Chapter 11: Reign

"Tell us about the little lady who has been keeping you occupied." My mom teases, with a raised brow. "What little lady mom?" I ask blushing. "The one who has been keeping you out late." She continues lathering facts on to her case. "I was super tired from the twenty three hour surgery I performed but I still heard you come in." She continues, "So get out with it."

We're cleaning the dishes from breakfast, I'm helping out since I'm done with my exams. Due to my lacking social life, if I don't have any concerts, or dates with Haz, I'll be home.

I give in to her persisting curiosity and say, "Come sit, I'll tell you about it. I actually need your help." I pull her towards the kitchen island and pull out a chair for her. She plops into it and with a cocky grin she says, "I always know when something is up with my son." Her triumph is evident in her features. "Tell me about this lady who has managed to interest my son for more than five hours." She says with a smirk.

Damn, her sharp memory will be the end of me. I had spent the prom night in my room, playing my guitar. She had come in from work, when she heard me playing, she rushed up the stairs. Worry and shock was written all over her features, worry being the most prominent. She asked me why I wasn't at prom, she pulled out her phone thinking she had confused the dates but she confirmed that she was right. She walked towards my bed with calculated steps in hesitation, I actually laughed at her. I told her how she looked like she was about to deliver a brain tumor diagnosis to a patient. She enquired about why I hadn't attended prom and I told her that all the girls were shallow, too loud and boring.

She made it her mission from that day to taunt me, pointing out a pretty girl whenever we were out shopping.

I remember saying the five hour statement when she wouldn't relent from pressuring me into dating. The day I told her about that, is the day she stopped nagging me about girls until today.

I sit across her and say, "So we met a few weeks ago." I go on to tell her about everything, from how we met, the dates and drives. The whole while, she listens with a bright smile and sparkling eyes.

I like the nature of our relationship, I can tell my mom anything without any restrictions.

"There is a problem though." I say, drawing circles on the table top. "I'm listening." She replies, adopting a serious face. "She has beautiful aurburn hair." I say, struggling for the right words to present the case to her. Mom bursts into laughter, her eyes tearing up. "Is that the problem, her hair color." "No!" I retort quickly. "I love her hair, but she's been hiding it. She thinks people don't like it."

I tell her about everything she told me last night. The source of the assumption and her hiding it behind wigs.

My mom tears up, I feel a relief because my tears from last night weren't a silly reaction. I get up and round the table to hug her. "No one should experience such." She says wiping off the tears streaming down her face. "Yes mom, that's what I told her." I reply hugging her tighter. "I need to find a way to make her realize how unique her hair is. She needs to see people marvelling at it."

"Yes, yes." Mom's face lights up. "The party, invite her to the party." She says, snapping her fingures.

My dad is hosting a party for his elite society this coming Saturday at Diamond hall. It had slipped my mind. It'll be good publicity for her and hopefully it'll give her confidence to wear her hair for the world to see.

"Mom, there's one more thing." I say, opening the refrigerator and grabbing a pear. I turn around and lean on the fridge, "Lynn has a crush on me." I have to tell her because Lynn will definitely attend, and I don't want her creating any scene.

Mom looks at me with humour all over her features, "She does?" She asks mockingly. "Yuh, she does." I reply with a straight face. "It's a problem mom." I toss the pear skeleton into the kitchen waste bin.

"A problem,how?" Mom asks, with a cocked eyebrow. "She threatened that if I don't marry her I'll remain single." I reply, an anger rising in my chest. "And you took that seriously?" Mom asks, laughing. "Mom, she sent pictures of me and Haz." I reply in frustration. How can she be laughing in such a situation. I've been sleepless most nights thinking about it.

"She seems to be stalking me. It's scary, what if she does some harm to her." She seems to grasp the gravity of the situation because her face falls as she says, "Oow it has gone that far." "Yuh it has." I reply, exasperated. I contemplate telling her about the glow of her hair but decide against it.

"A masquerade." "What about it?" I ask, not catching up on what she's getting at. "We will make it a masquerade party." "Will dad agree to that?" I ask.

The people who will be in attendance are the kind that will want their faces to be seen as they flash their million dollar outfits. They are the kind who scamper at the spotlight. I don't know how they will welcome the idea of having other patrons not seeing who is wearing the saint Laurent or the trending hot Cocoa Chanel outfits they will be parading. "Leave your dad up to me," she says with a smile, "I'll take care of it."

"You my darling, need to find yourself a perfect outfit for the evening." She says patting my cheeks. "I'll give you my credit card, go all out. Shop until you drop. I want my son to be on the most eligible bachelor chart's first position."

She stands up to leave. When she gets to the foot of the stairs, she spins around and dramatically says, "OmG, I forgot the most important thing of them all. Get her a gift."

I'm surprised, "Get who a gift mom?" "Haz, silly." It had completely never visited my mind. "You are brilliant mom." I spin her around, and kiss her cheek. "I need to get ready for my shopping spree." I say excitedly rushing up the stairs, taking two at a time.

Mom must be shaking her head right now. I wasn't this excited when she mentioned my shopping, but the idea of shopping for Haz, light up my excitement train.

I'm driving towards the city singing along to Eminem's jam. A thought crosses my mind then I turn the car around. I was planning on going to pay my condolences at Tim's home. I got carried away by the whole Haz telling and shopping excitement.

I'm driving through their driveway when I spot the blonde that he allegedly sent to the cafe. I emmidiately break and get out of the car.

"Hey, can I talk to you for a sec?" I request. I've always felt that there was more to the case that what meets the eye. "Umm, I, I gotta go." She stummers in reply. "Hey, I won't be long I just have a few questions to ask you." I coax. "I have nothing to say to you. If it weren't for your rich family he would– still be around." She vents out, tears collecting in her eyes. "My family?" I ask in confusion. I wonder what my family has to do with anything concerning Tim's death. "Yes, your family." She replies, her hands balled into fists at her side, and stomps away.

I try to go after her, to ask her to clarify, add more light to what she's saying but I'm too stunned to move. I just watch her strut away, and out of the gate. She just had to drop a bombshell on my head and stalk away. Great!

I'm exasperated, I run a hand through my hair, fighting for composure. I still need to meet his mom.

I count my steps heading for their porch in a feat to gain my ground. I ring the bell, and a voice rings back from inside in reply. I've been here before, so I open the door and meet Tim's mom, Mia in the lounge. It's been a week since Tim's passing but it looks like it was jus yesterday on her face.

She's a tall, blonde with chocolate brown eyes and a through the roof energy. Today it's missing though. I go to her and hug her for a long while. We talk for a while over hot cocoa and choc chip cookies before I take my leave.

I'm back on the road, thinking back to what she has told me. It'll take some time to connect the dots but I'll have to do it.

I head to my usual family shopping mall. The exciment from earlier cut down a notch.