Chapter 17

"I thought you went in." I said shocked.

"Yeah I did." She muttered. "Have I ever told you I have a brother?" She asked scratching the back of her head.

"No... Is there a problem?" She had never told me of a sibling, I always thought she was an only child.

"Well can I sleep over?" She looked flustered. I wondered what was wrong cause she kept looking towards the house like there was someone after her.

"Alright hop in..." She got in immediately, before I could end my sentence. "... I don't really know if my mom would be okay with this." I completed my sentence after moving the car.

"Mhmm." She hummed in reply.

"What was wrong back there?" I asked.

"Well I have two older brothers and one is back." She said like I was meant to understand her one sentence explanation.

"So?" I asked when she didn't continue.

"Well, I don't really get along with him, he is my immediate older brother." She explained shortly. I felt like she was trying to hide something from me so I just nodded and turned back to the road while trying to think of an excuse for bringing Maurice over.

"George!!" I exclaimed as I passed his school. I quickly did a U-turn and drove into the school. Maurice didn't say a word, she was probably in her own little world right now.

"Hey George over here." I called out when I saw George coming out of the school field. He ignored me obviously and waved to his friends before getting into the car. Our relationship has been like this for a while now so I wasn't really bothered.

I shrugged and turned to move towards the car as well when I bumped into someone.

"Hey!! Why did you have to be so close?!" I yelled at the guy who was standing behind me. "Urgh" I snorted and walked out not wanting to get myself more annoyed.

"Why be such an asshole?!" George cursed from behind me as I moved the car.

"Excuse me?" I asked glaring at him through the front mirror.

"That was Jake, one of the coolest boys in your college who happens to be my best friend's brother." He replied with an angry tone.

"George this is Maurice, Maurice this is George." I said deciding to ignore his outburst.

"And who is this creep?" George asked changing the subject into something less annoying I guess.

"Sorry about him." I apologized to Maurice who by the way didn't seem to be listening to whatever was going on around her.

"I guess she is mute as well." George said when Maurice didn't respond.

"George what's your deal?!" I yelled trying my best to focus on the road and not lash out on him.

"What?! You get to insult my friend but I don't?" He replied but instead of going on with his insolence, he folded his arms and sat back.

"Hi mom, Hi dad, we're home." I shouted as we walked into the house.

"Shh, Debbie is asleep." Mom whispered as she stepped out of the kitchen. "I believe this is Maurice right?"

"Err... Yes mom this is Maurice you meet her at school once." I managed to say. I was not really scared of my parents but I was trying to not get grounded for the third time in a month.

"Hey Maurice." Mom said with a wide smile.

"Good evening ma." Maurice replied politely.

"Bella come over to the kitchen with me would you?" Mom asked. It was obviously a rhetorical question cause whether I answered or not I had to follow her. I nodded slightly and followed mom to the kitchen.

"Err... Mom..." I began talking looking for the perfect way I could propose Maurice's stay.

"Bella..." Mom spoke up as well but I cut her off before she could say anything else

"Maurice older brother whom she doesn't relate well with just came home and her parents are not home so she can't stay that's why she begged to sleep over, I know I should have called first but she was acting like it was a do or die situation so I had to accept I am so sorry mom." I said in one breath not wanting to hear what she had to say first.

Mom just smiled. "I know hun, Maurice texted us about twenty minutes ago."

Now I was really shocked, 'twenty minutes ago?', that was when we stopped at the shop.

"She did?"

"Yeah, take a look." Mom said showing me the message. "I just need you to help me out in the kitchen to prepare dinner." Mom said acting a little too jovial for her usual self.

"Alright, what do you need my help with?" I asked her.

"Help me with the muffins." Mom said.

"But mom today's menu isn't muffins."

"I know darling but first impression matters since she would be here till Monday."

I stopped mid trip from the oven to the island. Mom just said Maurice would be here for four more days. Mom had never allowed any guest, not even family, to stay for as much as three days the most was two days.

"Mom is dad aware of this?" I asked dropping the muffins on the island and pulling off the mittens.

"Yes dear, he is okay with it." Mom said carrying the cutleries to the dinning table. "Aren't you happy your friend's staying over darling?" Mom poked her head back into the kitchen and asked.

"I am glad mom." I replied softly but on the contrary I was not okay like what the actual heck. Since when did mom become so sweet and nice with her words and actions. I swallowed up my outburst and went upstairs. I didn't see George or Maurice in the living room as I passed by so I assumed they had somehow gotten along and George had taken Maurice on a tour of the house, anything was possible now with everything being so confusing.

I dialled Jenny's number on my cellphone, I hadn't spoken to her in a while and right now I really needed to.