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HER DULL SILVER HONDA SEAMLESSLY PULLED INTO THE DRIVEWAY OF HER TWO-STORY BRICK HOME. Not wanting to bother with getting her vehicle into the garage, the ginger-haired girl parked a few inches before the garage door. Pulling her keys from the ignition, she turned to the back seat where a blue bag sat. She's been babysitting for the Dunbar family for almost four years. Each year, they would get her something for her birthday, despite her pleading them not to. This year it was a treat yourself basket as Mrs. Dunbar described. It was full of face masks, bath bombs, scented lotions, candles, and fuzzy socks.
Anaya was appreciative of how they always treated her kindly as if she was their own. She would miss being with them as now she wasn't required to be around due to Liam turning fifteen soon. Though, it was probably a good idea because of Anaya becoming a junior this year. Junior year is known for being tedious and intense; all the exams, college concerns, growing demand of classes, and teachers acting more difficult can be extremely stressful for a teenager.
A bitter feeling overwhelmed Anaya as she proceeded to imagine this upcoming year. In the past, she knew as she began to mature school and life itself would become more difficult, but she always assumed her friends would be there. She thought they would all deal with the stress together, that they would be each other shoulders to lean on. But of course, that was then and this is now — and any naive ideas she once had of being able to depend on others has vanished. As of now, a dull year awaited Anaya, and she's already accepted it.
Snapping out of her gloomy thoughts, she was eager to spend the rest of the dreadful night overindulging in snacks while binge-watching a netflix series. The girl swiftly snatched her gift and exited the car. The late evening wind nipped at Anaya's willowy frame, blowing softly against her wavy locks as she rushed across her lawn. Unlocking the front door, she discarded her shoes as soon as she walked in. Heading straight towards the living room, her hand trailed along the wall until it found the light switch.
"Surprise!" Anaya lurched backward as her mother popped up from the other side of the couch.
Recovering from the shock, Anaya squinted at the giggling woman. "Hilarious," She dryly remarked. Setting her bag down on the small table near the couch, she paused and tilted her head at the dirty-blonde haired woman. "Aren't you supposed to be at work right now?" Earlier this morning, her mother confessed that she was working for the day and couldn't take off, despite her best efforts to do so. Her mother felt terrible about it, but Anaya reassured her that it was okay, and that they would hang out the next day.
"Yes, but did you think I would miss my baby's birthday? I told my boss that I had to get home, grabbed my things, and walked out that joint." The woman joked. Though, she wasn't surprised when her daughter's skeptic gaze remained unfazed. Rebecca Ashford was not a rule-breaker, she knew that, and her daughter knew that as well. A playful huffed escaped her lips. "You're no fun. I did have a full shift, but Melissa covered the rest for me. Now come hug your mother." The woman opened her arms.
