It was 9:00 pm in West Midlands, Tristan got out of his car and immediately saw someone standing in front of him.
"Oh, My God....."
His startled eyes met hers, rubbed his eyes, and he could see clearly now who it was, a skinny tall girl with brown curly hair. Smiling at him excitedly.
"You scared me...what are you?...." he said and sighed in relief. "What are you doing here this late Lily?" He asked.
The young man wasn't so surprised to see her at this late hour. She was always fond of him, even though James isn't too pleased about it. She didn't seem to care much and moreover all she wanted was Tristan and she'd do anything to stay by his side.
Lily smiled widely and moved closer to Tristan, he took a step back till his back was against his doors.
"Why is she coming close?" He wondered.
Lily grabbed his face and moved even closer and the young man heaved a sigh of relief when he found his way out of her captivity.
"What are you doing?..." he said.
"Did you drink? Why did you drink? Have you been thinking? Is it because of what James said to you earlier?" Lily asked worriedly.
Tristan wondered how she knew about what happened... but he ignored her and simply moved backwards.
"You don't need to come closer to ask me all these questions Lily, I am fine so please...it's been a long day and I am going inside, so goodnight" he replied and turned to leave.
"I got you a gift," Lily said out loud.
Tristan stopped walking and let out a soft sigh, he turned to her "a gift?" He asked and watched Lily run towards a big tree, returning with a gift bag.
The young man looked at her surprisingly, "you...you kept that besides a...a tree?" He asked.
She moved closer, "here...I got you this, happy birthday....and make sure to open it, only when you are inside!!! Okay?" The young lady said.
It was Tristan's first gift, he smiled and collected it from her.
"Thank you, Lily...this means a lot to me" he replied and then looked around. "You should get back inside now...it's late, goodnight" he added and walked in.
Lily shrieked in excitement and danced around, "yeah! Yessssss!!! Did you all see his face? He blushed! Oh my God! I made Tristan blush! Oh my goodness...gifting him is such a great idea... I am so lucky," she said and wouldn't stop dancing around.
She suddenly noticed Tristan's room light getting turned on.
"Let me leave before he checks what's in the bag...I am so nervous! Oh, Jesus. How can I sleep? Ooh God!" she whispered to herself and hurried away.
The young man lay on his bed and shut his eyes, he had seen his stepmother in the living room...taking down the birthday banner that was put up for him.
"I hate it here" he said in a whisper and got up.
Tristan walked out of his room and quietly entered his little sister's room. "She should be asleep by now" he thought.
He saw her on the bed fast asleep with no cover on, Tristan sighed in disappointment. "I am certain Mrs here to stay didn't come to check on her," he thought and walked closer to his sister.
Covering her up with the bed cover, he stared at her little face for a while and all he could think about is his mom. It would have been so nice if she was alive to take care of Isabella and read her bedtime stories.
Even though Isabella wouldn't stop asking about her mom, Tristan kept telling her mom was in a far place and she wouldn't be coming home anytime soon.
"I hate that I am lying to you...I am sorry" he muttered and held her hand gently. "I will never go far away...I will stay and protect you always, I will always stick around...I promise" he added and leaned closer to give her a forehead kiss.
Tristan got in his room and surprisingly met his dad standing next to his bed.
Without saying a word, he walked into his closet to change his clothes.
After a while, he got out to see his dad still standing in the same exact spot he had seen him.
"I need my privacy please and I need to get some shut eye, so..." Tristan finally said.
"Do you know...do you know why your Mom chose the name TRISTAN for you?" His dad asked, not waiting for his son to reply he continued "I am sure you don't".
"Can you please stop? I am not in the mood for that right now so please get out", Tristan replied sharply.
"BOLD...your name means bold!...she was such a wise and generous woman", Mr. Charlie added as he picked up his late wife portrait on Tristan's table.
"I know you are probably thinking I don't think about her or still love her...But that's not true," he said and turned to Tristan, who seemed uninterested.
He continued, "I will forever love her, and nothing in the world will stop that...But there are some things that can't be changed son, we have to deal with it...I say this because I know you don't like your stepmom"
Tristan rolled his eyes and sat on his bed, "get out dad" he insisted.
"That woman loves you...she wants the best for you," His dad said and let out a soft sigh. "Anyways...we both got you a gift so wait till tomorrow morning, it's late now...get some rest" he added.
Tristan scoffed as he watched his dad walk out of his room.
"I don't want any gift from you. I want nothing from a man who lied to my mom and had an extramarital affair with a stranger that resulted in marriage the instant my mother passed away...As if that wasn't bad enough, you went ahead and brought her to our home, my mother's matrimonial home!!!", He said while fighting back suppressed emotions. "I am so disappointed in you because Mom didn't deserve this" he continued.
Mr. Charlie turned to his son and replied, "you don't know anything about me, Tristan! I love your mom and respected her...don't you dare make me feel guilty for all this. It's my life!!!"
Tristan stood up sharply, "I watched Mom cry most nights because of you!!! She had the notion you were doing something wrong and you wouldn't admit it...you kept the truth from her till she died!!!!", Tristan cried out.
"You are so wicked, dad! I will never forgive you" he added.
Mr. Charlie looked down sadly, knowing his son was right. "I am sorry if you hate me and won't forgive me but...I am your dad and nothing will change the fact that you are my first son, my heir... So you better get a hold of yourself because very soon you will be in charge of so many important things, start acting responsibly...you are no longer a child".
Tristan heard his door shut as his dad walked out.
He stared at himself for a little while, before he smashed the mirror hard with his fist, leaving several cuts on his fist.
•••••••••••••••••••••••
She came out of the dark and watched Mr. Charlie enter his room. "Tristan is your heir? Huh!!!", she whispered and scoffed.
"Let's see to that"