Miracles

Chapter 6

"Are you kidding me?"
"No," Cadmus says. "I felt like exercising after school, that's why I brought it." He shrugs.
"Thank you but I think I'll just wait for my mom." I back away from him.
"Wait! Are you scared?" He asks, a smile making its way unto his face.
"I wouldn't say that I'm scared. I just don't know how to ride a bike." I say nervously.
"That's fine. I'll protect you." He wiggles his brows at me. I frown, shaking my head, no.
"C'mon, it will be fun." He takes my hands. "Okay."

"Aren't there any rules guiding this thing?" I ask as he buckles a helmet on my head. He shrugs, "Don't panic. Just relax."
"You forgot to add, hold on tight and don't fall," I say.
"You're just adding your own rules so that you can touch me. Please don't fall for me. Witches and devils don't work well." He smirks.
"Eew! No way will I ever fall for the devil's incarnate." I say, with a pukey face.
"That's what the witches always say." He shakes his head, amused.
"Can we just go?" I instruct.
"Aye! Aye! Captain!" He responds in a pirate's voice, making me chuckle as he starts pedaling.

A ride on a bicycle isn't that bad. It's actually cool but I know that I still can't ride on my own. I'm a newbie.
"Where's your sister?" I ask trying to create a conversation. "Dunno." He answers.
"Okay but seriously speaking, why were you talking to your sister like that?" I ask with crossed fingers hoping he doesn't get angry and leave me in the streets of Manhattan.
"When?" He asks.
"Argh!" I groan. "You know when. Just answer my question."
"I did that to get your attention and surprisingly, it worked." He announces.
"Really?" I ask in surprise. "Why?"
"I need your help." He answers. "With what?"
"A girl." He replies.
"Mmm... a girl." I coo. "Who is she?"
"I-I can't tell you who she is." He stutters a bit.
"How can I help if I don't know who she is?"
"I'll describe her to you." He shrugs.
"Just tell me who she is," I whine.
"Later." He chuckles.
"Just give me the basics." He says. "How do I win a girl's heart?"
"I think I'm not the best teacher for you." I laugh.
"I believe you are." He says.
"Why?" I ask getting interested.
"You're an art student and you're good with people." He answers.
"You could have gone for any other art student, why me?" I ask.
"I can't tell you why I chose you. Not now. Maybe later." He says nervously.
"Okay. Well, I hope I get something good out of helping you," I tell him.
"Like?" He inquires.
"I would say money but I don't want you to think all girls are after money. Note, that's lesson one." I tell him. "I want you to become more of a gentleman. I guess that will be a better reward." I say, not sure if it sounds okay. I mean, he's doing this to win some girl's heart, not mine.
"Okay." He says amusement clear in his voice.
We go back to silence.

"Wait! That's my mom's car." I point to the car parked in the parking lot of a pharmacy.
"Okay. Will you go and check if it's her?" He asks and I roll my eyes.
"It's her. Thanks for the walk or ride, whatever we just did." I say and hand him his helmet.
"Yeah. Bye witch." He waves.
"Lesson number two, that girl you want demands respect. Don't go around calling her names." I wave and run into the pharmacy.

"Mama?" I call when I spot her.
"Boo. Are you okay? What happened to you?" She asks, hugging me tightly.
"I'm fine mom. What are you doing here?" I ask her. She suddenly becomes nervous.
"Umm... I came to get some sanitary towels." She answers showing me what she's holding.
"That's a pregnancy test," I point out, looking at my nervous mom.
"Uh- I was just checking the expiry date." She says and places it back.
"I don't think they expire." I scrunch my face. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing." Mom murmurs. "Let's just go home."
"Wait. Are you pregnant?" I ask expectantly.
"I don't think so." She says in a sad tone. "Mom, what's wrong?" I ask worriedly.
"I'll tell you in the car." She says and we leave the pharmacy.

"What did you want to ask me earlier today?" Mom asks when we get seated in the backseat of her car.
"I wanted to ask you why you haven't given birth." I voice out, afraid of her response.
Her eyes become teary and she looks away as a tear slips down her cheek.
"Mama, please don't cry." I wipe her tears. "What's wrong?"
"Eloise, I-I I can't have k-kids." She stutters as pools of tears flow down her cheeks.
I hug her tightly.
"Shhh! Don't cry." I comfort her like she always does when my brothers, dad, or anyone is sad.
"I cherish you so much, Eloise. You, your brothers, and your dad; you're my miracles." She says hugging me tightly.
"What if there's another miracle?" I ask with hope.
"What do you mean?" She asks, pulling away.
"I'll be right back." I get out of the car and run back to the pharmacy.
I take one pregnancy test kit, pay for it, and run back to the car.
"Here." I hand the kit to mom.
"Eloise, it's not gonna work." She shakes her head.
"Please try. You always tell me it's better to try than nothing. It's now your turn." I plead with her. "Please."
She nods, "Okay, I'll try."

We drive home in silence.
"Are my brothers here?" I ask as we enter the house.
"I think so," Mom nods.
"Okay. I'll be back soon. I need to charge my phone. I don't want to put pressure on you but, please take the test." I give her an encouraging smile and run to my room.
I connect my phone to the charger and open my door but stop mid-way when I see Eli trying to get Hee, my ginger-haired friend, downstairs. 
I smile and sneak up on them.
"Ahem!" I fake cough.
"Eloise! Don't sneak up on people like that." Eli scowls. I chuckle.
"Hi Hee. What are you doing here?" I asked, wiggling my brows. She just smiles, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.
"We're study partners but we're done so she's leaving," Eli responds. "Say bye to Eloise," Eli says to Hee as if he's talking to a five-year-old.
"Bye Eloise. Talk to you later." She waves. "Bye Hee." I wave as Eli drags her downstairs.

"Dinner is ready," Mom announces. I run to the kitchen. "Can I help?" I ask smiling widely.
"Get out." Mom laughs.
"I'm offended." I fake tears.
"You're so dramatic." She smiles, shaking her head at me.
"Just like you." I place my arm around her shoulders. She chuckles.
"I'm hungry." I groan.
"Lead the way," Mom says.
"No." I shake my head.
"Why?" She asks.
"I heard that when someone says lead the way, they want to stare at your butt," I inform her. She rolls her eyes at me.
"I'm your mom." She says emphasizing the word 'mom'.
"I'm still not going first," I say stubbornly.
"You're crazy." She chuckles. "Why would I look at your butt?"
"I don't know, but I don't wanna go first," I respond making mom laugh harder.

"What are you two waiting for?" Dad asks from the kitchen doorway.
"Mom wants to look at my butt."
"Really?" Dad asks, surprised.
"That's what she thinks." Mom rolls her eyes.
"I think you should go first," Dad says to mom.
"For the sake of my baby boys, I'll go." She sighs and leads the way. Dad follows her and whistles. "Damn!"
I laugh.
"Honey, I'll think I'll have you for dinner."