 'I'm not okay' and I hated that.

Without saying anything, I gently held her wrist and took her inside.

"Valerie? Angel? Look at me." I gave her comforting smile "It's all going to be okay. Let it out, Valerie. I'm here. I'll be here." I whispered and she finally broke down.

"How could she do this to her own daughter? When- When I opened the door and saw her, I was..happy. I thought she finally accepted me. After two years- two fucking years- She came back because she wanted money. Mothers aren't supposed to be like that..they- they aren't."

I grabbed her face gently and wiped her tears with my thumb

"It's okay." I whispered comfortingly "Erase all the sad memories, okay? You may not have a good mother but...you have me, don't you? I'll be your friend. I'll be your best friend. I'll be a mother if you want me to? Whatever you want me to be, i'll be. And you know why? Because you're the most awesome person i've ever met. I'll support you, i'll protect you, and I'll be there when you can't eat a full packet of chips cuz they're too salty."

She chuckled and sniffiled. "I'll leave them for you." She smiled and placed her hand on my hand that was still on her cheek

"You, my friend, are a true hero." I chuckled and and gave her a tight reassuring hug

She wrapped her hands around me and we stayed like that for a while until

"...Ari? What's this smell?"

"I burned a whole lotta stuff."

"What!?"

ELVIN

"Ugh you back stabber!" Dev yelled at me from the living room

"Stop being so dramatic. It's just one chip." I said while taking a sip of the strawberry milk

"I left that for later!"

I rolled my eyes "You left one chip for later? You just don't like to share, you selfish jerk."

"I'm the selfish one!? You're the one who sent your dad to jail." He snapped and my eyes widened

I clenched my jaw. It was silent with only Devin's heavy breathing filling the air.