Hearts And Homework

Chapter 3

The Weekend

The persistent beep of the alarm clock pierced through the haze of Amara Clark’s slumber, a relentless reminder that the day had begun. She buried her face deeper into her pillow, hoping to snatch a few more minutes of sleep. Her room, still shrouded in the dim light of dawn, seemed to mock her reluctance to rise.

“Amara, come on! You’re going to miss breakfast!” Heather Hawks’s voice cut through the drowsiness, firm yet caring. She shook Amara’s shoulder with practiced ease.

Amara groaned and rolled over, her face hidden beneath the tousled mess of her hair. “Just five more minutes, Heather. Please?”

Heather was having none of it. “No way. It’s already ten to eight. If you don’t get up now, we’ll be late for the mall trip we planned with the others.”

With a resigned sigh, Amara pushed herself up, blinking away the remnants of sleep. She shuffled to the bathroom and soon emerged with her hair pulled back into a messy bun, her eyes barely open but ready to face the day.

In her closet, she selected her outfit: black baggy jeans that complemented her relaxed style, a white slim sweater with a zipper in the front, and her unique necklace—a delicate silver chain with a small locket. She completed her look with a pair of simple earrings, each adorned with small gemstones, her right ear sporting four piercings in a trendy arrangement.

Heather eyed the necklace as Amara fastened it around her neck. “That’s a beautiful necklace. Where did you get it?”

Amara’s expression softened, a hint of nostalgia in her eyes. “It used to be my mother’s. She left it to me before she passed away nine years ago.”

Heather’s eyes widened with understanding. “That’s really special, Amara.”

The mood lightened as Amara finished adjusting her outfit and grabbed her bag. “Yeah, it is. Anyway, today is going to be exciting, don’t you think?”

Heather’s face lit up with a smile. “Definitely. I can’t wait to see what’s in store.”

They headed out the door, the anticipation of the day’s events adding a spark to their steps. The group had decided to spend the day at the mall, a popular spot for students eager to catch up and enjoy some time away from school.

Amara walked alongside Heather, Mia, and a few other girls she had quickly befriended. The day had started off with a visit to the newly opened coffee shop that had garnered quite a bit of buzz. As they settled into a cozy corner booth, the rich aroma of freshly brewed coffee mingled with the laughter and chatter of the group.

Heather was animatedly describing the latest basketball game she'd been involved in, her enthusiasm infectious. Mia chimed in with stories from her summer vacation, and soon enough, the conversation turned to a topic that had every girl in the group leaning in with interest: their love lives.

"So, now that we've covered everything from school to weekend plans, let's talk about something more fun," Heather said, taking a sip of her latte. "Who has a crush on someone? Spill the tea!"

The group erupted into excited whispers, and one by one, the girls began to share their secrets. Mia mentioned a boy from her history class who had caught her eye, while another girl, Jenna, shyly admitted her admiration for a guy she’d seen around campus.

When the conversation turned to Heather, she hesitated for a moment before grinning widely. "Okay, okay, I'll go first. There's this guy I’ve been interested in for a while. His name is Theo."

The girls squealed, urging Heather to divulge more details. Heather shook her head, a playful smirk on her face. "Sorry, I’m not telling his last name. Gotta keep some mystery!"