Chapter 11

Two weeks later, school had been uneventful. People glared as I passed but one particularly bold one hit me with her shoulder. I pushed her so hard that it sent her crashing into the lockers and giving her a bruise on the side of her face and earning me detention.

She was lucky I was in a good mood else I would have thrown a few punches for good measure.

Unimportant things aside- I did have something to look forward to. Birdie had finally made arrangements for my dogs to be sent here. Though I didn't know what time they would arrive, that didn't stop me from checking the time every moment I could.

I all but ran out of the school premises when lunch rolled by to a nearby McDonalds to get food. After the incident. I avoided the cafeteria like a plague because as much as I loved drama, I intended to stay away from that particular place.

By the time I arrived at the fast food, my stomach was sounding like a dying walrus. I stupidly skipped breakfast in order to reach school early because I lost track of time this morning and it is safe to say that I wouldn't be making such a mistake again in my life.

The line was unusually long today. I came to a conclusion that the universe choose today to work against me. I ordered two cheese burgers two sandwiches and two cans of soda.

* * *

The bell rung as soon as I returned to school and it would have been a cold day in hell if I didn't attend the class with my food.

* * *

The art teacher was fortunately a kind hearted person and a little bit of a push over. He told us to paint a picture of a place that is silent for the most time of the day. For instant, a forest.

He didn't mind that we did other things in his class as long as we weren't causing a ruckus and we finished each tasks at the given time. But my problem was I didn't know how to paint.

TOBIAS

I was a good painter if I'm being modest. I skipped making an outline and painted right away.

Normally I would have been lost in the picture of a river I had visited with my sister that I was painting. But there was a certain someone that was noiselessly devouring a cheese burger whilist her pencil flew across her sketch paper.

I suspect my little sister stole my wallet (so I had to skip lunch) because I refused to give her chocolates for breakfast. It wouldn't be her first time of pulling something like that.

By the time I was through with painting, I got frustrated that I was considerably hungrier and the someone started poking me with her pencil from where she conveniently sat at my side.

"What?"

She holds up a finger and finished chewing her ...sandwich? Then goes as far as taking a few gulps from her second soda can then-

"Can you help me paint my picture?"

I frown at her odd request.

"What?" I repeat.

"I'm not good at painting-"

"That is not my problem, Georgia" I cut her off.

"George. I would give you my second sandwich"

I feel my lips tug even lower.

"I know you are hungry you are physically restraining yourself from attacking me and eating it" I felt my cheeks warm up.

"Help me paint, I would even give you the rest of my drink" she finished with a ridiculously serious expression.

She pushed the food closer to me and I lost my resolve. I collected the food and she smiled at me. Causing my stomach to flip due to the hunger.

Yup, definitely the hunger. Everyone's stomach flips whenever they are hungry.

I exchanged positions with her and started working like it was almost an instinct.

I casually took a sip of the drink, hoping to God that I didn't give away the fact that the way she was watching me work was making me feel... strange.

"You do know you just indirectly kissed me. Right?"

I whril around and saw her smirking. It dawned on my that I had, in fact, put my lips on the same can she had her lips around, I was pretty sure even my ears were red.

A straw materialized out of nowhere and into her hands. I snatched it from them, tearing the paper and ignoring her snickering.

When I finished painting her work, the bell rang.

"Thank you" her voice floats out. Leaving my stomach in knots.

"You're welcome".

GEORGE

By the time I got home, a yellow sports car was in my driveway. I opened the front door and my back kissed the floor of the porch, a pained groan leaving my lips. It suddenly felt like someone was poking my stomach and chest with sharp sticks, I opened my eyes and see my German Shepherd trying to stay balanced on me while wagging his tail furiously.

I couldn't stop the laughter that bubbled out of me even if I tried, I also tried and failed pushing my Husky away when she started licking my face.

"Totally pretend you didn't see me here..." A familiar voice drawls. I look up and lock gazes with my best friend. I manage to push my over excited dogs away and wrap her in a tight hug.

"Ouch! My poor lungs"

I roll my eyes and release her. Both of us grinning at each other like idiots.

"You smell like dog slobber" I took it as her greeting.

"Hi Robin"

She squeals and launches herself into my arms, making my back kiss the floor. Again. She stands up immediately, dusts her designer clothes and enters my house.

"Honey, are you alright?"

My mood takes a nose dive, I stand up almost tripping over General Ralph, my German Shepherd.

"I'm fine ma'am, aren't you supposed to be at work?" I walk into my house

"Not until tonight, honey" I stopped walking and turned to face her.

"Why do you keep calling me that?"

"What?"

"Honey"

"I-"

"That was the last word I heard from your mouth before you threw me into that basement"

"I was drunk. I swear I didn't know what I was doi-"

"I've heard enough. Bye"

I hurry to my room and find Robin moving about in it and randomly touching some items. I went shopping last week but didn't have the energy to arrange the things I bought.

"Your room needs some serious makeover"

"Get your hands off my stuff, Birdie" she rolls her eyes then flops on my bed while I occupy my hammock chair.

"You know today is Monday, right?"

"I'm pretty sure everyone knows, George"

"And you are supposed to go to school tomorrow. Wait did you even go today?"

She sits up slowly.

"Well you see..."

"Spit it out" I tell her with narrowed eyes

"I moved here!" She squeaks.

Silence.

"You did what?"

"Moved-"

"I heard you the first time! Are you loco?" I ask in disbelief.

"Look, Brad got a job offer at Silicon Valley and he took it up" she smiled nervously, "so here I am"

This impulsive-!

"This is not Silicon Valley, woman and do you seriously expect me to believe that Brad got offered a job that pays more than the one at Oxford under such short period of time? And even if I did I know it would take just you at least a month to move here"

"About that" she squirmed, "I would be staying with my cousin. She lives on the next street"

I gape at her, ignoring Ralph and Corporal when they started pawing through the shopping bags I littered everywhere.

"That makes absolutely no sense. Neither does it explain anything. An awful coincidence that you have a cousin that lives around here"

"Meh.."

"I need food for my mind to process this"

I make a beeline for the dinning stopping to greet Jemima while she continued cooking spicy grilled fish and roast potatoes.

After few minutes of pointless conversations, Jemima brought the food out to the table. My mother kept on stealing glances at me while we were seated with Robin and Liz was unusually quiet.

Robin then decided to engage my mother into a conversation and I kept mute, feeding my German Shepherd and Husky out of my plate.

I excused myself from the room because I had homework to do, my dogs in tow.

* * *

"Are you alright, Vampire?"

I groan from my desk in response.

"You are still here" I foolishly reply.

"For real? I didn't realize" she replies sarcastically.

We sit in silence for a while before she breaks it.

"You still haven't... Straightened things out with your mom"

"For real? I didn't-" she cuts me off with a sharp glare which I return immediately.

"That woman threw me into a fucking basement and left me there for three days. With no food or water. It is a fucking miracle I'm not claustrophobic" I say. She sighs and licks her lips.

"George, look. You may regret it one day if you don't forgive her. Look at me" she spread her arms, "my own mother disowned me because she believes I'm the cause of her divorce and my father doesn't visit me and Brad because his new wife doesn't like when he does so all he can manage is to call"

"And which one have you forgiven?" I ask and she flattered.

"Let's stop talking about our messed up parents. I have never even seen my biological father in my life"

"Yeah. You're right. It's a depressing topic"

I stand up and pull open a drawer that was built in my ottoman.

"Vodka Brandy or Tequila?"

"Do you have a watermelon to mix the three together?" She asks. Her eyes lighting up with mischief.

"Of course I do. What do you take me for?"