Chapter 4 - Chapter 4

Kiara's POV

"Aww, that's so sweet. Kenzie... Kiara... Meet Angelo," Dad's voice boomed from the doorway. Kenzie and I glanced at each other before walking out of the kitchen, into the living room. There stood Dad and the last person I had expected to see, Angelo.

What was he doing here? The living room was so silent that only Dad's voice could be heard as he did the introductions. Violet's lips were pursed in a thin line, Lian held a blank look on his face, while Kenzie looked like he would go over and punch Angelo right on his face.

"Why is he here?" Kenzie asked Dad.

"Remember I promised to get an English tutor for your sister? Well, this young man here is a very great English student." Dad smiled at Angelo.

What? Angelo? A great English student? What other lie did he tell to Dad? 

"Let me understand you. He told you that he's great in English... And you believed him! Without proof?" Kenzie asked; I knew he was trying hard to keep his cool because of the respect he had for Dad.

"He was admitted to the hospital. Your Mother took care of him and the least we could do is give him a job. You think I don't know what you did to him?" Dad raised his voice. 

I gasped. Not really because Dad claimed to know Angelo was beaten up by Kenzie but because I was also involved. How much did Dad know?

"You don't know anything," Kenzie snapped, I looked down at his hands. His fists were clenched so tightly that his veins were almost popping.

"You don't talk when I'm talking," Dad's voice dropped so low that I shivered.

"You beat him up? Is that what your mother and I have been teaching you?" Dad asked Kenzie. At this moment, I felt guilt eat me up. Kenzie had done this for me. 

"No," Kenzie replied Dad, with his gaze on the floor.

"I don't want any misunderstanding between you both. He will be tutoring your sister, end of discussion." Dad gave Angelo a pat on his back, before turning and leaving the house, probably to fetch Mum from the hospital.

"Whatever you're doing... You had better stop before it gets too late," Kenzie said, and without looking at Angelo, he left the living room.

"Ken... Wait!" Lian went after him.

It was just me, Violet and Angelo left in the room. What now? If Violet left the room now I'd be left with Angelo. And I wasn't ready to face him now. At least not now, 

My eyes met with Violets, and it seemed she understood my silent plea. "Uh... Hi, you must be Angelo." She smiled nervously, I also managed a smile. Glad that I wasn't the only girl who felt weird around Angelo. 

"Yeah, I am Angelo. And you're Violet, Kenzie's pretend girlfriend," Angelo smiled at her, more like a smirk. He sure knew how to get on people's nerves.

Violet frowned, "Make yourself comfortable. I and Kiara will get something for you to eat, that's if you're hungry," Violet said, as she folded her arms across her chest.

Angelo's eyes left her; this time, they were on me, and he smirked. "Of course, I am more than hungry..." 

"You're disgusting," Violet muttered, I could tell from her face that she was annoyed. "Come on, let's get out of here." She walked over to me, holding my hand and dragging me upstairs to my room with her.

"Is that how he is?" She scoffed, her chest heaving as she breathed.

"You mean Angelo? He... can be like that sometimes." I shrugged. But... You know I can't say anything wrong about the guy I have a crush on right? 

"Do you like... Have a crush on this guy?" Violet stared at me, I guessed from the look on my face she had already gotten her answer. "Yeah, who wouldn't?" She smiled,

"He's hot tho," she said again. Alright, how should I react? It's not fun hearing a girl call your crush hot, even though you knew she wasn't interested in him.

"How did you ever get involved with such a dick?" She asked,

"Am I supposed to answer that question?" I asked her in return. Who would want to hear such embarrassing tales? It's definitely behind me, like my past. I was so young then. 

"Look Kiara, everyone thinks you're a kid. I used to think you are too but... Not after hearing you have a crush on Angelo. Like... you're so cute and..." 

Violet reached to touch my cheeks but I pushed her hands away. "Don't call me that," I mumbled. You wouldn't know how I hated the word 'cute'. 

"Fine, I'm sorry. You're pretty and so naive, and I think if you're gonna have a crush, it would be someone like you. You know... Like a good boy," Violet said, 

"But of all guys it's Angelo. I wanna know why; what side of him did you see that made you crush him?" 

I chewed on my bottom lip, her question ringing in my mind. Like... How did I even get involved with Angelo? 

"Maybe it's because he's the first guy I saw shirtless," I blurted out, Violet cracked a smile.

"You did see him shirtless? Tell me... What was it like?" She inched closer to me.

"Stop! We were just kids. And I and Dani were playing hide and seek. He had just taken a bath... Turned out I was hiding in his room. And then... I saw him naked," I said the last part in a whisper.

Violet's hands flew to her mouth, she stifled a scream. I wasn't supposed to feel embarrassed but I did. It was just like talking about if I were to see him naked.

"You saw Angelo Black naked? Damn! That's one sight to behold," Violet gushed and I giggled.

"So, I ran after seeing him. Although it was just his backside, I never stopped getting that image out of my mind whenever I saw him. And I was five or six then..." I sighed,

"I did have a crush on your brother... But I'm past that now. We are just friends with benefits," Violet smiled dreamily.

"Friends with what kind of benefits?" I asked, my curiosity piqued.

"Uh... Friends who benefit from each other. Yeah," Violet replied, though she didn't meet my eyes so I knew she was wrong. This happened whenever the person thought I was too young, and then they lied to me. Just when I thought I had a friend,

"Have you and Kenzie ever kissed?" I suddenly asked her. I don't know why; the question just popped into my head.

"A lot... And trust me, your brother is a great kisser." 

"Eww, not like I would want to kiss my brother," I laughed,

"I think by now, your English tutor would be getting settled in the study room. Get dressed and go study English." Violet winked at me. I nodded, watching her leave my room.

Now, where was I? How do you dress if your crush becomes your tutor all of a sudden? Nothing too open and it shouldn't be that loose. I got a v-necked short dress and a pair of my favourite teddy flip-flops. 

For my hair, I did a messy bun, then grabbed my English textbook and some pens. Sighing inwardly, I turned the doorknob to the study and entered.

Angelo was already seated, his eyes on a book. I took my time to stare at his soft hair... If I could just touch the tip and...

"You're wasting your time... You know that?" He suddenly said.

"I'm sorry," I mumbled, walking to my seat. He gave me a look. Like a thorough look... From my hair to my face, lips, my chest, and then down to my toe. His eyes came to stare at my face again,

"What's your weakness in English?" He asked, 

"What?" I blinked. Alright, this was not going to be easy. Just this second, I was thinking about his eyes on my body, and the next second, he expects me to be thinking about English.

"Miss. Landon,"

"It's Kiara," I cut in. Why was he trying to be formal? I hated it,

"May I call you... Miss. Landon? Kiara seems a bit too formal." He replied.

"Whatever," I hissed, folding my arms.

The first lesson turned out to be just how he wanted it. No conversations with me, nothing. All my efforts to look pretty were just in vain. Like Angelo didn't glance at me as the lesson went on.

"So... You have an idea what a summary is, now, right?" This time, he looked at me. But he quickly looked away; why was he acting nervous? His Adam's apple bobbed up and down, making it so distracting for me to think straight.

"Are you okay?" I summoned the courage to ask. I wasn't expecting a reply so I didn't feel hurt at all when he didn't reply.

"Didn't know you were this good with your studies," I murmured, hoping he didn't hear me. He looked up, a frown on his face. Oh no! Did he hear what I said?

"Let's... Let's just focus on what we are doing okay?" He says and I nodded, not understanding what he meant by that.

"Like... I don't think you understand me. I mean let's not fight anymore. I know I'm an asshole and I'll continue to be one. But you... I can't stand being at odds with you, it's childish." He says.

I bit my lips, and now I'm angry. He can't stand being at odds with me because he thinks I'm a child. And it will be embarrassing if he's fighting with a child. I get it,

"I'll just be your tutor and nothing more okay? You won't gain a dime being friends with me. Or anything more," 

Our eyes bore into each other, and I nod, feeling so pained. But my subconscious rings it in my mind. "It's better you guys are talking," 

"So... we cool?" He asked and I smiled a little.

"Yeah, cool," I muttered.

Angelo's POV

And I'm sitting here thinking what the fuck is wrong with me? Why am I having such thoughts for a child? When she walked into the room earlier, I didn't mind if she knew, but I took that opportunity to check her out.

She looked so small, so fucking tiny... And I don't do tiny birds. What would the guys say? Besides, I had rejected the dare from Jace. I was tutoring her now, and that was all that mattered.

I had to make sure she didn't have any ill feelings towards me. But how would I ask her that? She doesn't even seem to be concentrating on the work I have given to her.

"So, you have an idea of what a summary is now, right?" I began; her head shot up. And the first thing I can see is her lips. When was the last time I kissed? Could it be why I'm losing my cool over the lips of a fifteen-year-old?

I could tell she noticed I was acting strange cause of the concern in her eyes. She asks me if I'm okay, but I don't reply. The next thing she says is so surprising.

"Didn't know you were this good with your studies," She murmured. Oh wow! Who wouldn't think so? I'm Angelo Black, after all. Bad boy, who smokes and takes booze, fuck all the holes I can find... 

But what they just don't know is that... There's more than meets the eye. There's nothing more important to me than my studies. Although I've never said that out loud. They will just think I'm a freak.

I don't attend classes, but I make sure I watch online lessons. And the teachers know I never get a B or a fucking C in a test.

It must be an A. No A's no result. And Kiara also thinks I don't have an interest in my studies. I sighed, this has to stop. Not me fighting with her but... Her growing animosity towards me. It has to end,

She's a child, for fuck's sake, and arguing with a child? That's bullshit.

"Am I allowed to tell Kenzie that we are cool now?" She smiled cutely. 

"Do whatever you want," I told her, ruffling her hair before walking to the door.

"Bye," I heard her say, 

"Yeah," Was my reply, before leaving her darn house.