Wild Ride

Chapter 14: Lessons and Laughter

Xandria's pov

I was very bored. Not the kind of bored where you could simply lie down and fall asleep. It was the kind where you kept checking your phone every five minutes even though you already knew there was nothing interesting on it. I had finished my chores, eaten, showered, and spent what felt like forever doing absolutely nothing.

I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling. I picked up my phone. Nothing. I dropped it beside me. A few seconds later, I picked it up again. Still nothing. I sighed. "Okay, I need to get out of this room."

I sat up and looked around. My eyes eventually landed on the little bookshelf in the corner of my room. My library. I hadn't visited it properly in a while. Maybe reading would help. I walked over and began scanning through the books, running my fingers along the spines as I searched for something that would hold my attention. Most of them were the usual romance, fiction, and mystery books I'd already read at least once.

Then I noticed one I didn't remember seeing before. It was tucked behind a few older books, almost as though someone had deliberately hidden it there. I pulled it out. The cover immediately caught my attention. It wasn't particularly colourful or flashy. There was something about it that made me curious.

I turned it over, expecting to find the usual description on the back, but there wasn't much. Just a few words. Rules for Life. Lessons for Living. I frowned slightly.

"That sounds serious." I almost put it back. Almost. But something about the book made me hesitate. I couldn't explain it. It wasn't like I believed the book was magical or anything ridiculous like that. I just had this strange feeling that I was supposed to read it. So I took it with me.

I settled into my bed and opened the first page. At first, I expected to get bored. Instead, I became completely absorbed. The words were simple, but they felt strangely personal. The book talked about choices, consequences, friendships, love, patience, forgiveness, self-worth, and the importance of knowing when to hold on and when to let go. I found myself rereading certain pages.

Some of the lessons felt like things I had experienced myself. Others made me think about things I hadn't considered before. The more I read, the more curious I became. I told myself I would stop after a few pages. Then I read another chapter. Then another. Before I knew it, an entire hour had passed. I finally closed the book and stretched. "Okay, Xandria. That's enough for now."

I glanced at my phone. I had several notifications. One of them was from another of my closest friends Mark.

Mark: Are you alive?

I laughed. I typed back.

Me: Unfortunately. I'm bored.

His reply came almost immediately.

Mark: Then get dressed. We're going out.

I stared at the message for a moment.

Honestly, I needed it. I quickly changed into something comfortable, grabbed my bag, and headed downstairs. A little while later, I met up with my friend at the mall. The moment I saw him, I already knew the peaceful day I had imagined was over. He came walking towards me with the biggest smile.

"You look like someone who desperately needed to leave the house."

"I did", I responded.

"I knew it."

He pulled me into a quick hug before stepping back. "So, what's the plan?", he asked.

I smiled. "I thought you were the one who told me to come out."

"I did. That doesn't mean I planned anything."

I laughed. "That makes absolutely no sense."

"It makes perfect sense", he said.