Unbreak My Heart

5. Old and New Streets

"I made you breakfast, so please eat then they go shower." Sophia uttered, looking around the kitchen.

"What are you searching for?" 

"My keys, I don’t remember where I put them." 

"They must be in your bag. I'm the one who unlocked yesterday," I stated, before sitting down to eat the pancakes she prepared.

Sophia disappeared in her bedroom, while I munched on the delicious breakfast. Pancakes have always been my favorite. "They are so fluffy and yummy," I said to no-one in particular.

"As long as they will lift up your spirit," she said, holding her bag and phone.

I took my phone out of my pocket to check the time, and just as I thought, it's too early to be leaving for school! "Where are you going?" I asked with knitted brows.

"I told you that I'm having breakfast with my sister last night," She said with a shake of her head and grinned when I didn't respond, trying to remember when that conversation took place.

"Of course! You weren't listening because you were thinking about Chef Jake." Sophia laughed.

Yesterday’s confrontation with Chef Jake left me tongue tied. I usually fire back with responses, but he made me speechless! 

I kept thinking about our first encounter and how different our interaction was then. What happened to that Amara? The confident and fun girl who didn't have any issues giving harmless flirty banter.

And then Alex's face flashed in my mind and my mood soured completely.

"I'm sorry." I apologized, feeling bad for not paying attention to her. 

"No need." She waved her hand in the air dismissively.

The truth was Jake wasn’t the only thing on my mind, April and Alex’s birthday was coming up and this would be the first time I wouldn’t spend it with him. I couldn’t even sleep well last night; disturbed by nightmares. 

I was a twelve year old again in my dream, coming home to find my mother crying over an empty closet. 

There was a different ending to it this time around, instead of my father leaving with his bags, it was Alex with Sam clinging to his arm. I woke up with a start, and my heart was racing. There was no going back to sleep; all I could see each time I closed my eyes was Alex with Sam.

"Finish your food and get ready so you’re not late." Soph’s bossy voice took me out of my thoughts.

“Yes mum!” I shouted after her.

By the time I was done, there was hardly any time left to get myself ready.. Making sure I had everything with me, I exited my bedroom and walked towards the kitchen to grab food and snacks for the day and rushed to catch the leaving bus. My shouts for it to stop went unheard.

Wonderful.

It was cold today, and of course it looked like it was about to rain. I pulled my jacket closer and picked up my pace, hoping to still make it to school on time..

My usual 10 minute bus ride turned into a 30 minute walk. But I smiled in victory with the campus coming into view, however, my happiness was short lived as the heavens showered me with rain before I reached the shelter provided by the campus. 

I walked to the nearest bathroom and tried to rinse the water from my hair. Thankfully I had a jacket on top and this prevented my upper body from getting trenched. But my trousers weren’t so lucky and completely soaked. I hoped one of my classmates had spare trousers, otherwise I was bound to get sick.