Alanna's alarm didn't ring Friday morning so she woke up two hours late. Freaking out that she was super late for school she jumped out of bed quickly before grabbing a towel and dashing out of her room. If it was up to her she'd just miss the whole day but her parents would never let her hear the end of it. They were super chill about a lot of things but if there was one thing they took seriously it was school.

She ran smack into her mother who was just walking out of her bedroom. She looked like she just woke up and she had since it was seven in the morning, her normal rise up time.

"Mami where are you rushing off to?" Her mom asked her holding her shoulders to stop her.

"Why are you so calm at seeing me here? I'm late for school." Alanna replied wondering why her mom was so cool about the whole idea of her being late to school.

Her mother smiled knowingly shocking Alanna even more.

"There's no school today." Her mom informed her.

"Huh?" She asked still puzzled.

"You silly child. Did you forget. It's a public holiday today. Go back to bed." Her mom explained.

Alanna breathed a sigh of relief before she beamed at the thought of no school. That meant she had a three day weekend. Yay public holidays. She was too amped up to go back to bed. It'd not be hard for her to fall back asleep but it'd take effort.

"Why don't I make us breakfast before you and dad go to work? We haven't had a family breakfast in a while." Alanna suggested with a hopeful smile.

She was right. They almost never had breakfast together. Not because they didn't want to but because their schedules never aligned.

"That sounds good darling. Why don't you try that waffle maker your dad won in the raffle. If anyone can figure out how to use that thing it's you." Her mom suggested.

"Of course mom."Alanna replied feeling excited about making waffles for the first time.

She went back into her room to return the towel and her mom returned to their bedroom to get ready for the day. Alanna walked back to her bathroom to brush her teeth, wash her face and relieve herself before going to the kitchen to prepare her family breakfast.

She switched on the lights, put on her apron before grabbing all the ingredients she needed and got to work. She knew her parents would take about one hour so she took her time to make the best breakfast possible.

The waffle maker was a little hard to figure out at first so she definitely messed up a few times. But once she did it, she made enough for her parents and made pancakes for herself. She wasn't sure if she'd be willing to taste the waffles after what she'd gone through making them. She also made bacon and fresh orange juice. She hated the factory kind, it tasted awful.

After everything was ready she set it all up in the dining room and proceeded to make her mom chai (milk tea) to carry with her to work, she lived for that tea.

Her mom called her from the dining room just as she was pouring the tea into a flask. She finished up, removed her apron and joined her parents in the next room.

The dining room and kitchen were separated by a wall but there was a small window to pass food through.

"Good morning dad." Alanna greeted kissing her dad's cheek before sitting down next to him. The dining room was simple with a small mini fridge in the corner and a huge table in the middle that sat six people. Her dad sat on one end at the head of the table while she and her mom say across from each other on either side of dad.

"Good morning kitty kat. Sleep well?" Her dad asked.

"Perfectly." Alanna replied with a smile.

"All this looks amazing baby. Good job." Her mom said approvingly and her dad gave her a proud nod and smile.

Alanna beamed at their praises. She knew she couldn't do as well in school as her sister did but she excelled in other areas and her parents accepted that. She was always afraid to disappoint them that's why she was trying really hard to get into culinary school.

"Thanks." Alanna replied smiling.

They all said grace together before digging into their food. Alanna had made fruits too, berries of different kinds, bananas and there was honey and whipped cream. It was a scrumptious breakfast and by the time they were done everyone was rubbing their stomach and groaning.

"This child wants to kill us with all this feeding." Her dad groaned rubbing the barely visible belly.

Her dad was tall and well built with good hair and a full beard that he always shaved neatly. He was quite handsome for a man his age and Elizabeth took after him with her small body. Her mom on the other hand was a short plump lady with blessings in all the right places if you catch my drift. Alanna took her build from her but her height from her dad. She was a mixture of both her parents.

"Mom, dad I need a favor." Alanna requested when she remembered she needed money for the event tomorrow.

"If it's more kitchen equipment..." He dad started but she cut him off with a chuckle.

Alanna was famous for asking for the latest kitchen equipment. If it belonged in the kitchen, she wanted it.

"It's not that dad. Gosh give me a break." She replied defensively.

"Your dad was right to assume that dear. Unlike all other girls who ask for money to buy shoes and clothes and make up all you ask for are blenders and whisks." Her mom added.

She was right, she did ask for money to buy personal items like her shoes but she mostly just asked for things to make her kitchen state of the art.

"Well it's definitely not that new oven I saw but it wouldn't hurt to get one." Alanna replied innocently.

"I knew it."Her dad exclaimed.

"Dad I'm just kidding or not. But seriously I need money." She requested.

"What for?" Her mom asked her.

"My friends and I are going to the children's home tomorrow to cook and donate to them and I wondered if you guys could give me cash to help out. Am a little low myself after I got new wheels for my skateboard." She explained.

Her parents didn't reply but looked at her shocked as if she'd grown another head.

"Why are you guys looking at me like that? Do I have cream on my face?" Alanna asked touching her face to find what they were looking at.

"No you just said you had friends. Since when?" Her mom asked clearly shocked.

"Mom don't make a big deal out of it."Alanna said feeling embarrassed.

She didn't know her parents worried for her because she didn't have friends. Shouldn't parents be glad that their children didn't spend time with the wrong company.

"After your sister left you became sort of a loner and I was really happy when Munene asked to come here because at least you'd have one friend. But you've said friends which means many."Her mom expounded.

"They are practically his friends." Alanna explained.

"The fact that you acknowledged them as your friends too means you consider them as such." Her dad interjected.

Alanna sunk into her seat feeling shame for being out on the spot like that for lack of friends or now the presence of them.

"Are you going to give me the money or not?"Alanna grumbled.

Her dad chucked "I think we've embarrassed her enough dear. Let's go to work."

Alanna looked at her mom shuffling through her huge handbag before placing a few thousand notes on the table and getting up.

"Have fun with your friends chipmunk." Her dad said before kissing her forehead and leaving the dining room.

"Take care sweetheart." Her mom said patting her cheek lovingly before grabbing her bag and flask and following after her dad.

Alanna breathed a sight of relief before grabbing the money and counting it. Six thousand shillings, very generous of her parents. She pocketed the money before clearing the dining table and heading back to the kitchen to do the dishes.

Afterwards she went back to her room and tidied up in there before deciding to take a shower and got ready for the day.

It was market day since it was on Friday and Alanna was going to make sure she did enough shopping for the next day. She was really excited about being able to help out all those kids. The only problem was doing all that shopping required an extra set of hands or two so she decided she'd text Sophia as soon as she was all dressed up.

After her shower and doing her body routine Alanna got dressed in a white t-shirt and a black stylish dungaree with rips on the knees. She paired that look with black female timberland boots that she adored. Fixing her hair, Alanna grabbed her phone and sat on her bed to text Sophia. She'd gotten the number of everyone in the group earlier that week.

Alanna : Morning princess.

Alanna had taken to calling Sophia princess because of that Disney cartoon with princess Sophia. She rolled almost immediately.

Sophia👸🏾: Good morning chiqa. Elated about no school today?

Alanna: Super. You have no idea how happy I am. Anyway I need a favor.

Sophia👸🏾: Anything for my favorite girl.

That statement made Alanna smile. She and Sophia had bonded a lot over the past few days. They had a lot in common and loved to gang up on the boys.

Alanna : So my parents gave me money for tomorrow and I was wondering if you'd like to accompany me to do a little shopping for tomorrow.

Sophia👸🏾: OMG yes of course. I'd love to. But we do need an extra set of hands. Let me add you to the group chat and we can ask the boys.

Alanna didn't want to ask Ryan of all people that's why she'd asked Sophia not him and when he realized that he'd be really pissed.

Before she had time to ask Sophia not to do that it was too late because her phone started pinging and vibrating with more texts meaning she was already in the group. Taking deep breaths to calm down she read the messages.

Sam: Look who just joined the chat. Welcome Alanna.

Sophia👸🏾:Shut it Sam. Alanna wants us to accompany her shopping today. You boys in?

Dingus 🤡 : Why didn't she ask me? Sweetheart why didn't you!!

She was yet to change how she'd saved him that first day. She was planning to she just never got to it.

He was already hurt that she didn't ask him first. She had wanted to avoid that.

Tony: Don't scare the poor girl. Id love to accompany you girls shopping.

Sophia👸🏾 : You didn't have the choice of saying no boyfriend.

Tony: Of course not babe😘😘.

Dingus: Anna I'm still waiting for your answer.

Liam: Cut it out you two. Gross 🤢🤢

Sophia👸🏾: You're just jealous 😝😝

Liam: No i'm not.

Sam: Cut it out all of you. We're all taking the girls shopping. End of discussion.

Alanna decided to speak up for the first time.

Alanna : It's not for us. It's for tomorrow. Groceries we'll need to cook and all that stuff.

Liam: Great idea A. We all have to chip in you guys. It was our idea after all.

Sam: Agreed.

Sophia👸🏾:Definitely.

Dingus: Can't she see my texts. Alanna!!!?

Toby: Can it Ryan. Ill pick you guys up in my dads car. It's boot is large enough for us to fit whatever we buy and can accommodate all six of us.

Sophia👸🏾:That's my man right there. Now I gotta go. I have to get ready.

Sam: We're going now? i'm still in bed.

Alanna: No later in the afternoon.

Liam: That's a relief.

Toby: Babe you can get ready later.

Sophia👸🏾 : Perfection takes time. Now bye.

Dingus: A. L. A. N. N. A!!!

Alanna logged out too to avoid Ryans wrath. It was still early so she decided to just watch movies in the living room to pass time. She saw Ryan calling her so she just muted her phone because there was no way she was picking it up.

She'd deal with him later in person.

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Hello my darlings. I've decided to cut this and the next chapter into two because otherwise it'd be too long. Don't worry no cliffhanger because am posting the other half immediately after this. Have fun reading it.

Anyway be blessed and stay safe.

As always. I love you 3000.