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"Now, we just have to -- you just have to mix it carefully and distribute it carefully in here." Ian instructs pointing to the cookie pan.

"You know, you'll make a very good teacher." I tell him, looking at him in admiration. At this stage, admiration doesn't even cut it.

Ian smirks, "I'll make a very good anything."

I snort and watch him scoop up Ellie who had fallen asleep while watching us and listening to our banter. "Someone is getting cocky."

"Someone has always been cocky. Maybe someone was just too blind to see it." He says walking into the living room.

I shrug to myself, looking at the delicious dough. "Well, they do say love is blind." I mutter.

"Say what now?" Ian asks entering back into the kitchen.

I blink, "Nothing. It seems you've completely charmed my sister. I think she's in love."

He smiles, getting all shy. "I tend to have that effect on girls."

I smile choosing not to reply to that. My mouth might betray me and say something mortifying. After I'm done putting the raw cookies on in the oven. We start cleaning up the place in comfortable silence. I occasionally flick water at him and he does the same. My eyes keep going down to his exposed tattooed arm and I'm fighting against the numerous questions running through my head. He just opened up to me yesterday. I should give him a break.

"So, baking genius, physics – and everything school related – genius, basketball genius and photography genius. What exactly are you bad at?"

Ian smirks, "would I sound like a douche if I say nothing?"

"Yea, you would."

He pouts in thoughts. "Let's see. Oh, I'm not doing great in English. I'm actually... struggling." He says the last part as if the word itself pains him.

"I find that hard to believe." I say turning to him. "You're a freaking journalist, isn't that like, a symbol that you're great in English?"

Ian raises a finger. "Correction, I'm not a journalist, I  just temporary work for the school paper. It was the only option after, sports and student committee was ticked off. And English itself isn't the problem, its essay. I don't have the mentally capacity to just sit still and read a novel." Shudder.

I chortle, "you're something else." Then I ask. "What did you do for extra curricular in your other school?"

"Basketball." He pauses, then as if sensing that I'm going to ask another question in that direction, he speaks. "I just want something different."

I nod, partially understanding. "I love reading novels." Ian turns to me, raising a brow that says 'so?' "So, I could read them to you."

"That's gonna be tiring."

"Not to me, it won't." I quickly say. "Unless you."

"Its impossible for me to get tired of hearing your voice." He says, I don't know if he intended it but it comes out like a whisper.

I blush, "its agreed on then." I stretch my hand out to him and he shakes it, surprising me by pulling me to his side. I gasp out, looking at him for some sort of explanation.

He brushes a lock of hair that escaped the bun off my face and uses his wet thumb to rub on my cheek. "You had... a stain."

None of us move from position, our breathing mixing into each other as our eyes stayed locked. As if in a trance, I subconsciously move forward and Ian lifts his hand until it resting on a side of my neck. His touch is warm, his hold steady and surety. He leans in and just before our lips touch – as stereotypical as it sounds – the freaking oven goes off.

For a moment I'm willing to ignore it and let it burn all the way to Trojan but Ian – the sane, composed and coordinated one in this relationship – smiles, drops his hand and steps back.

"Are the cookies ready?" Ellie's sleepy states asks as she peeks into the kitchen, yawning widely and rubbing her eyes.

**

I heard the car drive in.

I heard the door slam shut and the beeps from it locking up.

I heard the knob rattle but I was in a blissful state, so everything seemed like a dream.

Except it wasn't because the minute my eyes flutter open, I see my mother, Principal Caroline Richards, walk in with her Prada bag and heels, freezing at the sight in front of her. Our eyes meet and I quickly look away, assessing the damage and how quick I was going to be killed.

On the long sofa lay Ian, his head resting on my thighs, The Tale Of Two Cites lying open, face down on his chest. Ellie was folded up like a koala on the floor, snoring peacefully. An empty plate filled with cookie crumbs on the glass coffee table and this television humming rubbish in the background. I rubbed my face, my eyes glancing over at the clock, seven pm.

I'm screwed.

"Anna, what's this?" My mum asked, her eyes swimming with things I can't place a finger on.

"Study date?" I mutter and Ian stirs, getting up. He groans, placing a hand on the back of his neck before turning to look at me. My expression must have said it all because next thing I know, he turns to the door, facing my mum.

"Uh-- g-good evening Principal Richards." He mumbles and I cringe to the moon and back.

Mum doesn't reply, glaring at him, me, every single thing. The door behind her opens up and I face palm at my luck.

"I knew I should have left this back at the--" My dad pauses when he sees us all.

Ian literally jumps off the sofa as if it just caught his butt on fire. "G-good evening Mr Richards."

"Evening." Dad says and shifts his eyes to me, I can see him fighting a smile as he turns back to Ian. "It's Dr Sam, actually."

"Okay." Ian says, looking lost and I honestly felt bad for him.

"What's going on here, I ask again?" My mum says directing the question to me.

I stand, "like I said, a study date."

"Cool off Carol, you're scaring the visitor. " Dad says walking in further. "What's your name champ?"

"Ian Maurice." Ian introduced, sounding more put together.

"Ian." My dad calls cheerily, putting his hand out for a shake. Ian takes it, engaging in a firm grip, I could see a small smile playing on his lips. But the smile drops after this, "are you dating my daughter?"

"Sam!" My mother calls, at the same time I call. "Dad!"

"Um," Ian starts when Dad doesn't look away or release his hand. "No, sir."

"Not yet?" Dad asks and I groan, almost stomping my foot in annoyance.

Ian nods, "Yes, sir." My eyes widen as I look at him and dad bursts out laughing.

"I like this kid, isn't he cute, Carol?" He turns to my mum and when he gets no reply turns back to Ian. "Staying for Dinner?"

Ian starts shaking his head as my mothers says a resounding, no. "You should go home, young man."

"Carol, don't--"

"Actually, I should, sir." Ian says, "I apparently lost track of time and should be somewhere now."

Work, I think to myself.

"Bummer, well I really hope to see you again, Ian." Dad says giving him a friendly tap.

"Same here." Ian smiles then nods at him and my mother. "Goodnight, Mr and Mrs Richards."

I watch him pick up his jacket, school bag and walk out. My mother and I lock eyes and I know she knows what I'm about to do and by her glare, she's saying 'don't you dare'

Too bad, I love dares. Side stepping around, I open the door and go after Ian.

"Anna!" I hear her call but my feet is already jumping down the stairs and I yell out, "be right back."

I see Ian shrugging on his jacket as he walked, which is the reason why he's still on the property. With his long legs, I'd be lucky if I even saw his shadow. "Ian." He turns around with squinted eyes and relaxes when he sees me.

"What are doing?" He starts walking back to me and we meet up somewhere in the driveway.

"You didn't think I'll let you go without a goodbye, right?" I ask placing my hand on his jacket and soothing out the creases.

He smiles, "your mother is pissed."

"Is not the first time." I shrug. "I'm so sorry about all that awkwardness."

"Its fine. Its funny how we lost track of time. I can't believe I slept off." He groans running a hand through his face.

"I did too and Ellie is probably still sleeping. Proving the fact that baking is indeed, evil."

"But the product however... yum."

I laugh, hands fisted on his jacket. "Thanks for that too, we wouldn't have done any of it without you."

Ian lightly places his hand on my chin and tilts my face up so I'm looking at him. "You're welcome."

God, those eyes would be the death of me. I feel tingles all over just looking at him and soon my mouth is blurting out. "Not yet?" To any other person, this makes no sense but Ian and I know what I'm referring to. His answer to my father.

And just like that, he leans in, his lips placed over mine in a kiss that's long been coming. My breath literally disappears, and I'm stunned for about a second. I feel Ian's hands on my cheek and jaw, holding me steady and delicately. My palms fist over his jacket tighter as my body moves up so I'm almost standing on my tippy toes and pressed up against him, drawn to the warmth and returning the kiss.

We breathlessly maintain the sync movement of our lips, the kiss igniting quaking explosions in my tummy as the cold wind blew against my bare legs, probably leaving goosebumps at it's wake. I vaguely register the porch light flicking on and Ian pulls away leaving satisfied and yet wanting.

He places his forehead against mine. Our breaths mixing up as we attempt to calm down. "I should go."

I nod, my eyes still closed shut. I can barely feel my legs and I'm afraid that if I open my eyes, I'll turn to goo. "Yea." I whisper out.

Ian let's go and I finally tear my eyes open, watching him walk away backwards, still looking at me. "Goodnight, Roxanna."

"Goodnight." He almost stumbles to the ground but catches his self on time, blushing as I laughed. I stand out there until I don't see him anymore before I finally bound back in.

Time to face the music.

"Who was that?" My mother asked, her arms crossed in front on her as she relaxed on the wall by the stairs.

I resist the urge to roll my eyes, I can't just have a perfect night, can I. "A friend."

"What kind of friend, Anna?" She pressed.

"Just a friend from school, what other kind of friend is there?" I ask as politely as I could muster.

She glares. "You know I hate you bringing anyone over, especially boys, to the home without consent and in front of your sister?"

The way she says it, with so much disgust as if I was prostituting right in front of Ellie. It enraged me, especially since we really didn't even do anything.

"I did nothing wrong. He helped us bake and we studied, nothing more."

"Of course." I can clearly hear the sarcasm. "What happened with you and Aiden?"

"We broke up." I answer, wondering how Aiden flew into this conversation. "A long time ago and how is that relevant now?"

"Aiden, I approve of. This boy however, I don't."

I scoff, I don't even know how it came out but I did. "You don't even know him. How can you say that?"

"I know he's gotten into fights in school."

"Oh come on, it was just one fight." I blink, "is this because of his tattoos?"

Her face says it all. "I do not want you hanging out with a kid like that--"

"Bullshit."

"Roxanna." She warns, then continues. "--especially not in my house and in front of your sister. What kind of example are you leaving behind?"

Tears cloud my eyes. "Ian's one of the best people I know."

Mum glares, being defiant. "I don't approve."

"I do not need your approve!" I suddenly yell, having enough.

"Anna--"

"Please stop fighting." Ellie's voice cut through, silencing us both. I can see the tears in her eyes as she turns to our mother. "Its my fault, mummy, I invited Ian in."

While mum goes ahead to sort things out with Ellie, I run upstairs to my room. Burying my head in my pillows as tears forced their way out. Who gave her the right to judge? Who gave her the mantle of approval over humans? Its like she's made it her life mission to suck every joy in my life. I won't. I cannot stay away from Ian.

I love him.

Soon I hear voices downstairs and I recognize them as both my parents arguing. I guess Dad is not very happy, he rarely shouts, gets angry or even argues. He's always so chill, letting my mother rule and do whatever she likes. I tsk, turning around to look at my ceiling.

"Looks like I've broken record, Rachelle. Dad's arguing on my account." I smile. "Will you be proud of me now or smh-ing?"

I don't get any reply and soon the arguments stop. There's silence in the house and its broken by a door banging shut really loudly. Soon I hear a knock on my door and then it creeks open.

"Princess?" I hear my dad's voice asks and I sit up immediately. He walks in and sits on the edge of the bed, putting his hand up for a high five.

I reluctantly slap my hands his and sigh. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to cause all this trouble."

Dad waves it off. "It's fine. You did nothing wrong and the cookies can testify to that. I had a mouthful."

I chuckle, "those are for Ellie, she'd freak if you eat them."

"Keep my secret then?"

I smile. "Sure." I cross my legs beneath me, playing with my fingers. "Why is she like that?" I ask and we both know who I'm referring to. "Its like she hates me and is just waiting for me to screw up. Like she's so sure I would."

"Your mother doesn't hate you, Anna." He places his hand over mine. "Things changed this year and... she's just really overprotective and paranoid."

I nod, then say the first thing that comes to mind. "I'm not Rachelle."

Dad smiles, his eyes softening a thousand degrees. "Of course. You're my princess Roxanna."

I smile, sniffling. "I won't promise that I won't screw up. But then everyone makes mistakes and I should be allowed to make mine. But then if she wants to hear that I won't attempt suicide or run away with an unknown guy then I'm ready to say it. I really won't."

Dad doesn't reply and instead pull me to him, wrapping his arms around me as tears fell.

"I miss her." I whisper her, my voice cracking. "Rachelle."

"We all do. I'm so sorry, Princess." Dad says patting my back gently. "I love you and so does your mother. Be patient with her."

I nod. "Ian's not a bad person."

Dad smiles, "finally, the name I've wanted to hear."

I giggle, "we're really just friends."

"Uh huh." He says kissing my forehead as he gets up. "Goodnight."

"Goodnight and tell mum I'm sorry for yelling."

"Will do." He opens the door and with one foot out, he halts. "Anna?"

"Yes?"

"Ian." He smiles at me. "He's a keeper."

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Cheers to family moments! 🍻

Thoughts? What are your theories on Rachelle Richards? There's a mystery there. *wink*

#Iannaforever