4// ~Admire~

Skipping home down the sidewalk I couldn't help but let my mind wonder back to Daniella. She was just so pretty!

I mean her hair was so red, but not like fire truck red, more orangey-red, and her eyes were so beautiful, and I like the way she spoke to me.

It made me feel like I had butterflies in my belly. Oh no... hopefully I didn't eat a butterfly by accident. That would not be good, and Grammy would not like that.

I arrived home, opening up the door, and announcing my arrival so Grammy would know I had made it back safely. Placing the few groceries down onto the counter, I turned and walked into the living room, seeing Grammy sitting down on the couch.

"Hi! I made it back and got everything we need." I said to her and I bend down in front of the small bookcase and grabbed the book containing the snickerdoodle recipe we would need.

"Oh that's lovely dear, did you find everything all right? Talk to any strangers?"

"Ya I found everything okay, but one thing I couldn't reach and this nice lady helped me out. I talked to her but, don't worry at all, she was super duper nice. Her name is Daniella and I even got her number so that we can talk and be friends!" I exclaimed, hoping that Grammy wasn't too mad I didn't follow the rules, and had talked to somebody.

Her eyebrows furrowed for only a second, until they relaxed again and she began speaking. "Well that's lovely. Are you sure you can trust her? She was nice to you?" Her face screwed up a little like she was worried for me.

"Ya she was really nice." I said standing there with the book still wrapped up in my arms, pushed up against my chest. "I know that I shouldn't talk to strangers but she was super helpful and I don't think she was mean. Plus I'm 18 now, an adult, so I think it's good that I have some friends, right?" I waited for her response, fearful she wouldn't like me speaking up for myself.

"Yes, you are right, and I trust your judgment." She looked up at me from her place on the couch and a warm smile spread over her face.

"Okay, thank you!" I exclaimed, ecstatic that she trusted me. "Come on, let's go make the cookies!" I grabbed her hand and dragged her out for the chair, pushing her gently into the kitchen.

I couldn't help but jump up and down at the excitement I was feeling. Tonight was going to be so much fun.

We mixed all the ingredients together and placed them on sheets, putting them in the oven. We chatted while we waited. About everything really. I thought maybe I should text Daniella now but I figured I would wait a little bit longer. I didn't want her to think that I had nothing to do other than text her.

Grammy went back to the living room to sit down in her chair while I stayed in the kitchen, silently watching the cookies rise slightly and then fall and spread out. Oh my jeez laweez they looked so good!

The timer dinged just a minute later and I called out, "I got it!"

Alright honey but be careful, make sure to wear the oven mitts.

"Okay I will!" I shouted back. Putting on the oven mitts I slowly and carefully opened the oven and grabbed the tray, moving it over the counter and setting it down. Then, I closed the oven up and took the gloves off.

I ran into the living room, "They smell so good Grammy. Plus they look good too! We should pick out a movie to watch. Maybe we can watch a comedy, Daniella said that that was a good idea."

She looked at me and smirked a little bit. Weird. "You talked to her about what movie to watch?"

"Ya but she didn't really have a certain recommendation, but, she did say that you couldn't go wrong with comedy, and I liked that idea." I smiled at her.

"Ok then comedy it is. You remembered to shut the oven off right dear?"

My eyes widened slightly, "oopsie, I'm sorry, I'll go do it now." I ran back into the kitchen turning the oven off and then returning to the living room. I kept my head down, ashamed that I had forgotten again. Ugh, I do this every single time. Grammy said that I wasn't even allowed to use the stove or oven when she wasn't home because I always did this.

Why does this always happen? Why can't I do anything right?

My eyes began to tear up.

"It's alright, nothing bad happened and the oven is off now right?"

"Ya but... I just wish... I mean.... Ugh why can't I just be normal." My eyes began to tear up as I looked down at my feet and played with my fingers, trying to distract myself and hold in the waterworks.

"Honey, just because your brain works a little differently than others doesnt mean you're not normal. You are a smart, kind, and beautiful young girl. Nothing is going to change that okay."

Just because Grammy said so doesn't mean that it's true. I don't want to upset her thought I just agree. "Okay." I went and sat down on the couch and grabbed the remote, scrolling through the comedy movies, looking for a good one.

"That one, please!" I say, pointing to the movie Shrek that had popped up on the screen. "Please Grammy!"

She chuckles a little, probably had to see the slight shift in mood from me, and clicks on the movie.

"Alright dear you go get those cookies and put them on a nice plate for us and I'll get the movie ready. Sound good?"

I stand up from the couch, "Yep, be right back!"

I run into the kitchen, wow I'm doing a lot of running around today, phew, and put the now cooled off cookies onto the plate.

I return to the living room and put the plate down on the small table placed in front of the couch. "One second, let me go grab tootsie, she will want to see this movie too!"

Going up the stairs I hear grammy laughing slightly from the living room. Silly Grammy! Although I'm not quite sure why she's laughing. Weird.

Entering my room I pause for a moment, forgetting what I came in here for in the first place. Tapping my chin with my finger I look around the small bedroom until I spot her. "Tootsie, oh my goodness, how could I forget that I was coming to get you! Anyways come on cause we are going to watch a funny movie, you will like it!"

Skipping back to the living room, down the stairs, I grab 2 blankets. One for me, and one for Grammy. Laying one over her I return to my own place on the couch and snuggle in with my blanket and tootsie. I grab a cookie off of the plate and begin eating it as the movie starts.

"Mmmhh these are yummy! You want one Grammy? Here! I put extra love in them secretly while we were cooking them!" Putting out my hand with the cookie in it, she smiles and grabs it, taking a bite.

"Thank you dear, they are very delicious." She says as she returns her focus back to the TV.

Feeling prideful I follow her lead and pay attention to the movie.

I like when people say I did a good job. It makes me feel good, I always try to do my best!

Throughout the movie I can feel my eyelids getting heavier and heavier until I can barely keep them open. I try my hardest to stay awake and luckily I make it through the whole movie! That's doesn't happen often, but the movie was so funny I had to try super duper hard!

Rubbing my eye with my fist, I let out a soft yawn and pulled tootsie closer to my chest. Looking at the clock I can see it's close to 8.

This is the time I usually go to bed. Don't judge me! I just get sleepy so early, blame my body not me! It also might be cause I live with my Grammy, we wake up a little early and go to bed a little early.

"I'm ganna head upstairs and go to bed, night Grammy." Standing up I give her a kiss on the cheek.

"Goodnight dear!" She kisses my forehead and stands up herself, making her way to her bedroom down here.

Walking upstairs I can feel my eyelids get heavier and heavier. Wow, I'm super sleepy tonight!

Getting changed into my pajamas after setting tootsie on the bed, I pull back my comforters and lay down in bed getting comfy.

However, I do need to do one more thing before bed.

Grabbing my phone off of my nightstand, I open up my contacts clicking on Daniella's.

I had to thank her, she was the one who said to watch a comedy movie and that was a good idea! Plus I couldn't have made the cookies if she hadn't of gotten that flour for me, you know?

Hi! 👋🏻 This is Arabella!

This is Daniella, ripht?

I hope it is.🤞🏻😁 Angwags,

I wanted to say thank

you! 🙏🏻 Me and Grawwy

watched a comedy mouie,

Shrek, and it was so funny!

😛 Plus thank you for

getting the flour for me,

not sure why they put it so

high up on the shelf.🤔 Ok

that's all, poodnight!! I

hope you have the

destest sleep ever!! 💤😴

Sorry for dothering you

or sorry if this isu't

Daniella. 😢

I finish up writing my text message and hit the send button. I wonder if it is her. I hope she responds! It took a long time to write, sometimes the words move all funny on the screen, and it makes it hard to write, but I think I did a good job!

I reach my hand over, about to out the phone down, but hearing a ding, I pull my arm back over to my bed, trying my hardest to read the text. She wrote back!

Hi sweet girl. Yes,

this is Daniella. I'm so

happy you and

your Grammy had a

nice movie night.

It was no problem.

Goodnight honey, I

hope you have a nice night

as well, have sweet dreams. ❤️

Eeeehhh, oh my goodness, oh my goodness, she replied and it was really her!! I can't believe it, I think maybe we are friends now maybe!

Putting my phone down on the nightstand after plugging it in to the charger, I lay my head down on the pillow, slowly falling into dreamland.

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Here are her pj's that she changed into!

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Hi! I hope you guys like this chapter! I'm trying to get better at writing chapters that are a little bit longer.

Let me know what you guys think! I'm open to suggestions or anything!

- lauren 💕