6. A Little Nudge

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                                     AKIA

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                                     AKIA

"Akia, please! You promised me!"

I've been listening to Liz yell at me for the last 10 minutes. When freshman year ended, we made a promise to motivate each other to get summer jobs before school starts again. Now that it's summer, I just want to eat, sleep and look pretty.

"Can we find jobs later? Next month, maybe? It's 8 AM, Liz. It's not physically possible for me to get out of bed." I grumble.

"No! Today is our best chance. There's going to be stands set up at Wayarke for hires. If we leave now, we could get there before it gets too busy." Liz yells.

I groan when she pulls the covers off the bed.

"I've been letting you stay at my house all summer. The least you could do is come with me. You don't even have to apply for anything!" Liz states, looking at me with a pleading expression.

I couldn't not say yes. It's true.

Ever since school ended, I've been trying to stay clear of my house. I'm too afraid to go home and confront my mom. I've been gone for at least a month now and she won't react well to it.

Liz doesn't exactly know the reasons behind me staying here. She thinks it's because I miss her too much and can't be separated from her. I do miss her, but it goes way deeper than that.

Before I can agree that I'll go, the bedroom door creaks open. When I see who it is, all of my energy shoots back to me. I jump out of bed and give the woman a big hug.

"My sleepy girl! I missed you both so much." Liz's mom, Mrs. Moore, directs towards Liz and I.

Mrs. Moore travels a lot since she's a travel nurse. She's been my nurse since I was little. So to my surprise, when I became friends with Liz in secondary school, it felt like a family reunion. She's been more of family to me than my real mom.

"Mom! When did you get home? I missed you." Liz joins in on the hug, the side of her face against my messy brown hair.

As long as I've known Liz, her dad isn't very present. I've never met the man before. But at the same time, I'd never met her brother either.

Liz and her mom don't seem to talk about it. I wonder about it sometimes, but I don't ever ask. I wouldn't want anyone to ask me about my mom.

It must've been lonely for her, living here on her own. When her mom's gone, it's just her. I'm staying here for my own good, but I'm glad I got to keep Liz company all summer.

"You guys have fun. Honey, don't forget the keys in the car again!" Mrs Moore says, as she leaves the room; leaving the door wide open.

"Mom! That was 2 years ago! And please, close the door next time!" Liz shouts out. When her gaze slides to me, she grins innocently. "Now that you're awake..."

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