Early birthday present

The next day I woke up but Emy and El were still asleep when I arrived at Mom's room.

While I waited for them to wake up, I thought about things we could do today and if they'd even want to do it.

The arcade and movie theater are options but for way later in the day. Oh, I probably shouldn't miss breakfast. I walked outside of Mom's room and into the hallway, maids are scarce early in the morning but luckily I found one dusting a painting.

"Excuse me, hello, do you know when breakfast is going to be served?" I asked her.

"For the guests, breakfast will be served whenever they wake. Mrs. and Mr. Manchester went to work early this morning." She informed me. Poor Miria and John, I hope they don't overwork themselves, having to drop in early and stay late.

"Thank you," I gave her a smile.

"Your welcome, Miss," She smiled back with a bow and went back to dusting the painting. I guess I'll have to wait for my mom and sisters to get up before eating, which will probably be a while. I guess King will eat in his room when he's ready.

"Miss Emmelyn?" I heard someone call behind me.

"Young Master King has asked you to have breakfast with him." Young master? What the ew?

"Alright, thank you," I thanked the maid and made my way to King's room. It's a lot closer to mine than to the guest rooms so it took me a good 7 minutes to get there.

The door was open so I went right in and from the doorway, I could see he was sitting on his balcony at a table and doing something on his phone.

"Good morning, 'Young Master King'," I mimicked the maid.

"Don't call me that, it sounds weird." King rolled his eyes.

"Well, what else am I supposed to call you, Young Master King?" I teased with a hint of curiosity in my voice as if calling him that was the only way to address him.

"Maybe… I don't know, King?!" King said.

"Heh, yea maybe." I laughed then noticed breakfast was already in front of me. Luckily there weren't any bugs up there yet, otherwise, I would've been fighting a fly for my food.

Grits, sausage, bacon, biscuits, orange juice. Nice.

"So, why are we up here instead of in the dining room?" I asked after a gulp of grits. Heavenly.

"Change of scenery, oh and this." King put a black velvet box on the glass table and slid it over to me. Uhm, okay?

I opened the box and staring at me was a dark red ruby bracelet.

"Holy mother son of another!" I gasped and tried it on. Crap, that thing was pretty.

"Glad you like it, happy early birthday," King said.

"Wait… what? Oh! Yea, thanks." Don't mind me over here forgetting my birthday in a couple of days, 4 exactly. I put the bracelet back.

I didn't dare take the bracelet out of the box again and glanced at it every two seconds while eating.

"You know you can take it out and wear it, right?" King chuckled.

"And spoil it with my dirty child hands? I think not!" I said defensively and then took a sip of orange juice that I'd kill for. When I leave, I'm kidnapping their cook... and Dia.

After breakfast I left telling King he could join me and my sisters 'playing' in the field, and by playing I meant doing the best thing my sisters and I used to do while mom was at work on weekends, lazily square dance.

I went back to Mom's room to see nobody there, which meant they were probably at breakfast.

"Hey Mom, El, Emy," I said as I walked into the dining hall to find them eating eggs and toast. Huh, I wanted toast.

"Hello, darling." Mom said after drinking what looked like water out of a wine glass.

"Morning Em," Emy said.

"Morning sis," El said.

"Just woke up?" Mom asked me.

"No, I was awake about an hour ago," Yea, it took me that long to leave breakfast, but it was King's fault.

"Why didn't you come down for breakfast then?" She asked.

"I just came from breakfast," I said.

"In your room?" Mom asked.

"No, with King on his balcony," I said. Mom gave me a sad smile and gestured over to her.

I took a seat on her left and let her talk.

"Baby, I'm worried about you. Don't get too comfortable with these people. It's only been two weeks and you're acting as if you've known them forever. Sweetie, going into his room and having breakfast privately with him? Please, just be careful." Worried? Tch. It isn't my fault. They make me feel welcomed and comfortable. They're my friends.

"I'll be fine mom, I'll be careful." I gave in to her request, I didn't have time to be angry at mom, today I wanted to lazily square dance with my sisters to show my excitement about my new jewelry.

Heck, I even wanted her to see my new bracelet but I don't think she'll approve. Whatever, I'm sure my sisters will like it. I'll have to show them later.

"That's great," She wiped her mouth with a napkin and kissed my forehead. I tried to push the kiss out of my forehead without looking like I was having a seizure or moving at all but when I saw it wasn't working I just huffed and moved over to sit beside Emy.

"Do you want to play in the backyard with me after breakfast? When we change into normal clothes I mean." Yea, I went to breakfast with King in my pj's. Choke me.

"Yes! Are we going to country dance!" El asked with a glint of joy in her eyes.

"We can," I smiled. Mama's little midget man really is the only glimmer of hope in the darkness.

"I'll come too," Emy said bluntly. What the what is wrong with this child! Imma slap the black back into her. She doesn't talk bluntly, she doesn't even know what being blunt is!

"You alright Emy?" I asked. She paused eating, looked up at me, then looked back down and started eating again.

"I'm fine. Go change, we'll be right out after we eat." She said, I looked at mom and she just shrugged. Uh okay....?