Part Twenty Four

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Brax and Sledge came barrelling through the kitchen, barking their boof head's off.
I frowned after the dogs.
What the hell?
It was Thursday evening and Keegan had gone to work.
I wasn't sure where Izac and Judd were and Brady and Codie were having dinner and a sleepover with their Mum.
I was pretty sure that Kylie was here somewhere, but that meant that it was Kylie and I all alone and it appeared that Brax and Sledge had a problem with something that was outside.
The front door rattled with the knock's that somebody put onto it.
Brax and Sledge stood at the door and barked some more.
My heart was in my throat.
What the hell am I supposed to do?
Suddenly my phone began to vibrate on the kitchen bench.
I looked quickly to the lit up screen.
Amara's name and picture were plastered on my screen.
I grabbed my phone and quickly slipped the answer bar across, placing the phone against my ear.
"Hello?"
I whispered, shooting a nervous glance towards the front door.
"Hey!"
My best friend's voice seemed to echo.
What the?
I frowned towards the front door.
"Are you gonna let me in?"
Laughter was audible in Amara's tone.
"You're at my house?"
I asked, surprised.
"Yes!"
"Hold on."
Relief flooded my veins, like cool water on a hot summer day.
I hung up the call and sipped my phone back onto the bench, then headed to the door.
"Brax, Sledge, get back."
I ordered the dogs.
With a final woof each, they scampered backward a couple of steps.
I pulled the wooden door open and before I could utter a word, the dogs bounded out onto the deck, because Amara was already holding the screen door open.
My heart was in my throat.
Brax and Sledge are far from aggressive dogs.
But they'd been barking over Amara's arrival.
Thankfully, the boof head American Staffordshire Terrier's turned into wriggle worms as they snorted their way around Amara's legs and her bag that was sitting on the floor, storing the scents to their brains for a later date.
Amara stood frozen on her spot, eyeing the dogs with wide eyes.
I wasn't surprised that she was nervous.
Her Mum own's prize winning Chichewa's.
Chichewa's are practically toothpick's compared to Brax and Sledge.
"Brax, Sledge get here!"
I commanded and clicked my fingers at my side.
Dutifully, Sledge turned around and jogged back into the house.
Brax followed after, not quite as willing.
"Go to bed."
I ordered the dogs.
I could hear them jogging away, so I turned back to Amara, stunned that she was actually here.
Under the glow of the doorstep light, she looked amazing.
Her dark hair was long, luscious and hanging around her face, the majority of it over her back.
Her eyes were popping with always craftily applied makeup that was as always, perfect and her white smile was glowing.
A pair of dangling silver ear rings hung from her ears and she was wearing a white, cleavage bearing spaghetti strap tank top that showed off her tanned midriff, her moon shaped belly button ring on full display thanks to the cut of the top.
Her shorts were a light coloured, distressed denim and she wore a chunky white and silver belt through the belt loops.
On her feet was a strappy pair of sandals and I could see that her toenails were painted bright blue.
"Hello!"
I exclaimed.
It hadn't occurred to me until now, just how much I had been missing my bestie.
"Hi!"
Amara chirped, grinning.
"C'mon in!"
I ushered her, stepping back to give her room.
"Jeez girl you look amazing! What exactly have you got planned tonight?"
"Absolutely nothing other than a good old chat with my bestie. Unless I'll be cramping her style."
Amara replied as she dragged her suitcase style bag into the house.
"A besties night sounds perfect."
I told her.
She raised a questioning eyebrow.
"You've not got plans with Zander?"
I shook my head.
"School night, remember?"
Amara grinned.
"Not for me!"
"Hey yeah! Why'd you not even let me know you were coming down?!"
I pushed at her shoulder.
She bit into her lower lip, looking sheepish.
"Nobody knows."
Nobody huh?
I raised a questioning eyebrow at her.
"And by 'nobody' I'm assuming you mean Heath?"
A blush arose on Amara's cheeks.
Oh my god!
She's so cute!
"He made the effort last time, to come see me."
Amara murmured, looking away across the kitchen.
"I feel like it's my turn."
"Your turn to what?"
I asked, leaning back against the nearby bench.
"Make the effort."
She explained, looking awkward.
"But it's scary."
"Why?"
I questioned, cocking my head to the side.
Amara pressed her lips together and worked them, her classic 'anxious' expression as her eyes widened.
"Because I hate putting myself out there."
She whispered.
"I know."
I assured her.
I hadn't known her since we were four years old to not know this about her.
She put's effort into her appearance because she believed it would make her more accepted among our egotistical society.
But I know that my best friend is beautiful beyond the make up and the trendy clothes.
But she dresses up and everybody's heads turned to look.
She was a supermodel worthy girl.
"So Heath doesn't know you've come to town?"
I asked.
Amara shook her head.
"Well."
I looked over my shoulder towards the archway, then turned back to Amara.
"He moved out."
Amara nodded.
"I know. That was kinda the only reason I had the guts to rock up and knock on your door without warning you that I was coming."
What the heck?
"I'm..: really confused..."
I admitted.
"What's going on?"
The last I knew, Amara was falling.
Hard.
Amara shook her head.
"Can we not make this about boys? Can't we just be Bailey and Amara tonight?"
I wanted to do that.
I felt like I needed my best friend in my life.
But I was feeling anxious about her cryptic arrival and strange approach to any mention of my brother, who she has told me more than once that she really likes.
"Okay. We'll get back to the boy talk."
I agreed.
"Let's make a cuppa and go get comfy."
Amara smiled.
"Deal."

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