~*4 weeks later*~
Aurora woke up to a busy house. She sat up, rubbed her eyes, happy to be where she was. She smiled. Glancing over at her mother's empty bed, she padded bear-footed downstairs into the kitchen.
Aurora had been staying with the Hansons for two weeks, sharing the guestroom with her mother.
"Hey," Zac greeted her as she entered the kitchen. She looked at him with disgust as he stuffed Cheerios into his mouth. Aurora turned away and asked Mrs. hanson where her mother was.
"She went to look for work again today," Diana answered.
Aurora sighed. Her mother had been looking for a job for weeks.
Sensing Aurora's feelings, Zac piped up, "Don't worry Aurora, she'll find a job soon." He choked out the words between enormous spoonfuls of cereal, while his mouth was still full. Little Cheerio flecks landed on the table.
"Gross," Aurora muttered, wrinkling her nose, "talk to me when you're done eating Zac--ugh." With that, she grabbed a banana and walked into the livingroom, peeling it
Zac hurriedly gulped down the last of his breakfast. Aurora was silently nibbling a her banana when Zac came in and plopped down beside her. He spread his legs out onto the couch, nearly pushing Aurora off. Then he turned on the TV
Aurora gave him a nasty look and shoved his legs off. "Zac, can you please turn the TV off? I have a headache," she asked politely.
"Too bad," Zac answered promptly.
"Zac please," Aurora pleaded.
"But my favorite show is on, why don't you just go back upstairs?" Zac whined.
Aurora threw her banana peel at him and turned the TV off.
"Hey! What do you think you're doing?" Zac demanded, picking bits of banana out of his hair.
"We need to talk," Aurora told him.
"About what?"
"About us," she answered. Zac nodded for her to continue. "Well," she began, "I feel like we're brother and sister now, I mean, that's how we act. And since I'm living with you and your family, I think that's how it should be, like brother and sister."
"So...you want to break up?" Zac squeaked.
"No, well, kind of---not exactly. Zac, you're my best friend that I have right now, and I can't tell you how much you've helped my mom and I, and how much you mean to me. I just want to be friends now, but I don't want to lose you Zac."
Zac swallowed, "I...I think that that would," he nodded slowly, "be okay."
Aurora breathed a sigh of relief.
"Well, how about some video games sis?" Zac stood up and grinned.
"You're on!" Aurora bounced to her feet and raced ahead.
******************************************
~*That same day*~
Jenn gulped, staring at her calendar. This can't be right--I'm never late, she thought. It was due a week ago...
Shakily, she opened the small cardboard box. Pulling out the small circle, she inspected it and read the directions. She followed the steps and walked out of the bathroom.
~*2 minutes later*~
Jenn bit her lip as she re-entered the bathroom. She eyed the small circle sitting on the corner of the sink.
It was blue.....
All The Way To Albertane
You Are My Hope
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