You are my mums (a Lucy Bronze fanfic) - Book 2

Chapter 9 - Happier

Rosie's POV:

"Like that?". Mapi turned her face to me after asking. The image appearing on the bright screen of her laptop made me frown - unsure if it was exactly what I wanted. Sighing, I told her, "not quite, i'm sorry this is taking forever...- I just want it to be perfect". Mapi tilted the laptop back to face her and began to edit the image once again, "I get it. Don't feel the need to rush, i'll be here whenever you're done". I nodded my head as she continued speaking fairly quietly, "and besides, it's not happening until you're 16 and preferably off all medication".

I watched as Mapi began to work on something that I had been dying to happen ever since me and Lucy were reunited. At first, I was a little apprehensive about approaching Mapi about it, but she was ecstatic to be involved. We had only been working on it for a few weeks, but it was coming along so good and I couldn't wait for the new year. As everything stands, if I come off all medication on the 7th of December, let my body recover completely from my injury until the new year, it'll happen early January. I wasn't sure how Lucy and Keira would react, but I was hoping for the best.

Mapi began to talk to me, multi-tasking: "you doing anything for your birthday?". She quickly glanced at me as a began to talk, "no, just going to have a relaxing family day". Mapi raised an eyebrow at me, "are you not a big fan on birthdays? I thought you would have been hosting the biggest party Lucy and Keira would allow". Laughing at her wrong perception of me, "don't get me wrong, I love to party. But I don't like birthdays". She shrugged her shoulders, "fair enough. Will you be in all day? Me and Ingrid will need to drop off your present". Nodding my head slowly, I told her, "you didn't have to buy me anything you know?". She smirked, "I know, but we wanted to". 

We began talking some more about random things until we were interrupted by my bedroom door banging open: "Boo!". Mapi immediately slammed the laptop lid shut as Keira appeared at the doorway with a mischevious smile on her face. Her sudden appearance had scared the shit out of me but I was more concerned about what was on the laptop and if Keira saw it. She frowned when she saw Mapi, "Mapi? I didn't know you were here". 

Earlier that afternoon, I had let Mapi in the house while Lucy and Keira went out for a lunch date. When they came back, Mapi debated jumping out of my window in order not to be seen, but I quickly told her no. I didn't want to have to explain why there was a dead Mapi León on the front grass. Instead, we stayed quiet and continued working.

Mapi explained, "Yeah, I just came to drop something off for Rosie". Keira folded her arms, trying to understand what was going on, "Oh...well, do you want to stay for some food?". Mapi stood up, cradling her laptop, "No thanks, me and Ingrid have dinner reservations at that new restaurant that's just opened". I wasn't sure whether that bit was part of the excuse or actually true so I didn't question it. Before she exitted my room, I said, "Thanks Mapi". She faced me, winked and left to walk down the stairs with Keira - who seemed very suspicious. 

For the rest of the afternoon I stayed mainly in my room watching TikTok. I hadn't realised how late it was until I heard the front door shutting - indicating someone was taking Narla on her evening walk. Looking out of my window, I was shocked to see the sun setting rapidly. The large golden ball of fire dipped in between the clouds above the house, disappearing for the night. 

Unsure if anyone was in the house, I slipped on a hoodie and made my way downstairs. The house was in darkness, only the time on the oven lighting up the kitchen when I entered. I wandered around the house, opening a few doors to check if anyone was hiding somewhere waiting to jump out and scare me. That has happened too many times than I can count so i'm wary whenever I think I'm alone but I'm actually not. 

Through the glass doors in the living room, I spotted a glowing fire outside. At first I thought the trees were on fire, but soon realised it was simply the fire pit that we had in the garden. I slid the door open and saw Keira sitting on a chair, curled up with a blanket. She looked up at the sound of the door opening, but when she saw it was only me, drew her eyes back to the dancing flames in front of her. Something about the calming movements and the light smell of burning intrigued and relaxed me. It drew me in - making me feel like nothing else apart from the crackling blaze mattered. The warm, flickering glow invited me to sit down next to Keira - which I did willingly. Normally fires are associated with danger, death and destruction, but the steady inferno ahead of me was anything but that. The light graze of late night cool air hitting our skin juxtaposed the scorching, sizzling furnace.