AS SPARED.

"Abuela come on pick up the pace. Apurarse." I said as she approached. "It's a beautiful day in Westby." I said smiling then we walked bare feet on the hot sand. Later that evening we stood at the pier and enjoyed the ocean view.

"I had a great day, mija." "Thank you." She said and I smiled. "Anytime Abuela." We started walking slowly on the pier and I was telling Abuela about the time when Bethel and I got banned from a pet store.

I know right. How does a person get banned from a pet store. "You kept freeing all the animals?!" Abuela said shocked and I was literally holding my breath from laughter.

"Uh-huh!" I nodded. "Well Bethel is an extreme empath and she hated the way they were caged and being sold but I on the other hand just thought it'd be fun."

I told her and laughed my heart out. "Avery" a voice said, "Haha-ah" my laughter was cut short after I saw Peter. "Avery, do you know this gentleman?" Abuela asked. I wish I could say no.

"Yeah, we go to school together." I replied, "Well, I'm Avery's Abuela." She put out a hand for Peter to shake. "Nice to meet you Abuela I'm Peter. Avery's friend." He said and they shook hands.

"Friend? She's never mentioned you before." Abuela said looking at me. Before I could answer Peter interrupted me. "I'm her new friend." "Let's just keep going Abuela." I said. "I suppose you want to tag along."

I kept quiet the whole time because Abuela and Peter seem to be bonding, I think. "Mija" "You haven't said a word since we left." She sounded concerned. Are you okay?" she asked, "I'm fine, Abuela. Just not feelin' chatty at the moment." I replied.

We walked Abuela back to the rest home and Peter and I bid her goodbye. "Bye, bye now. Especially you mijo." She said. For some reason we walked till we reached my house. I hadn't forgotten the babysitting thing, it was only a few minutes before I had to go.

"This is your stop I guess." He said and I nodded. "I really have to go. I have babysitting after this." I told him. "Okay, see you around then." He said. "Yeah." I said and he turned to leave.

"Uh, Peter" I said and he swung back with his hands in his pockets, "Yeah?" "Thank you for making Abuela happy." I said. "Come on, she was with you. She was already happy." He said and I nodded.

He ran around through his brown hair and raised his eyebrows. "Bye." He said, "Bye." I said then I started for the Pierson's house where I had to go babysit.

I sighed and silently prayed that the kid's parents weren't leaving. I was so tired and I felt like lying on my bed and thinking about everything that happened today and possibly praying and talking it over with Bethel on face time.

"Avery." Tim called and I snapped out of my thoughts. Ah, yes there's Tim. The kid I'm supposedly babysitting----ugh. His parents Mr. And Mrs. Pierson had to go this charity event, hmm really nice people.

"Avery." Tim snapped his fingers at me, "What?!" I snapped. "It's passed my bedtime." He told me, "Oh snap!" I said pressing my hand on my forehead. "Did I zone out for long?" I asked him.

"Not longer than usual." He said. "Come here." I pulled him into a hug. "You know you're pretty smart for your age." I let him go. "I'm seven, it's the perfect time." Tim said and his brown eyes lit up and I smiled and rubbed his messy brown hair.

"Let's go." I told him. Then we went upstairs to his room and I tucked him in "Goodnight Tim." I kissed him on his forehead. "Goodnight, Avery." He said and I left his room and went downstairs.

I forgot to call Bethel tonight because I was busy worrying about Peter and now it's late so I can't call her now. I sighed and checked my phone to see what time it was. 11p.m. almost midnight and the Piersons' weren't home yet.

I leaned against the couch and drifted to sleep. "Avery,Avery dear" a voice woke me up and I moaned moving sluggishly.

"What" I opened my eyes, "We're home but it's late so you should crash here okay honey." Mrs.Pierson told me.

Then I closed my eyes instantly.

On a Sunday morning I was smiling to my best friend while we listened to the sermon. The Pastor talked about miracles and how each day we wake up we have little miracles done to us even when we don't know that they are.

I thought of how I survived out of that fire but my parents weren't very lucky. Could that be a miracle? I don't know for sure then I was startled by the congregation rising up so I stood up.

"Next week before the sermon anyone of you will have a chance to tell their miracle. God bless you all. You may bid each other farewell and blessings." He said. The church broke into laughs and murmurs as people shook each others' hands.

"Peter is a nice guy but you shouldn't hang with that crowd." And I couldn't help but give her a hug. She always looked out for me and I love her. "And Mick?" I teased, "Oh come on, Mick isn't like Peter." She said.

"And how is he?" I asked, "Well he's aight. But his friends. Just be careful." She said walking away. "Wait, Bethel our after church plans?" I yelled. "I have bible study with Mick at Ronnie's. Love you, bye!" she yelled without turning back.

I smiled and shook my head. She's just lucky to run into Mick who happens to be really nice and he's a Christian. I think it's great they're hanging out. She has someone else to help her grow closer to God.

I walked home thinking about my friendship with Peter and the whole trust thing just. I opened the door and went inside only to find him sitting right there. I took a deep breath and prayed silently that he won't say a thing.

"Where were you?" he asked not looking at me. "Church." I said then he chuckled, "Them folk won't save you. We all know what you are. We all know the truth." He stared at me.

I just stood there in front of him and had nothing to say then I decided to go upstairs then I stopped. "You're right. Only God can save me." I smiled and walked away.

The look of disbelief and confusion on Stan replayed in my mind and I sighed in relief. I went to check on my mother and I found her sitting on the bed with pictures scattered on the bed.

I shut the door and I went and sat next to her and took one of the photos. It was Levi. I smiled and looked at others, they were all pictures of me and Levi. His graduation, the day before he left.

She looked at me and a tear rolled down her cheek. "I miss him too mom." I hugged her as she let soft sobs on my shoulder.

I yawned as I fell asleep inside my locker then I almost hit my head because I got startled by the noise coming from the hallway. I slowly backed up and saw a group of kids at the bulletin board. It looked like something was up.

Well, I normally don't care about any social activities going on at school because I'm not really a social butterfly. I shut my locker and walked sluggishly past the crowd at the board.

I pulled out a strand of lickerish from my pocket and it just stuck out of my mouth like a stallion eating wheat grass. I chuckled at the thought. I don't even know why I was so tired.

It's always been said that the end isn't easy. "Whoa, what happened to you?" Bethel asked scanning me. "What do you mean?" I said. "You look worse than usual." She said. "Come on, Beth." I said my eyes almost shut.

"Are you kidding me. Hello!" she snapped her fingers at me. "Hey, Avery." I popped as if I was electrified "Peter" "Of course" Bethel rolled her eyes. "What!" Peter said looking at Bethel. "Ooh, Avery here was uh..." she said.

"Are you okay?" he asked me, "She is now." Beth muttered. "What was that?" Peter said and she smiled awkwardly.

"Hey, what's goin' on there?" I asked him, "Oh, the school's new fund raiser. A carnival." He said, "When?" Beth asked. "Friday." He replied, "Will you be there?" he asked me.

"Uh" I said, "Avery doesn't really like crowded areas." Beth blurted out. "I'm sure you'll be fine. Besides how are we friends if we never hang out." He said and I sighed.

"I'll be there." I told him then he smiled. "Oh...kay. I have to go before the bell. See you guys." Beth said and left. "Let's go." He said, "Go where." I asked.

"To class." He chuckled. "Oh, right. We have Chem class together." I said with a pinch of disappointment. We walked quietly as we made our way to the Chemistry class.

I honestly don't wanna say anything and I prayed that he wouldn't either. "Um, Avery." He said, "So close" I thought and sighed.

"Peter" I said. "I know you don't want to hang out with me because I'm a jock but.." I cut him off. "Peter, I'll hang out with you. I'm just not big on the whole letting people in. I'm sorry if I come up mean sometimes."

"And you don't have to bring up the jock thing. It's okay. You seem different from your friends and I hope you are." I told him.

"Thanks!" he said.

"I don't know Bethel, thinking about a career now just seems so fast you know." I talked to Bethel on face time as I dismissed from my bible study group.

"I just wanna make sure you don't waste your years in college not even knowing what you're gon' do with your life Ave." She said.

"Alright mom. I gotta go." I said, "Okay, see you at night." She said and hung up. I sighed and started to make my way home. I was thinking of whether I'd find Stan home or not.

He made mom's life difficult and I couldn't even protect her. The thoughts clouded my mind and I didn't watch where I was going.

"What's wrong with you?" I bumped into some guy, he was tall and averagely built. I couldn't see his face because he had a hoody on and it was getting dark. "Sorry!" I said.

"Watch it!" he said taking out a knife from his pocket. I gasped and began moving away slowly, "I said I was sorry." I whimpered.

"I accept your apology." "In cash." He said moving closer. Moving back I tripped on a loose sidewalk grate and fell. "Give me your money and I don't slit your throat huh?" he threatened.

I was alone, helpless and scared and I didn't have any money but he'll obviously never believe me. So I closed my eyes and muttered. "Do not fear, only believe." As many times as I could.

"What are you doing?" "Didn't you hear what I said. I'll freakin' kill you." He yelled. Then my muttering was cut off by the sound of falling garbage cans, it was cats across the street.

Sirens from a distance. I opened my eyes. "Oh man, not again!" the mugger complained and bolted. Heavy sighs of relief were let out after he completely disappeared. I sat there for a while then the sirens drew closer.

I could finally see it. It was just an ambulance. I chuckled, "That was smart. Thank you God!" I muttered.