"Guess who I saw in the school today?" I asked, staring at Lisa and Diva.
"Tell us!" they chimed in unison.
I chuckled still staring at them.
"Ethan"
"Ethan?" they asked looking astonished.
"What's he doing in Hiddenveil on a Saturday afternoon?" Diva asked.
"I thought it's only those on detention that comes to school on Saturday" Lisa said, touching her jaw as though she's tryna figure out something.
"I guess he came to pickup his books like I did," I said, sipping my soda.
"So did you both talk?" Diva asked.
I stared at them for a while then rolled my eyes.
"He apologized for being mean to me yesterday afternoon, but--"
"That's great!" Lisa interrupted and I glared at her.
"Sorry ma'am, but what?" she apologized playfully.
I rolled my eyes, "but I ignored him."
"You did what?!" Lisa and Diva asked in unison.
"I ignored him, you don't expect me to rush into his warm embrace because he saved my ass last night?"
"But this is what you've always wanted," Lisa said.
"Yeah I know, but this time I will let him chase me," I said, feeling proud.
I stood up from the couch and stretched myself.
"I will be going home now"
Diva looked around as if observing some certain things, "we need to spice up this tree house."
"Yeah! we got this tree house when we were seven" I recalled and we burst into laughter.
"Your seventh birthday gift from your dad," Lisa said, patting my shoulders.
"Yeah yeah," I said and went down the tree house.
"See you girls later!" I yelled and left.
---
I entered my room through my window and saw my mum waiting for me on my bed, I sighed and entered my room.
"Where are you coming from?" she asked.
"The tree house," I replied coldly.
"Where is this tree house of yours?" she asked staring at me.
I turned and looked her straight in her eyes and whispered, "When you decide to take up your motherly duty, I shall take you to my tree house."
I made to enter the bathroom but she dragged me back.
"Ouch!" I whimpered in pain.
She loosened her grip and saw the bruises on my wrist, her gaze softened a bit and what looked like concern appeared on her face.
"What happened to you?" she asked with the softest voice I've never heard in years.
"Is that a pretence or a genuine care?" I asked reluctantly.
"Zen, I know that I've not been the best mum you've always wanted me to be, but believe me when I say that your well-being is my upmost priority," She said, her eyes welling up.
At that moment my heart twitched a bit.
"I don't know what to believe again," I said, feeling unremorseful and entered the bathroom.
After freshening up, I came out and saw a first aid kit on my bed, I chuckled and went downstairs for lunch.
When I came downstairs, I saw Damon setting up the table for lunch, I rolled my eyes and went straight to the fridge and collected a soda drink and sat on the couch.
"Soda seems to be your favorite drink?" Damon asked.
"Don't talk to me," I warned coldly.
Just then my mum came out of the kitchen.
"Lunch is ready!!" she informed.
The aroma of the food penetrated through my nose, if their is one thing my mum is really good at, that should be cooking, I guessed that's the reason my dad married her in the first place.
I sat on the dining chair and opened my food, I stared at my mum and she smiled at me.
"I'm glad you still remember my favorite food," I thought.
"Macaroni and cheese, your favorite." she said.
I chuckled and focused on my food without saying a word.
"You cook so well, Melissa." Damon said, caressing my mum's hand.
Just then I received a message from an unknown number asking me to come over to the water park. I took two spoonful of my meal and stood up.
"I will be back," I informed and left the house.
"That's the first time in years she's informing me before leaving the house," Melissa said, smiling.
"I'm happy for the little improvement." Damon said and kissed Melissa.
-----
I sauntered into the water park, looking around to know if I will see any familiar face that might have texted me when someone tapped me from behind, I turned around and met with the dazzling hazel eyes of Ethan.
"Hey!" he said smiling.
"If I had known it was you, I wouldn't have showed up."
"I'm glad you did," he said slyly.
"What are we doing here?" I asked.
"The first place we met was at the water park, so I assumed it's your favorite place to visit," he said holding my hand.
I removed my hand from his grip, "your assumption is wrong, the water park is Diva's favorite place not mine."
"Oh! my bad," he said.
I stared at him for a while and then asked again, "What are we doing here?"
He looked at me and held my hand again, "your attitude towards me at the hallway feels a little distant, are you avoiding me?"
I unknowingly laughed out loud, "avoiding you? you must be silly" I said and he stared at me.
"You said you are not interested in me, so I decided to stay off your path," I said and his countenance changed.
"I'm sorry," he apologized.
I chuckled, "yeah, you should be"
"Arrogant queen," he said playfully and I laughed.
We sat in a corner at the water park, after a while he left and returned with two cups of popcorn. he handed one over to me and sat beside me.
"So tell me more about you," I said, snacking on my popcorn.
"I already introduced myself to the class," he said defensively.
I stared at him, "Class not me, besides you only told us your name."
I noticed his countenance changed a bit, I wanted to avert the topic but curious me pressured him into telling me more about him.
"Their is nothing much about me," he began, "I'm just one of those kids with a single parent." he said staring at me.
I froze for some minute before his last sentence bounced me back to reality.
"You are lucky to have both parents present in your life," he said innocently.
The sentence was supposed to make me angry but I don't know why I suddenly have the urge to laugh. I suddenly burst into laughter and stopped when I noticed he was strangely staring at me.
"What?" I asked.
"You are so weird," he said and a slight frown appeared on my face.
"Well, my mum is a single parent too, my dad divorced her after my seventh birthday." I said feeling a little sad.
"Oh! so sorry about that." he apologized.
"It's nothing," I said.
"My dad is actually planning on remarrying, but I and my brother are kicking against it."
"You have a brother?" I asked.
"Yes," he replied.
"He must be really cute as you," I said and he stared at me and smiled.
"My mum got me a step dad, but I despise him a lot cause he's nothing like my father."
"We have a lot in common," he said and held my hand.
"Let's call it fate." I said smiling.