I let out a sigh and drank my juice in one gulp. I let out a breath of the refreshments and saw my Dad's eyes full. "Yeah, I'm totally fine." I lied, answering my Dad once I was out of memory lane. My other Dad, Wayne, left for work early in the morning. So, it's just the two of us.
I'm not subtle at all.
"Honey," he set down a gallon of Sunny D bottle. "Ever since you went to L.A. for that girls' weekend out with Effie and the girls. I let it slide for you to skip two days of school. But, pumpkin, you've been acting weird. Daddy and I are very worried."
I cringed and stopped halfway through my chocolate chip pancakes.
I couldn't tell my dads I stayed over at Effie's grandfather's home. I did tell them the truth about Effie's long-lost grandfather. But I had to lie to them about everything else. I feel sick to my stomach lying to two of the most incredible people in my life because they trusted me. I couldn't tell them that Effie was abducted by Heather Seely, the popular girl of our school who turns out to be a psychotic bitch with a capital 'B" with a mind of a crazy person obsessed with Logan and only him. Then she was saved because her grandfather put a tracking device in her necklace and told her the truth about him, and it became a big family reunion - well, I wasn't there because I had to go back and tell Kareem the wedding was off.
I didn't want to get all the disturbing details, but Heather was in disguise to befriend Effie and get her hands on Logan. I was scared for Effie's life and prayed to God to bring her back home safe. She doesn't deserve to die yet. Although she cheated death three times, it's like she can't die that quickly. My best friend, Effie, endured a lot of traumatic events, and she stayed strong, though she felt neglected after her parents' death. But when Logan came into her life, she became the person she was loved and adored.
I wish someone like that could make me a better person. I don't want to name a name.
I've learned that Odin King is a crime boss from London, a billionaire who owns a five-star luxury hotel called Olympus, where gods and goddesses are born. The hotel is all over the popular hotspots from Las Vegas to the island paradise of Hawaii.
At first, I was in denial hysterically, but their trademark silver eyes made me think twice about him. Odin is not evil. He's a nice guy for a crime lord. He has watched Effie and her siblings for a very long time after her parents died. He couldn't take care of them because of what he does for a living.
Watching all those crime shows and movies made my mind clear of things. Not all gangs are dangerous; just some want to do good for the community and protect the people in your life. Sure, gangs are bad news and would always be, and I would still have to be cautious of my surroundings when I walk alone at night - which I sometimes do after my after-school activities, and my dads are too busy.
There was this video on F******k that two ex-members of a Latino gang help the community by serving the homeless with the food they make. My first expression was wow, but I rethink those two men differently as I watched the video. I shouldn't be judged just because they have so many tattoos and used to be in a gang, and I shouldn't be assuming.
This reminds me of someone who also has tattoos.
Before Odin scared off Kareem that day, he told him I was already engaged to the one person who didn't even want me - Liam Wolfe.
That asshole who makes my head spin like crazy. The bastard who palpitated my heart as it hammered at the rib cage of my body—the jerk who dates other girls in front of me only to hurt me.
And it works!
That one time, while having a dinner date with Kareem, I spotted Liam with another girl. We caught at each other and went on a heated moment where it led us into the alleyway between the restaurant and another building, and I gave him my virginity.
The first time I had sex was with the guy who made my heart race, and then he shut me down by saying he doesn't do commitments.
What the fuck does that mean?
I was hurt. Rejected. And did I say hurt?
I finally have him within my grasp, only for him to cut me off, shut me down and throw me away like a toy. And it was the first time he didn't protect himself, so I wasn't sure if I could get STD from him when he was inside other girls. Who knows? Maybe those girls got the crabs or something. I was too ashamed to see a doctor, so instead researched all the symptoms and followed instructions on how to be prepared for the worst. Since that day, I check myself in the bathroom to see between my legs and observe. I let it go when nothing is happening, but I have to be sure otherwise.
"Well," I sighed as I rose from my chair. Looked at my half-eaten plate. I wasn't hungry, possibly because of Odin and his announcement. Now I'm just waiting for the storms to hit. "I got to go."
"Do you have your club today?" Dad asked, taking the plates into the sink as I picked my backpack up.
"No, but I'll be going to Effie's house after school. We still have to rehearse for the end-of-the-school-year play before we can practice on stage."
"Oh, that is right" Dad pulled a smile. "You were cast as Princess Jasmine. I know I'm going to sound racist, but you make a perfect Jasmine because you know...your Indian.
I chuckled. "You're not insulting Dad, but Jasmine is Arabic. I'm Indian. We may look the same but different in culture." I look down at my phone for the time. "Okay, I got to go."
"Okay, sweetie, love you and have fun at school. It's your last year and...and..." My Dad's voice breaks as his lips quiver. Oh my god, here we go. "Oh my god, my baby is going to graduate and soon will go to college, and then I will never see her again," he turns his body to face the kitchen countertops as I hear him cry.
I blew a sigh and groaned. "Dad."
"I'm sorry," he sniffles. "I know it's part of growing up, and I knew one day I have to face it."
"I only have six more months until graduation; I still got time to pick out colleges," I assured him, not to make him more worried than he already was.
Once my Dad turned, his eyes were watery. "Okay," he sniffled, grabbed the hand towel, and blew his nose. "Six more months, half a year...half a year..." he bawls out and cries. "Half a year...my baby, my sweet princess is going to college, and I will never see her again," he winched, making an ugly crying face I've seen every time he does this.
I love him, but he was overwhelmed with his emotions.
I inwardly rolled my eyes and groaned. "I'm going," I grabbed my car keys from the table near the door, unhooked my jacket off the rack, and headed out. I felt the cold air of December in California brush against my skin and quickly out of my warm coat. Once the hot weather died, it finally hit the chilling season of the year.
Winter.
It's time for those warm sweaters and comfy UGGS boots. I have tons of warm clothes to be prepared for winter. My Grandma Birdie lives in Big Bear, California. She moved there because of the snowy weather and didn't like the drought happening in Long Beach. It is bipolar, she says, like her cat, Chester. She saved my grandma's grey and white Himalayan cat when he was kept inside a box outside of the cold at a young age. I'm not too fond of that cat; he's evil and mean and fat. I swear when that cat looks at me, he wants to scratch my face if I get too close to him. He is just lazing around like the fat cat he is. Sometimes when I tried to go out and play in the snow, that bitch would block the door, and if I wanted to move him, Chester would angrily hiss at me. Then when Grandma Birdie picked him up, he would indulge her and acts sad like I did something to him. I say that cat is a pro at acting like a bitch. But grandma loves him, so I can't do anything to him. I'll wait until he dies of being overweight or having a stroke, and maybe Grandma can get a dog instead.
Once I shut the door, I could hear my Dad crying, which made me sigh a bit from his exaggerating sensitivity to things that make him cry. On my eighteen birthday, he called, making the whole dinner party awkward. I was surprised Effie didn't mind; she seemed calm when my Dad would whimper each time he asked her a question. Sometimes he does that, like when pregnant women are emotional because it is crazy. I wonder if I get pregnant and act like that. I'll completely understand the challenges of a new mother. I know Athena, Effie's older sister, and she's only two months pregnant, and a bit of her belly is showing. I'm so excited for her; she is carrying a child with her boyfriend, Rex, whom she loves very much. I know Effie and Ares, their brother, can't wait for their niece or nephew to arrive. Effie has told me they are combining the houses into one, so it would be easier than just walking from house to house. I mean, they were practically going to be a family soon. Hence Effie is
"Oh! Hey Lil," I turn to hear Effie's voice. Logan hides his face in her neck. Probably kissing it. "I didn't see you there. Babe, stop." She giggled slaps lightly on Logan's arm."Hey, Lily," Logan said to me when he looked up and then went back down, wanting more.Logan wasn't done from their make-out session and was now kissing her neck. It was easy for him to have access since Effie but her hair. I was shocked to see that style, and she did it herself. I asked after that day at her grandfather's house, and she told me she wanted to start fresh in her life. Now that she is no longer in danger, she tried to make a new life with her family, Logan, and her friends - including me."Didn't want to bother you guys since you're doing that in public," I told her and shut my locker. "Hey, why did Paris smile at you?" Changing the topic.Effie pushes Logan telling him to stop. When he groaned, he maneuvered his body behind her, wrapped his arm around her, and rested his chin on top of her hea
I took a step back only to hit the bed I was in, turned around to have my feet get caught by the edge of the bed, and fell face first. "Shit," I hiss. I heard a moment as I stayed on the floor, wishing I was invisible, but it was too late once I listened to his voice. "Lily?" Words left me as I stayed on the floor and put in a sour face that I'd been caught. After hearing his prince-like voice, I rose off the ground and felt a sharp pain in my ankle. Fuck! I got a sprung ankle. "What are you doing here?" Was that all he had to ask? This is a fucking nurse's office, not your room, so that anyone could be here. I didn't say a word; I didn't want to turn around. I always knew he would be with some other chick but catching him having sex with another female student. I shouldn't be surprised. It's Liam, after all. He and Logan may be twins, but their personality trait is off. I grabbed my bag off the bed and stepped, only to hiss from the hard pressure point on my right ankle. "D
I woke up to the sound of noises coming from outside the door.I rose slowly, feeling the weight of exhaustion from school and club meetings. There has been so much going on I never get enough sleep, but somehow I feel refreshed.I grabbed my phone off the side table and sat by the ice pack filled with blue liquid. I removed it in between my sleep once I realized the coldness had faded. The illuminated screen on my phone shone my eyes. I squint to look at the time and see I have slept for five hours; the school has already ended for today, and not only that, but twenty missed calls from Effie and 40 texts from Effie and Clark. Then it became a group message, and everyone, and surprisingly Liam, wasn't answering all but asking each other where I was. It seemed they formed a search party for me that I forgot my phone was on silent. That is until one text from Athena told everyone to shut up and added that I was there.Clark isn't here at the moment. He has an early thanksgiving break at
Effie slowly rose. I grabbed her hand quickly before she stormed out and cried out. "Effie, don't!""Liam has just crossed the line," she bellowed. "I can not believe...the nerve of that guy."I watched her chest rise and fall, angry and upset simultaneously. "Effie, Effie," I pulled her back on the bed. "It's okay.""No, it's not okay." She yelled but not at me. She's crying because of Liam. "How can my grandfather agree with him? How could he-""Odin gave five days for his lawyer to talk to my grandparents," I said. "There are two days left, and I have not heard a word from them.""What is my grandpa thinking?" She exhaled and grunted. "I don't even know how he knew you like Liam.""Wait, you didn't tell him?" I arch a brow."No, I was in my room the whole time and with Logan, as we...okay, I'm going to say it - have sex."Now both of my brows shot straight up."Yeah, that day we finally did it." She sounded proud and happy."Well, if you didn't tell him, then who did?" I asked with
The next few days were ordinary, but for someone like me, with too much on her plate is exhausting.Throughout each of my classes, I was in a daze, lunch I hardly ate, and in my gardening club, I thought I was cutting the ends of each flower. Still, it turns out I was Morticia from The Addams Family cutting off the flower and eating the petals without realizing it. It was terrifying to the club members that they thought someone had died in my family.Yeah, my heart.I don't know what is wrong with me. Letting Liam go from my heart and life just drained my soul, leaving me lifeless and a real-life zombie.I sighed.Looking away from my textbook while reviewing my exam, I glance at my phone beside my arm, waiting for a call or text. Today was the day Odin's lawyer talked to my grandparents, and I had not heard from them the whole day. For the entire day, I was worried about something else; I was anxious to know how they would react to the news. They are probably mad at me because I'm no
So, I called her and stood from my chair facing the wall. "Hello?" I could hear myself croak, so I cleared my throat and repeated. "Hello, Nani?" She told me to call her that when we first met each other. The term means grandmother in India, and she wanted me to be affectionate towards her."I assumed you know why I had you call me at this hour?" Seema's voice was stern and angry, although she calmly answered and gave me a chill.I thought grandparents were supposed to be loving and hug all the time like Grandma Birdie, but Seema and Birdie are the total opposite of each other. It is how they were raised differently."Yes, Nani.""How on earth are you engaged to another man?" Her voice squealed like a pig. High tone. "It doesn't make sense that some other man claims to be your fiancé and works for Odin King. How do you know him?""Odin King happens to be Effie's grandfather," I said to her."I can not believe all this," she scowled on the other end. Then I heard you speak her dialect
After Dad and I talked and discussed making another room for the nursery, he also wanted to know if I've ever come up with a baby name. I never really thought of it. With my life full of shit happening, I haven't given one second of what I should name the baby. I still have around seven months. How hard can it be to name a baby? Wow. A baby. Me. Having a baby. And with a Wolfe. Oh god! I just felt the world spin forward. It was hard to believe that I was going to be a mother. Just the thought of a bit of human inside of me I'm going to be taking care of, feeding, putting to sleep, then the sleepless nights - oh no, I won't have any time to relax. But luckily, Dad said he and Daddy Wayne would do it for me because I'm still in high school and need my sleep. Later I drove to Reid/Wolfe's house and saw that the two-combine houses were almost done. It's only for a few weeks, and it looks like a mansion compared to the houses next to them. I parked and turned off the ignition, and l