8 Chapter Eight

Stella

"Hey mom"

I took her hand in mine and kissed it. She smiled weakly at me and I couldn't help the tears that formed in my eyes. She was strung up on the machines so much that it pained my heart. Her lips were dry and her skin was so pale.

"I wish you weren't like this. You don't deserve this, I said as I brushed her face slightly with my hand. She squuezed my hand and I smiled brightly letting my tears flow.

" I have a new job; I'm going to pay for your surgery and you're gonna get better"

She squeezed my hand again before I kissed her forehead and took up my bag. I had to go to work so I glanced at her once more before leaving the room. I was met with a nurse on the way and she gave me a smile before I left the hospital. I went to the stand to sit so I could wait on a cab.

"Stella!"

I looked up and saw Jackson in his car giving me a large smile. I returned it as I went up to him.

"This seems like deja vu doesn't it?, he asked with a chuckle as I gave him a small nod. He opened his car door and I went to the otherside and got in. He drove off and I turned on the radio. Celindion My Heart Will Go On was playing and I relaxed in the seat enjoying the melody of her voice.

"You like love songs?"

"Yeah, they're just so romantic, I replied closing my eyes and started humming along with the song.

" How's your mom? "

" She's had better days, I replied softly. He rubbed my hand a bit bwfore retracting it and turning up the radio. I relaxed once more and started listening to the song.

~~

" Aren't you coming in?, I asked as I exited the car. Jackson shook his head no before saying he had some business to take care of.

"Well thanks for the ride, I say as he smiled and nodded before driving off. He was such a jovial man.

I entered the house and went for the elevator. I stood and waited with my hands in my coat until it came to a stop and the door opened. Daryl was inside dressed in a button up shirt and a black pants.

"Good morning sir"

He didn't reply but just stood there staring at me with an expression I couldn't quite read. He walked up to me stopping way to close for comfort. He pushed his hand out past me before I felt his fingers in my hair. I stepped back from the contact as my heart started racing confusingly.

"There's something in your hair"

He stepped forward before putting his hand in my hair once more before removing it with a small piece of a leaf between his fingers. How did that get there?. He tossed it from his fingers before making eye contact with me.

"Good morning"

I nodded before looking past him at the elevator. His eyes never the left the side of my face when I did that.

"I have things to do sir so please excuse me"

I walked past him and walked hurriedly towards the elevator. I pressed the button and looked at Daryl as the door closes. I released a long breath. What if his wife saw that? I mean nothing happened but he was too close for comfort.

Seconds later the elevator came to a stop and I walked out and went to my room. I changed in my outfit before going to the living room. Amanda was there on her laptop in a leopard robe with her hair in a bun.

"Good morning, I say as she looked up from her laptop and gave me a smile.

" Good morning Stella and how are you? "

" I'm fine and you? "

" I've been trying to find a dress online but I don't see anything hot enough. Daryl and I are going to a party that one of his friends are hosting and I want to look my best. Help me look".

I sat beside her and looked at all the pretty dresses as she strolls through a website called Terry Costa. They were All beautiful some with a leg cut or a crisscrossed back.

"This one looks nice, she said as she clicked on a short black dress with diamonds decorating it all over. I agreed with her as she looked at the other pictures of the dress from sideway to the way it looks on a model.

" I think I'll buy it but what kind of heels?, she say clicking on the add to cart button.

" Maybe some Christian Louboutin heels would go well with the dress"

She smiled brightly at me before giving me a hug. I hugged her back gently. We pulled away and she held my shoulders.

" Thank you for your help. By the way I'm inviting you to the party. Its Friday".

"What are you guys talking about?"

We looked up as Daryl walked over and kissed Amanda on her cheek. I got up instantly giving them their privacy and went to the bedroom to clean it. I had a party to attend Friday but I couldn't buy anything ; I needed to save the money so I'll just have to wear a dress from my closet.

I finished spreading the bed and started vacuuming. Somehow the noise was quite peaceful to me. The bedroom door opened and Amanda came in before going to her closet and started rummaging through it.

After I finished vacuuming I went back to the living room to see Daryl typing on his phone. I walked pass him and went downstairs to the kitchen. Francis was inside as usual eating a sandwich and drinking orange juice.

"Morning, I say as I went to make breakfast. Some eggs and French toast sounds good.

" And good morning to you too. How's your mom? "

I told him that I was going to visit her before work today.

" She's..... OK. I mean atleast she can smile and squeeze my hand"

"Thats great. How's the saving coming along?"

"I have money in the bank but its just going into bills and more bills because I have to pay for rent because my things are still at the apartment and secondly I still have a debt that I haven't payed off yet. What if she doesn't make it? What if I'm too late?"

" Hey have some faith and hope. I believe that she'll be alright. You're gonna work and pay off your debts then you're gonna save enough for your mom surgery and she's going to be laughing and smiling again. You just need to believe".

I smiled at him and extend my arms. He got up shaking his head before hugging me. He was so tall so I could only wrap my arms around the small of his back. He patted my back as I chuckled a bit.

"Eh hem!"

I pushed him away immediately to see Daryl and Amanda standing there.

"It's not what you think, both Francis and I said the same time. This was so awkward.

" It doesn't matter if something happened, I mean if you guys love each other go for it, Amanda said before going to pour herself some coffee.

"No no it's not like that we're just friends plus I'm not single and neither is Francis, I said in panic shocked at what Amanda said.

She only nodded in understanding and I sighed before going back to making breakfast. I peeked over my shoulder at Daryl who was Watching Francis who had sat down and was reading a magazine. His eyes met mine before I turned away and continued what I was doing.

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