Samuel's POV
The sound of heels fades, and suddenly there is an eerie silence. However, I never heard Ariana's apartment door closing. This forces me to go check on her.
Earlier I had planned to check on her later, as I wanted to give her some space, but now it seems a bit unnecessary.
Opening my door, I find her sitting on the floor with her arms wrapped around her knees. She is resting her head on her knees.
She raises her head when she notices me standing in my doorway. Quickly, standing up, she wipes her tears.
"I am sorry, all that noise must have disturbed you." She apologized while not meeting my eyes, as she figured that I might have heard everything.
Suddenly, the thought of Justin comes to my mind.
"Where is Justin?" I ask, not trying to hide the fact that I didn't hear anything, feeling worried that little boy might have heard all this.
"He is at his friend's house." She sighs, "Thank God he was not here. Even though this would not have been the first time he might have witnessed something like this," she says quietly, feeling embarrassed.
My heart sinks, thinking about the hurt Justin might have felt by hearing such stuff.
"I have to go and pick up Justin." Cleaning her face to get rid of remaining tears, she goes inside her apartment and comes out a moment later carrying her car keys.
"Can I drive you to Justin's friend?" I ask her because I don't feel okay letting her drive all by herself when she is still upset because of the argument she had with her mother.
"Please, let me." I quickly add when I feel she is going to decline my offer, "Because I don't think you should drive when there is so much going on your mind."
"Thank you." Giving me a small smile, she hands me her car keys.
I start driving to the address which she has given me, as we sit in silence. From my peripheral vision, I notice she fiddles with the ring which she is wearing on her thumb anxiously.
"I am not that much of a bad driver, and I promise you will make it back home alive." Momentarily, I glance at her, "However, I can't promise you will be walking away unscratched." Intentionally, I press the brake abruptly, making the car slightly jerk, then start driving normally.
Her nervous expression turns frightened. And I can stop myself from laughing at her terrified face.
"Asshole." She slaps my arm and then starts laughing as well.
Just a few minutes have passed when she exhales loudly.
"Dad adopted Justin when he was one year old." Without looking at me, she suddenly starts speaking, "He completed our family. I was so happy and instantly fell in love with him the moment Dad handed him to me. I clearly remember not being able to put him down for the entire day. When dad died, I was so lost, even though he was hardly four years old, but he took care of me. He used to sit in my lap, hugging me until I felt better. He used to sleep with me at night because he didn't want me to feel alone. When my own mother was not there for me, he was there for me." She sniffles.
"Then how can she says he is not my brother?" She starts crying, "He is not a burden. He is my life."
Pulling the car off the road, unbuckling my belt, I pull her into a hug. After a few moments, her crying subdues, and she leans back in her seat.
"I am sorry..." She looks embarrassed.
"It's okay." I smile at her, letting her know I don't mind her crying.
"This means we are officially friends." Raising my eyebrows, I point at my shirt, which is wet from her tears, "So don't gross out when I wipe my snot on your shirt while crying over the loss of my favorite football team." I joke, which earns me a smile from her.
Watching her smile gives me a sense of comfort. Even more, I feel glad that I was able to bring back a smile on her face.
Samuel's POV "Samuel!" I crouch down just in time to catch Justin as he comes barreling towards me. "Hey, buddy, what are you doing here at the hospital?" Picking him up, I ruffle his hair. "Momsis brought me here." He makes a face. Glancing away from him, I find Ariana filling some paperwork which the nurse has given her. Panic flashes through her face when she doesn't find Justin beside her. Frantically, she looks around and then visibly relaxes when her eyes land on us. Walking to her, I sit beside her with Justin in my lap as she narrows her eyes at Justin. "What I had told you about running away?" She sternly asks him, causing him to shrink and
Ariana's POV I still can't believe I agreed to this stupid plan. "Samuel, I think this a bad idea." Shaking my head, I look at him, "Mom will instantly figure our lie." God! She was furious to find that I have a boyfriend, who is not Greyson. The only response I get from him is a slight twitch of his lips, resembling a faint smile. My anxiousness increases the moment I watch mom sitting in the car, waiting for us, as we walk outside the airport. Samuel turns to me, halting me in my steps. He suddenly kisses my cheek, my breath hitches in my throat. Leaning away, he smiles down at me while tucking my hair behind my ear. "Relax, Kitty," he says softly,
Ariana's POV I braid my hair, ignoring Samuel's gaze on me, which is really difficult as he is just sitting and staring at me while I get ready. However, it doesn't feel weird. It feels like this is our routine when in reality, this is the first time we have even spent so much time together. I am trying damn hard to look decent and presentable in my mother's eyes, so she spares us with her remarks. I am used to her behavior, but it is different with Samuel. I don't want to give her any chance to insult him. He is already doing so much for me, and he definitely doesn't deserve her rudeness. Suddenly, his hand grips mine, stopping me, then without any warning, he unbraids my hair. "No!" I shake my head, trying to stop him, but he has managed to release
Samuel's POV I watch Ariana, and this is the first time she looks happy while talking to someone since we have come here. She wasn't joking when she mentioned to me that she dislikes her family. I haven't met every one of them, and even I can say that they all are prudes. "Samuel, meet Misha; she is my cousin." Ariana comes to me and places her hand on my arm, "And Misha, he is Samuel." "Hey." Misha smiles, "I am glad you came with her; at least my husband will not be the only one at the receiving end." She laughs, making Ariana roll her eyes. "Ariana and I, we nearly are the outcasts of the family." She points to herself and Ariana, "I am married against their will, and well, now I feel she is also going to walk on the same pa
Samuel's POV Running my hand through my hair, I take a large sip of the beer. The chilled beer bottle, hanging by the neck between my fingers, completely contrasts the heat on my skin as the afternoon sun is at its peak. It has been a long time nice I have been on vacation, and it feels nice just to relax without worrying about anything. When I made my mind to accompany Ariana, I would not have thought how much I needed this vacation for myself away from my routine life. Ariana brings out the Samuel in me, which was lost with the time. There is something about her that makes me want to be myself again. Even Dad noticed this change in me, which also made me realize whatever happened with me three years back has also deeply affected him though he never showed. "Hey, man!" Kei
Samuel's POV We got back into our room, but since then, she hasn't spoken a word. The silence of Ariana is something that is bothering me, and I have never seen her so quiet. However, the fear in her eyes is hard not to miss. Is she afraid of me? Before I can ask her what is bothering her, my eyes travel to the bruising appearing on her arm as if someone has grabbed her harshly. Placing my hands on her knees, I sit in front of her. "Ariana." I swallow as my eyes flicker to the bruise, "Did I do that to you?" I point towards her arm as I recall grabbing her arm. "No." She blinks an
Ariana’s POV It seems like Justin’s heart felt that I needed him, so a few moments later, I got a message from Rose informing me that Justin was missing me and wanted to talk to me. Instantly, I video call him because it feels like ages since I have last seen him. His face comes before my screen, and instantly my mood gets better. “I love you, baby.” I smile quickly, blinking away my tears because seeing his face wants me to cry more. “I love you too.” He replies, then frowns, “Are you crying, momsis?” “Just missing you, bunny.” I don’t lie to him about crying because he always manages to catch my lie. “I hate it when you cry.” He sadly pouts. “See,
Samuel's POV I eye Becca up and down as she runs her fingers over my chest while pushing herself towards me. She glances at me with those fake innocent eyes while biting her lip. "Why don't we do something fun just to pass the time, since you and me, we both are alone, huh?" She plays with the button of my shirt. "I am with someone else," I answer her, pushing my hands inside my pockets, waiting for her to back off. "But I don't see anyone here." She shrugs uncaringly, running her other hand on my arm, "Other than you and me." "We can surely enjoy ourselves till she returns. I promise we will have a good time." She winks. "Something which you can't have with her."