Chapter 4

"Shel", I heard my mom calling me.

"Yes mom", I replied and walked ahead to see her holding Ash in her arms. I smiled at the little girl and held my hands towards her to see if she would like to let me hold her. She smiled and threw herself in my arms with a slight giggle escaping her mouth. I chuckled and ran my fingers through her hair.

"Come on", Mrs. Jackson said and gestured for us to sit down. I took a seat beside my mom and set Ash on my lap but she jumped down and ran upstairs.

"Careful on the stairs, Ash", Mrs. Jackson hollered after her and watched her go up.

"What would you like to drink, some coffee, tea, juice or a soft drink?" Mrs. Jackson asked and started to get up to get us something.

"Water will be alright, Cindy. We just had breakfast." My mom answered and smiled at her. Dad nodded when Mrs. Jackson glanced at him to see if he wanted something else.

When she looked at me, I smiled and nodded too.

"Let me help you, Mrs. Jackson", I got up and smiled at her. She smiled back and started to walk towards the connected kitchen. I followed her and took the chance to look around the house. Even though they only came yesterday, Mrs. Jackson decorated the living room pretty well.

She handed me three glasses and opened the fridge to take a bottle of water. I set the glasses on the table and she filled them with water.

"So, how old are you?" she asked and arranged the filled up glasses on a red tray.

"I'm 17, Mrs. Jackson", I answered politely and watched as she took a packet of chocolate cookies and arranged some on a white plate. She placed the plate in the tray.

"Oh, don't call me that, I feel so old, call me Cindy." she replied and lifted the tray. I chuckled and followed her back in the living room.

She placed the tray on the middle table and handed my parents each a glass and handed one to me.

"So, do you like it here?" my mom asked Cindy and took a sip of her water.

"I like it so far, it's calm. We were living down the other side of this place and it was a problem for Max to get to school on time every day, so we thought of moving here, a bit near Max's school." she answered.

Late, my foot. He was never late for school. He liked to come late in classes. He was always hanging out with his friends before his classes and then he would take his time to get to his classes.

I remember once, he was kissing Sandy, the queen bee and also the head of the cheerleaders, near the lockers without caring that Mr. Hemsworth, our biology teacher was glaring at him, his face red with anger. He was taking his time to get in Mr. Hemsworth's morning class. He even got detention for a week that day.

"By the way Shelly, do you by any chance go to the same school as Max?" she asked breaking me from my thought.

"Yes", I smiled at her but my smile disappeared with my mom's next words.

"Oh, don't you know, Shelly is dating your son." mom gushed out and dad looks a bit pissed. That look was expected from dad, considering the fact that Max was definitely not the type of boy that I may like. And my dad knows that very well. I am his princess after all. He knows me more than my mom. I know I messed up. I should have denied what Max said outside but I did not get the time to react with Max's annoying gestures.

Cindy turned to face me, her mouth hanging open for a while, her eyes wide with shock. Yeah, exactly, this is how I felt when Max said that. A slap to the face. Being the center of attention, I hoped that the concrete ground below me would open up and swallow me up completely as I felt my cheeks on fire. You can't blame me. I have never been in such an awkward situation before with my parents talking about a certain bad boy who happens to be my boyfriend in their mind.

"What? Oh I'm so happy", Cindy squealed and hugged me tightly. Oh god, calm it woman. This is surely not what I was expecting from her. It looks like there's someone else who is as crazy as my mom.

But I find it weird how Max is so different from his mother. Cindy was like an angel, gentle, sweet and caring woman. Even Ashley was such a nice little sweetie.

Just then we heard a loud noise from upstairs. Cindy, quickly alerted, jumped up and ran up towards the ruckus. My parents followed after her to see if they could help in case there was a problem. I rolled my eyes and followed them too. 

Cindy pushed a pink door open and gasped at the sight in front of us. I had to blink a few times to adjust my eyes in the room. It was so pink. I could easily tell that it was Ashley's room.

Max was lying down on his back with Ashley on his stomach. His face was covered with baby powder and he had lipstick on his lips. Oh how much I love Ashley right now.

Ashley was tickling him and he was thrashing around trying to stop her. Oh so that was the loud noise. Max fell down. I burst out laughing when I saw the face of Max. He was of course embarrassed being like that in front of us. I couldn't stop. It was so funny.

Max Jackson, the school bad boy and player, attacked by his little sister who gave him a makeover. And not to forget, Max Jackson is also ticklish. I fell down on the floor, unable to stop my laughing fit. Soon, my parents and Cindy also cracked up laughing but stopped when they noticed the glare Max was sending my way.

I noticed it too but for some reason I couldn't stop laughing. This was so hilarious. I can't seem to be able to digest the fact that a little five year old girl has been able to tackle Max to the ground and did this to him. He got up and walked towards me while wiping his face clean with a pink towel. My laughter died down and I swallowed on my saliva.

"Run, Shelly", I heard Cindy telling me and pushing me towards the door.

"Go, princess. Don't let him catch you." my dad winked at me and I can't help the smile which made its way on my lips. This is how I like my dad, joyful, childish, and annoying and a great teaser.

Without wasting another minute, I ran downstairs, opened the front door in a hurry and rushed down the street. I felt Max hot on my tail. Don't look behind. Don't look behind. Don't look behind. I kept repeating this in my head.

I ran as fast as my legs could take me. But as soon as I turned left to enter the park entrance, I screamed when I felt Max's muscled arms wrapping around my waist from behind.

"Gotcha", he whispered in my ear. I shivered and looked at him. He perched a little bit down and wrapped his free hand from behind my legs with his other hand still around my lower back.

I yelped and squealed when he lifted me up and carried me bridal style towards the park.

I was shocked and looked up at him to see him smirking at me. His face was now cleaned up but a slight pink lipstick was till noticeable on his lips with a devilish smile playing on his pink lips. I wonder how his lips would feel like against mine. Would it be soft and gent - I shook my head to get that image out of my head. What the hell, Shelly? What was I even thinking about? Oh god, will you please help me here? I think I'm going crazy.

"Do you think I will spare you for making me run all the way here and for laughing at me, babe?" he asked me, his voice husky and playful.

My eyebrows furrowed thinking over his words, confusion clearly visible on my face. When he saw my face, he grinned even more evilly at me.

Just then he stopped and I looked around myself. My eyes widen when I realized what he was about to do. He was going to throw me in the cold water. Oh hell no, I thought. 

"No no no no, please", I begged and pouted. 

Almost everyone falls for my puppy face. I hope that he will too.

I wrapped my arms around his neck tightly when I felt his arms loosening. Of course, my puppy face did not work. I buried my face in the crook of his neck and held on to him with all my might. If I'm going down, he's going down also. Yeah, that's a great idea. I will see how you throw me in there now, Max Jackson.