Sarah smiled, looking at her family. Happy and content; Mark was the best thing that happened to her and she was so glad that at least her son, seemed to have warmed up to the man of her dreams. So, warm and so sweet he was so willing to accept everything about her. Her flaws, her darkness, her demons, and her worries. He was ready to share his light, his virtues, and his happiness; all of which she gladly accepted.
Sarah was brought out of her dreamland, with her daughter yawning loudly; in the back seat.
Rolling her eyes, she slowly turned to look at her daughter with a severe look into her brown eyes. "That doesn't sound very feminine."
Sheepishly, Mannat bites her tongue as she tried to stifle another yawn. Mark had a laugh watching the mother-daughter duo. They were both extremely different personalities; while Sarah was a little more swift and correct, Mannat was extremely relaxed and lazy.
"Can't you spend the night in the new room, Manny?" Mark requested that Sarah turn around again, concentrating on the road; they were going to make their admissions.
"No, the quiet opposite actually! I sleep really well in that room! I'm not even interested in enjoying the darkness of the night anymore. It is as if the woody smell and the howling of wolves put me to sleep." Sarah shook her head in displeasure. The idea of leaving the window open, while sleeping was extremely displeasing to the mother.
"I used to do that when we were in New York!" Her daughter reasoned.
The car came was immediately pulled over, when Mark turned around this time; his eyes boring into Mannat's brown ones. Hands clutching the steering wheel, tightly. His eyes had a hypnotizing effect; she quickly noted. "It's not a good idea, to sleep with the window open, Manny!" He muttered sternly.
Mannat felt compelled to shake her head, which is what she did. She nodded, it took a moment for Mark to start the car again, but once he did, the car held an uncomfortable silence, Sarah was quiet since she had never seen Mark so serious, and Riaan felt the need to stay quiet this time. Mark used a very serious tone. It seemed as if he was sealing the conversation.
Sarah notes that the school trip is not much, but the long silence in the car seems to have disrupted the family. "Okay, guys, let's pull ourselves together." She clapped her hands, Riaan frowned as he remembered his Gymnastic teacher doing the same on various occasions.
"Let's go!" murmured Mannat coming out of the car and adjusting her white summer dress, carefully. Riaan, jumped out as Mark got out of the car and swiftly locked it, behind him. His eyes easily found Sarah's honey brown ones, who signaled towards her daughter. Mark nodded and decided to wait back, the mother and son to go in. Manet was clicking a quick picture of the surroundings, it was beautiful scenery. The mountains and woods on the back of the school; emitted the woody smell once again, she smiled.
That smell had to follow her everywhere, and she'd get used to it. "What do you smell?" Mark asked, the girl turned around in surprise. "The woods."
"Hn"
"It's extremely beautiful.." She noted how the man nodded, thinking she was talking about the scenery, "..the smell, it's very enticing." She completed as she heard the man sigh, in response.
"I don't think that's a good idea, to sleep with windows open." He said. "But.." She got into it again, Mark knew it was natural for her. Not bowing to what people say.
"It was different in New York, We didn't have such a rich, wildlife there." He informed, as she looked up towards the man, he hardly told her not to do something. Her mother, on the other hand, told her on numerous occasions what to do and what to not do. Mannat had faithfully followed Sarah's instructions, for the woman was fearful if she were agitated.
"Please?" This was also, something that the man did, he said soft words like; Please, sorry, thank you, and many more. Which Mannat was not used to, being raised in a Desi family the parental figures didn't use such words cause; number one, parents are never wrong; so whatever they say, you follow, and two it's almost rude to expect your parents to say such things.
"Okay" Mannat nodded, it was an easier way out. Mark smiled, satisfied as he pointed towards the gate, Mannat walked in and Mark followed. Walking into the stone-built school, the first thing that the Indian noticed was the two rugged boys running towards the gate; where she stood in full force.
The boy running in front laughed out loudly as he dashed across the corridor, his long legs helping him take longer strides as he did. Mannat noted how her mother walking a little further pulled Riaan, out of the 'delinquents' way. His laughter, a bit louder hearing her mother's remark. His dark hair, now falling near his eyes. 'A boy should not have such long hair, that's bad hygiene.' Her mother's bossy tone sang in her mind. The boy turned around, his shoulders squared to look back at the blonde best friend, running behind him.
"You are never gonna get it, Dylan!" He raised his hand as he showed off a silver mirror in his beige hand. Mannat noticed the Silver Mirror as it shinned perfectly and the glare hit her honey-brown orbs, instantly shutting her eyes. She was floored with a heavy body above her.
Suddenly the woodsy smell, mixed with the earthy fragrance captured her. It was the same, comforting smell the one she went to sleep with. A Puff of shot breath was exhaled, where her neck and shoulder connected. She shivered slowly and felt the boy go stiff, closing her eyes, she brought her hands to his chest and tried to push him off. Heavy. Groaning, she tried again and failed again. Slowly the boy placed his hand on her either side and easily lifted himself, but not completely off the little Indian, he had crushed. His Hazel eyes met her honey brown ones, and Mannat could breathe again, whether it was because of him pulling the weight off or the only time Mannat had been this close to a boy? she didn't know, but the girl was comfortable.
Maybe it was the smell of the fragrance that she was growing comfortable with, but she looked at him, jaw set tight, eyes reading her as she read him, His thick curled hair fell on her forehead. "Sorry." He whispered slowly. As he pulled himself up.
"Griffin? You literally fell for her mate!" Dylan sniggered in the background, as the boy with unruly black hair bent down offering the girl, his ring-covered hands.