Spring [Completed]

SEVEN

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HER

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has•sle
noun

1. irritating inconvenience

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My head pounds in my skull as I slam my laptop closed in frustration. How are these kids so dumb?

I rub my temples softly as I try my best to regain my will power. After a couple moments of excruciating silence, I scoot back from my desk and sign. If I read one more poorly written research essay, I think my mind will explode.

As if sensing my discomfort, my phone blares to life and Amber's face flashes across the screen.

"Hey." I smile leaning back in my seat. "What's up?"

"Need a distraction?" She asks, cutting straight to the chase.

I raise a brow, even though she can't see it. "What do you have in mind?"

"Drinks. My place. Fifteen minutes."

I groan. "Amber, you know Sunday is—"

"Your grading day. Come on, let's be honest here. We both know you'll read 20 essays then put it off until next week anyways...Why don't we just get to the part where you come over and avoid your workload already?"

"Amber..."

"Imani." She mimics my phony annoyed voice.

"17." I sigh.

"What?"

"I only graded 17 papers this time." I laugh as I stand, grabbing my purse.

She gasps, feigning surprise. "Imani, you're slacking."

"I know, I know, but you're not supposed to judge, you're supposed to be my bad influence." I smirk as I lean against my desk and slip on my shoes.

"Bad influence huh?" I can imagine the smile growing on her face. "I like the sound of that."

I laugh lightly, shaking my head as I walk across my office to the door. "All I know is, there better be a tequila shot in my hand as soon as I step foot into—" I fall silent when I open my office door and Demi stands at the threshold, fist raised, ready to knock. "Hey, Dem," I say with wide eyes, hanging up the phone and sliding it into my pocket. "What do you need?"

"I wanted to..."She pauses, looking up at me with curious brown eyes. Her curly auburn pigtails bounce as she cranes her neck to the side. "Um, where are you going?" she asks, fidgeting with the sleeves of her sweatshirt.

"I'm going to hang out with Auntie Amber," I say, ushering her into the foyer as I close my office door behind me.

Her face lights up at the mention of her name. "Ooh ooh, can I come?"

"Didn't you come down here to ask me something?" I deflect.

"Oh yeah." She scratches the back of her neck as she remembers. "I um, I was wondering if you could take me to the store so I can get a poster board for my project."