Faking It

22

"Oh— my little girl. Happy birthday." My mother basically sprinted towards me with open arms and I gratefully endings in her hug.

I haven't seen my mother since the day I left for the school semester. The calls and messages weren't enough, especially today.

She gives me an extra tight squeeze as usual before she gently pulls back, smiling sadly as she tucks a loose strand of my auburn locks behind my ear.

"He would have been so proud of you, baby." Seeing her green eyes well up had sent a small pain to my chest. Knowing that today was hard for her made it much worse.

Luckily enough, I could hear a small voice bouncing around behind me.

"AJ! AJ!" Sophia's voice was excitable as I turn around to see my little sister running towards me in her little blue dress and now at full speed as I smile brightly to match hers.

She jumps into my arms with a tight hug and I squeeze back, missing her extra today also.

"Soph! Have you been good for mommy?" I say as I lock eyes with her in my arms, her forehead leaning against mine with a cheeky smile and I chuckle.

"That's my girl." I wink at her as my mother smacks my arm slightly in dominance and we all laugh together.

"I have an idea!" I say switching Sophia to my other hip.

"— why don't we go get some snacks as Momma talks to Aunt Carol?" I say with an excited gasp as I look to my mother, her confused glance was ruined as I scurry away,

Sophia and I making our way together to the snack table as we turn back to my mother, her evil eyes were glaring at me as my weird Aunt Carol bombarded my mother.

Nothing against my Aunt Carol, but her non-sense rambling skills are completely impeccable.

I have never heard a 60 year old woman talk so much in such a small amount of time, and of complete nonsense!

Sophia and I chuckle together as my mother tries to get a word in my aunt's ramble.

Sophia begins her own bunch of ramble, telling me all the in's and outs of the drama in her kindergarten class— surprisingly interesting if I do say so myself.

"Surprised?" I hear a deep, familiar voice appear next to me and I smile towards the boy.

"So this is why you were avoiding me today— I knew you could never keep a secret, Mason." I tease him as he rolls his eyes playfully.

He winks at me as he throws a candy in his mouth turning to Soph' with wide eyes.

"Sophie! What did I say about growing up?" Mason perks up towards my little sister and she grins cheekily.

She gives him a hug before sitting in between us.

"How's school? Any boy troubles I need to know about?"

Ever since the first week of knowing Mason, he has always had a little soft spot for my sister.

Regardless if he denies it to keep his bad boy reputation in check, every time they are together—the two are two peas in a pod.

Be still my beating heart.

I smack his chest playfully and he scowls at me confusingly.

"Boys are gross! Mase, please. How could you ask such a thing?" I feign shock as he rolls his eyes and looks at my baby sister with a playful eye roll.

"AJ, not all boys are gross!" Sophia pipes up finally and I struggle to not choke on the hard candy I had just swallowed as I look to my six year old sister.