CHAPTER 6: A NIGHT THAT WASN’T MADE UP

Steve was infuriated but he kept his rage mild, he kept badging at me very loud and louder because I kept mute but I still saw surprise and a sorry look on his face despite the whole scene, he tried to hold on to the stirring till we had got home. So, when we got home,

Trace hurried to come hug me, Tess where were you? We searched the whole house when we realized you were no longer home. And suddenly Steve had cut in, she's just become this weird cunny girl that has no time to talk to anyone. I flung my face up and rotated around like I was observing the environment with no reply to what Trace had asked me. I sure know something was wrong on the highway and it is up to us to fix it, so let's all go in and sort this beef whatever it is that has got you both acting up this way, trace replied.

Let's get in, she protested. We all went in and trace called a make up meeting, sure wherever this was going to land us. I did not know but I was quite sure she was going to give a pep talk as she usually did, Ahh! Steve exclaimed, I think I've had a long fifteen minutes of driving, questioning and no replies and I think I am not sure ready for any dialoguing for a matter I clearly know nothing about.

Okay, okay, okay, I think this is going to be a long night because we are going to figure out what the matter it is and fix it, of course we cannot sleep on our grudges. So, I will begin with you Tess, Tess what happened in the car? trace questioned. But it sounded like an attack and as if whatever I would say Steve would begin yelling like he did in the car. Okay, Trace I feel like with what I was going through I needed space and privacy to get over my dilemma, it was a moment of silence I made for myself which he could not respect, I'm sorry Steve if you felt any foul play and besides, I felt that the car is a hostile territory that we'd discuss that. I felt that when we get home, I will tell you everything as it occurred, of course didn't you know that I was passing through pain?

That's enough Tess, you're saying too much right now, just calm down, she hesitated. I'm not budging, I challenged. You know what, it's not been long you moved out to stay with us from an old rickety neighborhood. We gave you a life and are about to make you help it to blow up and here you are, you can't even get over some old woman who's not even your mother. Even having the rights to blast all you said to my face said Steve angrily. Wow, that was a mouthful of bad comments he must have been reserving for some time and didn't want to mutter out. So, this is it, I am just a shitload use and dump research tool, you two jerks were willing to use and throw off like scrap. So is the life I have been thinking about, it's just that this seems more insightful but I was just the bait with more bitter lessons to learn from my miserable life.

Stop it, trace said. You are making it seem like you are a junk project, but that's not actually true. She was short of words, but I could tell that was not her regular self. She felt pity for me but did not just know the right words to put it in. Steve was terribly annoyed but at this moment that he saw that red flags were beginning to show up, something in him made him subtle, he began showing softness. I didn't expect that coming on the runway. He stated 'I never expected a rough night like this coming'. Trace you know I hate to see you like this, you look frustrated and confused. I'm sorry for putting this on your shoulders, you know we should not freak out like this next time. And immediately he said it, her face radiated. They hugged and kissed.

Huuush! I never saw that coming too. Steve turned to me and in an official way, like he didn't even know me, he asked my apology. I apologized too for keeping him too for long without an explanation. We made up and he hugged me in consolation and stated further that I am not in a position to be hurt by all this stuff and that I had just buried my grandmother and needed even more time to heal. And I replied, the same grams you made some nasty comment about, that you just volcanically blasted me for with your inquisitive and unkind words. What a hit? I thought we just made up. He insisted, and hey girl, that English seems way too big for a girl that has dyslexia and has not been to high school. What is the matter again, Trace asked.

We turned away from each other, and then I went straight to the kitchen and while preparing stuff that we'll eat that night. He shouted what more thing are you keeping from us? You still don't seem relaxed here.

I dropped them hot! You too, you have a lot waiting on eggshells. Trace stirred at me, What? I replied, I never knew you were dating him till today. Why is that? You guys never acted like a couple throughout my stay here. I'm beginning to be insecure around here. She laughed and he joined her.

And why is that if I may ask, she inquired. You know, I wish I knew more, couple goals! How do you even do it? I enquired. Steve answered, I knew he would and most especially annoyingly at times say something. 'Only when you open up everything, I mean really everything about yourself to us. We won't hurt and you won't regret it and no more of surprise'. Hmm! That's it, okay I am willing to give that a try but no secrets excluding your newly discovered love life.

He laughed a short while and immediately after was like that's a deal right, I replied. Of course, a deal it is.

I got the potato fries and egg sauce done and believe me it was as sweet and crunchy as I believed it would taste. I took it to the dining room, Trace helped set the table and we all broke bread with each other that night, it was awful as I never thought it would be.

The sumptuousness of the meal ignited our spirit and our emotions were as open and free as the air, they shared their deepest secrets with me and me too I told them all that transpired that night and how important the moment of silence ritual was to me. I told them about a treasure I picked from our old house, the picturesque collage in the album. I took it out from my bag and showed it to them and after a long stare at the picture. Steve got it from me and fixed it on my bedroom wall. I felt overwhelmed with joy and goosebumps and thanked them gratefully none stop. They both welcomed me and this time around with more open arms like a family would, we went on from our personal stories to other interesting conversations, sure we talked about their date.

I put Steve through one question, so is this your first date. He cleared his throat and replied, let's play that in a truth or dare game someday. Immediately he sprang up, I have an idea and it's also a proposal to you Tess. Okay, what is it? I asked reluctantly. I'm inviting you to our university and Tracy aligned the idea just all of a sudden, I was afraid. Okay, I'll think about it. He cleared his throat and I know that didn't sit well, I sure had to think of how I'll go because I knew for sure that since the both of them agreed to it, it was a sure thing I will be there. It was already morning; the day is breaking…