FAKING SMILES [DANIEL VEDA]

CHAPTER FOUR

Four.

Waking up the next day, Sabrina noticed the lack of noise around the house and she knew everyone was gone. Sabrina decided she'd go in for work before going with Uriah. Just to keep herself occupied. She changed into the red polo and khaki pants after a long, relaxing shower. She left her hair down and let it air dry. She grabbed her purse and before heading to Target. Her work.

Sabrina was awfully tired. She was trying to manage school and work. She had to pay bills around the house. Seeing as Mama Alston was struggling. Kevin and Shari has offered to give money to her mom but she always refused. And what Sabrina hated about them was that they never put more effort into their mothers situation. Sure they're willing to sacrifice their money, but Sabrina knew that they both would rather spend it on makeup or merchandise for the digaz.

But Sabrina — Sabrina is putting in the effort to help her mom. She goes behind her mother's back and pays the most expensive utilities, the ones her mother is struggling to pay... the water and electricity bill. Sabrina sacrifices more than half of her pay check every month to pay the bills. And she is the only Alston child that gets off her ass and really works around the house. Sometimes she even stays up, late at night to clean the mess Kevin and the boys make when they hang out. Or the mess Shari makes when she's playing around with her makeup when she's bored.

Then, she has to manage school. Sabrina has all AP classes. Meaning, she basically takes college classes. And her being in the advanced placement classes takes time out of her weekends. She could be sleeping in like Kevin and Shari on weekends. But instead, she's up studying. Whether or not there was a test on that upcoming Monday. Or she was finishing a project that was due. She took pills to keep her awake during the day.

Sabrina climbed out of her car after downing one of the five hour energy drinks she had.

"Sabrina? You're in early today?" The manager, Michael, asked.

"Yeah, something happened at school and looks like I get a week off." Sabrina shrugged.

"You got suspended?" Michael asked with a raised eyebrow.

Sabrina tapped her nose. "Bingo!"

Michael laughed. "If you work to three... I'll give you the rest of today and tomorrow off, deal?"

"Deal, but I have to come into tomorrow because I need the money." Sabrina sighed. Michael nodded before walking back into his office.

Sabrina huffed before walking around towards the electronic section of the store — where she worked.

"Let's get this day over with." Sabrina sighed.

« time skip »

Sabrina sighed, timing herself out of work. She grabbed her purse form her locker before heading out towards her car. She quickly drove home, running to her room and changing into some jeans and a hoodie. The doorbell rang and Sabrina raced down stairs to open the door before the boys did but didn't make it in time. And standing on their doorstep was Uriah with his hands shoved into his front pockets.