Chapter 3 - It's Nice To Make New Friends
I woke up to the gentle rays of morning light filtering through Lehl-Anne's living room curtains. Glancing at my phone, I saw it was 7 am on Saturday. Everyone else was still fast asleep, so I quietly gathered my things, packing up my overnight bag. Looking around at my friends sleeping peacefully, I couldn't help but smile. Last night had been amazing, filled with laughter and enjoyment.
I gently shook Lehl-Anne to wake her and thank her for hosting. I asked her to let the girls know I'd see them later in the afternoon. She groaned and went back to sleep but I'm sure she got the message.
After tiptoeing to the door, I paused for a moment, taking in the quiet of the morning. Something about this morning felt so peaceful. A peace I haven't felt in a long time. It felt refreshing.
It was just peaceful walking home, the streets empty aside from the stray animals I made sure to call to when passing. I let the cool air blanket my skin against my skin. As I approached my side of town, the air felt fresher because of the increasing amount of trees.
Arriving home, I found Mom in the garden, tending to her flowers. "Good Morning, Mom," I greeted her, setting down my bag and going over to hug her.
She looked up, surprised but happy to see me so early. "Good morning, Micah. You're home already? How was the sleepover?"
"It was great," I said, joining her in the garden. "But I wanted to come home and help out with some chores before meeting up with the girls again later."
Her smile warmed me. "That's thoughtful of you, dear. There's plenty to do if you're up for it."
"Sure, let's get started!" I replied, eager to spend time with her.
We spent the next few hours working together around the house, catching up on the week's events as we did. It felt good to be helping out and spending quality time with Mom. By late morning, we had finished most of the chores. I took a quick shower to freshen up, and Mom appeared with a sandwich and a cup of tea.
"Here, have some breakfast," she said, handing me the food. "You'll need your energy for the day you have planned ahead."
I grinned, touched by her thoughtfulness. "Thanks, Mom. I'll be back before you know it."
She hugged me tightly. "Have a wonderful time, and don't forget to enjoy yourself."
"I will," I promised, hugging her back. "I Love you, Mom."
She giggled and responded endearingly, "I Love you too, Micah."
After finishing breakfast, I headed upstairs to my room to unpack my bag and decide on an outfit for the day. I didn't have many options, but I promised myself that would change after today. Opting for a comfortable grey tracksuit, I tried to pull my curly hair into a bun, but it didn't cooperate, so I settled for wearing a hat instead.
Before leaving my room, I retrieved a chest from under my bed and opened it. Inside, among old books and keepsakes, was the money I had been saving. I carefully took it out from the book where I had hidden it and counted it quickly. It wasn't a lot, but it would cover my expenses for the day. As I sifted through the chest, I stumbled upon a notebook filled with songs I used to write. A pang of regret washed over me-I had let go of my musical talent. Quickly tucking the notebook back under my bed, I resolved to revisit it someday.
With everything set, I went back downstairs to find Mom in the kitchen. "Hey, Mom," I greeted her. "Could you drop me downtown? I'm meeting AJ, Crystal, and Lehl-Anne there."
She looked up from her morning coffee, smiling warmly. "Sure, honey. Let me grab my keys."
As she got her keys, I quickly sent a text to the group chat expertly named 'Micah's Angels': "Heading downtown now! See you soon."
