Fire And Flame

Laura couldn't help but hug her best friend. The last time she saw her cry was three years back. After all this time, this was the second time she saw her cheerful friend cry. She couldn't help but rush to hug her letting her know that she wasn't alone.

"What are you doing here?" Lily quickly wiped her tears and gave a wide smile. Her lips quivered while smiling.

"Just let me hug you..." Laura hugged her even more tightly.

"Go way! You are being too touchy!" Lily tried to push her away but Laura won't budge.

"Oh my God! What is wrong with you? I feel suffocated." Lily kept pushing Laura away but in the end she couldn't control herself and break into tears.

She hugged her best friend and cried loudly. Her cry didn't stop for a long time. She had contained her emotions and feelings for a very long time. Laura gently patted her back and said nothing. She let her cry whole heartedly.

After a while, she stopped crying.

"Feeling better?" Laura asked.

"Much better..." Lily whispered, loud enough for Laura to hear.

Pulling away from the hug, she saw the mess in front of her.

"Damn! I need to clean my room or I starve for the whole night!" she quickly stood up and started picking up the stuff scattered on the floor. Laura smiled and started helping cleaning as well.

"Why don't you go take a shower? I will clean the room.You're in still in clothes you wore this morning." she picked up the towel which was near the bed and folded it neatly.

"Okay, I will be back in a few minutes. Thank you, Laura." she smiled. That was a genuine smile.

"Whatever! Now go." Laura smiled back at Lily.

When Lily came of the bathroom, she was stunned seeing her room shining like a hotel room. Everything looked so clean and the smell of room freshner was too good. She inhaled deeply when suddenly she heard Laura giggle.

"I was gone for about twenty minutes and the room is all clean! What kind of sorcery is this!?" she went to dry the towel on the armrest of the chair.

"Well, I am amazing you know. Now let us go eat!" Laura dragged lily out of the room and climbed down the stairs carefully.

They went to Eli who was busy garnishing the oven baked chicken b.r.e.a.s.ts with rosemary leaves. The soup was ready and the bread toasts were on a big plate with enough butter in a small bowl.

"You both are done? Lily, did you clean your room?" Eli casually asked. She acted as if she didn't see what had happened upstairs.

"Yes, Mom. Can we eat now? I'm hungry. I and Laura need to complete today's assignment as well. So, hurry up!" Lily went to the dining table and sat where her father used to sit. After her father's death, she took his seat. She felt as ease whenever she sat on the same chair as her father. She felt like he is still around. But still, it's just her belief after all.

Eli placed the dishes on the table. Laura placed the plates and glasses. She filled the glasses with water and served bread toasts to everyone. Eli served the hot baked chicken b.r.e.a.s.ts to both Laura and Lily and served the last two pieces to herself.

"This smells so good, Aunty..." Laura closed her eyes and inhaled the smell of the perfectly baked chicken.

"My favourite!!" Lily squealed before cutting the meat and stuffing the meat into her mouth.

So tasty… very tasty.

Eli smiled looking at the two girls. She forgot about what had happened before and started eating.

They laughed and gossiped on various topics. Soon after, both Laura and Lily went to study. They both solved the maths questions followed by english assignment. They finished their homework within two hours.

"Thank you, Laura! I have finally completed my homework on time!" Lily sighed and put the pen inside her pencil purse.

"We have our exams next month. We need to start preparing." Laura packed her stuff into her bag.

"Ah, exams again… Duh! When will this all end? I want to live a peaceful life now." Lily sighed.

"You are only fifteen years old! What do you mean, silly? To have a peaceful life, you need to work hard. You will live a peaceful life after retiring." Laura smiled at Lily's stupidity.

"Can't I just turn 60 all of a sudden? The perfect age to live a peaceful life." Lily lost in her own dreams of turning 60 years old all of a sudden.

"Wake up and go to bed. Don't sleep here." Laura lightly slapped Lily's face.

"Good night. See you tomorrow." Lily yawned and went to shut the door after Laura left.

Laura climbed down the stairs carefully.

"Good night, Aunty." she smiled at Eli.

"Thank you, Laura." Eli stood up and went to hug Laura.

"It's fine… take care." Laura hugged her back.

"Good night, Laura." Eli wished.