THIS IS INSANE

After spending a considerable amount of time together, Hina, Joelle, and Joel bid their farewells, mentioning the urgency of the matters they needed to attend to back home. In their absence, Amelia and Barbara found themselves lingering in the now quiet atmosphere. Sensing Amelia's bad mood, Barbara suggested they prolong their stay, hoping to uplift her spirits in any way she could.

"Barbs, do you want to go for a ride in my car?" Amelia said with a low voice and smiled a little bit, Barbara eyes sparkled with agreement and she nodded her head eagerly and followed Amelia to were her car was parked. Barbara's eyes said it all as she was in love with the car.

A brilliant shade of blue, like a clear summer sky, enveloping the sleek and stylish body of the car. The vibrant colour is further accentuated by the sunlight, giving the car a radiant glow. As she gazes at the car, she notices the sophisticated design and smooth curves that add a touch of elegance to its overall appearance. And there it is, the highlight of this magnificent vehicle: the open rooftop.

She pictured herself peering inside the car, feeling the warm breeze gently tousling her hair as she enjoys the liberating sensation of the wind against her face. It's the perfect way to feel connected to the world around her as she cruises down the road, with the sky above and the freedom of the open rooftop.

"Barbs, stop daydreaming, my dearest, and hop in the car." Amelia playfully scolded, her fingers snapping in front of Barbara's mesmerized gaze. Startled, Barbara jolted, her heartbeat quickening as a giggle escaped her lips. The sun-kissed rays danced upon the soft ripples of her laughter, adding a touch of golden sparkle. Their laughter echoed like a sweet melody, imprinted in the air around them, as if the universe couldn't resist joining in their delightful moment.

"Haha, caught me daydreaming there, didn't you, Amelia? Alright, I'm hopping in, let's hit the road!" Barbara chuckled, shaking off her momentary daze as she playfully hopped into the car beside Amelia. They both shared a contagious laughter, savoring the joy.

As the car moved with an exhilarating force, surpassing all of Barbara's wildest expectations, she found herself swept away on a tide of pure bliss. The wind, like a playful accomplice, caressed her face with a gentle touch, sending shivers of delight down her spine. With closed eyes, she surrendered herself to the symphony of sensations, relishing in every gust of wind that tousled her hair and whispered in her ears. Amidst this whirlwind of joy, her giggles chimed through the air, an infectious melody that echoed the carefree spirit of the moment. However, the silent fun she was having stopped as a heavy sigh escaped from Amelia's lips.

"What's troubling you, Amelia? I can't help but notice that you've been in a bad mood today, which is honestly a very rare sight to see." Barbara asked, her eyes filled with genuine curiosity and concern. The subtle glimmer of curiosity danced within her gaze, weaving a tapestry of questions waiting to be answered as she leaned in, eager to understand what was weighing on her friend's heart. A stray strand of hair made its playful descent across Amelia's face, tickling her skin before she gracefully tucked it behind her ear, a small gesture to regain composure. Another heavy sigh escaped her lips, an audible release of emotions held captive in her heart. It was as if the weight of the world settled upon her shoulders, creating a temporary pause in the air. Amelia took a moment, gathering her thoughts and summoning the courage to share her burden.

"So, there's this highly irritating guy, right? Well, here's the kicker - he's family and mine are close friends, and now he's transferring to our school, Sugar Hill Academy, as an exchange student."

"Wait, Amelia, why is this such a big deal?"

"Oh, Barbs, you have no idea. This boy is like a never-ending headache. A constant annoying tornado. We're constantly bickering and at odds with each other. The worst part is, even though he's often the one causing the trouble, everyone sees him as this sweet angel. So whenever we have a disagreement, guess who gets the blame? That's right, me!" Amelia said with an hint of anger written in her voice. Barbara has never seen Amelia in this state before, so she assumed that this guy must indeed be trouble.

"Oh okay, I understand."

A car screeched to a halt right in front of Amelia's car, she couldn't help but groan inwardly.

"Oh great, looks like my bad luck begins today," Amelia muttered, her mood sinking further. Resting her head on her palm, she wearily exited her car, inviting Barbara to do the same. The atmosphere grew dense with apprehension as they cautiously approached the stranger, bracing themselves for what lay ahead.

As the stranger got down from the car, Barbara saw a familiar face, he has a sun-kissed brown complexion that has this healthy glow to it, making him look radiant and attractive. His mesmerising eyes are a captivating blend of brown and green, shining with warmth and making it impossible to look away. And his brown hair, styled casually with a slight tousle, and a few stray locks adds to his overall charm.

"Hey princess," the stranger's voice, causing Barbara's attention to snap away from her absent-minded gaze. Her brown eyes widened in surprise and curiosity as she exchanged a bewildered glance with Amelia, who gracefully dipped her head in a slight bow, acknowledging the stranger's greeting with polite grace.

"Princess?" Barbara pondered, her forehead gently creasing in contemplation. And then, as realization dawned on her, she felt a tingling spark of recognition. He was referring to Amelia, she wondered if Amelia is truly a princess.

"Don't act so nice, Liam," Amelia snapped, her words carrying a hint of underlying tension that seemed to materialize out of thin air. A flicker of surprise danced across Liam's face, swiftly replaced by an amiable smile.

"Hey stranger, here we meet again." Liam said smiling at Barbara, there, in that fleeting moment, recognition struck her like a bolt of lightning, illuminating her memory. It was as if the threads of destiny had woven their paths together once again, bringing them face to face.

Barbara's mind traveled back to the day she first met Liam. It was the day she arrived in town, because of her admission to Sugar Hill Academy. Her life brimming with anticipation and the weight of a heavy box resting on her weary arms. As she struggled to navigate the unfamiliar streets of her new home, beads of perspiration gathered on her forehead.

"Hey there! Need a hand?" Liam's words pierced through Barbara's exasperation, causing her heart to skip a beat. She ignored him but he continued to follow her.

"Mon ami, it looks like you could need a hand."

"We are not mon ami-ing anything, you are a stranger and I am not supposed to be talking to you, so get lost!"

"That was unexpectedly rude."

"Of course, it was." Barbara rolled her eyes and increased her pace. She felt a sharp pain at her back and tripped, causing the box and all its contents to fall on the floor.

"Are you certain you don't need help, folle?"

Barbara ignored him, knowing fully well that he just called her crazy, she picked up all of the mess she had made and went away embarrassed.

"Do you two know each other?" Amelia asked curiously, causing Barbara and Liam to look at her simultaneously.

"Yes, we do." Liam answered sharply.

"No we don't, we just met once. It doesn't really matter." Barbara snapped back and Liam chuckled and thought "she is still as rude as ever."

Liam told Amelia that she was expected to be seen at her house before an hour, and went away immediately. Amelia took Barbara to her house and waved goodbye.

Barbara rang the doorbell, waiting for a long time for Mordecai to open the door. He opened it scratching his eyes, it was obvious that he had just woken up from a sleep he wanted to be forever in.

"Why can't you stay outside longer? I didn't miss you a bit." Mordecai said still rubbing his eyes, causing Barbara to smack her lips.

"Must you always be mean to me?" Barbara asked as she ruffled his hair affectionately. By the time she got home, it was already evening, and time for her favourite show. They watched the show together eating the leftovers the maid cooked for Mordecai.

-------------------------

"You are a waste of our time." A voice was heard coming from a large screen which Joel and Joelle were looking at.

"I am sorry mother and father, I will be sure it won't happen again." Joelle replied composed as ever, Joel inhaled sharply knowing that his sister was in big trouble.

"You've changed your name again, Joelle, and you expect us to just let you go this time. You didn't even bother to tell us before you made your decision." A masculine voice said from the screen said almost shouting.

"Like I said father, I am sorry and it won't repeat itself." Joelle said still composed as ever. Joel rest his head on his palm and he was so restless.

"We expected better from you Joelle, I thought you are better than your worthless brother." Their mother said almost emotionally, Joelle's heart sank as her mother's words pierced through her like a knife. With a heavy sigh, Joel muttered "Oh please," a mixture of frustration and defiance seeping into his voice. Restless, Joel paced back and forth.

"Go to the punishment room right now, for all the misdeeds you have done." Their father said in a harsh tone. The mention of the punishment room sent a shiver down her spine, as her mind raced with fear and uncertainty.

"Mother?" Joelle looked at her mother with tears almost coming from her eyes, hoping that her mother will stand up against her father's harsh judgement. But instead, her mother shook her head with teary eyes.

"This is insane!" Joel shouted while Joelle was dragged into a room, after a while, screams and cries of Joelle were heard. Joel fell on the floor on his knees, placing his hands on this head that shows sign of defeat. Tears rolling from his eyes as he heard his sister's screams and cries.

Thanks for reading this chapter ❤️❤️

"A bad parent is like a poison that slowly kills their child's spirit."

                                    -Anonymous.

"Parents. Honestly. Sometimes they really do think the world revolves around them."                                        

                                      -Randa Abdel-Fattah.