A/N:

"Willow can you go grab me the garbage bags please?" My Mom asked as she was picking up the fallen, dead leaves from the front yard. I looked up from the broom that I was brushing against the concrete ground and nodded. I walked nearer to the front door and placed the broom against the wall, walking inside quickly afterwards.

I grabbed the roll of garbage bags from a kitchen cupboard and grabbed myself a bottle of water. I was dressed in only a lilac tank top and a pair of white shorts. Weirdly after the storm, the weather had been its usual self. Hot and clammy.

Before going back outside, I checked on my phone that was plugged into the charger on the kitchen counter. My Dad had been non-stop trying to get ahold of me about seeing him for dinner some time. I didn't know why he wanted to do that so quickly — weirdly, he contacted me a few days after I saw him with Miss Walker.

Coincidence? I think not.

I rolled my eyes as I pressed onto iMessages when I saw another text message that had he sent a couple hours ago.

Hello again.

Just wanted to know if you could

spare some time to see your Dad

for a couple of hours?

Callum too.

I scoffed and swiped off the app, getting rid of his messages and request to see me and Callum. Instead, I felt something inside of me that forced me to go onto Instagram. It just felt like a need and a must.

As I pressed onto the app, my feed was full of pictures from Betty's account. I immediately felt like I was stabbed in the heart when I saw how happy she looked in them. She was with two other girls who I presumed were her new friends she told me she had met. She looked so happy and content over there in London.

It wasn't that I didn't feel happy for her that she had settled in and was having fun. It was just that I wished she could be having fun with me instead. That should be me there with her instead of her new friends.

I hesitantly pressed onto her account. I hadn't stayed up to date with her feed for quite a while, mainly because I didn't want to see how much fun she was having and what she was up to. My phone took me straight to her page and I swallowed thickly. I could feel my eyes become glossy as I stared at the many photo's she had posted.

In one photo, she was in a massive group and her friends' arms were wrapped around her. In another she was posing with some guy who looked fairly handsome. She looked totally happy and looked like she was enjoying herself. My eyes scanned her whole page and saw that she had posted something on her story to which I again, hesitantly pressed onto.

My heart suddenly stopped beating altogether as I saw her two friends hugging her. They looked as if they were at the beach or it was some bonfire at the beach. The photo had the comment 'My faves' and I instantly slammed my phone down onto the counter and grabbed the stuff I came in here for.

"My faves, my ass." I muttered under my breath. I looked at myself in the mirror and waited until my eyes dried up. Then I went outside.

"Thank you, sweetie." My Mom smiled as she grabbed the bags from my hands. I gave her a smile and went to sit on the steps to have my drink. I closed my eyes and leant my head on the fence. The warm sun was blazing down on me and it felt quite nice. It was comfortable knowing that the weather was back to normal and we weren't going to be evacuated.

I watched my Mom pick up the leaves that I had created into a pile when I was doing some sweeping and continued to sit like this for half an hour or so. Mom had managed to mow the lawn and water the plants until it turned to midday. For the rest of the day me and Mom had made cookies and a picnic lunch that we had out in the back yard. The radio was on, although it was getting old now but we knew we were never going to buy a new one.

The back yard was an utter disaster. It had branches and vines all over the place and the grass was most definitely due a cut. But it was home. It was a representation of the sort of neighbourhood and what kind of house we lived in. We weren't rich. Far from it, actually. But we lived a good, loving life.

I combed back my hair with my hands and closed my eyes. I ate quite a bit today and I felt healthy. Though those cookies were definitely not good for my chubby cheeks. I wasn't fit either. I rarely exercised and was proud to announce that. I mean, I hate gym, so. It kind of made sense. Wouldn't you think?

But what would make me feel better about myself would be going for a run everyday. I hate that sentence as much as I hate sprouts on Christmas Day.

"Here you go sweetie. They're all nice and warm." My Mom said. She lowered the patterned flower tin onto the white table and I kindly smiled at her.

"Thanks." I said glumly and opened up the lid. My Mom took a seat beside me. The chairs and tables were slanted since our yard was on a slight hill. Who decided to build a house and have their back yard to not even be straight?

"What's on your mind, sweet?" My Mom asked. She had one leg crossed over the other and her hands were clasped together on the table. She was wearing a massive white straw hat that had a blue bow on the back. She sent me a closed lipped smile and I knew I couldn't get away with this one.

I tried to distract myself by taking a bite out of the cookie, but I felt sick all over again. I felt like I could throw this one bite of cookie up. I shrugged. "Betty." My voice came out slightly shaky but I took in a deep breath.

My Mom didn't speak for a second and I almost felt reluctant. It wasn't really something I wanted to talk about. I was more of a person that shoved their worries and stress away to later on cry about.

"What's happened?" My Mom's voice was gentle with me. But I didn't want that. I didn't want her to be sympathetic and careful around me. I was a big girl, I could handle this. I knew this was going to happen. I knew she was going to go off with her new friends when she got bored of me. That's what happened with Charlotte and her long distance best friend. Why would it be any different for me? I wasn't special. I wasn't different from anyone else.

I should of seen this coming.

I didn't know how stupid I could've been to think she'd stay in touch and act like we weren't miles apart.

My throat felt like it was closing up, stopping from swallowing the bite down. I grabbed my glass of lemonade and took a sip. A sip turned to several and then I was finally able to take a deep breath and put my cookie down. "It's nothing. It's fine." I said, trying to sound like I was handling it and that everything was daisy's and rainbows.

"Mother's intuition. I know when something's up with my favourite daughter." She smiled and wiped the smeared chocolate from my cheek. No idea how that got there.

"Your only daughter." I stated and looked at her. I was also wearing a hat. I thought best after sitting outside on the front porch. I was starting to get sunburnt on my face. Not fun. Other people tanned, I simply baked.

"Exactly. My only daughter and I know when my only daughter is not okay. Something's not okay and I'm here to listen." She took a cookie from the tin.

I gulped and couldn't stop my leg from shaking uncontrollably. I shrugged again. This was so stupid. I should of expected this to happen. "I saw some pics on her Instagram. She looked happy." I rolled my eyes. Selfish. I was being extremely selfish.

"You're annoyed with her because she's happy?" My Mom asked, frowning.

I kept my gaze down. Now I seemed and sounded stupid. What friend was I of hers to be annoyed that she was happy? "I guess." I said, picking apart the chocolate chips from the cookie.

My Mom went silent again, and I looked up at her. I wanted to hear what she thought. My Mom was one of the biggest idols in my life that I looked up to. She always had a way in every situation. Good or bad.

"You're annoyed because she looks happy without you?" She adjusted her hat, but continued to look at me, waiting for me to answer. But I was slightly taken aback by her words.

"Harsh." I muttered and my Mom interlocked her hand with mine.

"That's not what I meant, sweetie. But it's the truth, am I right? You're upset that she's not having the fun and being happy with you." Now it was my turn to stay silent.

"Yes." I shrugged in defeat. My shoulders were slumped and the chocolate chips were melting in my hands. This was gross. Who picked apart their cookie? Oh yeah, people like me!

"Well, this was bound to happen sooner or later. You're apart in distance and your life's are now very different." She paused and I felt my heart slowly drop. "But. That doesn't stop you from being friends still. Distance or no distance. It shouldn't matter. I know you two very well and I know how you both can be. You're inseparable. Send her a message. Say hi. It won't hurt to make conversation, will it?"

I looked at my Mom and smiled. I wiped my hands on my bare thighs and instantly engulfed her in a hug. "Thanks, Mom. I love you."

She wrapped her arms around me and patted my back. "I love you and it's okay. Thank you for feeling like you can open up to me. That's what I'm here for." She said into my hair and I just nodded in response. I'd always come to my Mom about anything.

Apart from one thing, of course.

"Is there anything else you want to talk about?" My Mom asked as I pulled away from the hug. I looked down at her face. She had a glint in her eye and I hadn't seen it in such a long time.

I gave her a warm smile. "Nope!"

"Great. So that was it?"

I nodded. "Yep. There's nothing else I want to talk about. Thanks, Mom."

She smiled and picked up her wine glass. "Mom's always here to save you." She turned to me and raised her glass higher. "Cheers to being the best Mom!"

I raised my glass of lemonade. "Here's to being the best Mom!"

Then my Mom stopped, excitement taking over her facial features. "Do you think you'll ever have kids?" She gasped and jiggled in her seat. "I want to be a nanna!"

I groaned and facepalmed my hands.

♔♔

This time I wasn't joking. This time I was being deadly serious!

I slipped my feet into my trainers and tied my hair up. I put in my AirPods and flexed my non-existent muscle in the mirror before speeding out the door.

I was serious when I was saying I needed to start going on a run everyday.

I clicked onto one of my Spotify playlists and pressed shuffle. I quickly cracked my knuckles and my neck and started to jog. It was going fine for a few minutes. But after ten minutes, I couldn't function. I was leaning my hands down onto my legs and gasping for air. My heartbeat was beating erratically and I really did consider going back home. But I was only a block away which was nothing compared to marathon runners ran.

I started to walk slowly to gain back some energy and continued to do that for half an hour. I really wanted to go back home but I wanted to push myself and feel like I had really done some proper exercise. I knew now being on the cheer team I was going to become fitter, but I didn't want to be one of those people who felt like they could pass out from exhaustion a couple minutes into doing something active.

Which was me everyday when I walked up the stairs in school.

I took in one deep breath and jammed to the music to subside the bad side of my head that told me to go back home and eat absolute shit.

I wasn't that girl anymore!

I sped up my pace and before I knew it, I was running. My legs jiggled in these sport shorts after each movement. Bang. Bang. Bang. My feet were hitting the concrete ground quicker and quicker. I was now running faster than I thought I ever could.

"Meow!"

I yelped and ripped out my AirPods from my ears.

For whatever reason I thought it was some child meowing at me from the bushes, but it wasn't. It was an actual cat — well, a kitten. I stood still, not knowing what to do. It was so small, about the size of my palm, and it was ginger. But what worried me the most was it wasn't just small, it was also skinny as hell. It was laying in the bushes by a main road, and it looked sad. I didn't know how you could find an animal sad because it was beyond normal for an animal that wasn't human, to show feelings and emotions, but it did look sad!

It's black eyes were like portals. It showed me a slight sadness in them and their paw was reaching out for me. I slowly began to walk forward and crouch down. It was frail and weak, not making any movement to come over to me like I knew it wanted to.

I tried to get a good look at it to see if it had a collar. If a kitten was on its own it would've most likely been from someone since a kitten didn't just lie around in a place that even I didn't know where I was. The kitten had no collar and looked as if he had tried to eat himself. His fur on his paws had not much hair on it and the skin looked red and sore.

I had no idea what to do. I knew very well about not touching animals in case they had rabies or if they were sensitive. I knew this little one had some problems with itself but I couldn't find it in me to leave it by itself. I at least wanted to make sure it was okay and find its rightful owner, if they had one, that was.

I tilted my head and smiled. Why was I smiling at an animal who probably was wondering why some freak was staring at them? Who knew.

In some way I believed animals could understand us. Certain words, certain actions.

I fiddled around the zip of my pouch I had and took out my phone. I didn't feel it was right to leave this poor thing alone so I called the first contact I saw. Although I was mostly looking at the kitten that was still laying down.

The call rang for half a minute until someone picked up. It was most likely Cal or my Mom since they were my most recent calls. I think. I wasn't sure anymore.

They were silent at first and I thought that they maybe didn't realise that they were on the call with me. Like pocket calling but make it pocket phone accepting. "..Hello?" They asked and judging by their stern, icy tone that wasn't my Mom. Cal? Yeah, probably. He was still being weird with me.

I waved slightly at the cat and tilted my head. It didn't have any note or collar. Maybe it got lost in the storm! "Hello, who's this?" I asked, pressing the phone closest to my ear.

They went silent again and suddenly the kitten tried to move. "Oh no, no! Don't move! You'll make yourself worse." I said frantically at the kitten. It laid back on the leaves on the ground. That surely wasn't comfortable.

Someone cleared their throat and I remembered I was still on the call. "Hello? Are you still there? Sorry to call you, whoever this is, but I have a predicament." I stated. I slowly leant on my side, a little closer to the kitten and again, its paws started to move towards me but then immediately stopped again.

"Couldn't you take your predicament some place else?" They spoke and I hissed at their blunt response. Rude. Who did they think they were?

"Well, not really- this isn't my brother is it?" I sighed dramatically to myself at my stupidity. Who was this guy? Some random dude? I hoped the fuck not!

They grunted in response. "No."

I lifted my phone from my ear and checked the ID.

"Theo." I mumbled to myself and wanted to lie in the road. Why, oh why? Why!

He grunted in response again and I leant up from my position on the ground. I really was lying down on the street where cars were coming by. I was weirded out that no one was actually walking passed me.

I sighed as I looked down at the animal. Its eyes were closing and I didn't know if it was going to sleep or if it was, you know. Doing that thing when you're too ill to go on any longer. "Listen. Let's just put yesterday behind us, alright? I've got a much bigger problem on my hands and since you answered my call, I need your help."

"Sounds good to me." Theo said lowly. "Is it urgent? The predicament?" He asked, he didn't sound happy or joyous. He still sounded grumpy and tired. Like this call was careless to him.

"It's majorly urgent. Life or death is on the line." I said bluntly and I heard Theo go silent.

"Life or death? What did you do? Get run over?" I could hear the sarcasm in his voice and I rolled my eyes.

"This isn't joke time, Theo. I really do need your help." I said sternly. The kitten's eyes were fluttering opened and closed.

"I wasn't joking. I was being dead serious, but whatever." Theo said deeply and it sounded as if he was moving around. "Where are you?"

I swallowed and looked around the street. I couldn't see any signs. "I have no clue. I was on a run and wasn't focusing on where I was going." I told him truthfully.

I heard an aggravated sigh on the other end. "Location."

"Huh?"

"Send me your darn location. I'll be there soon." He said just before hanging up. I stared at my phone in shock. I happened called Theo by accident and now he was coming to help. Why did that have to happen? Hell I didn't even know how to send him my location.

After searching it up on Safari, I finally managed to send him my exact location. That would be very useful for future events if I ever got kidnapped. Though no one could beat my unbeatable strength.

A/N: