Chapter 8

                                                                         -Sierra

Today was Friday and I happened to still be 'sick' so I was in bed binge-watching on N*****x. My bed was a mess, my hair was up in a bun and I was in pajamas. Although nothing ever seems as interesting to me these days, I insist on watching television to pass time.

Just when I had found my comfortable position, Courtney opened my door and gave me a disappointed look.

"I can't take this anymore, You've been doing nothing since Saturday. We need to take a walk to the Farmer's market now and get groceries, the fridge is half full," she said sternly and I felt compelled to do what she wanted me to because she was kinda right.

My curtains aren’t open and my room is a mess.

"I'm coming back in five minutes and you better be ready." she deadpanned and slammed the door. In fear of the six-year-old, I immediately got out of bed and scurried through my closet to get my hands on the nearest cloth.

I put on whatever random bullshit my hands landed on and got a bundle of money then stuffed it in my purse hurriedly.

By the time I got out of the closet, Courtney had just opened the door and was looking at me like a general examining a soldier. I stood in tension and she stood in front of me and narrowed her glaring eyes at me.

"Okay we can go now," she motioned for me to follow behind her and I let out a sigh of relief.

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The farmer's market was a fairly short distance from the hotel so we were walking. I put on sunglasses because I've been a vampire for the past few days. I haven't seen the summer sun in quite a while.

There were college students and teenagers hanging out with their friends, and couples going out. Happiness and love filled the air. Although the scent was refreshing, it still sent a pang to my heart.

Little do they know that their loved ones can betray them at any time. That their happiness and love could disappear in a matter of seconds.

I swayed my attention away from them and suddenly an enchanting scent filled the air. It heightened my senses.

From the crowd derived a guy with a black mask.

Crap!

It was Xavier.

I couldn't hide because we had already made eye contact and it would be too embarrassing. Besides, I;m wearing sunglasses so I can just act like I didn’t see him, right?

So, being Sierra, I decided to walk past him and ignore the beating heart of mine that was making a hell lot of noise. Does that thing even have a snooze? I get it, I get it, my mate is around but settle the fuck down.

As I was pursuing a plan of walking away, I forgot the little detail beside me who had a liking for Xavier.

"Prince Xavier!" She exclaimed and ran to hug his legs.

He lifted her and carried her to his side.

Shit!shit!shit!shit!

“Courtney, how are you doing?" he asked as she removed his sunglasses and put them on her face.

“I’m fine. Sierra, look it’s Xavier from the ice cream shop.” She said excitedly as I grimaced because I had the inability to smile right now. Despite his mask, I knew he smirked at me and looked directly into my eyes.

My heart rate only accelerated. I wonder how that smirk would look without that mask on. He’s probably hiding something grotesque under that mask.

The more I looked at him, I began to notice just how tall he was. He was like seven feet. He definitely towered over everyone else though it was kind of attractive- I cut myself off as I mentally slapped myself for thinking of such a thing but it's only natural that my mating instincts awaken around him.

"Prince Xavier, escort us to the farmer's market,” Courtney said joyously as she grinned broadly. I wanted to dig a hole and rest there for the next 100 years.

"No, I'm sure he has some important busi-" he cut me off. "At your service Princess Courtney,” he said and started walking in the direction of the Farmer's Market.

Why are they both so stubborn? They're a horrible combination, horrible I say. I thought to myself as I followed behind them gripping my purse angrily.

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We were currently at our last stall, a ground root stall. There was a fifty-something-year-old woman grinning widely at us. "You are a really beautiful family," she said smiling at Xavier who was still carrying Courtney then her eyes darted to me.

"Ma'am, you're mistaken, we're n-" Xavier cut me off when he pulled me to his side. My heart was already acting crazy but now it was on a rampage.

"Thank you ma'am but I think my two favorite girls take the whole cake on the topic of beautiful," he said and she blushed. I was frozen.

I soon realized the situation and stepped away from his grasp.

How can he be so pretentious? The last time we met. He was as cold as frozen metal now all of a sudden he has this other persona.

He’s ambidextrous- (Sierra considers anyone who can do two completely different things properly, ‘ambidextrous’ even though she knows the actual meaning.)

The kind lady gave me my beets and Xavier paid. "You don't have to," I complained and he acted like he didn’t hear me and he gave her the money.

"I want to," he said simply and we started heading home since we were done with today's shopping.

Xavier was carrying the heaviest bag. Although I told him I should carry it since Courtney didn't want to get off him, he still insisted.

We were out of the market and I decided to end our merry journey here. "Okay Courtney, we should get going," I said grabbing the grocery bag from Xavier. "No, Xavier said he would escort us home." I was now ticked off.

This heartthrob and this smart alec have been pushing me over the whole day and I don’t want this guy to know where I live. I motioned for him to give me the grocery bag as I glared at him. He smirked and handed it to me.

Fuck, it was much heavier than I expected so it took a while for me to actually lift it properly.

I gave Courtney a stern look and she let go of Xavier accepting to come down.

We parted ways with Xavier and headed back to Fi Le Hotel

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We reached a fair distance to the hotel and I put her and the grocery bags down to catch my breath.

"Great! I finally got you a chance to go out with Xavier and you blew it," Courtney exclaimed while pouting and crossing her arms in front of her chest.

"Courtney, I've told you countless times that I'm not going to get married so I won't date," I said squatting in front of her to reach eye level.

The sad truth is that I don’t think I’m desirable anymore. I’m a tab bit too broke to be loved by someone so why try? Although Xavier is an arrogant jerk who probably thinks I’m playing hard to get, he’ll probably lose interest in me the moment he knows everything. I’m already shocked that he knows I work at a strip club but is still consistent…I think.

"Why don't you want to? Everyone your age does it," she said angrily and I caressed her cheek.

"Courtney, when your older you'll understand that people aren't what you make them out to be," I said looking her dead in the eyes.

"You just have trust issues," she said pouting.

“Maybe.” I gave in and she started walking again so I was forced to follow behind her.

This is going to be a long evening.