Stephanie wouldn't stop calling as Ellen refused to take her calls. She laid on her bed with a sigh. 'How could she think I want to steal her boyfriend? That is absurd, I would never date Kobby again.' She thought as she laid there. She had contemplated on telling Ellen about the kiss, but decided against it, to prevent any further complication, when they spoke earlier. "What do you want?" She asked, annoyed at her brother's peeking head. "Whoa, you are in a good mood." Chris commented sarcastically, entering with his whole body this time. "How many times must I tell you to knock before you enter my room?" Steph asked, throwing a pillow at him. "How many times must I tell you I don't care too? You are my little sister and there's nothing I haven't seen before. You wore your vest and undies around the house till you got a crush, so what's your problem now?" Chris said, laughing as well. "You are a pervert." Steph rolled her eyes with her words. "Call me whatever you want. Mom said you've been pensive the entire day. What's wrong? I was told Ellen, and her friends came, but left after a short while. You want to talk about it?" Chris, who has always been her confidant and protector, even though they bicker most times, urged her to say what happened today. "I don't want to." Steph simply answered, laying down again. "Okay, but I'm gonna lay by your side till you feel better, right after I go get some ice cream downstairs okay." He told her with a smile, giving her comfort. He was back after a few minutes and they shared it, talking about everything but what was really bothering Steph.
"She seems nice. I haven't seen you bring anyone here aside Clara and Naa. She must be special, or it's just for show?" Rosie spoke when Henry entered the house. She handed him the orange juice she had prepared for him with a smile. "She is, Rosie. She's smart, mature, not boy crazy and gorgeous. She is the only one to have ever given me a challenging time in getting her, and that makes me secure and proud." Henry replied with a smitten faced smile, taking the juice and sipping. "Well, I can tell she won't let you boss her around or have your way easily, and that is enough for me to like her. I hope you do too." Rosie said, looking at him with a side eye at her last sentence. "I don't like her Rosie…I love her." Henry replied, pausing in between before admitting it. "Oh, I see. Have you told her that?" Rosie commented and asked with interest. "Not yet. I feel like I'm not myself Rosie." Henry whined, sipping more juice. "Oh, my dear boy. That is what love does to you, you barely recognize yourself. It's the kind of effect she has on you, and that is good. I was getting worried you lost your heart when you lost Naa. Turns out you still have it, and it has gone to someone else. Just don't hurt her, and she will be yours forever. I can tell she loves you too." Rosie said in excitement, making Henry laugh. "I don't know about forever, but I sure am going to cherish these moments with her for as long as it lasts." Henry replied, leaving his grandma perplexed. "This boy." Rosie said, shaking her head. "Hi, how are you?" "I'm great. What are you doing after church tomorrow?" Henry asked Clara. "Nothing, but I'm guessing you have plans for us." Clara replied sarcastically. "Yes, I do. We're going to the country club with Ellen and Eric. Call him up, exactly 4pm okay." Henry instructed and hung up after saying bye.
***
"Hi seniors." Ellen greeted the seniors who got there before her. Henry had offered to come pick her up after church, but Ellen did not want to find herself wanting in explanation, about her relationship with Henry. She simply told them she was meeting Abby and Kelly at the mall. Aaron and Elena had a meeting with some partners, so they agreed, since they didn't want her to be bored at home, besides, they had nothing to worry about when it came to Ellen. "It's been a month since we completed Elle, you can call us by our names, especially this one here who does not like how you addressed him." Clara said and laughed at Henry's grim expression. "Oh, I'm sorry please. I was talking to you and senior, I mean Eric. Hi baby." Ellen explained and greeted coyly. "Oh, I see. Baby huh? You know you have come a long way from the shy girl who challenged her senior academically. Now you are saying baby, wow." Clara teased with a laugh. "Okay, that's enough. Leave her alone. How are you? I missed you." Henry said with a smile, pecking her lips, and drawing her in for a hug, leaving his hand on her waist. Eric snorted his laugh and Clara laughed, making Ellen blush. "Okay you two are killing me. Let's start the games already, before you give me diabetes with all this sugar." Clara teased again. "Why don't you spare us this jealousy and get hitched with our perfect gentleman here. You two would be doing me a huge favor." Henry said with a grin and took the lead with Ellen when Clara blushed. "Have you ever played pool before?" Henry asked Ellen as they neared the pool table. "No please." She replied. "I thought as much. Don't worry, just like tennis, I will teach you how to play pool. You two grab cue sticks too." Henry said and commanded, taking a cue stick and standing behind Ellen. "Um, can't you teach me without standing behind me? There are a lot of people here." Ellen protested. "Well, that's the shy girl I know." Eric spoke with tease. "Do you feel uncomfortable? I can stand aside, or Eric can back Clara too. This is supposed to be a double date." Henry said, giving Eric a sign with his eye. "Do you mind?" Eric asked, standing beside Clara. Clara looked at him before looking at Henry and sighed. "Not at all. Anything for my sister's comfort." Clara agreed with a smile, shooting Henry with dagger eyes. Ellen smiled as she eased a bit, and they spent the rest of the day playing pool and tennis. Ellen was going to the washroom when she spotted her parents in the restaurant with their associates. "Oh My God. What are they doing here?" Ellen spoke with anxiety in her voice, as she hurried to the washroom to avoid being seen by them.