“Brenna?“ Emily called making me snap out of my thoughts as I stare straight to her ocean blue eyes. Watching me with a tilted gaze, confused.
“Sorry, I-um just about to head home” I continued pushing a smile on my lips ignoring the weird pull of jealousy, jealousy towards my best friend closed inside the room with the man I hate. With the man I was slowly growing to feel emotions that I shouldn’t have.
“And it’s pretty late.” I put of the basic reason for running away. It was true. I was late and it was over the time my parents allowed me to stay out. So yeah I should probably get going soon. I reminded.
“You can stay a little more, Brenna. I can talk to your mother” she suggested handing me the tray before sliding her hands inside the pocket of the apron she had tied around her waist but before she could I held her hand stopping her to call my mother, I was glad enough for such love she showed me every time I am over her house. She was like my second mother, someone who took care of me. And the thought of her support and adoration made me feel bad.
Hectic about how I am so terrible to have such emotion towards her daughter, my best friend.
Bad in the sense I was just. Just what? Jealous?
“Emily there is no need to call mom.” I continued “Thank you for—“
“Oh you don’t have to thank me honey. Bring this tray inside for you and Nessy” she said pulling her lips into a small toothy smile.
“Jayden is here, as well” and before I could think what I was saying my mouth had already parted with words I shouldn’t have said because I knew.
Aware of the boy sneaking inside the house, to her daughter’s room. And it was me who was to blame.
I called him, needed his help to stop the girl from bawling her eyes off like a small child. And the thought of that he was the only one who came into my mind was far more worse, I couldn’t even make my friend stop crying.
How terrible of a friend I am. I sighed. I was ready to tell her the truth, that Jadyn was here because I called but before I could her sweet laugh made me halt.
“Oh Jadyn.” She said with a beautiful chuckle. And I stared at her with a confused gaze. Was it funny?
Emily might have seen the confused look on my face and she patted my head before speaking again, “Yeah I met him down in the kitchen. He brought some oranges for Nessy, she--“
“Loves it “ I finished for her while she pulled a smile while I try to ignore the weird thought of them together. Not liking that I was being selfish. And for what, to take Jadyn down or that it was making me uncomfortable that everyone, everyone is comfortable around him. But me.
After what seemed like an hour i was exhausted, mentally. Emily was successful to make me stay for the dinner and I accepted it after many excuses which seemed of no use. Bringing the empty glasses down the kitchen after she leaves me with the two full glasses of orange drinks which was completely empty by now. Thanks to Ness she likes orange drinks, specifically anything which has oranges or is made of oranges. And while she drinks the two glasses I could find my gaze moving towards the only boy whose eyes were already on me, taking me by surprise.
Great. Just great you fucking idiot. I mentally slapped myself before cursing.
“Are you feeling uncomfortable?” Emily said giving me a side look before she continued to cook for the dinner while I watch her from a pretty distant, sitting on a comfy couch which was faced towards the kitchen and I forgot that she had a good sense of her surroundings. Especially when people around her are distressed, tensed or awkward. But I had none of them. I was angry, embarrassed and uptight in my spot that even the man beside her was eyeing me with a concerned gaze. Mr Nickole. A very handsome man in his forties, dark green eyes reminding of the girl, up in her room, and married to the women beside him who was pouring her all love in cooking for us. Her husband.
“No. I am good Emily. Energetic” Sure, I was the way the way I stiffened when both of their gaze turn towards me pinning me with a look which said the opposite of my reply. My palm turn sweaty and I was finding that the temperature of the room was suddenly growing hot.
God I want to go home. I mentally cried because lord knows the pressure of having all eyes on you and you have nothing in your mind to distract them. Oh wow I never knew I grew so my nails so long. Suddenly I was too emerged in my fingers watching how my nails were very much just a inch longer from the tip, very long.
Yeah I knew I was being over dramatic but I didn’t, I never liked the idea of sharing a room with this two adults. Especially when I have nothing in my mind when I am distressed. And lord their small concerned gazes. Stop staring at me like that you grown up adults. I wanted to say out loud.
“So Brenna, how’s your life?” Hectic. Emily said trying her best to lessen the tension in the room. For me.
“Um, little hard but fine” I said not wanting to think of the times when I am not outside the house.
“You would learn” probably.
I didn’t say anything and when the silence of my presence said I was not so much interest in the talk about life, that everything will be fine, it’s a part of growing up. I smiled when Emily turned over, acknowledging her words that I agree with her, that it’s how our life works. We stumble, we fall, and then we stand, continuing the shits we do every day. Dwell? Stay?
“Thank you” Emily uttered out of nowhere, taking me off-guard.
“You’ve been taking care of Neressa. I know you must be feeling weird to hear this now but thank you for being with her, for being a good friend. You’re really a sweetheart Ben” She said, her back facing me before she give a side glance and I saw the soft curve of her smile. Something in me broke, feeling the hurt. How could i? How dare i?
“Neressa always talks about you and how you always stood by her side” she continued making me feel more guilt. Guilt of getting jealous of the only friend I had grew to love and adore. The friend who was there knowing how messed up I am. And the only friend I grew up close to, someone who was there for me in my misery. Someone I called family.
By the time dinner was ready Ness and Jadyn were down and I saw the wide grin on Neressa’s face. Her eyes were still puffy out of all the cries and bawling she did but that was all covered by her tender laugh. She had an apology for me, for making me wait which I said was fine. It was okay and she needed her alone time. Even though Jadyn was with her. Her loud and happy laugh. If I say that I someway felt this family perfect. The members who stood by their sides in every way. The way they all took care of each other and to maintain the health and wellbeing of each other. I won’t say I wasn’t jealousy but in a good way. Longing. I felt longing for this. The type of care they all showered to each other. Laughing and giggling. I watched them with smile.
I was angry and but I didn’t know why? Was it because I couldn’t make her smile the way Jadyn can or was it that they both were alone in her room. While how much I try to ignore this stupid thought Jadyn didn’t waste any chance to pull up a fight against me. He would either throw some unnecessary comments regarding how stupid I was to not realise the teacher was near while I try to help a student at the exam hall. His sarcastic reply towards my every conversation with others made me want to either throw a punch on his pretty perfect face or choke him to death. While the while time everyone kept laughing and making jokes, Jadyn and I were busy glaring at each other with sneaky comments. I was fun. I had fun. Enjoyed to be honest.
I couldn’t be much comfortable than this.
“Ben you can stay over the night. I can talk to Aunty” Ness suggested holding my arms while she cling onto me like a child while she tried to sweet talk her mother regarding the suggestion to help her make me stay.
“ Ness. I am sorry but I can’t stay any longer” I said with trying to pull my hands off her hold. “You know I can’t stay”
“But I can talk—“
“Ness” She give a sad pout her gaze hurtful. She seemed to be like a child instead of a freaking nineteen year old and soon to be twenty this march.
Finally after making her understand I decided to say good night before leaving. Putting my shoes on before dragging my feet out of the house, I heard Emily call out my name.
“Wait” she said continuing with a worried look, “How will you go home? Let Jadyn walk you home.”
“What?” I buttered out surprised hearing her. My gaze turning towards the boy who had the same expression as me. At least he didn’t freaked unlike me.
Before turning towards Emily I could feel his gaze shift towards me with an unidentified look. His face with zero emotion. And for a moment I thought he was just waiting for me to deny first and he could join me with the idea. And even if I would accept his not so polite gesture to walk me home, I am sure he would try to murder me on the way and I didn’t want to die so young. So nope not gonna happen.
“Emily it’s fine. I can walk home by myself” I said trying to pull a brave front to let her know that it was. Really fine.
“Aunt she is a grown up girl. She can go by herself and hell she not even need a bodyguard can’t you look her gorilla muscles”
My lip twitch at his comment. Now I sure want him come out with me even for a little minute.
“Jadyn” Emily bossed with a glare towards him while he rolled his eyes. This freak. I knew Emily had the power to make anyone listen to her. And the thought of her bossy figure already made shudder with fear. She looks scary when she gets irritated and the arguments between Jadyn and me wasn’t helping much. And by the time I walk out of the house Jadyn was already following me with an irritated groan.
Serve you best. I grinned watching his slow pace behind me before I turn around to give a little comment at his misery but stopped when I felt his eyes staring at me with a dark look. The look I had never seen before. What? Is he going to murder me?
“Brenna Martin” he stated before stepping close to me while I look behind him. The doors were closed by now and no one near us. No one to watch over. And his laugh caught my attention finding him close to my face. So close that I felt his hot heavy breath on my skin. Watching me. Eyeing every inch of my face before it drop on my lips which were pressed tight against each other strangling any source of breathing.
The look of dismay evident in my face when he inched close before leaning down to my ears whispering in his heavenly deep voice “Stay away from me.”
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