Chapter 2

- MARYANN

My Dad is tall, dark-skinned, and handsome like my brother. He's a fifty-year-old man with short brown hair. They could pass for siblings because my Dad takes care of his looks more than anything. After all, he's a banker.

"Ann, I hope we will be home before the party gets underway. But you should stay locked in here. Don't go near any of Mike's friends. He says they will have a pool party, and he will invite the chef who will take care of everything. Just stay here. Please," Mom begs me.

"Mom, that's not possible. I will not stay here. It's my brother's party. So I will join in the preparation," I say stubbornly.

Dad strides into my big pink room, and I greet him, "Good morning, Dad."

"Maryann, your mother is right. Mike is having a party here. I already told him no because of you. But he says he will keep an eye on you. I don't trust your brother. Neither do I trust his friends. You should stay put here. I will get lots of gifts for you. Just name it. But you cannot join that party or meet any of those bad boys who are your brother's best friends."

Dad's face looks grim as he adds, "Since Mike turned eighteen, you know I stopped him from hosting any pool party here. It's all to ensure he doesn't influence you. He doesn't host a simple party like the ones we do for you. He hosts big parties and openly kisses and fondles girls. You should stay put. If you go there and any of his friends takes advantage of you, you will bear the consequences alone."

Mom folds her arms across her chest as she meets my gaze, waiting for me to agree with their protest.

I pout and look away. "Fine. I will stay put."

Tears pool in my eyes and Mom grins. "It's fine. I will let you be. I will be home on time. When I return, we can join Mike in his party. Alright?"

"Alright, Mom." I force a tight smile and watch my parents rush out of my room. They are running late for work.

How do they expect me to stay inside my room when my brother is having a birthday party at home?

Mike already told me he's soon going to buy a new house and this is the last birthday party he's going to celebrate here in Mom and Dad's house.

I weakly move back to my bed and sit down, as I lose interest in continuing to brush my teeth or bathe.

I hear Mom and Dad screaming at Mike. "Mike, ensure that none of your friends go near Maryann. If anything happens, we will hold you accountable."

"Got it, Mom and Dad. You both worry too much. Maryann is eighteen. You two should stop preventing her from making friends. She cannot explore the world by constantly staying indoors."

Mike speaks back to our parents. He's blunt, stubborn, and he wants me to join his party.

"Mike, I will be home on time. Ensure that no one goes to the top floor. You should only use the guest room downstairs. And don't bring those two girls who are your girlfriends to my house," Mom shouts from the stairs as I hear her voice echo in my room.

"Got it, Mom," Mike replies as I hear my parents' footsteps departing from the top floor.

My brother's room is across from mine on this top floor. I sigh and move to the balcony to watch my parents leave the house.

However, as I walk to the balcony to stand there, I remember that I heard the sound of a car arriving before.

Standing beside his red sports car, Sunny Easton shuts his car door and peers up at my balcony.

Our gaze locks and my heart races faster. He's wearing a white top and black baggy jeans that he sags paired with white canvas shoes. He greets my parents as he sees them hurrying out of the house to meet him in the driveway.

My Dad owns two blue cars, while Mom owns a black Jeep, and Mike owns a red sports car. However, I don't own a car yet because I haven't taken a driver's lesson. I'm too scared to drive a car and fear I could hit someone on the way.

My parents stop as they see Sunny arrive early.

"Good morning, Mr. and Mrs. Matthew," he greets them, lowering his head.

"Sunny, you're here," Mom stops and asks him as she looks him up and down.

It's been three years since I saw Sunny. He plays soccer with Mike's team, the Red Valley Club. He's more grown than he was three years ago when I saw him last. His arms are well-built with strong muscles like my brother's. His chest is partly exposed in the white top he wore that hugs his bicep.

Mom looks Sunny up and down and frowns as she contemplates sending him away. He looks charming and attractive with his short haircut. He's brown-skinned, and I cannot believe how he has changed.

"Are you here for Mike's birthday party too?" Mom asks Sunny. Her voice is cold and interrupts my thoughts.

"Yes, ma'am. Mike invited me. Though he says the party won't start until six p.m."

"So why are you here early?" Mom presses. Her voice is thick with irritation as she doesn't want any man near our home.

Sunny looks embarrassed. Before he can say another word, Mike rushes out of the house to speak for him.

"Mom, you and Dad are going to be late for work. Sunny and I have something to work on with my laptop. So I invited him over."

Mom's expression darkens as she looks at Mike and then at Sunny.

"Stay away from my daughter. I don't care if you are Mike's best friend or not. Just keep your distance from my little angel," Mom says loudly as my face burns hot from the top-floor balcony where I stand watching them.

I cannot believe she is warning Sunny openly to avoid me. How many boys has she warned to keep away from me? I don't have male friends because my mother thinks of all of them as bad influences, except for my high school friend, Ruth Clement. Besides, Jessica doesn't allow me to make other friends. She is a bully and constantly does things to annoy me.

I am surprised she didn't follow Sunny here to my home.

"Mom, how can you say that? Sunny sees Ann as his sister. You are just too paranoid. Get going and stop bullying my friends!" Mike shouts back and Dad warn him.

"Mike, you don't talk to your mother like that."

"Then tell her to stop chasing my friends away."

"It's okay, Mike. Your mother is right. Besides, Maryann isn't a little girl anymore. I will keep my distance from her," Sunny says to Mom, and a wave of relief crashes over her features. She looks ready to chase him away.

Now I understand better why Mike's friends stopped coming over to visit him. Mom is the one chasing them away.

Tears pool in my eyes, and I quickly dash away from the balcony. I cannot allow Sunny to see how broken I am or how his words to avoid me affect me.

I used to admire Sunny. For a long time, I had a crush on him. But he's my brother's best friend. He doesn't talk to me. Even though he knows his sister bullies me, he only comes to see Mike.

I rush to my bed, sit down, and cry as I cannot disobey my mother or meet any of my brother's friends. I have to stay put in my room until my parents return at six p.m.