She's the One [DISCONTINUED]

[7]

The blaring of my alarm clock jars me out of my peaceful sleep, and I blindly throw my arm towards the drawer next to my bed so I can turn it off.

But wait...that's not my alarm, I realise after a moment. It's my ringtone.

Was the beat of my ringtone always this annoying, or is it only because who ever is calling me brought my happy dream to an abrupt end? I don't remember what I was dreaming about, but I have a feeling it was pleasant.

I reach for my phone in my sleepy and confused state, and squint my eyes at the glowing screen. Lydia. We had a plan to work on that assignment, right? Shoot.

"Hey," I say after picking up, and immediately clear my throat noticing how hoarse my morning voice sounds. "I'm up."

"Huh? Of course you're up. It's seven in the morning."

I scoff on the inside. She said it like I'm supposed to wake up this early. I'm sacrificing my precious forty minutes of sleep for you, Lid.

"So, where should we meet?"

I snap my eyes open and drag myself out of my bed. "Um, how about the bakery?"

"Okay, I'll be there in five minutes."

Five minutes?!

"Sure..."

She hangs up and I practically run into the bathroom. My speed is inhuman as I clean up and change my clothes. Now the difficult part is left. Escaping the house without Mom noticing.

I slowly and quietly make my way to the front door. I peer into the kitchen as I pass by it and realise that Mom isn't inside. Success.

I don't think it took me half as much time as it usually does to get to the bakery. It's a good thing there's little traffic at this time, or I would've been run over by some vehicle with how fast I was going.

Lydia is already waiting for me, her back pressed against the door and her fingers tapping the straps of her backpack. She smiles as she sees me getting off my bike.

"You're seven minutes late," she states.

"Sorry," I say breathlessly as I lean my bike against the wall.

"Well, better late than never. At least you're here now." She shrugs. "So, where should we go?"

"I have a place in mind. I'll show you."

***

"Woah!" Lydia exclaims. "I can't believe this place existed for all this time and I didn't know about it."

I took her to the nearby abandoned park where the grasses are growing wildly and poorly kept flowers are on the verge of drying. She seems to like it though, which brings a proud smile to my face.