Alex and her mom were curled up on the couch, watching Pitch Perfect and eating ramen noodles. After Alex had calmed down a bit, she told her mom what had happened, which really wasn't much, just a triggered memory. The two sat and talked about it for a little while, and then Alex was feeling a lot better, so she suggested that they have a lazy night.
Alex's dad had died when she was a baby, and she had no siblings, so it was just her and her mom. This caused a lot of traditions between the two of them, including one they liked to call "lazy night," which involved comfort food which either ended up being ramen noodles or sancocho, the latter, however, took a whole lot longer to prepare. Nevertheless, no matter what food they had, their lazy nights always involved Pitch Perfect.
Though Alex would catch her mom crying sometimes over a picture of her father, there wasn't much sad talk about him. Alex knew her mom missed her dad a lot, and she did too for that matter, even though she never knew him. However, neither one of them saw any sense in being bitter about it, and they both knew that's not what he would have wanted. So whenever they did talk about him, it was good memories and stories her mom would share. They had a habit of sitting together on June 30th every year, the day he died, and they wouldn't really talk to one another. They would just shed some silent tears and hug each other. This was one of the rare occasions Alex still felt that she would probably be able to be hugged.
Alex sometimes wished she had a dad, but she loved her mom and was very happy with her life with her. Her mom loved her and looked out for her perfectly well on her own, it just wasn't the same as having two parents. Alex once asked her mom if she would ever remarry and after thinking it over for a moment she simply said: "No, no lo creo. If I find someone who's right then maybe, but I don't feel the need to go looking for love. Love will find me if it wants to. And besides Ali-gator, you're all the love I need."
It hadn't been disappointing or sad, just something her mother was content with and felt to be the truth. Alex never worried about her mom much because she knew if she ever really needed help, she wouldn't hesitate to go get it.
Since it was just the two of them though, the traditions started early, so the first time they had done a lazy night Alex had felt that she was too young to be hearing some of the language the girls on the tv were using, but her mom simply laughed at her and just told her not to use the words inappropriately. She had always been pretty laid back with things like that because she knew Alex was too much of a good-two-shoes to do anything remotely bad. If she was being honest with herself she wished that Alex would cuss or get a bad grade every once in a while. You can't be perfect all the time and it's unhealthy to try to be.
Alex got up to dish herself another serving of noodles, and as she was sitting back down she heard her phone buzz. She picked it up and was immediately slightly confused.
"Who was that?" her mom asked, when she saw that Alex had semi-shock written across her face.
"It's Kata," Alex replied slowly, opening her phone so she could read the whole message. She wasn't sure why Kata was texting her, or even how she had gotten her number. The only reason she even knew it was Kata was because she said so at the beginning of the text.
"Isn't she the girl you were working with today?" Ms. Cairney asked, careful to leave out the part that had triggered Alex's painful memory.
Alex nodded slowly, while reading over the words.
(319) 884-5762: Hey Alex it's Kata. I got your number from Carson cuz u seemed pretty upset and I just wanted to check on u. I know we don't know each other very well but if u want to talk abt what happened I'm here. I also wanted u to know that I didn't tell anyone else abt what happened cuz I kind of figured u wouldn't want anyone else knowing.
Alex vaguely heard her mom pausing the movie, as she wrote and rewrote responses on her phone. Kata was being so kind, and she didn't even know Alex. Alex didn't want to worry her, because she really didn't deserve that.
(319) 542-2491: Thx so much for checking up on me but I'm fine, really
Alex debated whether she should say something else, but Kata beat her to it.
Kata: No you're not fine. U ran out the doors after completely freezing up
Alex was taken aback by the response, but no sooner than the text was delivered, another one followed.
Kata: Sorry
Alex puzzled over this.
Alex: For what?
A pause.
Kata: Idk
Alex: U have nothing to be sry for
Kata: I guess
Alex was about to say something else when Kata beat her to it yet again.
Kata: I totally get if u don't want to talk to me abt whatever happened I just wanted u to know that I'll be here if u do. I also just wanted u to know that I don't judge u or whatever and I'm not gonna tell anyone cuz that would be kind of a bitchy move
Laughter ghosted Alex's mouth because the person she had sort of gotten to know today was back.
Alex: Thx Kata
Alex was about to tell her mom to unpause the movie when her phone buzzed again.
Kata: It was rly fun working with u today
Alex smiled at that, and a warm happy feeling took over her chest.
Alex: Agreed
Alex: We should hang out more
After a solid five minutes of Kata not responding, Alex started to worry. Had she said something wrong? Or maybe Kata didn't want to hang out with her anymore? Maybe she was just saying she had fun with Alex to be nice. However, before Alex could spiral too much her screen lit up with another message.
Kata: :)
For some reason, that message made Alex smile, maybe bigger than she had all day. Ms. Cairney looked at her funny.
"What was she texting you about?" she asked.
"Oh, she was just checking in on me. I kind of ran away from her." Alex said sheepishly. "It's sweet." she added with a little smile.
"It is," her mother agreed, nodding. "She seems like a nice person." And with that the two resumed their movie, Alex feeling even better than she had a few minutes ago.
***
A/N: A wholesome little ending :)
Thank you so much for reading, I have loved updating every day this week, but it has also been exhausting!!! So, I'm going to go back to once a week updates. However, I might go to twice a week updates soon!!!
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Love,
Sunny <3
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Dear Ocean Sky
Genel Kurgu[first draft - this story will be edited later on] "I just worry about people. Especially my friends." "Friends?" Alex looked over at Kata with kindness in her eyes. "Of course."...
