Sophia

After eating, Arianna cleared the table and washed the dishes before going back to her room to pick up her bag, so she could go to her mother's shop. She came down and scowled when she saw who was waiting for her at the last step.

"You think you've won huh Arianna?" Nickel asked, his glare would have bore holes in her skin if he had any superpowers, but unfortunately, he doesn't.

"I didn't do anything wrong, Nicky, you were the one in the wrong." She said, stopping at the second to last step.

"I didn't do you wrong Arianna, you're the cause of all this. Now I'll have to go weed mum's bushy garden for the whole day when I have something important to do." He growled, and Arianna just stared at him in disbelief.

"You didn't just say that Nickel, you pranked me with your life. I was scared that something happened to you, I was scared the people did something to you, but who would have thought that you planned everything all along, making me worried about nothing." The fear was still visible in her eyes and voice even with just thinking about it, Nickel knows very well how, for some reason unknown to them, the people in town and around them hated them.

They were not aware of their so-called hate until three men almost killed Nickel while he was still a baby, and now he had the gust to play that expensive prank on her. He was supposed to be happy, their mother gave him the lesser punishment. He brought his head down in shame and when Arianna saw he wasn't saying anything she walked past him.

"I'm sorry." He blurted out, stopping her in her steps.

"I'm sorry I did that when I clearly knew what happened, please forgive me." She turned to him and saw his head still bowed. Arianna sighed, she knows what's going to come next if Nickel continue apologizing, and she didn't accept his apology and there it was. When nickel raised his head up his lips were pouted and tears were rushing out of his eyes, anyone who saw him would think how pitiful he's, but not Arianna.

She knows her brother so well, and this was one of his tricks.

"Wipe your eyes Nickel and stop shedding those crocodile tears, I will forgive you for this but know that there won't be a next time." She walked out of the house without waiting for his reply, she groaned, grumbling under her breath she didn't meet her mother outside. She was already gone, and they promised to go together. Now she needs to walk for almost an hour before getting to their shop.

She sighed and encouraged herself, "You can do it, Arianna, it's just an hour of walking." So she began her walk to the shop, thirty minutes of walking under the hot morning sun she was already grumbling and cursing Nickel for taking her time.

"Hey Arianna!" Someone called her, but she didn't bother to stop. She was so lost in her thoughts that she wasn't aware the person was beside her.

"Arianna!" She screamed and jumped, almost landing on her ass, with her heart beating wildly in her chest, she glared at the person who was busy laughing at her misery.

"The hell! Why did you do that, Sophia?" She asked, breathing heavily.

Sophia stopped laughing and scowled, "I called your name for a long time Arianna but didn't receive any reply from you, what's up?" She shook her head.

"Nothing, where are you off to?" Arianna asked, as they continued walking.

"Nowhere actually, just saw my friend walking mindlessly on the road and tried calling her, but she didn't answer me." A cute pout was on her face and Arianna felt bad. Sophia was the only person who spoke with her and her family when everyone abandoned them, she was also her best friend.

"I'm sorry, I was just thinking how I would walk all the way to the shop by myself." Sophia shook her head.

"Couldn't follow aunty today again?" She nodded, and Sophia snickered, "Let me guess you and Nickel have some issue again?" This time Arianna didn't say a thing, giving Sophia the answer.

"Sometimes I wonder between you and Nickel who is the eldest." She spoke up with a lopsided smile when they walked for a while without saying anything. Arianna glanced at her and snorted.

"Of course am I the eldest, why would you say that."

"Because the both of you fight like cats and rats when you're supposed to be there for each other, I wish I had a little brother or sister." She said dejectedly, twirling her hair with a finger. Arianna knew how Sophia felt about not having any younger sibling to look after or to pick on, being an only child of her parents was, according to her, a curse. Sophia has always wanted a little sister or brother to keep her company in their huge house, her parents weren't lacking any material things. In fact, they are the wealthiest people in town, but having another child became hard for them and after many attempts but failed, they stopped and resigned to their fate of not having any other child except Sophia.

Everyone knows the story about the Darvyn couples, childless for five years after marriage before having Sophia, then couldn't become pregnant again.

"Hey what's the sad face about, I have told you before that Nickel is your little brother and if you butt everyday you're free to do so but ph-lease not his cute face." Arianna said, trying to cheer Sophia up, and it worked.

"Never, that face would break so many hearts in the future." Sophia giggles.

"True, Sometimes I feel pity for the girls that would fight over him." Arianna solemn said, but that changed when Sophia burst into laughter and since it was contagious, she couldn't help but laugh with her.

"You are a bad sister Arianna, I know you're waiting patiently for girls to fight over him. For the girls to meet you to cajole him for them." She winked and Arianna raised her hand.

"I didn't say that, but it would be fun." Sophia nodded. Yes, it would be so much fun getting money, flowers, chocolates, and gifts from girls to give to Nickel, but they would be the one to eat them.

They walked for a while in silence, the both of them in thoughts, Arianna was hoping for that day not to come. She wanted her brother to always remain fifteen forever.

"Oh, that reminds me Arianna, did you get the scholarship exams you sat for?" Sophia asked, and her mood soured. She has been trying not to think about the exam results for some days now, but Sophia mentioned it. She wasn't scared that she wouldn't pass it, but she feared leaving her family and moving to another town where she knew no one.

"No, I haven't gotten any reply from them. Maybe the results aren't yet out." She forced a smile out and Sophia nodded. Sophia wanted to ask another question, but the ringing of her phone stopped her.

"Excuse me." Arianna nodded and took two steps forward to give her some privacy.

A minute later and Sophia was done with her call, she placed her phone back in her purse and gave Arianna a sad smile.

"What's wrong?"

"Mother wants me home, apparently my uncle is coming today and I need to be ready before he comes."

"Oh, no problem, I'm almost at mum's shop." And that was true, with another five minutes walk she would get to the shop.

"Okay, see you, Arianna." They hugged for a while, they pulled out, Sophia packed her extra large gown and took a road that leads to the main road where she would see her family car waiting for her.

Arianna sighed then began her journey alone, she was absentminded. She was worried about the results, what if she didn't pass and was made to seat for the exam again, or what if her name wasn't on the list of those that took the exams? So much what ifs went through her mind, she finally got to her mother's shop and released a breath of relief. She let go of the disturbing thoughts before entering the shop, she hummed as the sweet smell of different flowers welcomed her. One of the reasons why she alway likes coming to the shop was because of the flowers, each flower had its meaning and while some are good, some are for those in love and some are for those in mourning.

The one she loved most was the Iris and Sunflower which symbolizes hope, faith, and wisdom while the sunflowers symbolize hope, positivity and the bright colors always made Arianna cheerful and happy anytime she looked at it.

"Good thing you're here, Blue." She turned to see her mother coming out with two bouquets of flowers, she knew why her mother was so happy to see her.

"Please take these to the Brokks house and this other one to the Farkas house, please get there as fast as you can." She took the flowers from her.

"You can count on me, mother." Her mother smiled then patted her back.

"Off you go now."