chapter 11

Future's apartment is a two-bedroom one. The kitchen is small with a kitchen island and three stools around it. Future and I sit on the creamy couch with our glasses of orange juice. Nate and Andrew went to get food since none of us were up for cooking. In my case, I don't know how to.

"So, about you and Andrew?" I ask, trying to break the silence. No one has uttered a single word about what happened ever since we left the mansion.

"Nothing is going on between us," Future says and brings the glass to her mouth.

"What happened between you two?" I pry. She sighs and places the glass on the coffee table.

"I loved him with all of my heart, I still do. We were together for a long time. We were once close, Nate, Andrew, Tay, and E…" she clears her throat and continues.

"One night happened, and everything went downhill. We broke up, and I got a scholarship to study in London, as I told you the other day. I broke any connection that had to do with the Payne brothers. I will be lying if I said I didn't miss them, but I had to do it. I completed my studies. One night I got a phone call that my mother passed away, and I had no other choice but to come back. I thought I was over him, but when I saw him again for the first time, all those feelings came back ten times stronger. Ever since I came home, he has been apologizing, and I don't know what to do. I'm so confused, Olivia!" Future let out a sigh of exhaustion. I place my hand on hers and comfort her the best way I can.

"How come you are marrying the idiot?" She is good at changing the subject and I don't want to force her to continue, so I answer her question.

"Well, I had no choice. My parents' kind of arranged our marriage." Future chuckles.

"And the next day, he sent Andrew and Nate to my house to pick me up, and he even dared to tell me I'm dressing like I'm still in high school. I wanted to chop off his balls at that moment. I don't even know why I didn't do it." I sigh and Future looks at me with humor in her eyes.

"Tay kind of changed along the process," Future says and finishes her drink.

The sound of the door opening cause us turn when Andrew and Nate walk in with brown paper bags in their hands.

"What took you so long?" Future whines.

"Chill out, we are here now," Nate says, and places the bag on the table. He sits next to me and Andrew next to Future.

The night goes by quickly and it was now time to sleep. The guys take the guest room, and I share with Future.

****

A voice screaming resulted in me falling off the bed. I wail and run out of the room. Andrew and Nate come hurrying from the kitchen, and we run to the bathroom and find Future wrapped in a towel, wet.

"What happened?" I ask, out of breath.

"These two idiots finished the hot water. Argh!" I let out a breath. I thought something bad happened to her.

"Thank God! You scared the hell out of me." I place my hand on my chest, slowing down my breath.

"THERE IS NO HOT WATER!" Future yells and I cringe.

"You! You think that this is the Payne mansion where you take long baths, huh?" The guys stop in their tracks. I realise they were trying to escape unnoticed, but failed. I chuckle at their attempt. They turn around and smile at Future, but the look on her face screams 'you are getting it today'.

My subconscious grabs popcorn, settles on the counter, and watches the best drama about to unfold.

The guys look at Future with pleading eyes and it takes everything in me not to laugh. Andrew rubs the back of his neck.

"We can make a deal of some sort; please I'm still young to die!" I roll my eyes at Nate's childish antics. Future and I glance at each other and turn back to the guys. I have always wanted a Lamborghini and right now Nate owns one. He does not know what he just proposed. Yes, I have my money from the book, but I haven't decided what I want to do with it.

"That sounds like a good idea, good to know that there is a brain in that head of yours." Future says, tapping her jaw thinking.

"My toilet tubes need some fixing, and I have plants I haven't had the chance to plant yet. You know some of us are not rich, so we cannot afford a car, so one of you will have to drive me around. I think that is it for now." She emphasized the last words. The look on Nate's face screams 'Please heaven, take me away from here.' The thought of Nate fixing tubes or planting a plant makes me want to laugh out loud.

"I just remembered something!"

"God! Where are you when I need you?" Nate whispers to himself, lifting his hands in the air, but fails at his attempt. Future scowls at him and he shuts his mouth.

"I visit my grandmother on weekends so one of you will have to take me." Future adds.

"But I have plans on weekends and people to see!" Nate whines and looks at me with pleading eyes and I lift my hands in the air, telling him not to get me involved.

"You should have thought about that when you spend three hours in a shower." That makes Nate shut up.

"Olivia?" Future asks. It's my turn now. The look on the guy's face makes me feel bad for them, but I continue. I walk towards Nate and open my palm. He looks at me, confused, and I sigh. "Car keys." I say and wait for the volcano to erupt.

"NO!" Nate raises his voice. I knew it would not be easy for him to give me his car. That car is practically his baby. He only lends it to me after hours of convincing.

"Well, too bad you don't have a say. Now, come on. Give it. It's for three months." I say, and tuck a stray strand of hair behind my ear. Nate slowly takes out his car keys and hands them over. I tell Andrew that I only want him to paint a portrait of me, which causes Nate to whine, saying, "I knew guys hated me. You took my baby away from me but took nothing from Andrew that he will miss dearly."

Future and I ended up taking a cold shower, and I slid in one of her white blouses and black pants. We eat breakfast together and say goodbye to Future after the brothers promise they will be back to plant the plants and fix the toilet. I hand the car keys to Nate for him to drive the Lamborghini for the last time.

****

My laugh dies down when we enter the living room. My egg donor is sitting on the couch drinking wine, and Tay is busy typing on his laptop.

"What are you doing here?" I asked harshly, but I didn't care. How can one's mood change from being happy to being like...well, like this?

"Hi, honey!" Since when does she call me that? I ignore her and walk to the kitchen. I hear her yell my name, but I don't stop.

A hand grabs my elbow and turns me around.

"What do you want, mother?" I spit.

"I want to talk to you about the wedding?" Mom says, and I sigh.

"What about it?" I ask with a bored tone.

"The wedding is in three days…" I cut her off.

"So?" I ask. Honestly, I don't understand what is there to talk about.

"What do you mean, so? There are a lot of things to do. We need to invite the media. We need a venue and…" I cut her off again.

"I don't want any media on my wedding," I say calmly as ever. I will lose it if she doesn't stop talking.

"No, the wedding has to be perfect and…"

"Will you shut the fuck up? I'm tired of you planning my life. This is my wedding, not yours. Stop trying to live your life through mine. I want a small intimate wedding, friends and family, and no media! Why is it hard for you to understand?" the brothers come rushing to the kitchen. I don't know where I got the courage to talk to her like that, but I like it. Maybe the little freedom I had in a short period of time has got into my head.

"Don't talk to me like that; I'm still your mother!" Mom yells at me.

"Well, I wouldn't have talked to you like that if you haven't been a bitch all my life." Gasps are what the kitchen is now covered with. Mom's eyes are red like she can't believe I said that, and before I can do anything her palm connects with my cheek. I close my eyes, welcoming the feeling as my hand touches my throbbing cheek. I open my eyes with anger consuming my whole body and as if Tay knew what I was going to do, he grabs me by my waist before I can attack the woman, I call my mother. His hands somehow end up under my blouse and sparks erupt all over my body. I suddenly forget how to breathe. Chills run around my waist. A feeling I have never felt before. I realise Tay has way too much effect on me. Did he feel what I was feeling right now? His face is impassive when I look at him.

"Get out of my house," Tay tells mom, but she doesn't leave. I stopped trying to attack her when Tay's hands rested under the blouse.

"Now!" Tay booms and mom cringes a little and rushes out. Nate and Andrew follow her. Tay helps me to the kitchen chair and takes out a bottle of water from the fridge. He hands me the bottle, saying nothing, and I take it. I could feel his eyes piercing through my body which causes Goosebumps to erupt yet again. His face is a few inches away when I finish drinking my water. And once again my breath gets caught in my throat. He is way too close and I couldn't stop looking at him. I swear he hypnotized me. His hand slowly wraps around my waist, and I let out a heavy breath. He is so close that if one of us moved our heads, our lips would touch. We are breathing the same air, his eyes diverting between my eyes and lips as if asking for permission. He takes my silence as an invitation and slams his lips with mine.