Pimentel Princess #wattys2018

Chapter 32 : a phone

"When's your boyfriend coming over?" Hafsa asks loudly.
"What boyfriend?" January asks rapidly. "I don't have a boyfriend," Her cheeks glowing an angry red.
"Shut up, Hafsa!" She smacks her arm.

" We know they call you Fuse because of your short-temper. Don't take it out on your sister. Your technical twins. 2 freaking days apart," I tell her.
"You never say anything to Hafsa," she says stroppily before slamming the door.

Teenagers, I feel my eyes roll to the back of my head.

I know it's stupid to say, but I'm glad January is dyslexic. She doesn't have social media, because it's had for her to text. It lets her down sometimes, but she's not a zombie.

"So Laila, what plans do you have for this new book cover?" Little Ed asks. The rest of the room look at me, waiting for me to enravel my work.

"Uh, so theres this girl, she's a junkie, due to stress from her child. She kills the boyfriend of-,"
"Enough, are you promoting the book or something? Your job is to design book-covers," he cuts me off. I gulp before carrying on.
"Ah right, but the book cover gives the story away a bit on the cover to keep the readers intrigued,"

After the meeting, I open my phone to find 2 missed calls from Joel and one text message. I open the text message, but my heart stops upon seeing what the news could mean.

The king, most handsome husband in the world🔥🔥🔥

Summer's out tonight.

I had been smiling due to the stupid name Joel saved himself as but then the reality hit me. She'd go after January. I speed home, causing a lot of honking.

"Why you sweating? Was work that bad, mama?" Hafsa asks with a concerned look on her face. She'd always make sure I was okay, and when I wasn't, she wouldn't eat.

"Yes but family meeting, the lounge in 5...4..." I say loudly, warning Joel and January to rush, as I hear their footsteps rushing down the stairs.
Ofcourse January sits next to her dad on the sofa and me and Hafsa. We'd just been like that naturally.

"Okay so January, you need to come out of school on time. Papa will pick you and your sister up. No dawdling, straight into the car. You were too young to understand January, but when you were little your mum had gone to prison for child abuse and over previous cases used against her. Well, she's coming out tomorrow. She's going to go after you, as you were the reason for her to be jailed. What am I saying, ofcourse you remember you had to speak in court," January and Hafsa both stare at me in awe, trying to usurp the information thrown at them.

I looked calm. I was panicking. Joel had remained quiet the whole time with the occasional nod.

"Speaking about that, I need a phone," January says quickly as I get up.

"What? Why?" I ask.
"Like you said, it's dangerous and I need a phone,"
She's right, I'm just worried about Summer contacting her. She's pretty sly.
"Okay, Joel? For danger. We need to give her one, one question though January, how will you know how to use it?"
"Hafsa you'll help me won't you? And I'll mainly use it for answering your calls. That's the important thing," She smiles sweetly hoping it would convince me.

"Ahh Okay," I sigh.
"Boyfriend?" I quickly shove in before she leaves.
"Crush," she rolls her eyes before leaving the room.
When did my daughter get so distant from me. Hafsa tells me everything, January on the other hand feels too 'embarrassed,'

"Hafsa?" I call after her whilst paining my nails on my bed.
"Yes Mama? Is everything okay? You need anything?" My heart warms to how much I love her.

"Yes, I wanted to massage oil into your hair," I pat my bed motioning for her to sit. She smiles, I know she loves it when I massage her head.

Half way through I bring up the topic about January's boyfriend, just to be curious. I know she's nearly 16 but I'm still worried for her, it's still too early to date!

"Yeah, she likes a boy in my class. Don't worry you'd approve of him, but I don't know why she won't tell him. He's not an arrogant type. He's really shy, unlike her." She explains. But I hear a tiny thud then a groan, only belonging to Jan.

"Urgh why do you tell mum everything? I hate you. Don't talk to me," January storms off.
"No January! I'm sorry," but January is already gone.
"Go Hafsa. You can make it up to her, thank you mi amor,"
"For what Mama? I didn't do anything," she giggles before running after Jan.

She never got rid of that adorable giggle.

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Authors note: what do you think?😩😊Just thought of a story idea!