Chapter 6

Chapter 6

On my way home, he got me a few things and most of it was candy, not that I minded but, I was surprised, he never took it upon himself to get anything. He just sends me money I don't need.

"Thanks" He merely nodded.

"Dad, I need to get new clothes"

"Don't bother me with your demands" I kept quiet

"I'm sorry. May be tomorrow"

When we got home, there was a feast prepared. I still didn't know what he was up to.

"Is anyone visiting?"

"No"

"Who's this for then?"

"Go and get changed then come back down for lunch"

The decor of the house was changed, starting from the curtains to the bedspread and rugs, table napkin, towels. I stomped my way up to the stairs. Hoping my room was untouched but I got the biggest shock of my entire life. Whoever did it probably read my mind but I still didn't like the fact my personal space got tampered with. I hated everything immediately but I didn't want to destroy it yet. I had a shower and change of clothes. My dad wasn't ready yet so I went to the kitchen. I hadn't seen Norma, Naomi and Gertrude anywhere. I saw a woman there, she was a brunette with petite figure. She had slender legs and smooth skin, she was not wearing any make up but she was really beautiful.

"Excuse me, do I know you? "

"You are back. How are you? "I didn't answer her. She stopped in my front and was fiddling the napkin in her hands.

"Who are you? "

"Robert hasn't told you? She spoke with a British accent"

"Robert? That would be Mr Warren to you"

"I'm Ava"

"What are you doing here? " I was becoming hostile.

"She's visiting. Be friendly "

My dad said from behind "the two of you are up to something "I mumbled on my way out. While we we're eating, my dad said something that almost had me choking.

"I'm getting married "

"What! To who? "

"Ava"

"Excuse me!"

I almost choked but he continued eating "You're kidding right?"

"No "I looked at Ava, who had been quiet since.

NO! NO! You can't, you must not "I stood up. I was angry I felt betrayed.

"No wonder, you've been nice all along"

"April"

"I knew you were up to something. You've never been up to any good"

"April" this time Ava called me. I turned to her

"Excuse me? " I was so annoyed.

"You can't speak to your dad that way "

"How is it any of your business? Don't you ever interfere in this family's issues? You are not a part of this family and you can never be!"

My dad slapped me.

"The next time you raise your voice at her, trust me I would send you to base.

"Robert, please"

"Nicely played" I went to my room and scattered everything that was changed. I practically destroyed it. Ava came in and tried to stop me.

"April, what are you doing?"

"Get out of my room!"

"I'm trying to help"

"I don't need you. Get out!" I pushed her and banged the door in her face. I was too angry to cry. I slept in another room and when I went back the next morning, I saw it was back to the way it was before.

"Better "

I wanted to get rid of my granny seized clothes and was going shopping later that day.

When I was ready I went downstairs I saw her making breakfast.

"Good morning April" I walked pass her. My dad was still home. Something he had never done before.

"I'm leaving "

"Not without eating first my dad replied"

"I'm not hungry"

"You've to eat "I grumbled as I made my way to the table and sat as far away from them as possible. The food was served but I only ate little, just three spoonful and I left the table. I didn't know exactly what to buy.

"You're not going alone" my dad said when I was by the door

"I'm not a kid anymore "

"Ava will go with you"

"Let her be Robert" she said

"No, please go with her"

"Only if she wants me "

"I don't want you to "

"Enjoy your shopping" She replied

It was boring doing it alone and I hadn't seen anything I liked I was about leaving the mall when I saw Sean walk in. I pretended I was checking out some dresses

"Hey there"

"Hi"

"I don't think you would like that"

"Uhn" He nodded towards the cloth I was holding. I looked at it and saw it was clothing for old people.

"Oh" I let out an embarrassed chuckle.

"Having troubles picking clothes? "

"A little"

"I'm also picking some myself. We could accompany each other if you don't mind "he smiled

"Yeah, sure "

He helped me pick some that we're actually nice he accompanied me to my car and that was when I noticed

"You didn't buy anything"

"I guess your company is enough" I smiled

"We should hang out sometime" I couldn't believe it

"Really?"

"Yeah. You're nice and cool"

"Thanks"

"Can I have your number?"

"Yeah sure" I gave him and was so red.

"I'll call you"

"Okay. Bye"

"Bye" I could have floated in my car back home

My dad told me there was no need to go back to school until next week.

"I have to"

"Are you sure about that?"

"Obviously. I am okay" His niceness was getting on my nerves and it was getting hard not to be rude.

I was eagerly awaiting Sean's call but he didn't even send a message.

"That jerk"

Someone else called instead

"Hello, who's this?"

"Funny how you don't remember my voice"

"Excuse me?" There was silence on the other end.

"I don't know you and how you have my number"

"I'm always there so how could you not know"

"If you don't answer me, I would hang up"

"Hmmm. I have your dairy"

"Pardon?" The person hung up. I tried calling but I couldn't get through. Nobody makes keeping ones diary a big deal, besides, none of what I wrote in there mattered anymore. It seemed I was getting over my crush on Sean, or maybe not yet I had already started trying to forget it but I just couldn't.

I couldn't sleep early so I went downstairs to get a cup of water and maybe warm up little milk to help me sleep. I was going back to my room with my bottle of milk when I saw Ava on the balcony. I thought about how rude I had been lately. I was feeling guilty and wanted to go and apologize. I should have known that surely my dad would have to move on after my mom's demise and Ava was a nice woman who was doing her best to make me feel comfortable. I shouldn't have said those things to her and I knew it. But I was just so angry with the thought that she was trying to fill in for my mom, and my dad was acting like it was nothing special. I could tell by the way he looks at her that he truly loves her.

It was a dark and gloomy night when the moon bore no light my mom hadn't come back home and it was raining heavily. My dad was busy in his study, like always. I was waiting patiently for her but I was already feeling uncomfortable about her absence. I had a feeling something was wrong but as a little child then, I dismissed it. She didn't come home that night or ever. I was eagerly waiting for her arrival that night. It was the first year in preschool and I wanted to show her my report card. I had an A and I was thrilled about it. Later, the next day, it was discovered she was missing. A searched party was organised for three weeks, she was searched for by the best detectives money could buy. She wasn't found and later declared dead. It has been 11 years and I would never forget eleventh July, 2011.

When I remembered, I touched the necklace my mom gave me when I was to write my exams. It was supposed to be for good luck. I really wanted to tell her now I appreciate her gift now. It was special to her just like it was to me. A very good friend of hers gave her but now, I'm sure that friend might have been a former lover to have gifted her that kind of necklace. It was made of gold encrusted with diamonds that sparkle under sunlight. It is worth a fortune.

I went back to my room without talking to Ava and slept shortly after. When I woke up the next morning, I changed my mind about going to school that day I wanted to make it up to Ava.

I went downstairs and saw her making breakfast for my dad. He was still upstairs.

"Hi" she looked up and smiled.

"Good morning April" I didn't know how to go about it and watched her but she was making mistakes.

"He doesn't like his eggs scrambled"

"Thanks"

"Go easy on the oil. Too much makes him nauseous and for his coffee he prefers it black, no milk or sugar.

"Oh, Uhm...thanks"

"Listen, Ava…Uhm...I know I haven't been the best step mother but I want to change that. I was really close to my mom and when she passed away, it changed me, so seeing you here remind me of her and I don't want anyone to replace her so, I hope you understand my feelings and you don't…"

Before I finished, she drew me in for a hug. Talking about your mum almost had me crying but when she hugged me, the tears came down pouring.

"You don't have to say it. I understand you. I know I can't fill in for your mother but I will try my best for you. I'm sorry for your mother"

She drew back and I saw she had tears in her eyes.

"I never thought I could do this"

"It's okay, sweetheart. If you ever need anybody to talk to, I'm here for you"

"Yeah, thanks"

I assisted her in making breakfast for my dad but she was nervous.

"What's wrong?"

"What if I made a mistake somewhere?"

"Don't tell me you've never done this before"

She shook her head

"So, if I hadn't come here and assisted you, what would you have done?"

"I don't know"

"Jeez. Don't worry, I know my dad better than anyone. He'll love it. Just go".

After she left, I went upstairs to get ready for school and finally, I was going to dress like a normal teenager and behave like one too. I was actually kind of feeling it was going to be too much driving myself to school but my dad was around and he wouldn't want to hear his daughter was walking to school. After much thinking, I decided to go with my white Maybach.

Luckily, I got to school when the others were just arriving so there were a lot of people= in the parking lot and just like I said, I was going to become a different person. It was a complete transformation from a granny to a... well, you know the rest.

I was dressed in a pair of black baggy trousers with a blue hoodie and a pair of Dior sneakers and pearl studs (real ones). While I was parking my car, I heard a horn behind me.

"Hey, that's my spot"

Sean was also parking in the spot next to me. I was about coming out when I heard a rough tapping on my window. I opened the door anyways and hit the person (some people don't know wealth when they see it). I stepped out and saw it was Riley. Ugh! That pest.

"Hey babe"

I turned around and saw Sean standing next to me, obviously referring to me. "Sean! I missed you" she wanted to hug him but he stopped her.

"Sorry, I don't relate with delinquents"

'That was so brutal'

Everyone was watching and making different mocking sounds. Seems jail changed everyone's opinion about Riley. I had asked for her release the day I left the hospital.

"Are you coming?" he asked me.

"Yeah sure" I was blushing intensely. We walked side by side with our hands brushing. He looked at me, then smiled and put his hand in his pocket. Classes that day felt magical because he was sitting next to me, finally! I don't think I concentrated well. Then, when it was time for lunch, he carried my books for me to my locker. Practically everyone was staring, maybe because of my new look or because Sean was with me or maybe even both, I wasn't sure but I loved it. The way he was looking at me, how sweetly he talked and that perfect smile, I was falling over and over again.

"Wanna grab lunch with me?"

"What about your friends?"

He had close to ten close friends I know.

"Don't worry about them"

"Uhm…ok"

Even I didn't understand what was going on. He was acting too nice to me, not that I was complaining but it seemed a little strange. I knew he was a player but I was just melting away.

He offered to pay for my food, so sweet. I only took a sandwich, an apple and a juice box. "Are you on a diet?" he asked when he saw how little I took.

"No, I'm just not hungry".

He took me to a separate table with all his friends smiling and even winking at me. "Isn't this where you and Riley used to sit?"

"Forget about her"

"Why?" he didn't hear.

"You love her right?"

"I don't know"

"She still does" I said, remembering what happened at the parking lot and I felt a bit bad for her.

"I don't care"

"Weren't you the one who wanted her released?"

"Can we drop this conversation?" he sounded irritated.

"Oh, I am sorry"

"So, tell me about yourself" He said after we finished eating we were outside and walking.