❝She was one of the rare ones, so effortlessly herself.

while the world loved her for it, she didn't❞

Last night, I stayed up really late, just thinking and re-thinking and had come to realize that Maria was actually right. I was in fact, running away from my friends, pushing them away without even realizing, or maybe I did. Just too blind to care.

So, I decided to dedicate my whole day to my girls, even if it meant doing, what I hate with every fiber in my body, also known as shopping.

I liked shopping, but not like them. Checking out every single store, and every single item in them, just no. But, I welcomed it, embraced it, cherishing every moment spent together, this time.

"Hey Winter! Which one? Cherry red or hot red?" Kate called out, holding two very similar looking dresses in her hands, except that mild difference in color.

Giving them a thoughtful look, I analyzed the dress, thinking which one would look the best on her. "Hot red" I announced.

Giving me a big smile, she ran in the direction of the dressing room, shouting a loud 'I love you'

I rolled my eyes, then went back to my previous activity, that was, checking the numerous gorgeous tops, in every design and pattern, hanging there.

"Well, what do you think about this one?" Sharon mumbled, coming by my side.

Turning towards her, I met her excited eyes and then saw a bubbly pink crop hoodie she held.

"It's nice" I commented, taking the hoodie from her hand and furrowed my eyebrows, before speaking "But, you know what would be nicer?"

"What?" I almost laughed at her confused and hesitant features.

Handing her the soft fabric back, I turned to rake through the tops I was checking, sliding hanger to hanger and found a perfect piece.

"This" I admired the peach colored crop sweatshirt, with those eyelet laced up sleeves. Cute.

Giggling, she took the sweatshirt from me and gushed "Oh my god! It's so pretty. Thank you so much, Winter"

"No biggie" I shrugged.

"Seriously, you've got a great fashion sense. I think, am gonna bring you shopping with me all the damn time" She giggled, tucking her blonde locks behind her ear.

"You can wish. Now, go try this on and also pick some denim shorts with that, while you're at it" I urged her as she beamed at me, before going to the dressing room.

I scanned the store, looking at everything and nothing, when my eyes fell on a simple grey dress. My feet carried me towards it and feeling the silky fabric beneath my fingers, I was about to pick the hanger, when suddenly someone popped up in front

"YO! I KNOW" Maria cheered, giving me a big grin and started playing with the dresses, sliding the hangers one by one in a row.

Startled by her sudden appearance, I stepped back and muttered "Geez, you scared the shit outta me"

"That was the plaaannn" She sing-song and gave me an another grin.

"What got you so cheerful? You sick?" I raised my right eyebrow at her, questioning.

"Oh about that" With her forefinger, she motioned me to come closer with a smirk dancing on her lips and rolling my eyes, I leaned in.

"What?" I asked.

She pinched my cheek, before whispering in my ear "I know about your call with that lover boy, last night"

Holy fuck. But she wasn'- wait, she was awake?

My eyes widened for a second, recalling our conversation, but quickly gaining composure, I pulled back and looked back at her with narrowed eyes "What? How?"

"I've got ears everywhere" The sly glister was visible in her bright eye as she wiggled her eyebrows at me, annoyingly.

"You heard everything?" I asked, gulping down a lump in my throat.

She let out a disappointed sigh, before groaning and said "I wish babe. I wish. But, that fucking traitorous sleep got me fucked"

I searched for a hint of a lie in her eyes, but didn't find any, so I asked "How much did you hear?"

She laughed, before letting that dirty smirk appear on her face and bouncing her shoulders, she walked towards me "That's for me to know and you to never find out"

I glared at her, but she just patted my shoulder in fake sympathy and assured me "Don't worry, love. I won't tell a soul about anything, well not until you allow moi to, anyway"

"WINTER?" Kate's loud voice asked as I stood there, glaring at a certain girl, which just happened to be my best friend.

"Coming!" I responded and mouthed a 'You are a bitch!' to Maria as she giggled, batting her eyelashes innocently at me.

'But, you love me' Reading those pouty lips, I rolled my eyes, walking towards the dressing room, leaving her there, grinning to herself.

~~~

"It went pretty well, am surprised. You know, last time I went shopping with Alex and ended up trying to keep him out of the sight of those hungry stares of some girls" Sharon let out a sigh, adjusting the bags in her hands.

"Tell me about it. Happens with me a lot" Kate joined.

Behind them Maria snorted, before speaking "You should keep your men in leash or better yet, just lock em up in a room, why don't you"

I chuckled at her sarcastic tone, when Sharon perked up "That's seems like a pretty good idea"

Widening her eyes, Kate turned towards her "Are you seriously considering it? What are you? Mad?"

"That was sarcasm, but go on"

"So, where to now?" I whirled around, to watch them with curious look, the amount of shopping bags they had was seriously unhealthy, unhealthy for their bank accounts.

"Well I still gotta buy a new foundation, sooo" Kate trailed off, leaving the sentence dangling in the air.

"No way, can't we take a break, first? I really need a drink right now" Maria groaned, rubbing her face.

"Don't be so dramatic. It's just one foundation, we'll be quick" Kate gave her a pointed look.

Snorting, Maria rolled her eyes and said "Sure, you'll go to buy a new foundation and the next thing, we'll see is you checking out all the different shades of lipstick. Don't gimme that shit"

Sharon laughed beside me as I shook my head at them and muttered "It's alright, Mar. We'll take a break after this for sure"

"What the fuck, dude? You are supposed to be on my side" She grunted, giving me a glare as I returned her a smirk.

"I see what you tryna do and I hate you for it" She huffed.

"Well if you are done arguing, we should get going. There's still some stores left to check" Kate rolled her eyes.

Watching Maria grumble, stomping her foots on the ground, before dragging her to follow us. I let out a chuckle, before saying "You guys go, I'll join you later"

"Where are you going?" Sharon asked, tilting her head to look at me with a frown.

"To get a drink or two" Stepping towards Maria, I handed her the bags from my hand and arched an eyebrow at her, asking "What do you want?"

Grinning at me widely, she chimed "Iced coffee"

Kate and Sharon simply shook their head, when I asked them, if they needed anything. Seeing them walk inside the Sephora, I made my way towards the local coffee shop.

The sweet addictive smell of coffee drowned me in as I stepped inside the small retro styled shop. The place was crowded, judging by the long queue in front of me.

Looking around at the small tables filled with couples and teenagers, I went to stand in the line.

Feeling a push from behind, I bumped into a woman standing there, with her back facing me and cursing lowly.

I opened my mouth to apologize, when she turned around, but words left my brain, erasing every trace of it as I looked at her, standing in front of me.

Those dark shade eyes were crystal clear, just as I remembered and faint wrinkles around them were barely visible. Those sleek dyed hair were tied into a loose bun, few strands falling out from it and those features still soft as ever, but they never had been for me.

It felt as if the time had stopped and just for a mere second, my breath did too. I couldn't read her or those eyes as I stared at that face, which had visited me in my dreams countless times and used to haunted me in my nightmares too.

Sucking a deep breath, I closed down all of the emotions coursing through my veins or that quiet weeping of my soul, as the words left my mouth coldly and detached.

"Mom?"

Annndd that's all for now. Hope you all enjoyed it. What do you think gonna happen next?

Also, forgive me for the mistakes and errors, my brain refuses to be productive sometimes. But, now I gotta go and study #YayLife

Bye, be safe. Make a smile your signature accessory :)

Love, Zee..