Kayla's POV

I sat beside Mum as she rested peacefully, her soft breaths a comforting rhythm in the quiet room. We had returned from the hospital just the day before, and the memory of the frantic drive after receiving the call about her fainting sent my heart racing again.

Mum stirred, her eyes fluttering open. “Kayla, did you manage to get some sleep?” she asked, her voice still heavy with slumber.

“Not yet. I just wanted to be here with you,” I replied, unable to hide my concern.

“I’m fine, really. You don’t have to worry about me,” she reassured me with a gentle smile.

“But you fainted, Mum! You can’t expect me not to worry,” I responded, my voice tinged with frustration.

“I know, I know. What were you thinking about before I woke up?” she pressed, genuinely curious.

“Just school and other things,” I said, shifting the topic. “Speaking of which, what do you feel like for dinner? I was thinking of making Shepherd's pie. Luckily, I grabbed some groceries on my way home from school today.”

“That sounds fantastic! Do you need help?” she offered, still sitting up.

“No, really. Just focus on resting,” I insisted gently but firmly.

“But—

“No buts! Just rest, okay?” I reiterated, watching her settle back down.

I stepped into the kitchen, the scent of fresh ingredients filling the air as I prepped for dinner. I chopped onions, carrots, bell peppers, and peas, letting the colours brighten my workspace. I minced the beef and sautéed it with the vegetables, the savoury aroma wafting through the house. After boiling the potatoes, I mashed them, layering them atop the beef and veggies in a comforting dish that felt like home.

Once I plated the meal and set it in the dining room, I returned to Mum's room with her dinner.

“Mum, you’re really supposed to be resting. Why are you on that laptop?" I asked, finding her typing intently.

“I just have a quick email to send. And I’m feeling much better!” she defended herself.

“Exactly! If you want to keep recovering, you need to let yourself rest,” I insisted.

“I promise I will,” she smiled, her eyes softening.

“Here’s your food. Don’t forget to take your medication after eating. I’ll be back to take your tray,” I reminded her, placing the meal carefully on her bedside table.

I settled down in the dining room, the silence only interrupted by my scrolling on TikTok as I ate. Once I finished, I washed the dishes, letting the warm water soothe my thoughts before heading back to Mum’s room to clear her plate.

“Mum, I’ll be heading off to bed soon. Good night,” I said as I placed her tray aside.

“Good night, dear,” she replied, her voice warm and comforting.

After tidying up, I retreated to my own room, reflecting on the day. My mind drifted to Fiona. She hadn’t been in school since Monday, having fainted just like Mum. Odd, I thought, since Fiona often skipped class even on the best of days.

Glancing at the stack of books on my desk, I realized I hadn’t read anything in two days. My grades wouldn’t maintain themselves, so I decided to dive into a chapter, losing track of time until it was well past 2 AM and my eyelids finally grew heavy.

The next morning, I was buzzing with energy as I made breakfast for both of us. Mum had taken a week off to recover, partly because I insisted.

“Oh, that smells delicious!” Mum said, walking into the kitchen, her eyes lighting up at the sight.

“Thanks, but it’s just bacon and toast,” I shrugged, trying to downplay it.

“Still, it smells so good,” she said, a hint of excitement in her voice.

“I’m almost done here. Could you do me a favour and keep an eye on it while I grab my backpack?” I asked, already feeling the rush of the morning.

“Of course! You’ve barely let me do anything these past couple of days,” she teased.

“That’s because Dr. Lauren said you need your rest,” I replied with a smirk.

“Fine, you win. I’ll watch the breakfast. Go get your bag!” she laughed.

I dashed upstairs, my heart racing a little faster—not just from the excitement of the day, but also from the new makeup I decided to apply. After a quick glance in the mirror, I rushed back down, eager to share breakfast.

Mum had already served my meal by the time I returned. “Thanks for the food,” I said, grateful for her effort.

After we devoured our breakfast together, I washed up our plates and prepared myself to head out.

Arriving at school a little after 7:40 AM, I spotted the twins already waiting for me in class.

“Hey, guys!” I said, cheerfully taking my usual seat beside Luca.

“Good morning, Kayla,” they chimed together.

“How is May doing?” they asked, concern etched on their faces.

“She’s improving, but I’m really pushing her to follow the doctor’s advice about rest,” I sighed. “How about you guys? What’s up?”

“We’re good, but there was a little scare this morning,” Lila said, her eyes wide.

“What happened?” I asked, suddenly anxious.

“Thankfully, nothing serious. This dummy almost crashed the car!” Lila exclaimed, pointing at Luca.

“Hey! It wasn’t that dramatic!” Luca protested. “Really, Kayla, we’re fine. You don’t need to worry.”

“Are you sure? It sounded pretty serious!” I pressed, feeling the urge to overprotect them taking hold.

“Seriously, we’re okay!” Lila assured me, looking almost apologetic.

“Alright, just checking!” I said, still feeling a little uncertain but relieved.

“So, tomorrow is movie night! Is your outfit ready, Kayla?” Lila asked, changing the subject.

"I haven't had the time to pick one out yet," I admitted, a hint of frustration in my voice.

"It's no problem at all," Lila chimed in with a bright smile. "I'll swing by today to help you choose one!"

"Thanks, Lila! You're a lifesaver," I replied, feeling a wave of relief.

"Anytime! But we better hurry—class is about to start," she said just as our teacher walked into the room, her presence shifting our focus.

After the first period flew by, I found myself walking down the bustling hallway toward math class with the twins, Jake and Ashley.

"Hey, has anyone heard from Fiona? She hasn’t been in school since Monday. I’m starting to worry," Ashley said, her brow furrowed with concern.

"I called her yesterday about our project. She sounded okay, but I have no idea why she's been MIA," I replied, trying to keep the worry at bay.

"Maybe she's still under the weather or something happened," Luca suggested, trying to lighten the mood.

"Yeah, maybe," I mumbled, but the nagging thought lingered.

The day whizzed by, and before I knew it, school was out. I planned to visit Fiona on my way home, but I thought it best to call her first.

I dialled her number, and after two rings, her voice came through. "Hello, Kayla! What's up?"

"Hey, just checking in. I was going to stop by in a few minutes. Is that okay?" I asked, hoping for a positive reply.

"Oh, no. Sorry Kayla, but we're all out of the house right now. I really appreciate you thinking of me, though," she said, a hint of disappointment in her voice.

"No worries at all," I replied as we ended the call and I headed out.

As I drove home, I felt a little unsettled. When I walked in the door, I found Mum cosied up on the couch, engrossed in her TV show.

"Mum, I’m back!" I called out, dropping my backpack.

"Welcome home, dear! How was your day?" she asked, her eyes still glued to the screen.

"It was alright. Lila's coming over to help me choose an outfit for tomorrow," I replied, excitement creeping in.

"Right! Movie night tomorrow, right?" she said, her face brightening.

I nodded, a smile creeping onto my face.

"Oh, by the way, I made lunch. Do you want to eat now, or wait for the twins?" she asked, her voice warm.

"I'll eat with them. Just let me freshen up first!" I said, heading upstairs.

After a quick shower, I slipped into my comfy clothes. Just as I heard the familiar rumble of the twins’ car pulling into the driveway, I raced down the stairs.

Lila and Luca strolled in, both in cosy attire like mine.

"Hey, guys!" I beamed.

"Hey Kay!" they replied, the energy instantly lifting.

"Did you want lunch? Mum cooked something delicious," I offered, knowing what they’d say.

"Absolutely!" they chorused.

I darted into the kitchen, serving up our meals before carrying them to the dining room.

“Oh my gosh, this is incredible!” Lila exclaimed, her eyes lighting up as she took her first bite.

“Yeah, this is fantastic!” Luca chimed in, nodding vigorously.

“Right? It totally is!” I agreed, feeling proud of my mum’s cooking skills.

Once we polished off our meals, the twins volunteered to tackle the dishes, allowing Lila and me to dive into the conversation. After the dishes were done, we sprawled out in the living room, ready to unwind and catch up on our favourite shows.

Later that evening, Lila and I headed to my room, excitement buzzing as we prepared to choose an outfit for tomorrow's movie night.

Lila’s first pick was a dazzling purple mini dress paired with high boots. I raised an eyebrow. “We’re going to the movies, not a club, Lila.”

She pouted playfully, “But it’s such a cute look!”

I chuckled, “Yeah, totally, just not movie-appropriate. How about this?” I held up a cropped shirt and a flirty above-the-knee skirt.

“It’s cute,” she started, “but it’s not really saying much beyond that,” she finished with a shrug.

“Alright, let’s try again. Show me what you’ve got,” I encouraged.

With a mischievous grin, she suggested, “Okay, how about this?” She displayed a laid-back black baggy tee and a pair of comfy blue baggy jeans.

“I like this! I’m trying it on now!” I darted into the bathroom, eager to see the transformation.

As I emerged, Lila squealed with delight, “It suits you so much!”

“Thanks!” I beamed, feeling a little more confident.

“Do you want to try the mini dress too?” she asked, tilting her head.

“Why not? Let’s see how it looks,” I replied, and dashed back to the bathroom.

When I swung the door open again, Lila’s eyes widened, “Omg, you look amazing! Now, I’m torn between the two. Which one do you prefer?”

“I’m going to go with the tee and jeans. This mini dress can wait for another time,” I concluded, feeling satisfied with my choice.

“Okay, outfits settled! Are you coming over, or should I head to yours?” she asked.

“You can come over,” I said, grateful for her help. “Thanks, Lila!”

Together, we made our way back downstairs to join Luca in the living room, where we spent a cozy evening full of laughter and good vibes before they headed home.