Chapter 5

"Aren't you going to answer your phone?" Emily asked.

Giselle's phone had been ringing ceaselessly.

"I'm not ready to talk to her now." Giselle said.

"Who?" Emily asked, confused.

"Jake's mom." Giselle answered and Emily furrowed her brows.

"Jake's mom is not my mom." Giselle said after a deep breath.

"How do you know that? "

"Jake told me. We were having an argument about something and it just came out of his mouth. I can't believe she told her son and didn't feel the need to tell me. My dad also kept it from me," Giselle said, and her eyes widened. "This explains why she never gives me the nourishing tea," Giselle said, the last part more to herself.

"Nourishing tea? "Emily furrowed her brows.

"Yeah." She turned to Emily. "She always gives Jake what looks like a herbal tea, three times a week. She said it'll nourish him, but she would never give me. Tell me Em, I'm I not fit to be nourished?"

"My mom gives me a herbal tea too." Emily said, turning to look at Giselle. "She would always say it's healthy."

"See? I'm the only one who doesn't get to drink the nourishing tea." Giselle said, getting exasperated.

"My mom is hiding something from me. My dad showed up at our house yesterday." Emily said.

"Oh my God! Are you okay? " Giselle asked.

"Actually... I don't really know. I used to think that if I meet him, all my problems would go away, but it seems they are just beginning." Emily answered.

Giselle shook her head slightly, her eyes fixed on the road.

"How did he even know where you live? And why did he just show up at your doorstep?" Giselle asked. She turned to Emily, then quickly faced her front.

"I don't know. He said he came to protect me." Emily answered.

"From what? " Giselle asked.

"He didn't mention. He went upstairs to discuss some things with my mom and I'm pretty sure it was about me," Emily answered.

When they reached the mall, Giselle parked the car, turned it off, and pulled the key out. They both came out of the car and Giselle central-locked it before they started walking towards the entrance.

"You should try finding out what they are hiding from you. " Giselle said as they walked in and started their search for pretty and suitable dresses.

An hour later, they stepped out of the mall with a bunch of packed clothes. Giselle opened the car, and they dropped the clothes in the back seat.

"Hey ladies." They heard from behind, startled, they quickly turned around and saw two muscular guys standing right in front of them.

"How can we help you? " Giselle asked.

"We're glad you asked. Give us your phones... And we'll take the car too. " One of them spoke, taking a step back to glance at the handsome car.

Giselle scoffed at his words.

"If you'll excuse us, we have somewhere to be at the moment. " Emily said and tried to enter the car when the guy grabbed her arm.

"Let go of me. " Emily struggled to free herself from his firm grip.

"Let go of her. " Giselle punched the guy holding Emily in the face, surprising both Emily and the guys, his hands going straight to cover his nose as he winced in pain. His nose had been broken, as blood kept running out.

The second guy raised his hand to hit Giselle, but Emily was quick to catch to it on air. The guy screamed in pain and she quickly dropped his hands; her hand printed red marks on his wrist.

Giselle and Emily hurried into the car, Giselle started the engine and drove the car.

"What the hell was that? " Giselle asked.

"I don't know. " Emily stared emptily at her front.

"You burnt his wrist with your hand."

"I don't know how it happened." She turned to Giselle. "And how did you learn how to throw punches, by the way?"

"I'm learning martial arts. " Giselle said

"Since when? " Emily asked, a little frown on her forehead.

"Since the day Jake threatened to slap the living daylight out of my eyes." Giselle drove with her eyes fixed on the road. "If he dare lay a hand on me, I'll beat him into a pulp!"

"When will you two ever stop fighting? " Emily said with a sigh.

"Never." Giselle said, nonchalantly, "What time is your shift? " She asked, changing the topic.

"I'm two days off. " Emily answered.

"Great! Then we have all the time in the world." She smiled brightly. "We should go to an eatery. I'm starving."

*******

"Why are we here? " Emily asked, looking outside the window.

"To eat of course. I'm hungry, aren't you? " Giselle asked, looking at Emily.

Of all the places in Darksun city, Giselle wanted them to eat in 'Nich's eatery?'

"Gee, this is my workplace."

"What's the big deal? Today's your off, isn't it? And I'm sure you like the chicken burger here. " Giselle said and Emily nodded slighty.

They got out of the car and stalked towards the restaurant. "Hey Em," Emily froze as she heard Mike's voice, "You really should go home and rest. I'm sure you are tired and you need enough rest... "

"She's with me. " Giselle said.

"Oh," Mike chuckled, "My bad. " He smiled at Emily and it made her feel kinda weird.

Mike showed them where to seat and hurried to where ever it was he was going. Giselle called Elsa's attention, and she rushed to their table. She greeted the both of them and her gaze fell on Emily.

"Oh, hey Em," Elsa said and Emily waved, forcing a smile.

Elsa cleared her throat and asked them what they would like, Giselle told her, and she nodded before leaving. Soon Elsa was back with two freshly smelt chicken burger and strawberry-flavored yoghurt.

"This tastes really good. " Giselle said with a mouthful

"Mmhmm. " Emily kept stuffing the burger in her mouth. She sipped her yoghurt to make the chewing easier because her jaw was already hurting.

"Slow down hungry lion, the food doesn't have legs; it won't run." Elsa sharpened her gaze on Emily. "Don't tell me it's your first time eating a delicious meal." Elsa smirked and walked past them.