"Like I'm seriously he's back, mom. Mr. Gibson is back from death." said Belle to her mother. her mother preparing for dinner. her mother back body on her.
She stood in front of the stove as she stir the pot and tasted it. "Are you listening?." she asked again.
Her mother drop the spoon beside the pot. she turn to Belle. "Of course I hear you. well, that's mean Gibson not the guy who stalking you."
"What do you mean?." asked Belle.
Her mother point at the small table at the corner of the living room beside the fireplace. Belle rose up from the counter table. she spot the table and on top of it is a medium size boxes, tied it with pink ribbon. curiosity. she approached the box without touched. she shout at her mother from the living room.
"What are these?."
No respone from the mother. she reach the box. there's a card attached on it and it said 'I Miss You'. she blinked, eyebrows furrowed. an minute she walk back inside the kitchen with the box in her hand.
"Didn't you hear me?" her mother turn to her. "This box. what is all about."
"Maybe it's from Jake. it said 'I Miss You' so I suspected it's from him not Gibson."
Belle staring at her mother. she need an answer. she positive Jake wasn't giving her anything if he did, he text her and she know it. this box wasn't from Jake. it's not. it wasn't from him.
"100% sure it wasn't from Jake, mom."
"How you know it wasn't from him."
"Of course I will know. and of course I know this box wasn't from him. with the ribbon? are you nuts?." her mother sigh out loud. "Jake won't do that."
"Urgh. honey. we made a mistakes about your teacher. just think for a while- if really Gibson did sending all kind this stuff to you, why he bother continually teaching you guys in school." Belle stop. her mother got a point on this. "He would become possessive teacher and he will not be there. by his returning that wasn't him."
"So you guess- there's another stupid guys sending all this stuff, is that you prefer."
Her mother nod. "We should apologise to him."
"Why bother, MOM! he doesn't know anything. beside he didn't ever mention about the cops finding him."
"Guess I should invite him for dinner."
"MOM!!"
Later night. Alpaca's restaurant. the restaurant seems relaxing. only few customers are left. Belle take her sit.
So did Tiana. "I can't believe my own mother said that to me, she prefer someone else did."
"Maybe she right."
Belle eyeing her.
"Wait. I don't mean to backing up your mother words but- perhaps she were right. if I were that Gibson guy I won't returning but I will continually to scared a shit out of you by sending those freak gift. "
Silent, Tiana spokes back. "You remind me of the movie I watch. Joel Edgerton, the gift. have you watch that movie? that's super cool story line. you know the bad guy sometimes got their own karma what they did in past life. they deserved it. karma is real bitch."
"My stories I wasn't being bullies. nor I did. I just received the strange gift that's all. of course I watch that movie and I bet that person got it own problem. mentally health. whatever Tiana. and now my mother try to invite him in house because of what we did. we report him."
Tiana bit her bottom lips. sometime she nod her head for no reason. drink her soda. and that moment, a couple of customer walking in. Tiana slammed her fist on the table gently. she;s up from her sit.
"There's no time to talk. we got customer."
A days later. Jackson st High school. locker hallway. Belle bang her head on the locker door. she doesn't want to invite Gibson at her house not even the porch or side of the road. nor around her house. Decker's house is forbid only for Gibson. he forbid to comes, her mother forced her to do so. inviting him. she refused but her mother want it to.
"Where's it at, Monistat?." Emma bang the locker. Belle jumped but she still close her eyes. "What's wrong with you?." she asked.
Belle turned her head to Emma. her eyes widen. she about to scream but she can't letting it out. she want to scream, she really is.
"I've done something very very very horrible things that I couldn't not do anything to turning back."
"What?."
"I lodge a report against him and now I have to invite him to our house."
"Who?."
"Gibson."
"So?."
Belle sigh out loud. why Emma doesn't understand the problem she had. it's heavy to carried on her shoulder, all by her alone and now her mother want to invite Gibson?
"Bitch, I know what you thinking. this is all precaution that what you did to protect yourself. tell you what-" the girl stare at each other. "You and me are going out tonight."
Furrowed. Belle spokes. "But tonight- Gibson."
"I know. that why you and me- tonight. forget all this shit. you tell him to come tonight and the end you wasn't there while you with me."
silent, Emma continue. "About your mother well- I handle it everything. your mother trusted me than you do." she wink.
Emma checks herself out in locker mirror. "Tonight? why?" asked Belle.
"This what I called window opportunity. I'm saving your ass for not having dinner together with Gibson. or you rather want it."
chuckle. "They're this indie band from the city. I saw their Facebook, Instagram and the singer is extra salty. and there will be lots of other salty morsels there for you. come on Belle, it's the weekend!"
Belle furrowed again. "It's Thursday and we just sixteen."
"Thursday counts as the weekend in college. just pretend it that we are. and we're going to be in college a years from now."
She see Belle wanted to bang her head again. "Please, please you're a social disease?"
"Can I invite Jake?." Emma shake her head no. "I guess is girl night." smile Belle.
At noon. after lunch. Belle urged herself walking slowly toward teacher office. as she enter, there's no one teacher to be seen except Gibson. he's alone and he writing something on his book, journal- whatever. slow mo. she walk towards his desk. he notice her as he look up from his desk.
"Miss Decker." he smile. "Can I help you?." Gibson said as he stop writing then pushed the book aside. his eyes never left on her. "What is it?"
Her lips are stuttering as she trying to said a simple word her mother and Emma teach her to do. said that he's been invited to dinner in Decker's house. then walk out. done. but no.
Soon she saw his face she cannot said anything. her legs are froze. his face made both her knee weak, what is wrong with her. she about to lied something and this is for her own good. she will not see Gibson and his new weds wife front of her face. tonight.
"Mr. Gibs- son. my- my mother asked you to come for dinner tonight in our house."
There, she said it. without waiting him to answer, she turn her feet but stop when she hear he push his chair behind it. she can feel Gibson are standing behind her closely. she can feel his breath at the back of her neck.
She turn to face him. and her thought was right. Gibson standing behind her. her face almost leaned on his broad chest. his lips at the same level of her forehead. she suddenly losing her oxygen. she forgot how to breath. the two pairs eyes meet each. her face blushes.
He stare deeper in her eyes. "That would be great, Miss Decker. I'll see you at 9."
"Cool. don't forget your wife."
His smile widen. nods his head. he watch Belle running toward the door. he could reach her hand, he could held her in his arm but all this lies- he had to take a part.
Tonight. he will see her Princess again.