Feelings II

Lily paced back and forth in the foyer, her eyes fixed on the staircase as she waited for Mia to get ready for school. "Hurry up, Mia! I have to leave early!" she called out, her voice tinged with a hint of impatience.

Mia's response was a cheerful "Just a sec, Lily!" followed by the sound of her footsteps as she finally emerged from her room.

Lily's eyes narrowed as she watched Mia bound down the stairs, her backpack slung over her shoulder. "You always make me late, Mia," she said, her voice laced with a hint of exasperation.

Mia's expression turned contrite as she reached the bottom of the stairs. "I'm sorry, let's go now," she said, already moving towards the front door.

But Lily's hand shot out, stopping Mia in her tracks. "Before we leave, have this," she said, handing Mia a small envelope. "It's cash. Your father and I will be away for some time, and as you know, your dad is already away. You and Jaden will stay with Shawn at his house until the men return."

Mia's eyes widened as she took the envelope, her expression a mixture of surprise and curiosity. "Okay," she said, tucking the envelope into her pocket.

But as she turned to leave, Lily's words stopped her again. "Come on now, Alexander is waiting."

Mia's eyes sparkled with curiosity as she turned back to Lily. "Hmm, but can I ask you something?" she said, her voice tinged with a hint of hesitation.

Lily's expression turned guarded, her eyes narrowing slightly. "Sure, what is it?"

Mia's words spilled out in a rush. "Why is it that sometimes it's like you hate me, while other times it's like you like me?"

The air seemed to vibrate with tension as Lily's gaze locked onto Mia's, her expression unreadable. For a moment, it seemed as though she might say something, might reveal some hidden truth. But then, her mask slipped back into place, and she said, "I don't know, Mia. Forget it and get to school."

Mia's eyes searched Lily's face, her expression a mixture of confusion and frustration. But then, she seemed to shrug it off, her shoulders sagging slightly as she said, "Okay, then."

Together, the two of them walked out of the house, leaving the tension and unanswered questions behind. But as they stepped into the bright sunlight, Mia couldn't shake the feeling that something was off, that there were secrets lurking just beneath the surface.

*****

The sound of knocking echoed through the hallway, followed by Julie's exasperated voice. "For goodness sake, Mr. Wayne, do I have to do this every day? Learn to—"

But Julie's tirade was cut short as she was met with a surprise. Shawn, already dressed and looking remarkably alert, stood before her. Julie's eyes widened in astonishment, and she rubbed her cheek, wondering if she was dreaming.

"Am I dreaming?" she asked, her voice laced with incredulity.

Shawn chuckled, a rare sight, and Julie's eyes sparkled with amusement. "No, you're not Julie," Shawn said, his voice tinged with a hint of mischief. "I didn't want to stress you out today, so I got up early to save you the trouble."

Julie's expression softened, and she smiled, her eyes crinkling at the corners. "And umm... I'm sorry I broke my TV yesterday," Shawn continued, his voice laced with a hint of contrition. "Also, thanks for covering up for me when Dad asked about it."

Julie's laughter was a warm, rich sound. "You're not welcome, you ruined an innocent TV," she teased, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "But it's okay, because you saved the stress of waking you, I forgive you."

With a smile, Julie shooed Shawn away. "Run along now, your dad wants to have breakfast with you."

Shawn nodded, his expression still remarkably cheerful, and headed towards the dining room. As he entered, he was greeted by his father's warm smile.

"Morning, son," Mr. Hart said, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "Hope you had a good night's rest."

Shawn slid into the seat beside his father, his eyes shining with excitement. "Morning, Dad, yes, I did have a good night's rest. And guess what?"

Mr. Hart's curiosity was piqued, and he leaned forward, his eyes sparkling with interest. "What?"

Shawn's face lit up with pride. "I got up myself today, saving Julie the stress of waking me."

Mr. Hart chuckled, his eyes warm with amusement. It had been a while since he'd seen Shawn so carefree, so full of joy. He savored the moment, keeping the conversation light and easy, until it was time for Shawn to leave for school.

As they drove to school, Mr. Hart couldn't help but feel a sense of pride and wonder. His son, once so withdrawn and troubled, was slowly beginning to emerge from his shell. And as he dropped Shawn off at school, he couldn't help but feel a sense of hope for his son's future.

As Shawn stepped out of his dad's car, he waved goodbye, feeling a sense of normalcy wash over him. But as he entered the school compound, his heart skipped a beat, and he couldn't shake off the feeling that something was off.

He knew the reason why, but he quickly shrugged it off, not wanting to dwell on it. As he walked through the crowded hallways, he was met with the usual frenzy of female attention. Girls giggled and whispered, their eyes fixed on him with an unnerving intensity.

Shawn's discomfort was palpable, his distaste for the female gender resurfacing like a bad habit. He quickly covered his head with his hoodie, lowering his gaze as he navigated through the sea of admiring faces.

But as he entered his classroom, his eyes landed on Mia, who was deep in conversation with Jaden. Her smile was radiant, illuminating the entire room, and for a moment, Shawn's heart forgot to beat.

Their eyes met, and Shawn's heart took off like a jackrabbit, racing wildly in his chest. But Mia's gaze held no surprise, no flutter of excitement. It was as if she had expected him all along.

Shawn's mind flashed back to their conversation at Jaden's place, and he felt a pang of warning. "(Sighs), what are you doing, Shawn? Don't make the same mistake again," he cautioned himself, trying to wave off the feeling that was growing inside him.

With a quiet resolve, Shawn took his seat, his eyes drifting away from Mia's, but his heart still racing with a mix of emotions he couldn't quite explain.