10 Social Class

Tiara glanced scornfully at him, "What are you doing?" she whispered.

Andy smiled, nudging her on the ribs. "Just play along."

She glanced back at the daggering eyes fixed on her and faked a smile, feeling very uncomfortable. "Oh my God..., this gaze can make someone drop dead." she thought to herself. "I need to get out of here."

"I need to go now. Excuse me." she suddenly muttered out of the blue slightly bowing and dashed out.

Andy swiftly glanced at her as she strolled towards the door and stared back at her parents.

"Excuse me." He rushed after Tiara leaving his parents stunned.

Mr. and Mrs Richardson made an excuse to Mr. Graham to pardon their son.

Mr. Graham smiled, slightly nodding.

"Don't worry Richardson. It's youthful exuberance. I understand, Don't we?" he glanced at his daughter who had her gaze fixed at the entrance, already fallen for Andy.

"Sure Dad..." she smiled.

"Alright dear, we should go and meet other guests." He placed a head over her shoulder. "Excuse us Mr. and Mrs. Richardson."

"Sure.." they slightly nodded in response and Mr. Graham and his daughter sauntered away. When they had left, Mr. Graham glared at his wife.

"What was that Erica? I thought you had spoken to him."

"Yes dear, but..."

"You should pay more attention to your kids.." He spat and sauntered off without waiting for a reply from his wife.

"Sweetheart, you.." She sighed, slightly rolling her eyes. "Now what?"

Just then, she spotted one of the waiters passing by. She placed her glass of wine on his tray and trolled after her husband, glancing around for their daughter. "Where is this girl?"

Andy got out of the party to meet Tiara standing over the car with her back facing the house. She looked very pissed. Andy sighed and sauntered towards her. Tiara took in a deep breath and turned around to lean on the car only to see Andy behind her.

"What the hell was that Andy? Do I look that cheap for you? You should have told me of your grand plan you know.." she rolled her eyes.

"Tiara, I...."

"Please... Andy." She immediately interrupted, raising a hand midway to stop him from saying any more.

"You can keep your apologies to yourself. Get me the hell out of here." she opened the side of the car and settled in her seat, banging the door.

Andy sighed and glided over to the driver's side of the car and settled in. He took a glance at Tiara before driving off.

************

Mrs. Eugenia was setting up the table when the door slammed open. Andrew and Tyra giggled as they glided into the house, followed by their father.

"You should have seen Andrew's face, Papa. It was so funny." she heard Tyra say.

She swiftly turned her gaze to them as she placed a bowl of rice on the table.

"You guys are back already..?"

"Yeah, mum.." said Tyra as she rushed to the table, taking her seat. Their father glanced at her settling gleefully behind the table and slightly shook his head, moving towards the kitchen, followed by Andrew.

"It was so fun," she said about to take a plate.

"Hold on young lady.." Mrs. Eugenia glared at her. "What happened to washing your hands?"

"Oh mine..." she sighed as she stood up from her seat and marched towards the kitchen, almost running into Andrew who was rushing out of the kitchen.

"Woow.., watch it.." she step aside, making way for Andrew.

"You should too..." He replied over his shoulders.

Tyra was about to react when her Dad glided out of the kitchen, placing a hand over her shoulders.

"He is your little brother dear, just let him be."

She looked up at her father's face and smiled slightly nodding, "Alright Dad..."

She rushed into the kitchen.

Mr. Daniel smiled back at his daughter and went over to the dining table, settling into his seat.

"So how was your day dear?"

Mrs. Eugenia gently placed a plate of served rice with sauce in front of her husband.

"Well..., it was so and so." she settled into her seat. "With all the petty errands at home and doing some laundry for the neighbors. It's kind of a daily routine you know..."

"Hmm...," He nodded. "That's quite hectic I see."

"But not like yours."

"Yeah, but at least, I had my little prince and princess with me to help." He smiled.

"Hmm..." She nodded.

Just then, Tyra returned from the kitchen. Taking her seat next to Andrew.

"Yeah...., my favorite..." she murmured as her mother placed a plate of rice before her.

Andrew glanced at her and chuckled, "Acting like a baby again."

Tyra gave him a scornful glare. Mr. Daniel smiled and ruffled Andrew's hair.

"Why don't you leave your sister alone, Andrew..? You should enjoy your meals before it gets cold."

"Okay, Dad..."

"Now, apologize to your sister first."

"But Dad..."

"No son...," He titled his head. "First thing first." he gestured for him to apologize.

"Okay, Dad..." he dully answered, turning his gaze to his sister. "Sorry Tyra..."

Andrew could immediately tell the smile of victory dancing all over Tyra's face.

"Don't worry little one..." she teased, knowing how well Andrew hated that name.

"Alright." their mother chipped in, "We should dig into our meals now."

"Okay.." They all obliged and dug into their meals. Daniel looked around and noticed that Tiara had not come out of her room yet.

"And where is Tiara?"

Tyra stared quizzically at her mother.

"Yes mum..., where is Tiara." she glanced around. "I have not seen her since we returned. She told me she won't go on her part-time job today."

"That's true dear, she came home early but has gone out with a friend."

"A friend....?"Andrew and Tyra glanced skeptically at each other.

Tyra glanced back at her mother, "Did she go with Fabulous?"

"No dear..., with a young man."

Tyra glanced skeptically at her brother. " That's awkward."

Andrew winced with a nod, "It sure is."

"And do you know this young man?" Daniel queried.

"Not that I'm sure of but she said he's a friend she ran into on her first day at work, I think..."

"Oh, Okay.." replied Daniel and went back to his meals. "I guess there is nothing to be worried about."

*********

It was 9 pm when the driver pulled up in front of the Richardson Mansion. The surrounding mood in the car was kind of tense with no one saying anything. Mr. Thompson first steps out of the car. Followed by his wife, and then their daughter.

Kalisa rolled her eyes and sighed at the tension the mood of her parents was creating.

"This is getting on my nerves," she murmured to herself with a sigh as they strolled into the hall.

"Sweetheart can we...." said Pamela but paused at the glare she received from her husband.

This time, Kalisa could not keep it in anymore.

"This is annoying Dad... What the hell is with this social class stuff." she roared, "It's about my brother's life we're talking of over here. Why don't you guys let him choose what he wants? Gosh..!" She sighed and sauntered off to her room.

Mr. Thompson glanced back at his daughter as her back fades to the corridor to her room and glared back at his wife.

"Is this what you have been teaching your daughter? This is unacceptable Pamela..."

He slightly shook his head and left for their room. Pamela sighed and collapsed onto the sofa. She reached out for her phone from her back and dialed Andy's line. It ranged for a while but there was no answer. She tried again but there was still no answer.

"This is driving me crazy." she sighed.

*************

There was an awkward silence in the car as Andy drove Tiara home. The phone kept ringing but Andy just glanced at the screen, ignoring it.

Tiara glanced at the screen and stared back at him.

"Aren't you going to answer that?"

He swiftly glanced at her and then back to the road,

"No, I will talk to her when I get home."

She nodded her head silently, "Okay...."

They went back to being silent. Soon, Andy pulled up in front of Tiara's house.

He gazed at her, "I'm sorry Tiara.."

Tiara glanced at him and without a word, got down from the car. She walked towards the house without looking back, smiling to herself.

Andy stared with guilt written all over his face as Tiara sauntered into the house.

"Will she ever want to see me again?" He sighed as he put his head on the wheel for some seconds before driving off.

Tiara walked into the house to meet a quiet atmosphere as everybody was in their respective rooms. She walked into the kitchen and poured herself a glass of water. She was about to gulp it down when a voice interrupted.

"You're back..."

She swiftly turned around, startled.

"Papa..., you scared me."

Daniel smiled at his daughter and sauntered into the kitchen, walking over to the fridge. "I'm sorry dear. I heard from your mum that you went out with a friend."

"Yes, Papa.." she poured the water down her throat.

"And how did it go?"

"Well..., nothing much." she placed the cup back where she took it. "They were just having a company party and he invited me over."

Daniel stared skeptically at his daughter, "Hmm...?"

Tiara glanced at the quizzical look on her father's face and chuckled, "Dad...."

Daniel smiled at the funny expression on her daughter's face and shrugged.

"I didn't say anything..."

She giggled, "Whatever Papa..." She peeked his cheeks. "I will be in my room." she strolled towards the entrance, "Goodnight."

"Goodnight dear..."

Tyra was working on her assignments when Tiara walked in through the door.

"Hmm..., see who is here." she teased.

"You aren't asleep yet?"

"No, working on my assignments. I don't want any problems with Auntie Gloria."

"Hmm..." she tilted her head thoughtfully as she strolled over to her wardrobe and changed into nightwear.

"Who did you go with?" queried Tyra.

Tiara glanced back at her surprised. "Have you guys been talking about me?"

Tyra stared at her sister with a smile on her face and shrugged.

Tiara chuckled, slightly shaking her head.

"You guys are something else." she glided out of the door to the washroom to freshen up.

RICHARDSON MANSION

Pamela glanced down at her watch, "It's late, why is he not yet back." she gazed at the door expectantly.

Just then, she heard footsteps approaching the hall. Soon, Andy showed up.

"Why are you now coming back, young man? And why did you refuse to pick up my calls?"

Andy sighed, making a face. "I need to rest now Mum. I'm exhausted."

Pamela was furious at how indifferent he sounded. "What was that drama at the party earlier on about, Andy?" she queried indignantly "First you were late, and when you showed up too you brought a girl with you? What the hell was that about Andy."

"It's late mum..., please."

"It's late huh?" she chuckled. "Look at yourself, Andy. Look at your family's social background. You have to live up to your father's standards."

"And What's that? Please Mum.., it's my life we're talking about here not Dad's. To hell with social status. I'm done talking about this."

He furiously walked towards the stairs.

"Andy..., Andy..." Pamela called but he had already left.