Reaching the end of the day I breathe a sigh of relief as the last bell rings. I gather my things and speed on right out of the room without a second glance. I head for the office to turn in the signed schedule only to find the lady from before pouting behind her desk. She looks like she wants to cry as she stares at her computer.
Clearing my throat I get her attention as I slip the paper towards her. I quickly said goodbye and start to head out when she stops me.
"Here's a copy, so you won't come asking for one when you forget your classes," she coldly says.
Turning, I take it and smile at her before dashing out. I swear she's something else.
Heading to the parking lot I quickly but subtly run to Mark's car. Dumping my bag on the passenger seat I get in and close the door. Sitting there I give myself a second to breathe before putting the key in the ignition.
I turn the radio on and put the volume up, I needed to drown the voices out as they continue to swarm around me like a pesky fly.
A knock comes from my window as I slowly turn to see who it might be.
A beautiful smirk and glowing grey eyes greet me. I smile at him as I lower the window.
"Leaving already? Didn't even get to say goodbye," he teases.
A small laugh escapes me as I turn to look him right in the eyes, "goodbye," I sweetly say, as I start to close the window.
He laughs as he leans away to allow me to back out from the spot. He gives me a wave as I drive off. Something about him unsettled me but in a good way. I didn't mind talking to him or having him close by. Which was strange. I would always want to run away when someone got near me.
I don't know if you know this about me, but I'm shy. Really shy. I had once told Mark but he only laughed at me saying I was anything but. That if there's any one word that could describe me it was...rude. Which earned him a punch.
"I take it back, mean was the word," he said rubbing his arm. I hadn't hit him hard but he likes to exaggerate things.
Instead of heading to the Burke's I turn towards the Holt's mansion. I'm sure Ash would want to see me in the clothes she picked for me.
Just as I enter through the door, without knocking. I got a lot of talks when it came to knocking. When I would knock Maggie would get offended and say that their home was just as mine as it was theirs so there was no need for that. Even with the Burke's the first few days I would lock myself out or even when I knew the door was unlocked I'd knock. John even left in the middle of dinner to get me a copy telling me that there was no need to knock, especially when it was unlocked.
Now whenever I think of knocking all their talks come rushing to my mind and I just feel stressed. So I don't bother. I do have a copy of the Holt's home but I don't use it. Ever.
It's not like they lock it, which helps, but it's just so weird to do it no matter how much they tell me it really isn't.
"I'm not saying it's a bad thing, I just meant it kind of seems stressful. Don't you think? Event planning is too much work, a lot of thinking, planning, and stressing. I heard baking is just the opposite. Rather very stress-free. Helps you relax," I hear Mark's booming voice.
"I'm not baking for you Mark. Save it." Maggie states.
"Why not? You haven't even tried it, you can't knock it until you've tried it," Mark whines.
"You're more than capable of doing it yourself, if you'll excuse me I have pressing matters," Maggie's heels clack as she walks away.
She gives me a bright smiles as she passes me by on her way up the stairs. She looked amazing with her black pencil skirt and red silk shirt.
I follow the grumbles to the kitchen where I find Mark standing in front of the island which is full of all baking essentials.
"You told me to never cook again, remember?!" He shouts. "You burned the house down, Mark. You're never allowed to cook again, Mark. Mark food is disgusting."
Mark was mimicking them as he set to put all his baking materials away. I snort a laugh as he continued to whine and bicker all by himself.
"It was worth it," he tells me as he shakes his head.
"What was?" I ask.
"Trying to make lasagna," he smirks.
"How did you burn your house down making that?" I asked astonished.
"I got inpatient and shoved it in the microwave, with foil and all," he shamelessly shrugged.
I laugh as he looks gloomy putting everything away.
"Why would you do that?" I say between laughs.
"I figured if that stupid fat cat was able to, so would I. Clearly it was all lies!" He grumbled. "Can you-"
"Nope!" I say interrupting him. "I am not baking for you. Go to the bakery."
"They don't have any more cheesecakes." He informs with his puppy eyed face.
My weakness.
"I can make you some macaroni, I know it's not cheesecake," before I could say anything else Mark picks me up in a bear hug. Spinning us around he says a million thank you's before setting me down. He kisses my cheek before stepping away.
"I need to head to the Burke's," I inform him as he finishes his third bowl. I offer him mine after he is done. I only managed to eat half, he looked concerned but his hunger won out. He ended up devouring every last bit.
"Want me to go with you?" He offers.
"No, I'm just going to do homework and sleep," as I say that a yawn escapes me.
"No, Bass! I am not joining your band," Ash's irritated voice can be heard.
"Come on babe, we can be the next big thing. My music and your style we'd be big," Bass pleads.
They walk into the kitchen, Ash stops as she spots me. "Beautiful," she gushes. She hugs me but then furrows her eyebrows as she runs her hands through my hair. A bright idea comes to her as she smiles wickedly at me.
I would gulp if it were anyone else but I just sigh and hunch down on the bar stool waiting for Ash to tell me her bright idea.
"I have this curling iron that will give you the best beach hair." She beamed.
"I am not waking up earlier just to curl my hair," I counter.
"Boo, you're no fun," she pouts.
"You can just sneak into her room while she's sleeping and do it for her," Bass jokes. Ash smiles as if that were even an option.
"No, don't make me take back letting you dress me," I state giving her my best intimidating face. "You," I say to Bass, "stop giving her ideas. I'm leaving before anyone else gets another bright idea."
I say my goodbyes, as Mark walks me out.
"Want me to drive you?" He asks opening the door for me. As we reach the car I turn to look at him but I don't say anything.
I was thinking of asking for a less inconspicuous car but I thought it might sound ungrateful.
"No, thank you. I'll see you later, okay?" I say as I let him open that door as well. He was such a gentleman sometimes.
Getting to the Burke's I walk in to find Angie looking nervous. When she sees me she looks like she's happy but also worried. Intrigued as to why she would be worried I walk deeper inside until I reach the family room. On the coffee table they have all kinds of board games. Some that I hadn't even heard of.
"Uh, are you having a game night?" I ask.
John walks in from the kitchen holding more boxes. He turns to me and asks, "we were wondering if you wanted to have a fun night with us, with games and all that, do you like popcorn?"
The boxes on his arms were different popcorn flavors and brands. He offers them to me so I can choose the ones I liked. I looked dumbfounded to say the least.
I mean I've had game nights before, the Holt's enjoyed charades but Mark ruined it with his ability to read minds. So we opt for Monopoly, I shudder at the memory.
To say the least we rarely had them ever since. No, I think we haven't had one since.
"I'd love to," I smile as I chose the ones with extra butter. "Can I invite Mark?"
"Yes, that'd make it more fair for the pairing ones," Angie beamed. Her nerves and worried look vanished as she prepared. I excused myself to take a shower and start on my work.
Mark, we're having game night, I tell him.
Okay, what does that have to do with me? He asks confused.
It means you're getting your butt over here and having to endure it with me. I respond as a matter of fact.
Make sure you come in a car, I doubt they will keep accepting you're getting dropped off by Maggie and that she rather not bother them. I quickly add.
Got it, Boss.
Can you bring your mustang I think I'd rather drive that to school. If you don't mind. I quickly say before I could back out.
Your wish is my command.
I managed to finish the homework I had gotten, and to finally shower. I found the laundry room that the Burke's had. Apparently there was a basement all along. I was surprised to see the door by the stairs wasn't a closet as I had suspected.
Angie must have been too excited to show me the closet that she completely forgot about the whole room underground.
She insisted on doing it for me but I told her that I didn't mind. She showed me how to work them as I washed the clothes I wet earlier along with some of their clothes. She wouldn't let me do more.
At dinner things got quiet as they always did. Without Mark small talk didn't come as easily. I usually just think of anything to occupy my mind but today I found myself talking.
"Did you know they had a pool there? I really thought physical education was just running around or even playing sports. I didn't know swimming was a thing. Do you know a Mr Shwerb?" I blabbed.
John laughed but soon started coughing as something got stuck on his throat. Angie absently minded patted him on the back.
"A Mr Shwerb," she pondered. "Sounds familiar."
"You mean Filbert," John rasps.
"Oh, right. Filbert is a friend from high school." Angie says. "We were best friends."
"Why you ask?" John strains to talk, he gulps all his water as Angie refills his cup.
"Just wondering. When I introduced myself he just said 'oh, you're the one that John and Angie took on,' I don't know why but that's just been on my mind." I admit.
"I'm sure he meant nothing by it, I do wonder who told him. I mean it just takes someone to know for everyone else to know as well." Angie didn't seemed convinced about the first part.
"Don't pay any mind to that man, some people can be judgmental," John says bitterly.
I wonder what that is all about but I don't press. It's none of my business. I have to admit though I am interested in knowing what's the story there but I can't risk getting attached. I was leaving and not looking back once I graduated and turned 18.
I flinched thinking of just leaving and never seeing them again but it was something I had to do. I can sense I was getting attached and that is the worst thing I could do.