4

The sun had gone down and the air was a little chilly now. I woke up to some noises coming from downstairs.

I washed my face and tapped my face to reduce the puffiness as I made my way down.

Giselle was in the kitchen feeding potato puree to Crystal sitting in the high chair and making a mess. I kissed her on the cheek and made my presence known.

"Good evening Giselle." I greeted. She looked tired as she just gave me a small smile.

"Where is Amar?" I asked when I didn't find him. They both would be home by this time. So it was rare for him to not be seen around.

"He's out in the garage." She replied. I nodded as I headed to the opened door of the Garage. I could see Amar bent over the bonnet of his car fixing something. 

"What's up, brother?" I asked perched on the stool nearby.

"Hey sis. Just fixing the engine." He said not looking up at me.

The silence prevailed before he raised his head and looked at me with a frown. "Is everything alright?" He asked.

"Yeah" I shrugged.

"You sure? How is school going? Did you make any new friends apart from Sarah?" He questioned.

"Yes, school is going great. And no I didn't make any friends other than Sarah."

"Why is that? You know socializing is good, right?" He further added.

I shrugged again. "I don't think I need new friends right now."

"Fair enough." He nodded as he got back to work.

"Can I ask you something?" I hesitated before I let out what was agitating me for a long.

"Yes, Arabella. You can." He said.

"I..." Just say it already Arabella! My mind scolded "I wanted to find a job, Amar and I needed your permission."

Amar again looked at me with a frown. "Why? Why do you want to do a job? You can ask me for anything and I'll get it for you." He looked hurt and perplexed. I didn't want to upset him. "Am I not providing for you enough?"

"Amar this is not the reason!" I exclaimed. "I don't want to be a burden on you! I am old enough to earn. And it has nothing to do with you unable to provide for me or for us!"

"Really? How old are you?" He probed.

"16 and will be 17 in 6 months." 

"Exactly. 16 and a half. I don't want you to worry about anything Arabella. You just focus on your studies." He stated and I sighed.

"But—" he cut me off

"No buts Arabella. We will talk about this after you at least turn 17 okay?"

I nodded my head but then remembered how the guy from earlier leaned onto me just to ask me to speak up.

"Yes," I whispered before moving out of there. 

Maybe he was right. But I will convince him. I don't want to sit idle at home when I can work and provide for myself.

I walked back inside and saw Giselle now sitting on the floor with a very active Crystal playing with blocks.

I could see how tired she was. Dark circles surrounded her eyes.

"I'll take Crystal out for a walk. You can go have some rest Gisele" I said picking Crystal up who was suddenly excited at the mention of going out.

This girl just always wanted to go out and have fun.

"Be back till six and stay within the vicinity." She instructed. Giselle also looked at me with a grateful smile before kissing Crystal's head and going inside her room.

I wore my coat and made her wear hers and went out of the house. We walked side by side along the sidewalk and even waved at Brenna who stood out on the porch.

We reached the corner and just as we were about to turn, a cycle whooshed past us, scaring us a little in the process. I wanted to shout some colorful words to the jerk but I had Crystal with me. I didn't want her to learn something bad, not from me at least.

I smiled down at Crystal trying to calm her when I saw the guy on the cycle coming back towards us at a slow speed. Maybe to apologize.

As he stood near us and removed his helmet, I wish I just had moved forward or better yet, wouldn't have stepped out of the house. Why?

Because it was Maverick who stood in front of me with a weird smile. Seeing him brought back memories from today and my blood almost boiled at the sight of him. Just what was he doing here?

"Hey Arabella," he said as he wiped the sweat off his face and got off the cycle.

I just gave him a forced smile. "Hi, Maverick."

"I didn't know you lived here." He said looking around.

I shrugged. "I could say the same to you"

He nodded looking down at Crystal and giving her a smile as well.

"And who is this little beauty?" He scrunched down on his knees.

I didn't want him near Crystal.

"My niece," I said

"I see. What's your name princess?" He cooed and Crystal made a face

"Don't call me princess. Only daddy calls me princess." She said in her broken baby voice.

He laughed and stood back up. "Ok..."

"Crystal" I completed. And he nodded.

Where do you live?" He asked me

"Umm... Down the lane." I pointed back at the street we just turned from.

"I see. I live right there." He pointed at the two-story house some couple of houses away. I nodded, not really interested. 

"It was nice meeting you Maverick. We need to head back." I suddenly said not having anything to say to him anymore. 

"Sure. I will see you around. Goodbye then." He said and taking as our cue to leave, I held Crytal's hand and turned to walk back.

I didn't want to turn and look if he had left. I didn't want to give him ideas. I just hoped he left and not checking out my ass like most guys do. Ugh.

Crystal asked me who he was, and I told her, he was my classmate. We entered the house and I removed my coat and hung it back and did the same with hers.

Today was very weird.

—

We were having our dinner silently when Crystal turned to Amar who had her on his lap.

"Daddy you know we met a boy today!" She exclaimed excitedly and I palmed my face.

"Really? When?" He matched her enthusiasm but looked at the both of us questioningly.

"When Ara and I went for a walk Daddy." She pointed at me and as much as she looked cute at that moment I wanted to slam my head somewhere when I realized I forgot to ask her to not mention it in front of anyone. How can this little devil not share any detail with her father? She was a true daddy's princess.

"Really? Who was he, Arabella?" Amar looked at me like he wanted me to spit it out already.

"It was just a guy from my classmate, Maverick. We met him when we went for a walk." I shrugged trying to seem as nonchalant about it as possible.

"Okay. But you know, no dating Arabella" he reminded me and I rolled my eyes.

"He is just an annoying classmate Amar. Nothing else." I whined.  Maverick and my boyfriend? No way in hell!

"And I am just stating." He shrugged.

"Stop it, Amar. Let her be." It was Giselle this time who spoke.

I glanced at her with gratitude before focusing on my dinner.

—

It was yet another morning when I walked in on my brother and sister-in-law kissing the hell out of each other. Can someone tell them to get a room? I rolled my eyes as I grabbed a can of juice and got out of the house. Fishing out my phone, I dropped a message to Amar that I was heading to school and started walking in its direction.

As I was about to cross the road, I heard my name being called. I looked back to see Maverick running in my direction, waving at me. I almost groaned.

Way to start the day! Ugh, why god why?

I gave him a forced smile like always as he reached near me.

"Hi." He said breathlessly and I replied with a small hello as we started walking side by side. I didn't want to but it would be considered plain rude if I didn't.

When we neared the school, he asked me what subject I had in my first unit and I told him, whatever came to my mind.

"Okay, then I will see you in Math class." He stated before running off in the opposite direction. Maverick was just plain annoying and never get the hint that I am not interested to talk to him.

I walked to my class silently when I saw Sarah coming my way, wearing a scarf around her neck. I frowned. It wasn't chilly at this hour of the day. I wondered if she was sick.

She reached me and gave me a hug and her yet another dazzling smile. "Hi."

"Hi yourself," I said. "You okay?" I pointed at her scarf as we made our way to an empty desk.

She looked at me like I was some dumb question to have asked her about her existence. Did I ask something wrong? Did I ruin her fashion sense by questioning her choices? 

"You are really asking me that?" She raised an eyebrow with a mischievous smile on her face.

"Uh." I was dumbfounded. "I am sorry if I offended y—" she cut me off.

"I am hiding my hickies, stupid." She whispered yelled and it hit me. My eyes widened as I looked at her with embarrassment. I had no words.

"You're looking at me as if you haven't gotten one before" She chuckled.

I cleared my throat. "I haven't. Ever." Her head whipped so fast and she looked at me like I was some kind of an alien.

"You're kidding right?" She looked at me with doubt.

I nervously smiled and shook my head. "I am not. I never had a boyfriend." I cleared out.

"What?" Sarah looked like she couldn't process what I said.

Was it a crime to not have a boyfriend or not have a Hickie?

"Arabella—" before she could say another word, the professor walked in and everyone quietened down.

"This is not over." She warned me playfully before concentrating on the front where the professor stood handing out sheets of our essays.

—