CHAPTER 9

"I've missed you, Ellie" Luc said sweeping me into a crushing hug. Seeing him at my doorstep after such a long time was shocking to say the least. It took me a few seconds to actually register what was happening before I could return the hug.

"I've missed you too. Why didn't you tell me you were coming back?" I asked. Luc had gone for a training program in another state for his company a few weeks ago. Since that time I hadn't really heard from him so I was surprised to see him all of a sudden.

"I wanted to surprise you obviously," he said lightly chuckling.

"So after all this time, Now you decide to show up?" Michael said giving Luc a cold look.

"Michael...Good to see you" Luc said giving him an equally cold stare. I gently grabbed Luc's arm and gave it a small squeeze. Luc turned to face me and stared at me a bit before backing down. He smiled, clasped my hand and turned to Michael.

"Let's continue this later. Right now my girlfriend is more important than whatever you have to say to me" he said and turned to the door pulling me slightly. Micheal looked like he was about to protest but I sent him a sharp look and watched him sulk slightly before turning away.

So damn protective.

I know Micheal meant well but I couldn't stand another muffler in my life. Luc was the only one my parents seemed to trust and they were fine with a lot of things so far he was there. That newfound freedom was akin to an addictive drug I couldn't get enough of.

We made our way to the table and Luc sat between I and my mum and Jade and Michael sat opposite us. My father took his seat at the head of the table and he asked Jade to lead grace.

As Jade stood, she cast Luc a hard stare which made me realize my dad just made a mistake.

"Dear lord, I thank you for this wonderful food set before us. My hope is that as we eat we appreciate what we have now and not the worthless trash of yesterday. Amen"

After a chorus of awkward amens, Jade sat down while smirking at a silently fuming Luc. I honestly couldn't figure out where Jade's sudden animosity for Luc came from.

At the beginning of our relationship, Jade had no problems with Luc. She was just as happy as I was about getting together with him. But then after he cancelled a few times on plans we made together, she started saying how these were issues a should take up with him. I was fine with it as I knew how important his work was to him, but jade just refused to see reason. I understood she cared but right now I really couldn't afford a catfight between the two.

I squeezed Luc's hand under the table silently begging him not to react. He generally lost his temper with Michael but he couldn't argue here.

"Well now that Jade has given that Interesting prayer, let's all eat and enjoy a normal family dinner,"

Yes, Just a normal family dinner.

"So Luc... How are you finding your job? We haven't heard from you in a while," my dad said awkwardly trying to dispel the tension in the room.

Settling into an easy smile, Luc immediately replied "Yeah I had to monitor the program I was working on," Luc said

"Maybe if you monitored your life, your stank butt wouldn't leave Ella all the time," Jade retorted

"Michael, pass the pepper,"

Luc's jaw tensed.

Shit

"Well, what I do is really important,"

"More important than Ella?" Jade argued

"Of course not! It's just that I'm really busy an-"

"You're too much of a workaholic to spend time with Ella,"

"No, it's just-"

" Stop making excuses! You have no idea what has been going on with her for the past month!"

"Well, I-"

"Both of you please stop this!" I said. This was quickly escalating and I didn't like where it was going.

"No Ellie since he's such an AMAZING boyfriend let him answer a few questions. Just to prove he doesn't have you mixed up with whatever stupid program he has going on. First up, an easy one: When's her Birthday?"

"January 16th"

"Favorite food?"

"uh-"

"Favourite movie?"

"It's umm-"

"What did she eat this morning?"

"Ah, French toast with tea"

How did he-

Jade narrowed her eyes.

"Ok.....at does she love the most?"

"Easy. Me" he said smirking at her "I'm the Earth to her moon"

Awww- wait what?

"The same way she's perfect to me," he said staring intently at me. I felt myself heat up and covered my face to hide my embarrassment.

The nice moment was immediately ruined by Jade's scoffing. Her face mirrored exactly what she thought: Utter trash.

"She does not revolve around you. You're barely even around the make a lasting memory. Even my toothbrush has stayed longer than you have at her apartment,"

"Look, I don't care what you think. Whether I'm around or not is of no consequence to you," Luc argued.

Micheal growled. Everyone immediately turned to face him. He had been quiet the entire time. Hardly sparing me a glance, he devoted his attention to Luc staring at him with unbridled anger written all over his face.

"You have said a lot of bullshit since you came but seriously? What we think about you is of no consequence? As long as Ella feels like she still wants you in her life, everything you do affects us personally. So to hell with whatever work you have. Ella may "love" you but her friends are always in her corner,"

He said slightly out of breath.

"And they love her even more than she could ever know," he said more quietly staring straight at me.

I stared at Michael with shock clearly visible on my face. I always knew my friends cared but hearing it was a completely different matter.

I didn't deserve such people in my life.

Luc scoffed

"Well how about you g-"

"ENOUGH" my dad roared. We all turned to my fuming father. His left eye was twitching, a sign he was well and truly pissed. Not even my mother, who was frantically tugging his sleeve, could calm him down at this point.

"I honestly thought we could have a nice dinner with friends but clearly that's not happening. Michael, and Jade I am thoroughly disappointed with your behaviour today. I think it's time for both of you to leave.

I bristled at that. This was the first time he had ever gone to such drastic measures before. I desperately tried to think of something but my mind drew blank.

"But-"

"Leave. Now."

My mom sighed.

"Micheal, Jade I'll see you out,"

My mum got up and Micheal and Jade followed her out reluctantly.

Not before Jade poured soup all over Luc though.

As I said just a normal family dinner.

After they left, I immediately turned to my dad silently fuming.

"Was kicking them out really necessary?" I asked

"It's obvious that your friends need to cool off" he said not sparing me a glance. He turned to Luc and immediately offered his apologies on their behalf.

I couldn't deal with the both of them at that point so I muttered a good bye to which my barely responded. Luc on the other hand assured me he would come to my apartment in a bit and that I should head out without him. I left and made my way to the car.

I had already driven to the gate and was on my way but Micheal called saying Jade had forgotten her phone and that they were coming back. Thankfully they hadn't gone that far and we're almost there.

Sighing, I parked my car walked back to the house. The smell of freshly cut grass told me Mr. Davidson had been here recently. I felt myself calm down and I began to think back to all what happened at that disaster.

I honestly didn't know what I could do to make my friends and Luc find common ground. These pointless arguments had to stop.

Did I feel frustrated that Luc was constantly away? Yes.

Did that mean I wanted my friends to assault him? No.

Jade was more violent than usual and as for Michael...

I didn't really know what to think about him. He had been acting so strange lately. I felt like he was casting an invisible wall around him specifically meant to keep me out. He seemed to put more distance between us. The way an art collector admired a work from afar was akin to Michael behavior.

Shaking my head, I entered the house and went to the dinning room. I checked the chair Jade sat on and found it on the floor next to her chair.

She always seemed to forget something.

I turned to leave but I heard voices coming from my Dad's study as I went through the hallway. The door was closed but I could make out shadows from underneath the door. Generally, I make it a rule to respect other peoples privacy so I turned and left but then someone spoke to my dad.

"Respectfully...safe...cameras... Ella...work"

Luc? I guess he's still with my dad. Why was he talking about me?

I pressed my ear against the door and what I heard next changed my life for better or maybe for worse.