Chapter Five

Since it was already eight and knowing I couldn’t possibly reach school on time, I decided that I’ll skip for today. I’m ahead in most of my classes so one day wouldn’t hurt my grades too much.

Besides, I don’t have the heart to leave this house if Ariel is shaking with fear in front of me. Drew had to drive Savannah to school with his mother’s car and he came back a few minutes ago, but he decided that he should probably get his motorcycle from school.

I tried communicating with her a few times but she doesn’t answer. Fear was present in her eyes and sometimes, I see it glistening with tears.

“Ariel,” I tried again, kneeling down so I was on her level, “Please tell me what’s wrong.”

Before she can answer though, the front door flew open and Drew rushed to his mother’s side. I stood up and gave Ariel another sympathetic look. Whatever my name triggered inside her brain, it wasn’t good.

“Mom it’s me,” Drew gently whispered and I saw fear leaving Ariel’s eyes when she looked at her son. I couldn’t help but smile in awe at the mother and son relationship they have.

Not the time to smile, Celeste. There’s a shaking woman in front of you.

I saw Ariel whisper something into Drew’s ear and his eyes widened in shock. He shot me a not-so-hidden glare before turning back to his mother.

Could somebody please explain what the hell is going on?

“Celeste,” Drew finally said, “Go to school.”

“No,” I replied automatically. There was no stinking way that I’ll be leaving this place without somebody explaining why Ariel suddenly became so terrified upon hearing my name.

Celeste wasn’t an unusual name. I came across a fair amount of people who share the same name as me. My last name, Graham, wasn’t too weird either; it even makes you want to eat a cracker.

Still, she shouldn’t be jumping into assumptions while just hearing my name.

“Graham,” he hissed and I glared at him.

“Everett,” I countered with my arms crossed over my chest.

And that was the start of an epic stare down. Since he was crouched down on the floor next to his mother, he was looking up at me while I was looking down at him.

He looked away when Ariel gingerly touched his hand and his expression softened. I sighed, knowing I shouldn’t really be fighting with him right now.

“Look,” I drawled out, kneeling next to him, “I don’t want to argue and I know Ariel’s worried about something, so there’s no way I’m leaving.”

His eyebrows scrunched up in such an adorable way that I had to stop myself from kissing the space in between them.

Wait, what the hell?

“Drew,” Ariel called out, “She seems to look like she genuinely doesn't know.”

I resisted the urge to smirk victoriously at Ariel’s words. That wouldn’t be proper for the current situation.

Drew gave me a hesitant look before standing up, “Follow me.”

I gave Ariel one more glance before standing up and trailing after him. We got out of the house and sat on the bench at the porch.

Silence coated the both of us for a while before Drew started talking, “Your family placed my dad in jail.”

My head snapped to his direction with my jaw ajar. So there was a reason why I found the lacking of a father in that household.

“When my sister was born, my parents couldn’t afford to bring up two kids so my dad went to your parents for a loan,” he started to explain, “He got the money and he bought this house. He gave us everything we needed but last year, people barged into this house and handcuffed him.”

He paused and he didn’t look at me anymore, he stared ahead to the frosty outdoors, “He failed to pay the debt in the amount of time given to him and now, we have to live in this house without him.”

I was still in the process of digesting everything because it’s not too farfetched. My parents’ cruel hobby is to give people money and then watch as the person is dragged away from their family. They found it as their real life soap opera.

“I hate going back to this house because he bought it with the money he borrowed. The same money that placed him in jail,” he breathed out.

So that’s why he seems hesitant to go home every day. This house pains him and he doesn’t like going back here every day to remind him of the day people drag his father out.

“I’m sorry,” I said and he turned his head slowly to my direction. He was scanning my face as if I was a puzzle he’s trying to figure out.

“Why?”

I gave him a reassuring smile, “Because my parents did this to you,” I explained.

We just stared at each other in silence before my phone suddenly decided to ruin the moment and burst into Katy Perry’s voice. I held up a finger to tell him to give me a minute before pulling out the device from my pocket and placing it on my ear.

“Hello?”

“Celeste Graham, where the hell are you?!” Jessica yelled from the other line and I had to put my phone in arms length to prevent myself from going deaf.

“I’m doing fine, Jessica. Thanks for asking,” I sarcastically stated when I was sure that my hearing wouldn’t be endangered. 

I heard her take a deep breath before speaking again, “Where are you? It’s not like you to suddenly skip a day of school.”

“I’m just busy,” I told her before looking at Drew who was also staring at me. I ducked my head to hide the blush that was creeping up my cheeks, “Is there anything wrong there?”

“Not really,” she drawled but her tone wasn’t exactly happy-go-lucky like the one I was used to. She was hiding something for sure, “Can you promise me you’ll be going to school tomorrow?”

As annoying as she may or how obsessive she was over a simple pair of stilettos, she was still my best friend. My obligation is to cheer her up when she needs me and I couldn’t remember how many times she defended me when I looked like a nerd, “I promise.”

She blew out a sigh of relief and her tone got chirpier, “I’ll see you tomorrow, Cel.”

I said a goodbye of my own and hung up. Before I got the chance to tuck my phone back into my pocket, Drew snatched it from my hands and started tapping on the screen, “Hey!”

He ignored my outburst and after a few more taps, he threw my phone back to me and I barely caught it. He’s lucky I did or I’m making him buy me a new one.

I looked through my phone and I smiled when I realized he saved his number in my contacts. I shoved it back in my pocket and stared out into the snow.

“Do you miss him?” I asked, referring to his father.

“Yeah,” he replied with a soft nod.

Comfortable silence draped over us and I just savored the peacefulness. It was a crazy morning and I was glad I skipped school. I couldn’t handle the stress brought to me there and somehow, being with the guy beside me makes me comfortable.

“We should go back to my mom,” he finally stated and I nodded. We stood up and headed to the front door. Instead of seeing Ariel sprawled on the couch like expected, the couch was empty and the aroma of freshly baked cookies was coming from the kitchen.

“Drew, Celeste?” we heard Ariel call out from the kitchen and we proceeded to walk there. She placed the last cookie from the baking tray to the plate.

I looked at skeptically while getting a cookie. This chocolate chip delight was my weakness. But wait, why is Ariel up and baking if she was quivering in fear earlier.

“You look better,” I pointed, taking a seat on one of the stool at the kitchen island. I jumped up slightly when Drew suddenly plopped on the one next to me with a glass of milk. He’s such a child.

“You don't look like you're going to file a case any time soon,” she said before joining the both of us, "It also seems that Drew trusts you, and I believe in my son's judgements," I gave Drew a look and he only shrugged in response. Ariel gave me a soft smile before turning to make a conversation with her son.

Another question was rumbling through my head, “How did you know I was the daughter of the said people who arrested your husband?”

Ariel turned her attention to me, “Everybody in town knows the heir to Graham Group of Companies was named Celeste,” she explained, “You parents made sure you were known.”

Makes me wonder what else my parents did for me. So that’s the reason why teachers were suddenly scared of me on my first day of school. I though they avoided me because they thought I was weird.

Thanks a lot mom and dad.

I actually stayed with the Everett’s the whole day. They gladly fed me lunch and soon Savannah came home. It was quite a sight to see Drew suddenly soften up to his little sister and played Barbie with her.

I decided that I shouldn’t stay around for dinner because that would be asking for too much. Ariel literally pushed Drew out of the house to walk me to my car.

“Thanks for not kicking me out earlier,” I said sheepishly and he quirked his eyebrow at me with his green eyes shining with amusement.

We walked to my Volvo and when I reached out to open the door, he beat me to it and opened it wide open. He offers me a smirk as I slid in and he closed the door after. I rolled my window down and he popped his head inside, “I guess I’ll see you tomorrow, Graham.”

I rolled my eyes and twisted my keys, making the car roar to life, “Whatever you say, Everett.”

He retreated his head and stood idly at the sidewalk, waiting for me to drive away, “Just saying, you make a wonderful Barbie.”

 His smirk dropped and it turned into a scowl. I erupted into a fit of giggles as I drove away from his house.

It looks like me and Drew are in good terms so right now I’m worrying about Jessica. The last time she acted like that was when we were sophomores; she fell in love with a senior back then and the guy already had a girlfriend. In fact, the only time she acted like that at all is when she’s in love.

Realization dawned on me and I was so shock that I almost didn’t notice the truck heading my way. I steered my car to the side while the driver was furiously pressing down on his horn.

I quickly pulled out my phone and dialed Jessica’s number. I placed it on loudspeaker before placing it down so I can drive back to the road.

“Hello?” I heard Jessica’s voice greet.

“Jessica Oliver, are you in love?” I demanded and when she didn’t respond, I already knew the answer,  “Who’s the lucky guy?”

It was no secret that she was a player. Many guys wanted to date her and sometimes she takes advantage of that fact. Don’t get me wrong, she’s a great friend but she doesn’t like steady relationships so the guy who caught her heart was extremely lucky.

“I want to tell you in person,” I heared her mutter softly.

I blew out a sigh and pulled into my apartment’s parking lot, “Do I know the guy?”

“Yes,” she answered automatically. I raked my brain for any potential lover for my best friend but honestly, nothing seems to fit the idea.

“I’ll tell you tomorrow, Cel,” she promised, “I’ve got to go, bye.”

With that, she hung up and I had no choice than to pick up my bag from the passenger seat and march into the building.

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I'm not too happy about this chapter but oh well.

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