tomboy ▪ hemmings

6.

INFINITY IS LIFE, anyways finally updating x

as soon as she was on her way to work, she found an old lady huffing and puffing by the road side. Andrea felt bad since she saw that her tire was obviously flat and the car seemed awfully familiar. she took a glance at her watch, and she thought that maybe a fifteen minute stop to help a lady in need won't hurt anyone.

she didn't seem creepy and bitchy like Layla was, so that was what made her want to help the professional looking business woman who was frantically walking by the sidewalk. screw that, she just wanted something to distract her from the warehouse conflict. she needed to do some kindness, so something could happen to her. she needed it.

if a miracle were to happen, then be it. if you do kindness, then you'll receive kindness, at least that was what mother used to tell her.

"you need help?" she asked to the lady who was busy calling someone on her phone, and the lady smiled at her.

"oh yes please! I've been calling my son the past hour but I think he's asleep. god, where are they when you need them?!" the lady continued to talk and talk, and Andrea just stood there pretending to listen when she obviously couldn't understand a single word that the woman was saying.

"oh my god, I'm babbling! I'm sorry, it's just that I'm super late for this conference and I was wondering if you were capable of changing a flat tire?" the lady asked, and that was what made Andy finally wake up from her trance.

"well, that depends miss. do you have a spare tire at the back?" she asked, slowly hinting for her to open the boot at the back of the car.

"I'm not really sure, but can you just do everything in a jiffy? I swear I'll repay you!" the lady said, hoping that Andrea wouldn't ask her anything since she was clueless when it comes to these kind of stuff.

"yeah sure, just calm down. I'll be finished soon."

------

as soon as she finished up with the car, she informed the still anonymous lady who was talking on the phone regarding the person on the other line about how she was going to be late - but stopped talking in surprise when she saw that Andrea was already done.

"wow, you're good. hold on," she continued talking on the phone, informing the other side that she was on her way since 'a considerate lad' helped her along the way.

right, she was a boy in her eyes.

"oh my god! you're such a lifesaver, how can I ever repay you? I'm Liz by the way, what's your name?"

"I'm Andy." she said, smiling faintly before adjusting her snapback and getting ready to walk to her bicycle.

"hey! wait up, I mean hold on! what's your address? I could send you a hamper or something, at least I could repay you with something." she said, her smile never leaving her face.

but Andrea's smile turned into a frown at the mention of her address. she wasn't going to have one after this. that made her heart shatter and she started to take deep breaths before looking up at Liz.

"I don't think that's necessary. it's just a flat tire anyways. it's all good miss."

"you sure honey? you look like you have a huge burden on your shoulders, want to talk about it? maybe we could exchange numbers, so I can call you whenever I have a flat tire!" Liz joked, and she was laughing at her own joke but soon stopped when she saw that Andy wasn't laughing. at all.

"Nah, I'm good. I don't have a phone number anyways. it was nice meeting you Liz, may a miracle happen to you today." she muttered, before quickly cycling away - pushing the distant sounds of Liz's faint voice away.

------

the day at work was inconvenient and Andrea's mind never left the warehouse. she knew she had to think about it in a careful manner, no matter what the consequences were. hoping for a miracle was such a nonsense at the moment, and she knew sooner or later she would have to face reality.

they were homeless.

George wasn't at work, thus she didn't have to creep in even though she was late. the whole scenario might have been ideal, but that meant having a place to stay over for the night was out of the question.

the only option she had was Rosie but that meant she still had to explain to Adam what had happened. and she had no clue what to say. Adam was a child, but she knew he would understand. she was hoping for herself to not break down in front of him.

for now, going on through the day was enough for her to think off. picking up Adam from school was soon to be thought off, since she had another three toilets to clean and four floors to mop.

-----

Adam was used to waiting for Andrea for two hours after he finished school. he didn't let them go to waste, instead he finished his homework for the day so the night would be easier for him to rest.

he had learned that from Andrea, and never stopped himself from doing such the past years being in school. he was always teased, but Andrea stopped his bullies from teasing her any further. that was one of the reasons he was thankful for her existence.

his thoughts of Andrea settled down when a lady came in his sight, intruding his loneliness at one of the benches outside the gates of the school.

"hey, your parent's are late aren't they?" she asked, making Adam smile.

"they should be. stuck in a grave and all." he answered, serious face going strong.

the lady paled, and Adam laughed at her. he wasn't very sensitive about the topic, since he barely knew them. he wasn't used to being sad about it, so he used to make it as a joke.

"oh wow, I-I'm sorry. I-I didn't mean to-,"

"it's okay miss, I'm used to it. no worries." he said, grinning and showing his pearly whites.

the lady faintly smiled, before carefully letting her words out.

"so, who's picking you up?"

"my guardian. no need to worry, I'm used to being picked up late. they have work and all."

before she could ask any other questions, Adam quickly packed up his bags and gestured over to the figure walking over to the both of them.

"Andy's here!" he said, before hugging her tightly.

that was when Andrea widened her eyes and looked at the lady who was talking to Adam.

"Liz?"