Page 2 of Eight Weeks
I look up her contact in my phone, praying to every single God out there that she’s still got the same number.
Dialing her number, my blood starts rushing through me at lightning speed, my hands shaking. Why am I so anxious about talking to my own aunt? Perhaps because if she says no or doesn’t live here anymore, I seriously don’t know where else to go.
Luck seems to be on my side for once, seeing as someone actually does pick up the phone.
“Sofia?” the voice of my aunt comes through the phone. She sounds as surprised to hear from me as I was hearing I will be homeless.
“Hey, yeah, it’s me.”Awkward.
My aunt keeps quiet. Like I said, we haven’t talked in at least one decade. I must have been ten by the time living on the other side of the globe just got too much to stay in touch with everyone else. So, I’m not surprised she has no idea what to say.
“Look, I have a problem…” I walk up and down the little pathway in front of a grocery store, not knowing how to ask someone I haven’t talked to in ages for such a huge favor.
“Spit it out, dear.”
“I’m in New City,” I say. “I was supposed to stay at the dorms of St. Trewery, but as it seems, they no longer have a room available for me. So up until I—”
“Oh, dear, I don’t live in New City anymore.”There goes my only hope.“I do live in Wesley Hills, though. You remember your childhood friend… What’s her name again? Liliana?”
“Lily?” Her name sends an instant chill through my body. I haven’t heard her name in so long, it’s strange realizing certain people in my life actually remembering her, talking to me about her.
“Yes, yes. Her mother lives right next to me.”
I’m not sure why she’s telling me this. “That’s cool. So uh, listen, Nicole. I know this is a lot to ask… but could I stay with you for a short while? Only until I found an apartment close to St. Trewery?”
“Sure. I’ll text you my address. Just go and knock at Victoria’s door and ask for the key to let yourself in. She has a spare one. I’m at work, otherwise I’d come pick you up.”
Oh, thank fuck. I already pictured myself spending the night sleeping on a park bench. Though, I might want to take care of my whole getting-my-period problem before I seat myself in an Uber.
2
Aaron
“look death in the eyes like everyday”—CHXSE Up by Chase Atlantic
“Miss, your card was declined.”
I just wantedonequiet birthday morning. And yet I find myself in a drug store, buying a last-minute present for my sister.
After Colin’s text last night, saying Lily would be staying with us for a couple of days, I need to get this present before they get home. I wanted to buy one shortly before leaving for Brites, but Lily would have found out I kind of forgot to get her one. So, it had to be now.
Funny how we share the same birthday and yet I somehow forgot to get my twin sister a birthday present.
Anyway, being here wouldn’t be such a bad thing, if that woman at the register next to mine wasn’t about to explode.
Looking at what she’s buying, that poor cashier has it coming. Feminine hygiene products, chocolate, and a declined card… thatscreamsoutraged woman.
“You cannot be fucking serious,” she speaks in a much calmer voice than I anticipated. “They said it would work here!”There it is.
“I’m sorry, miss, but like I told you before, we don’t take bank cards from other countries. And what the hell is an ‘EC-Card?’”
“I don’t have cash on me. I just landed good two hours ago.” Whatever she says next stays a mystery as she switches languages. It does sound awfully a lot like an insult though, so that’s interesting.
I pay for Lily’s present, and since I feel charitable today, I walk right over to the other register.
The guy looks up, furrowing his eyebrows as I slap my credit card in front of him.
“I’ll pay for it.”
