Chapter Three

Progress

“Buz-buzz” “Buz-Buzz” the vibrations tickle her ear sparking her awake. “Uh- ugh” she stretches “hmm- hello"

“Lily- hey girl” the energetic spirit on the other end squeals “so I got an itty-bitty favor to ask” the squeaked woman hesitates.

“Just ask Makenzie” Lily grunts, stretching away from her computer.

“Could you watch Junior, and Sammy for me” she mutters, distant from the mic.

Lily squinting trying to figure what she said, “what you’re too far from the phone” Lily gives up.

“Can you watch Sammy and Junior for me” Makenzie speaks direct.

“Ah- I guess” Lily shrugs collecting some clothes “when, and for how long.”

“Um- today” Makenzie winces “Um- Lily you still there” she pulls the phone away “she didn’t hang up? Did she?”

“No- but why such short notice?” Lily’s frown is heard over the speaker “nothing bad happened right.”

“Well, my mom hurt herself and Mark is um- unavailable” her tone dismal. “It’s just- can you watch the kids or not, it’s okay if you can’t I’ll fi- “

“Woah- take a breath Izzie” Lily cut her off “I have plenty of room, so bring them over whenever” Lily agrees.

“Oh my- you don’t know how much this means to me Lily” the teary strained voice cracks, swallowing down the struggle “It should be a week, maybe two” she adds recollecting herself “you sure that’s okay”?

“No worries” Lily yawns “now, I’m gonna take a shower before you get here” Lily cuts the call short “so, I’ll hang up now, bye.”

Before anymore words are exchanged the hum of the call is heard “always the same” Makenize shines a disheartened smirk towards the phone.

Hoping through the shower, Lily glimpses in the mirror “What the- “ reflecting back at her glares a massive bruise on her back just below her shoulder blade “Where the heck did that come from” she frowns, glazing her fingertips over her skin “ah-“ she breaths “no wonder I couldn’t breathe when I woke up” she shares a grim stare at her desk, as she steps away from the running water. “How?” She examines the desk and chair. “I guess mama is right” she grumbles “I’ll have to sleep in the bed anyways when the kids get here” she sighs rubbing her neck, as she heads for the shower once more.

After her shower, Lily relocates herself on the couch with her feet propped up on the coffee table, she sits her computer on her lap. “Alrighty then” she slurps a breath and breaths out, clapping her hands to her cheeks “Let’s review” she mutters, reading through the paragraphs, wincing, flinching, and leaving herself a gape “this is- “ she pauses before covering her face in dismay “I guess progress” she peeks up “at least there is some action” she highlights “and its of course fantasy” her face coated in uncertainty “but is it good enough” she bites her lip “something feels amiss” she ponders, shifting through the words thoroughly “well, it is only the prologue” she thinks aloud

Restart

Her thoughts echo over and over, “nah- let’s just continue for now” she visibly discontent, however she begins to type.

An hour passes by and barely any progress has been made. “Ugh!” a holler bellows through the empty apartment. “Why!” she grunts clenching her fist tight “why do you keep getting worse” she cups her face in her hands “no progress, its better if everybody di- “she sprouts up “That’s it” her smile ear to ear, as she rushes to open a new document.

The idea fresh in her mind, the document page instantly fills with words. Shortly after her inspiration struck, a knock sprung from the door, however, the first few fell upon deaf ears. “Buzz” startling her, her phone began to sing loud “Ah- hey Izzie you on your way” Lily holds the phone between her ear and shoulder, leading her to wince for the neck pain.

“Try again- I am here” Makenize knocks once more “did you seriously not hear me knocking at all.”

“I’m sorry Izzie” Lily meets at the door, leading the three to the spare bedroom. “I can take the living area” she closes the door, gesturing to the couch “Sammy can have my room, and Junior can have the spare” Lily plans.

“Oh no, you don’t have to give up your room” Makenize flusters “the two can be in the one room, its fine” She states glancing towards Sammy “it won’t be too long, right Sammy.”

Sammy popping one hip out, with an attitude she shifts from one leg to another “whatever” she grunts, taking a seat on the couch, tapping at her phone.

“What about you Junior” Makenize breaths in, ruffling his hair “you don’t mind sharing a room with your sister, do you.”

“It’s fine” Junior shrugs “like mom said, we won’t be here to long” he walks away, looking at the books on the shelf.

Makenize takes yet another deep breath in, and sighs towards the two, before shifting toward Lily “again Lily I appreciate this so much.”

Lily glances towards the two, before meeting Makenize’s gaze “I said don’t worry about it” Lily shrugs, thinking further upon her story. “you’ve helped me out before, its only right I help when you’re in a bind right” Lily gestures “though all I’m doing is stating the obvious” Lily rubs her neck, as her thoughts spin “you scratch my back, I scratch yours” she rambles.

“Right, I am so sorry to drop and bolt” Makenize shifts rushing a half hug with a peck on the forehead “but, I have a plane to catch, and I am about to miss it” she hugs Sammy, who is close, followed by pecking Junior, then finally she swipes over to Lily “oh, it’s a force of habit” she chuckles awkwardly “anyway bye you guys” and she rushes out the door “Love you”.

“So,” Junior props himself where Makenize stood seconds ago “how long have you known my mom” he questions.

“Hmm- “Lily tilts to the side, with her gaze up “to be honest- I haven’t known your mom very long” Lily shrugs “I barely learned of you guys.”

“What!” Sammy slams her feet off the coffee table “you barely know her” She starts to mutter under her breath dragging Junior away “why would she bring us here” Sammy questions.

“Like I would know” Junior glances over to Lily thinking she was listening in “um- “Junior points “maybe that’s why” drawing Sammy’s attention towards Lily, who sits on the couch zoned out on her computer.

“So, what” Sammy whispers in close “you think mom dropped us off at some normie’s how because she isn’t nosey.”

Junior shrugs looking about the apartment “think about it” he gestures towards Lily “a person that you barely know calls out of nowhere asking if you can watch their kids for weeks- do you think you would agree to that let alone not ask any questions” Junior points out.

Sammy looks with suspicion “you have a point” she sighs “but how does mom know she can trust her” Sammy crosses her arms “how do we know she isn’t some psycho.”

Junior’s expression blank, with a hint of annoyance “we don’t” he lifts his arm “we just got to wait and see” he suggests before walking towards Lily “Hey Lily.”

“Hmm- “Lily looks from her computer “what? You hungry” she directs “there’s food in the kitchen” she states, shifting towards her computer “wait- how old are you?” she questions, glancing at Junior.

“I’m fifteen, how old are you” Junior pries some more taking a seat next to Lily.

“it’s not kind to ask people that?” Sammy cuts in “Junior, you know mom always says not to ask to many questions, it gets annoying” she takes a seat the furthest from Lily.

Lily taking note Sammy’s distance, “Junior, I am twenty-four” she leans for her computer cord, closing her computer, and collecting her notepad. “Sammy, I think that’s your name” she glances “do you want to share a room with Junior, barrow my room, or sleep in the living area.”

“Um- you heard my mom” Sammy shifts away “I’ll share a room with my brother” she glares.

“Alright then” Lily shuffles “I will be in my room, it’s the door across the bathroom” she explains, carrying her computer “If you need anything, you know where to find me”?

Junior and Sammy exchange glances. “That was mean” Junior sits back on the couch. “You really kicked her out of her own living room” he frowns look back at the closed door.

“It’s not like I told her to leave” Sammy gestures away “looks to me, she just doesn’t like kids” she huffs, resting her chin on her hand.

Meanwhile, “Buzz- buzz” Lily grunts, clicking the green phone “hey Luke” she speaks, holding her phone between her shoulder and ear once more. “Watch Kyle” she glances towards the door “no problem, how long” she blinks towards the document “huh? Two days! No, it’s not a problem, I was just surprised that’s all” Lily sits from her bed “yea, I’ll see you soon, an hour no problem” Lily hears the hum of the phone, before heading to the living area.

“Hey, you two” she peers into the living area from the doorway “you guys don’t mind crying right” she smirks wearily “like crying from a baby” she chuckles anxiously.

“No, why” Junior props up, resting his arms on the back of the couch, his brown eyes scream curious, with his black hair ruffled from laying down.

“Oh, my nephew is gonna stay over for about two days” she explains “he’ll be here in about an hour” she gestures “you can meet my brother when he drops him off” Lily closes the door behind herself, resuming to her computer without a moment to spare.