Chapter IV : " No you don't have to keep it under lock and key."

With a ‘thud’ I hit the floor. Tears were at the brink of my eyes as I held unto my elbow, which I was sure would leave a bruise. I glared up at my 'Prince Charming' as my lips tighten thinking of all the ways I would harm him.

"What's going on here! "The cried came from my mom who now stood by the door.

"Sorry, Mrs. Ditton. She slipped and fell suddenly, you know how much of a hopeless klutz she can be. "Athier spoke, answering Mom's unasked question and earning a deadly glare from yours truly. Talk about killing two birds with one stone.

"Malia Ditton... you have a lot of explaining to do. "She says not even worried about the fact that I fell and was hurting; The pain had somewhat subsided. I attempted to stand up and Athier held his hand out to assist me. I wasn't falling for the same thing twice. I stood up by myself with a lot of effort.

"Thanks, Athier, for bringing her back. "Mom said dismissively. Athier only smiled in response, he proceeded to wave goodbye and drove away, not before giving me an amused smirk.

I'm going to make his life a living hell if we get married, I concluded.

"Inside now. "Mom declared rather sternly

I all but shook in terror.

Sitting down on the bed, I lowered my head as Mom marched back and forth from across both ends of my bedroom.

"I can't believe you.", she expressed. "You left your engagement party with no notice. Do you know how worried I was?" She ranted. "And your excuse is that you went to get cake?"

"Technically, there's no party without cake." I defended but immediately regretted it, for it earned me a glare and I'm partly sure worsened my punishment.

"Why?", Mom asked, I did not get the context of what she was referring to, hence I rose an eyebrow and sensing me ponder she continued,

"What aren’t you telling me?" Her tone went crestfallen, "Am I not someone that you can't tell the truth to? "Her eyes softened.

She sat down next to me and enveloped my hands in hers. Seeing her like this saddened my heart. I didn't want her to feel this way, but she wouldn't understand.

"If there is anything you would like to tell me, I'm all ears. I'm here for you and you know it, " she spoke sweetly yet failed to assure me. "It’s normal to feel slight nerves when getting into an engagement but you shouldn’t run from it. And you shouldn’t rebel in such a way."

I wanted to tell her it wasn’t just nerves. I just didn't know how, so, I remained silent.

"Come on, princess, you can confide in me. " She implored using the nickname my dad used for me.

"I was kidnapped by my boyfriend for two years and taken on an impromptu date, to get some fresh air from the burden life has." I blurted out.

Mom's expression turned from compassion to abject annoyance.

"Mo... I started, but she interrupted me, standing up abruptly.

"You know what, don't tell me." She walked out.

I hit the back of my head on the bed. I hated myself making my mom upset but what could I do. I would make it up to her. I made a mental note.

But, I hadn't forgotten about him yet and he would pay for tonight.

***

I walked out of my bathroom and landed straight on my bed still in pajamas and a messy bun. I pulled out my phone from under my pillow and strolled through my messages. Just then a message notification popped up.

Ethan: Good Morning, you up?

Malia: Morning, I’m up.

Ethan: How’s the house arrest going?

Malia: Not bad. I just can’t think of anything to do to get mom to lift the ban.

Ethan: That’s tough.

Malia: *rolling eyes emoji*

Ethan: *Laughing emoji*

Malia: Ugh, are you coming over today?

Ethan: … Nah I’ve got a race today gotta prepare.

Malia: Oh Okay.

Ethan: I’ll see you tomorrow.

Malia: *satisfied gif*

“Malia!” my mom’s voice yelled for me. “Yes mom!” I shouted back.

“Come downstairs please.” She cried one last time. I nodded in response.

Malia: Mom’s calling for me.

Ethan: Alright, I’m leaving for practice right now anyway.

I tossed my phone on the bed scuffled out and went to where I was beckoned to go expecting to me met with mom's warm appearance. Only the first person that came to view wasn’t mom, he was an unwanted guest.

Athier stood in my living room, groomed for his visit. He wore a stiff smile like he had just lost a lot of money on the stock market and was gonna hire a gangster to beat up the man who gave him the tip.

“What are you doing here?” I inquired brushing off my initial surprise and becoming hostile. “Bored?”

Athier combed his hair using his hand and shrugged, dropping to the parlor couch casually.

“I called Athier over. And watch your tone, did you wake up grumpy?” Mom replied coming out of the dining room fully dressed with a bag on her shoulders and a car key in her hands.

"You're going to spend some time with Athier. I have a business meeting and I thought you would like the company." Mom addressed.

“I don’t need a babysitter.” I turned to her, tilting my head.

“I know you don’t. Just think of this as getting accustomed to your husband to be.” She said in a hurry, rushing for the door. A car horn blared from outside the door. “I have a meeting with clients and I’ll be home late. Please both of you behave.” She said before shutting the door after herself.

“Goodbye, Mrs. Ditton.” Athier greeted.

He stayed silent once she left , strolling through his phone for a while. He dropped it after some time and stared at me. “Why doesn’t your mom trust you to be by yourself?” He asked with a tone that seemed genuine.

It might be somewhere between the lines of me almost burning the house that one time and the other where I flooded my bedroom. In my defense, I wasn't to blame for the latter. no, the creators of headphones and music and dance were to blame. And maybe the fact that humanity hasn't created taps that turned off by themselves.

I didn’t have the courage to tell him that. I would not be looked down upon by him.

"Seems I'm stuck with you again." I brushed off his question, sitting down on another sofa at a right angle to his in contemplation.

“Ethan said something about racing today. Do you have any plans on going to watch?” Athier inquired, not once turning my way when asking the question.

“I’m on house arrest,” I said cherishing words like 50 years old wine. Athier nodded in response and fell silent again.

"Ugh," I exclaimed, frustrated after minutes of silence.

"What's up with you?" he asked. I stared at him, contemplating whether or not to tell him. I gave in.

"Mom is upset I left in the middle of our engagement," I replied.

"Is that it? I'm sure she'll get over it. Parents might get angry at their kids but it doesn't mean they don't love them. "

I smiled bittersweetly at his little kindergarten lecture.

"Still, I want to figure out a way to say sorry to her." I said turning him into a temporary confidant.

“Why would you want to apologize for walking out of an engagement you find suffocating?” He pried, finally looking my way.

This time I fell silent.

"I know a way." He said. He stood up, came over to sit beside me, and pointed at my lips looking intensely at them. My breathing became hushed as I awaited his advice.

"What is it? " I whispered.

"You open this,” He said gesturing at my mouth. “And, you use it to say, I'm sorry." He said making fun. I tightened my lips, and he smiled. At his smile my face softened, he looked good when he smiled, deceivingly good.

"I don't want to say it. I want to show it. "I explained exasperatedly.

He looked at me silently contemplating then said. "Feed her," he said.

My eyes squinted and focused on him. He was crazy. Mom wasn't some dog.

Noticing my confusion, he sighed. "I didn't mean it like that. I meant when my parents are angry at each other, usually, the solution is to treat the other to food. Works every time."

I processed that information thoughtfully, considering it. It wasn't a bad idea. It was a win-win situation. I make mom food, she becomes touched by the gesture of good will and eventually she'll lift my restrictions.

Plus, I would get to eat brownies. Yes, I'll make brownies, it been a while since I took brownies. Sweet, sweet brownies. I began to drool.

You're doing this for Mom remember, I told myself.

Yeah, yeah, I replied to me truly, the picture of me eating brownies still clear in my head.

I had to get to work. I jumped up from where I sat using Athier's lap as support.

He rose his hand in surprise, in a way that it seemed a lot like surrender. I would never accept surrender. I would have my revenge but now wasn't the time.

I derailed, back to the current situation. "Get up," I ordered. He creased his eyebrows.

"Why?" he asked, standing to his feet despite his initial reservation.

I smiled cheekily. "We are going shopping! "

He landed back on the couch with a 'flop', staring at me like I had just said the most unbelievable thing he had heard in his life.

“Dressed like that?” He questioned.