Chapter 49

      It was sunset and I was still sitting in uncomfortable silence with Xavier. He spent his entire day watching boring TV shows and playing video games.

      I had no idea if he had lunch, I only know he had some pancakes in the morning. I stole glances at his face whenever he was not looking, he had no idea how it was killing me to be ignored.

     I've never had Xavier ignore me this way before, he always played silly pranks and although they were all annoying, it made us bond.

      His eyes flickered to me and he turned his face the moment my eyes held his. My phone jittered in my hands and I accepted the call, it was mom.

    "Hi, mom."

    "Emily. How are you? How's your brother?"

    I looked at him, "he's fine. I am too, You and dad have been out all day."

     "Yeah, we didn't want to disturb your sleep."

   "Oh."

   Not sure of what to say, I grinned and moved my fingers through my hair and waited in silent.

     "Your dad and I won't be coming home tonight."

     "Why not?" I asked, my curiosity getting the better part of me. "You guys went to meet James too."

    "We just had a brief chat with him, Sweetie, your dad and I just have to finish up  here."

      That doesn't sound good. Mom always tell me what's happened even if its a bit, she did let me know and even on time.

"Okay." I gave up.

    "Make something for dinner, there are a few things in the fridge."

     "Don't try to sneak around, James' bodyguards are outside and would let us know if you try anything," Dad added from the background.

     Imagine.

   James creeping around isn't enough, right?

    "Right, I know we're grounded," I rolled my eyes. "Uh, bye, I've got to make dinner, remember?"

     "Love You."

    "Love you too mom," I replied and the call disconnected.

    "What did they say?" Xavier asked for the first time in 10 hours.

     So he can talk? Was thinking something cut his tongue or he forgot to brush and was scared of killing me with his bad breath.

    "They're not coming back, I should, well we should make dinner."

     "Hm," he murmured. "And something about not sneaking out?"

   "Right," I replied. My phone buzzed again and I let out a sigh. "What now? Make breakfast too?" I asked returning to where I dropped my phone.

     It wasn't Mom's call, it was James. "Fucking hell."

     I picked the call up and when it connected, I stood still waiting for him to talk.

"Hello?"

"Yeah."

"Emily?" He called when he heard my voice. I was so pushed to call him James in response but I didn't.

    And why the hell is he not sure of my name? I can sense that, it was almost as if he was thinking well before trying not to make mistake.

    "Emily, are you fine?"

   "Obviously, do I sound otherwise?" I snapped.

     Good thing my stepdad is not around, he would see every good reason to tell me not to be rude even if I was abandoned. Well not technically abandoned, I left with my mum and he never called or tried to reach me.

    "Not really. I was just wondering, thought of checking up on you." James said after a few silent.

    "Good thing you know how to," I replied belligerently.

     "Can you just give me a chance? I know I haven't been the best but I can make it up."

     "Right, you haven't been the best," I replied bluntly.

   "You seem unhappy with me. Would you consider coming to visit me? We can get along better if we're alone."

      He didn't mean that. If he did, then I could swear on his balls that he was just trying to be a hypocrite.

And moreover, I might go to rehab if not jail for an attempted murder of he survive.

      "Emily I can change your school if that's what you want, I can get you a car too, to drive to school yourself."

     "I don't have a license and I don't fucking need anything from you."

     The words came out meaner than I originally planned but I didn't care. He had no right to disappear, come back when it was convenient for him, and try to take me from my family. I wasn't a property that could be moved whenever its owner came around, there was no way I could stand him.

     "You don't need to worry about a license, I can deal with that. Just make a car choice," he blurted. Of course, he blurted because he had no idea how stupid he sounded.

      "You know what?" I started. "You should forget about me and deal with your problems, I'm sure you have so much of that in your life to take care of."

"Emily."

     "I have to go, I need to get back to what I was doing."

I ended the call before he could say a proper goodbye and tossed the phone away. Talking to him was the exact thing I needed to switch my mood.

      "You didn't have to talk to him like that, he's still your dad," Xavier chirped looking at me.

      Was he being serious? And who the fuck asked for his opinion cause right now, I don't remember ever asking.

      "Why don't you want to talk to your Dad? Is he that bad?"

     I took a step closer to Xavier who was already standing and my jaw clenched. I couldn't deal with any more questions. "Good night," I grimaced and walked out.

      "No, wait! you have to make dinner, I'm starving."

     "Then make it yourself!" I fired from the room. I walked straight to my bedside and threw myself on the bed. I wasn't sure why I felt a turbulent flow of emotions but I needed to breathe.

       I remained on the bed, with tears flowing down my eyes. I turned to face the wall so Xavier wouldn't have to ask any more questions than he was already asking.

       I couldn't force myself to sleep as I had done in the previous days. Insomnia came at me when I needed a break. I kept turning uncomfortably till I decided to see a boring show till I fell asleep.

       I walked to the sitting room. Xavier wasn't there and I had no idea where he was. I shoved my hands into my hoodie to keep my tits warm. I turned to scan the room but I heard a door squeal. I walked in the direction of the sound and it was my parent's room. my eyes caught the door, it was opened.

     I had no intentions of sneaking around but since I was having a hard time sleeping and getting some peace, I could just whirl away time here.

     My stares caught a brown envelope on the bed. I bet I didn't see it when I initially came into the room earlier.

I walked to the envelope and picked it up.

    "Sneaking around has never been right," a voice called.

      I flinched and turn, it was him. His face didn't look as bruised as it was that night, he was closer to me than he has been in days. I swallowed the lump that formed in my throat. "Stalking isn't a good thing either."

     "Who says I'm stalking? Heard footsteps and here we are," he defended himself.

    I hated the tension I felt with him. It was love and hatred mixed together, the type of emotion that made you slap and kiss a person.

     I didn't reply to him, I had absolutely nothing to say to him. I hurled the envelope back on the bed and walked out on him. He stood still, his eyes following me.