February 2005...
That night, after Savannah, Adam and Amanda finished cleaning up the apartment, each of them went to their rooms.
Since there was no mattress in the room yet, Amanda laid her and Savannah's duvet on the floor and used a bedsheet to cover it.
"This is where we'll sleep for the night. That's until we get an actual bed and mattress ". Amanda said. Savannah just sighed before laying down on one side of the duvet.
Though Savannah didn't say anything, Amanda could tell that Savannah wasn't happy . She kissed Savannah to sleep before walking out of the room, she made her way to the balcony and stood there and watched the view outside.
She didn't know if what she was doing was wrong or not. She could feel how much her kids tried to force a smile to make her happy. Even though her kids don't complain, she can tell how much they're trying to manage the little things she's been able to provide for them.
The thought of so many possibilities made her heart pound, her head hurt and her eyes to become weak. Soon enough, tears slowly flowed down her cheeks,"Why does everything have to end up like this". Amanda whispered to herself before breaking down and sitting on the floor.
Suddenly, Amanda heard someone call out to her, almost immediately, she broke out of her thoughts.
"Oh, Savannah, what are you doing here". Amanda said as she wiped her tears and got up from where she sat. Savannah stared at the floor, avoiding Amanda's eyes.
Amanda grinned before putting her hands on Savannah's shoulder's, " What's wrong, why are you out here so late, huh. Let's go back to our room". Amanda said as she tried to take Savannah to the room but she stopped.
"Why were you here on the balcony, sitting on the floor". Savannah asked as Amanda turned back to look at her, not knowing what to do or say. Suddenly, Amanda knelt down in front of Savannah and held her hands, avoiding her eyes.
"Savannah, answer me honestly, are you happy to be here?" Amanda said she looked at Savannah.
Savannah didn't know how to respond and abruptly knelt down, raising Amanda up to her feet, " What are you doing mom, of course I want to be here".
"Really? I saw how devastated you were when we found out about the offer, I saw how much you sacrificed just so I won't worry. I'm sorry Savannah, I'm really really sorry for all that I put you through". Amanda said as she knelt back down, tears flowing down her cheeks. Savannah also went on her knees and hugged Amanda before saying, " Mom, you don't have to apologize for giving me so much. Even if we have to sleep on the floor", Savannah said before pulling Amanda away, "Okay now, can we go back to our room?" Savannah said as Amanda giggled.
...
The next day...
Savannah woke up the next morning but Amanda wasn't beside her, 'She must be in the bathroom, I'll set up my clothes in the meanwhile ". Savannah thought before dragging her box from the other end of the room. She pulled the box down before opening it. She unfolded a few clothes in the box and scattered them before bringing out a jean skirt and a white t-shirt and closing the box.
After some time, Amanda walked out of the bathroom, drying her hair while fully dressed in a white shirt and black jeans.
"Get dressed quickly, I have something to tell you and your brother". Amanda said as she sat down on the pile of duvets.
"What do you want to tell us". Savannah said as she turned to look at Amanda.
"I'll tell you once you get dressed".
"Okay fine". Savannah said as she took her clothes and made her way to the bathroom.
By the time Savannah came out of the bathroom, Amanda wasn't in the room, she tied her hair in a bun before making her way out of the room.She searched around different rooms in the apartment but still didn't find Amanda, that's until she saw her in the living room with Adam.
" So when are we starting school?" Adam asked.
"That's what I want to discuss with you, I'm just waiting for Savannah ",Amanda said before spotting Savannah standing in the hallway across from her, "Oh, she's here",Amanda said," Why are you standing there, come here".
Savannah walked to the living room before saying, "Are we talking about joining a new school?" Savannah asked as she looked at Amanda confused, before Amanda could respond, Adam spoke.
"Didn't you hear her? She wants to talk about us starting school". Adam said as he sighed.
"Okay, the two of you would be starting school next week Monday. I've done my research and chosen 3 really good schools. I collected the flyers, I think they're in my bag, I'd be back", Amanda said as she made her way to her room.
Savannah sighed before she sat on the floor. Adam also sat on the floor cross-legged next to her.
"We just moved here, do we have to start school so early?" Savannah said as she turned to face Adam.
"Miss, I'm not the one paying our school fees, I don't get a say in this".
Savannah sighed as she looked at the floor, she returned her sight back to Adam. "Well, all I hope for now is that mom's choice is a good one. I won't want to go to a school worse than Titans Academy".
"You aren't wrong, any school would be better than a place where we only have 4 bathrooms".
Just then, Amanda rushed into the living room holding her hand bag, she looked through the bag before taking out the flyers. Adam and Savannah abruptly got up as soon as they saw her.
"Okay, these are the flyers for the schools I researched", Amanda said while showing them the flyers, "Here you go, have a look". Amanda said as she gave them the flyers.
Savannah took one of the flyers from Amanda before Adam could. The two of them looked at each other for a while before Savannah put her focus back on the flyers.
"Saints Academy, guiding future leaders", Savannah read aloud, "the school uniform looks nice". Savannah said as she took a peek at one of the flyers Adam was holding .
"All she cares about is the uniform", Adam whispered to himself, "Royal bridge high school. Now this school looks nice compared to Saints".
"Hey, you don't even know anything about the school". Savannah said as she scoffed.
"And Gateway high school. I've done my research and these three schools are one of the best here with affordable prices. I'll be at the grocery store, while the two of you can pick your choice". Savannah said before walking out of the living room. As soon as the door was locked, Adam gave Savannah the flyers, "Hold this for me real quick, I'll be right back" Adam said as he rushed out of the living room.
'What's wrong with him? Why should I care, he's always acting weird'. Savannah thought to herself before making her way to her room. She went through her school bag and pulled out her phone.
She sat on the pile of duvet and kept the flyers next to her, she looked at the flyers in disbelief, 'I can't believe I'm already going to a new school, what if I don't fit in and end up being an outcast?' Suddenly Savannah's phone rang, she looked through her phone for a while until she saw a message from Debbie.
'Have you arrived there yet'.
'Yeah, we arrived yesterday '. Savannah sent the text before placing her phone back on the duvet.
For a while, she just sat there flipping through the flyers, 'these schools don't look so bad. I guess it's for the better'. Savannah thought to herself before her phone suddenly beeped. She quickly picked it up and saw Debbie's new text.
' Oh wow, is the place nice ? Are you enjoying it there? Tell me everything'.
'Yeah, it's actually really nice here. I'm enjoying this place already. My mom has even picked out a few schools for me to choose from, they're really good schools '.
'I don't know why but I feel like you're being sarcastic '. As soon as Savannah saw the text, she felt overwhelmed.
'You know me so well. There's nothing wrong with this place, I just miss you'.
'Okay fine, so what school did you choose?'
Savannah looked at the flyers and then at the text before putting her focus back on the flyers.' I haven't chosen one yet, but Saints Academy looks nice'.
'Oh, my older cousin goes there. He said the place is a good school but some of the girls there are mean'.
'What do you mean by 'mean'.
'I mean, they're bullies. But I'm not saying this from my perspective, I'm just repeating what my cousin said, so don't get alarmed'.
'Oh, okay, see you later'.
Savannah sent the text before she laid on the duvet. The thought of there being bullies in that school made her more worried so she decided to research these schools, just in case.
She went on Google and searched the school. The school had a good review but she still felt worried. Just then, Savannah heard a knock on the door, not knowing who it was, she waited for a bit before loud, 'Savannah! Open the door, it's me, your mom'. She didn't know whether to believe it or not so she went to the living room and peeped through the peep hole. With a sigh of relief, she opened the door.
"Just because I told you not to open the door for strangers doesn't mean you shouldn't open the door for anyone". Amanda said as she rushed into the living room holding three shopping bags.
" Let me help you with that". Savannah said as she took one of the bags.
"Where's you brother by the way". Amanda said as she made her way to the kitchen as Savannah followed her.
"He went to his room a while ago". Savannah said as she dropped the bag on the counter. Just then, Adam walked into the kitchen.
"There he is", Amanda whispered to herself once she saw Adam, '' Where were you, you didn't come to open the when I came ".
"Oh, I was chatting with Brian, he said that out of the three schools you suggested, Saints Academy is his preference ", Adam said as he walked towards them, "Do you need anything?"
"Yeah, you can put those dishes in that drawer". Amanda said as she gave him a few dishes.
"Mom".
"Yeah, what is it".
"Debbie also said Saints Academy is a good school". Amanda stopped what she was doing and abruptly turned to look at them.
"So what, are you trying to say you want to go there".
"I'm not trying, I'm saying I want to go there. It's the best choice".
"She's right, the school has a really good review ". Adam said after closing the drawer.
For a while, Amanda didn't say anything, instead she just kept looking at them.
"Okay. I'll look into it, first you'll have to decide whether we're eating out or at home". Amanda said as the two of them looked at each other.
"We're eating out". Both of them said in unison.