"Why would you do that?!"

Kara exclaimed, sitting up abruptly, she was careful enough to not let her head get hit unlike her friend.

"Did you lie to her about your job as well?!"

Dawn raised her brow, she had crawled near Kara and Ezra's bunk bed.

"No. She knows all about that. It's just the apartment situation. Also....she does not know I got fired....but she does know how I gave interviews at those companies and that I worked or am still working at a super mart."

"Why didn't you tell her the truth?"

"I didn't want to worry her. I wanted to help them but she wouldn't take money from me if she knew the truth. I had no choice but to lie...."

Ezra's expression held guilt and nervousness.

"So, now what?"

"Will you tell her the truth?"

"I....."

Ezra looked up at her friends in worry. She could not see their faces clearly due to the darkness yet she could feel the empathy they felt for her.

"You can show her my apartment as yours."

Dawn spoke up, offering her a solution.

"I can't do that."

Ezra rejected straight away, shaking her head.

"Why not? I think it is the perfect solution."

Kara added.

"Did you forgot? She has seen your place before. Once, during that Thanksgiving dinner that your father held."

"Oh...right...I forgot about that."

"But it's been a long time since then. Surely, she doesn't remember the apartment."

"Mom's memory is like an elephant."

"....What do we do now?"

"Dylan and Axel have an apartment. Want me to ask them?"

"Would they even agree?"

"What about Ethan?"

"He will help you without a doubt."

"Have you seen his place?"

"I can't afford that. Mom will know it's not mine."

"Then Dylan and Axel it is." 

"But Dylan has a roommate."

"What was his name again?"

"I don't know. But I think even if Dylan will agree, his roommate will not."

"So, Axel it is then."

"But where will Axel and Asher live in the meanwhile?"

"They can stay with Ethan."

"Yeah or at a hotel. It doesn't matter. Right now, we need to find you an apartment."

"Axel said okay."

Dawn who was quiet this whole time as Kara and Ezra conversed, finally spoke up, startling the two girls.

"That was fast."

"Isn't he sleeping?"

"I don't know. I messaged him multiple times and he then replied. See."

Dawn turns her phone around, its screen facing the two girls who read the chat messages exchanged between Dawn and Axel.

"You practically told him to wake up and answer."

Ezra comments, upon seeing that Dawn had typed multiple times in caps, 'WAKE UP', 'EMERGENCY'.

"Well thank him for me. I will also thank him tomorrow. Also, ask him if it's really fine? Did he discuss it with Asher? Where will they stay for two days?"

Dawn notes and types down everything Ezra says and sends the messages to the said person. After a few seconds comes the replies, that Dawn reads out loud so that the other two can hear as well.

"He says that it's fine. Asher is asleep. He will tell him tomorrow. And that he just talked with Ethan and Ethan said that they can stay with him for two days."

"Oh that's great. I really can't thank you enough."

"It's fine."

"Whenever one of us need help, we are always there."

"Yeah, what else are friends for?"

"Now, you can calmly reply to your mother."

"Thanks guys."

Ezra gratefully answered, thinking of how she would bake cookies for them all once her mother leaves.

After the fun camping trip ended, they were back to their normal routine. Asher and Axel had packed only a few clothes and essentials for two days to stay with Ethan. They had locked the rest of the stuff in their cupboards. Ezra had told them to leave them be and that she will handle it so that her mother doesn't find out.

Meanwhile, Dylan had submitted his manuscript and managed to have a detail discussion with the guy who is about to start his own publishing company and after a lot of research and talking, Dylan and that guy decided to open their own publishing company.

Finally the day arrived when Ezra's mother was reaching the city. On the other hand, Ethan, Axel and Asher were going to Asher's hometown because he had finally decided to face his family. He had asked his friends to go with him for support to which they complied.

Kara and Dawn were also with Ezra as she sat with her mom at Axel's apartment that she was claiming to be hers. They spent a couple of hours talking about life and general things while eating the handmade sweets that her mother had brought for them. Seeing her mother talk about how nice 'her' apartment is, she couldn't take it anymore and finally blurted out,

"This is not my apartment."

"Huh?"

Her mother's eyes went round. Dawn and Kara also eyed her to keep quiet. But Ezra knows that nothing good comes out of lying. She took a deep breath and sits next to her mother and softly explains,

"Mom...I am sorry...I lied...this is not my apartment. You remember Axel, right? It's his. I asked him to lent it to me for two days just to satisfy you. I don't live in any apartment. I actually live in a single small bedroom at a girl's dorm. It's rent was a lot less than an apartment that is why I was able to send money to you every month. I want to help you, mom. You did so much for us and never once complained. You worked hard and I know you even worked various part-time jobs just to pay Jake's hospital fees. I am sorry, I can't help you right now....but you will see, my interviews went really good and I am sure I will get a good response...."

Ezra's lips were trembling. She did not know but her eyes had turned glossy. Her little brother, Jake, has always been sick since young. His hospital fees were almost as twice as their monthly household expenses. She knows how hard her mother worked just to pay those payments. Even if she herself would not be feeling well, she would never once let it show or complain.

"Oh Ezra. Why did you lie?"

"I didn't want to worry you especially after what the doctors said."

"Oh, the doctor are just scaring you. You could have just told me the truth from the beginning and I would have supported you like I am still supporting you now."

"Sorry..."

"It's fine. All I am glad about is that you came clean. I love you and I am always here for you."

Her mother hugged her and Ezra replied,

"I know...thank you...I love you too...."

"Oh this is so sweet."

Dawn said, her and Kara's face looks as if they were just about to cry.

"What's wrong with you two?"

Ezra inquired

"I don't know...it's just....seeing a mother and daughter....we just.."

"Maybe it's because we both don't have any mother so we feel this way.."

"Oh you too...come here..."

Ezra's mother hugged the girls lovingly.

"Think of me as your mother, okay? I think of you two as my daughters like Ezra. So, if you have any problems come to me."

At that moment, Ezra's cellphone rings. She excuses herself to answer. After a few minutes, she comes back with a blank, shocked expression that clouded her features.

"What's wrong?"

"I got accepted. I got accepted into BY company. They offered me a job. Though I will be a reporter for now but..."

Her facial features change into that of happiness and excitement.

"I got accepted!"

"Oh my god!"

"This is so great!"

"Finally!"

"We need to celebrate!"

"Oh first..."

Ezra takes her phone and starts dealing Ethan. She wanted to tell him the news as quick as possible.

Upon the third bell, Ethan picked up his phone,

"Hel...."

Ezra didn't even let him finish and added,

"I got accepted! The BY company called me just now. They want me to come tomorrow!"

"Oh wow...that's so great."

Ezra could feel that Ethan was somewhat hiding his excitement. She instantly knew something was not right. She hears the background sound of cars passing by and inquires,

"Is something wrong? Are you driving?"

"Yeah...actually...we are going to Axel's grandma's place."

"Huh? Why? Weren't you at Asher's parent's place?"

Ethan was holding his phone to his ear. He gazes at Asher who was sitting next to him and then from the back mirror, he takes a glance at Axel who was sitting quiet like a statue at the back. He had not spoken a single word since they were on the way. His cap was also hiding more than half his face. Ethan, then softly whispers into the mobile,

"We were but over there Axel got a call and...well...his grandmother is dead...."