Chapter 4

"Rise and shine, honey," As Rebecca swayed into Emily's room, she sang. 

"Mom?" Emily spoke sleepily as she sat up, her eyes squinted. 

She checked the time on her phone, and it was 8:15 a.m. "How come you're up so early? You don't get up till about 10:00 a.m."

"It's Saturday, Em, how about some morning tea?" Rebecca asked, raising her brows in a 'remember?' manner. 

"How can I forget the tea that nourishes my body?" Emily sneered. 

"You can mock it all you want, but trust me when I say it's good for you." 

"Now get dressed and come downstairs." Rebecca said and went out.

Emily groaned and pushed herself out of bed, trying to remember how she ended up on her bed. The last thing she remembered was standing at her window, staring incessantly at the sky. She shook off the thoughts and made her way to the bathroom carefully. 

Emily walked downstairs to see her mother as soon as she was done. 

"Here it is." After she took a seat, Rebecca handed her a cup of tea. 

"What is it about this tea that you give me three times a week?" Emily inquired, blowing the hot cup of herbal tea with her breath. 

"I told you it's beneficial for your health, Em," Rebecca replied to the question.

"Why don't you join me in taking it? And aren't you tired of it? You've been doing this since I turned fifteen." Emily remarked. 

"I'm your mother, and a mother's job is to look after her child. Now drink up." Rebecca exited the room and entered the kitchen. 

As Emily gulped the tea, she pressed her eyes shut as it burned down her throat to her stomach. She clutched her stomach tightly and winced in pain. She knew that the tea burns, but not the way it did today. 

When her phone rang, it drew her attention, and she looked at the screen to see who was calling. 

She gasped. It was Giselle. How could she have forgotten? They always go out together on every Saturday morning. 

Knowing how stylish Giselle was, she ran off to her room, looking for something more sophisticated than her regular T-shirts and slacks so she wouldn't look like her drudge when they walked together. Giselle called again, and she ignored it as she changed into her black chiffon top and dark blue skirt. As she was combing her hair, her phone rang again. She quickly put down the comb and picked up the phone. 

"Why have you been avoiding my phone calls?" On the phone, Giselle inquired. "Don't tell me you're still in bed," she said.

"I'm not in bed, and where are you?" Emily asked. 

"I'm standing outside your front door. I'm about to enter." Giselle stated. 

"You're what-?" Emily attempted to speak, but Giselle abruptly ended the call. 

Before stepping out, Emily quickly arranged her bed. 

Giselle was downstairs with Emily's mother, and they appeared to be having a serious conversation

"Hey Em. " Giselle said immediately her gaze fell on Emily.

Giselle stood up, and they left the house after Rebecca had given them a boundless list of precautions.

"Where are you going? " Giselle asked as she watched Emily walk towards the crossroad.

"Where else? Do you think you can get a cab from here?" Emily asked.

"There's no need for that. " Giselle said, as she pressed the car remote while moving towards it. It was a black jeep.

Emily paused. "When did you get a car? " Emily asked.

"Coming or what?" Giselle asked, winding down the car window.

"It's my dad's car. He didn't know I took it. What he doesn't know doesn't hurt him." She said when Emily finally got in the car. "We are heading straight to the mall now because we need to change these old-fashioned clothes you always wear. Oh, and what happened to the one we bought before?" Giselle asked.

"I'm okay with the way I dress, I just wanna look simple." Emily answered.

"There are many other pretty dresses that can make you look simple. We're getting you some new clothes and you must wear them." Giselle said. Emily scoffed and looked out the window, Giselle started the car and zoomed off.