CHAPTER IV: Mall Encounter

"I did nothing wrong unlike SOME people"

"Who are you talking about?"

"I think we both know who we are talking about here"

"I do not know who you were referring to"

"Oh yes you do"

"You stole my cookie!"

"I got it first"

"I called dibs on it!"

"So what?"

"That was the last piece and you ate it whole!"

"STOP! Can you guys stop!? It is just a stupid cookie no need to fret your asses off!" Emmaline yelled.

It had been half an hour since our little chaos in the kitchen and now we are in the living room cuddled up in my sofa watching a series called "Riverdale"  when Haines and Claude started arguing over the last piece of cookie I had just baked.

I swear, these two can be a pain in the ass but that is what made our friendship not boring. Emmaline on the other hand is more of a serious one, a motherly figure of us four that could scold and lecture you for hours without a hassle. I, on the other hand are in the middle.

"Whatever" Haines said with his sassy tone.

"Stop arguing, you two. I will just bake again, would that make you all better?" I asked seeing as to the two would not quite down with their argument if someone won't do something.

"Really?" Both answered at the same time and that made Emmaline rolled her eyes at their childish behavior.

"Yes, but you have to promise me to stop arguing and share it fairly to everyone" I said standing up and look at them with my 'you better behave or else' gaze.

"Deal"

"I promise."

🔸

Standing at the kitchen aisle as I prepare all the materials needed for baking a cookie and making sure the surroundings is all clear.

After making sure that the coast is clear and all the materials have been prepared and washed clean, I started gathering all the ingredients and preheat the oven into 350°F and next combining the dry ingredients, the flour, baking soda, and the salt. Whisking it together and putting it to the side to start mixing the wet ingredients and adding some eggs on it.

The cookies need to be cooked for at least 9-11 minutes or until it turns into golden brown.

As I am waiting for the cookies to be cooked, my phone suddenly chimes. I quickly wash my hands covered with flour and wiped it with a dry towel.

"Hello?" I answered. Curious as to the caller ID is unknown.

"Is this Ms. Mcfeller?"

"Yes, this is she."

"Hi! This is the CazoS Enterprise. We have received your resume and would like to inform you that you are being qualified to have an interview on Monday at 7:30 A.M. Just go straight at the reception area and tell them that you have an appointment." Said the person on the other line.

"I will be there, thank you!" I said, excitement filled in my voice.

"Great, I will see you on Monday. Goodluck Ms. Mcfeller" and with that the line was hanged up.

"Ahhhhhh!!!" I squaled, this is what I have been waiting. I started jumping up and down much to my excitement that I had forgotten about what I am doing before someone called as I continue celebrating.

I know it is just an interview and I have not been hired yet, but it is an another step for me to my 'living on my own' life.

"What is wrong? Why are you shouting? Are you okay?"

Emmaline, Claude, and Haines came into my view from the kitchen door looking all too worried.

"Yes, everything is fine" I said after calming myself.

"What is this smell?" Claude asked sniffling around the kitchen as if to look where the smell came from.

"Oh, shoot!" I said as a realization hits me that it had been 20 minutes and I still have not taken out the cookies from the oven.

I scurry around the kitchen and goes to take the now burnt cookies on the oven and placed it on the kitchen island.

I looked at the trio to see them staring wide eyed at the burnt food with Emmaline laughing.

"Oooooopss?"

🔸

Two days have passed since the commotion in the kitchen and now I have nothing to do.

My friends just left after spending the nights here. They made sure to make me comfortable to the new surroundings and I am thankful for that.

"What to do, what to do, what to do" I keep on ranting as I pace around my room with one hand on my lips, biting on my nails.

Having nothing to do is not my forte as I am an active person who does not like sitting around doing nothing and just sit around a golden chair and being feed with golden spoon. I mean, I came from a rich family and was spoon feed but I am an adult now and I don't like being spoiled anymore.

I already cleaned the whole apartment and did my laundry. I have read a book and got bored, watched a movie but then my body would ache from sitting for so long.

"Oh my gosh! I am so sorry!"

After pacing in my room thinking about what to do, I decided to go to the mall since I only brought the essential things here and I forgot to bring my bags full of dance materials.

Dancing is one of my bestfriend that sticks to me all the time. It is my stress reliever and made me forget about my problems for awhile.

Given to a circumstances, I am going to be working soon and for sure a lot of stress are waiting for me in the future and I really need to relieve some stress but without my things I cannot do that and that brought me here in the mall, my hand that is full of shopping bags.

I have managed to balance all of the heavy shopping bags on my hands. As I was near my car, a girl bumped into me knocking all of what I am carrying.

"No, its okay" I offered her a smile as she help me getting up from the ground.

"Audrey, I told you do not run away like that. We are in a crowded place and it is dangerous, you could have gotten yourself badly hurt" The woman, who I presume as the mother of the girl who bumped onto me scolded the kid.

"I am sorry mommy-la, I will not do it again" The kid, audrey said to her mom and shifted her gaze and stride towards me.

"I am sorry po, I did not mean to bump onto you" She said as she hugged both of my legs looking up to me.

I knelt down so that we are in the same height and smiled as I wiped away the stray of tears that started to form in her eyes.

"Its okay, kid. You do not have to say sorry, okay?" I said as I tried to convince her so that she will stop crying.

"Really? You are not mad?"

"No babygirl. In fact I am happy to know that someone so beautiful as you have the same name as mine." I said, smiling as I saw a smile started to form at the kid's face.

"Your name is Audrey too!?" She asked as excitement can be heard from her voice.

"Uh-huh. My first name is Audrey" I chuckled as I heard her squealing and hugged me.

"You heard that mommy-la? Her name is Audrey too!" She told her mom as she started jumping up and down looking between me and her mom.

"Yes baby, I heard it." Audrey's mom laugh as she look at her daughter.

"She is lovely" I said now standing beside the woman as we both look at her daughter.

"Indeed she is" She agreed and then turn to look at me, "Thank you for hyping her up and I am so terribly sorry for what happened" Sincere. That is what you can see in her eyes and can be heard from her voice as she spoke.

"Do not worry about it. My name is Audrey, Audrey-Khloe" I said, leaving out my third and last name as I do not want to get her attention to my last name.

"Isla, my name is Phoenix Haylen Isla Schulz"