Troubled waters.

*Flashback*

"Pathetic. What is she? 16?"

I hear the lady whose name I believe is Sandra whisper/yell from the other room as I look around for the bathroom.

Left and then right, I let my mind remember. This place is huge, it's even bigger than his house. I walk further down the long corridor until I finally come across the right turn that leads me to the bathroom. I breathe a sigh of relief.

It's only been a couple of hours and that's not even the worst thing she's said about us. I think, "She's just a plaything, he'll get over her soon enough," was just about the most hurtful, so far. Or maybe, "She's just with him for his money, he'll realize it." I can't decide.

The conclusion here is that they really don't like me.

I guess I didn't really expect them to but I wasn't also expecting to get so much hate from just meeting them. They haven't even bothered to get to know me, they're judging me off of my age and I think that's not fair.

It sucks because I really like this guy. Yes he's a lot older than me and has kids that are older than me too but that doesn't matter to me. His money doesn't matter to me and I hope he knows that. I'm falling hard for him.

I put the toilet seat down after entering and closing the door then I take a seat on it. I let my mind wander further.

Maybe they're right, maybe I am a plaything and maybe he will realize I'm too young and he'll discard of me. I must be really naïve to think that someone like him would at all want a future with someone like me. This god of a man can get any woman he wanted in the world, there's nothing special about me. Why would he settle for me?

I guess I'd thought the fact that he's introducing me to these people who supposedly mean the world to him, that he wanted to make me a part of his life. But maybe this was all just a setup and he probably does this with every girl he meets.

He said they're a little rough around the edges but I'd very much like to beg to differ. They seem to have already decided that our relationship isn't going to work. These are the people who know him the most so maybe they're right.

I take another long breath after finally deciding I'm just going to hold my head high and try to survive today. If he wishes to discard of me after then I'll still have my dignity intact.

So I open the bathroom door to go out when,

"There you are..."

They followed me? Seriously?

"I've been looking everywhere for you, I thought you got lost. Are you okay?"

I finally take my eyes off the floor to look at my intruder. I recognize her, she was the one with slightly warm eyes. She was the only one who greeted me back when I arrived, so I let myself calm down a bit. And then,

"I just needed to use the bathroom, Rosetta told me this is where I'd find it."

My voice is cautious because even though she wasn't mean like the others, she was still with them and I don't really know her.

"Yeah of course, it's ok. I was just getting a bit worried about you and I didn't want you running away or something." She says with a chuckle and I mimic her.

"Are they always like that?"

I ask her as we now walk and after I decide she's not like them. She's got kind eyes.

She smiles and then,

"They're a bit catty because they're just overprotective over him. And I guess maybe a bit of jealousy plays a part."

"Oh, what do you mean?" We're now walking down the long corridor but we're not heading back to where the others are. I do not attempt to stop her because I don't want to go back there.

I find her statement weird but I don't react much to it. We're still walking and I'm admiring my surroundings.

"Well, when your ex-husband finally moves on you wouldn't necessarily throw a party now, would you? But I promise you, it's all because they care about him. It's really got nothing to do with you"

She says then chuckles lightly. I take a moment to look at her face. Her sharp jawline, brunette tresses, and bright green eyes. She really is a sight for sore eyes.

I'm so lost in her beautiful smile and welcoming presence that I almost miss,

"Ex-husband?"

I mean I knew he was married a million years ago but I didn't think he'd kept in contact with the woman, let alone have me meet her. I guess it would make sense why that Sandra was so mean to me, she's the ex. But I guess I need confirmation so,

"Sandra is his ex-wife?"

I ask again ignoring the clear terror in her eyes.

"Oh dear, I thought you knew. I'm really sorry, I shouldn't have said anything."

She apologizes clearly answering my question but all that does is leave me with more questions. She leads me onto a patio outside the beautiful mansion and I take a few minutes to just grasp it all.

I guess a part of me feels a little bit better knowing that it's actually not me but the simple fact that she's clearly not over him. I don't blame her, I'd feel miserable if I lost him. He told me once about the woman who broke his heart into a million pieces, maybe that's her.

I all of a sudden feel bad that I ever doubted him. This man has done nothing but show me so much love and loyalty.

"I'm really sorry to put you in this position, you don't have to answer that."

Well mostly because she already has by keeping quiet. But I do understand where she's coming from.

Aaron should have told me that his ex-wife would be here, that's on him and I'm going to have a long talk with him when we leave. But until then,

"We should probably head back, or else they'll think we're plotting something." I joke to lighten up the mood, she still seems a bit tense from her earlier blurt.

That is why,

"I won't tell him you told me." I say to hopefully calm her down as we walk back to the lounge where everyone is seated.

They all keep quiet when we return obviously because they were still talking about me. I smile this time, I give a genuine smile and then have seat across from my new friend Sandra.

I'm fresh out of high school, which means I still know how to deal with jealous bullies. Mom always told me that bullies come in all shapes and ages. And what I've learned about bullies is that you shouldn't give them the satisfaction of getting a reaction out of you, a sad or hurt reaction that is.

That is why,

"So Sandra, how long were you guys married for?"

I'm sweet, very. But I'll be petty if need be. I see her smile turn upside down at my question and I internally smile because she clearly was not expecting that. She clearly thought I'd be her next victim. I think not.

"Oh right, you didn't even last a year."

I say not just trying to be petty this time, but genuinely remembering him telling me his last marriage only lasted for 6 months. She got pregnant with a kid that wasn't his, but Aaron being the person that he is decided to raise the kid as his own. Sandra fits the profile of someone who would do that.

And judging by her shocked expression, she is.

"You know nothing little girl, absolutely nothing."

The sudden mood change has me fixing my posture uncomfortably on the chair. I wasn't at all expecting that.

"You think you're the only one to fall for his charms? Well, you're not. He's going to get rid of you once he's done with you like he did all of us." She continues now looking at the other three girls in the room and that confuses me.

She seems to sense my confusion because,

"Oh you didn't think I was the only ex-wife here did you?"

My form turns to look at Britney to see her head hung low, like she's ashamed to look at me.

"What is this?"

I ask but it comes out as a whisper.

"This sweetheart is what your man does. He gets bored and when he does, he moves on to someone else and lets you linger around to see it happen."

I don't want to believe her. Clearly she's just full of malice, but why on earth would Aaron have his ex-wives stick around in his life? I want to make sense of it but my brain can't seem to comprehend it.

I want to think that my reaction is simply due to the shock but I don't see this making sense even in the future.

I take a few deep breaths to calm myself down, the last thing I want is for her to see me tremble.

"So listen here carefully little girl. There's absolutely nothing special about you. All you are is just a temporary excitement that he'll get tired of. Looking at you, you won't even get as far as marriage. And that's on my baby's life."