Chapter five: plan almost ruined

The morning sun streamed into Alexia’s room, and she was still lying on the bed plotting how to get back at Ronald for what he did to her when she heard her mother’s voice echoing from the living room. “Alexia, come down honey, I am already running late for work and you have to prepare your brother for school.”

“Coming mom,” she screamed, forcing herself off the bed, she used the stairs down to the living room and found her mother standing by the fridge. “Where is Max?” she asked, gazing around the parlor.

“I don’t know, haven’t you woken him from sleep?”

“What, no I haven't,” I furrowed my face at her. “Mom, you are all dressed and yet you still forgot to wake him up.”

Her mother sighed, closing the fridge as she walked up to the table. “I am so sorry honey, i always get carried away with work,” she picked up her keys and then kissed Alexia on the forehead. “Lucky for me I have a big girl, I might have been a terrible mother if not for you.”

Alexia heaved a sigh. “Okay, I get it, just run along. I will get him ready for school.”

“Thank you,” her mother flashed a smile at her and then left the house. Alexia walked into Max’s room and found him holding on to his pillow while snoring. “Max!” she exclaimed, her eyebrows smashed together and she walked up to him. “Max, wake up.”

“Leave me alone...” He mumbled rolling the opposite direction and holding on to his pillow he continued snoring. ‘This is the reason why I never like waking him up.’ She thought to herself and just then an idea popped up in her mind.

She immediately leaned close to him and whispered in his ears. “If you don’t get dressed for class I’d have second thoughts about taking you along with me to the night party.”

“That’s not fair,” Max cried softly and then forced himself off the bed. “Alright, I’m going,” he said soberly. Alexia laughed while watching him whine, this was the part she enjoyed the most. It took a few minutes for her to get Max ready for class and when he was fully dressed, she put some snacks into his lunch box and they took a taxi to school. Upon their arrival they met one of the teachers responsible for punctuality.

“Of course, if not Max, who else would be coming to school by this time,” the teacher said, and then reached her hand out to Alexia. “You know what to do if you don’t want him to get spiked.”

“But he’s only two minutes late,” Alexia said but from the look on his teacher's face it was clear that he wasn’t the type to have sympathy. She heaved a sigh then handed him the fine.

“Thank you,” he said, stucking the money into his pocket as he put his hand over Max’s shoulders.

While heading inside, Max glanced back at Alexia. “I’m sorry,” he said.

"I know buddy," Alexia heaved a sigh of relief and then left. Later that noon she went shopping for the attire she and Max would be wearing to the party, and in the process of selecting the dress she ran into an old friend of hers. “Michael,” she said, a wide smile displaying on her face.

“Alexia,” he lifting his eyebrows in surprise and they both embraced each other. “Wow, it’s been a long time,” he maintained the smile on his face.

“Indeed, the last time we met was in high school if I am not mistaken.”

“That’s right,” he affirmed. “How long has it been now?”

“Three years,” she answered, and then leaned back as she stared at him in admiration. “You look bigger and gosh, look at those arms.”

“You are still so naughty,” he said to her and she chuckled. “If I am being sincere, you look more beautiful now than you were three years back.” She blushed at his comment, and making a fist she jerked him slightly on the chest.

“I have always been pretty, and you know that i had a crush on you back then but you wouldn’t notice me,” she hesitated pressing her lip together.

“Hold on, are you flirting with me,” He said and she loosened up immediately making a serious face.

“No, of course not. I wouldn’t want to snatch you away from your girlfriend,” she replied and then glanced back at the hangers of clothes and he smiled.

“By the way, why are you here because this section belongs to children’s clothing,” he said.

“I am here to get something fancy for my kid brother.”

“Is there an occasion?” he asked and she glanced at him.

“Trust me, you don’t want to know,” I lifted one of the dresses to him. “What do you think about this one?”

“You have eyes for catchy stuff but I think we guys like something stylish but not decked with many colors,” he hesitates as he takes out one of the plain black suits from the hanger. “Your brother will love this one.”

She observed it for a while. “Then I’ll go with it,” she flashed a smile at him. She paid for the suits and soon after the package was wrapped and handed over to her and they left the cloth shop.

Walking out of the cloth shop, she stopped a cab and then glanced at him.“So, I guess this is goodbye,” she said, observing his eyes.

“No, I don't think so, I think we should hang out together sometime,” he said and she chuckled.

“What will your girlfriend think about that?”

“Just stop the silly talk, whereas I don't see a crime hanging out with an old friend,” he replied with a smile on his face.

"Some other time then," she said and waving him goodbye she left the scene.

The clock strikes eight p.m. in the evening and Alexia joins her mother and brother at the dining table. The fragrance of the well made spaghetti and slavery stew filled the room, with the lovely fried chicken and a full glass of milk. Alexia reached her hand to the plate of meal, about digging in when her mother stopped her.

“Not yet, hold on,” her mother pulled the meal towards herself. “Ever since this morning I’ve perceived something fishy between the two of you and I want to know what it is that you are hiding from me.”

Alexia’s eyes dilated. Startled by her mother’s comment she glanced at her brother who also had a similar expression on her face. “Mom, that’s not fair, what could we possibly be hiding from you,” she chuckled, her eyes dropping on the meal again.

“What’s not fair, is my two kids keeping secrets from their single mother, it makes me feel lonely,” she said, making a sad face, and then looked at her ten year old son. “Max, won’t you tell mommy what have been going on lately between the two of you?”