Alana
The entire next day turned out to be a bizarre day of battle of wits. Dad said something sarcastic to tick me off and I took the bait. Chez being the usual lazy ass wasn't coming to Ridgewell to pick me up unless the sun had finally gone down. I knew he would be making a few small stops on the way, stuffing his face in cheeseburgers and pizzas. I knew he was going to be late so I took my dad's car and went shopping alone.
When Chez's car finally pulled into the driveway, it was past ten pm. We had school tomorrow, what the hell was he thinking? Despite all the daddy-daughter issues me and dad had going on, I gave him a hug and settled in Chez's stupid Mustang. When Chez and I were in high school, dad always wondered if Chez and I would eventually end up together, y'know, that kind of together and it didn't seem like Dad had any problem with the idea of us dating.
Not that he knew what a man-whore Chez had always been. I knew that if it was Chez instead of Rowan, Dad wouldn't have batted an eye.
I was pulled out of my thoughts when Chez blasted the volume of his woofers. I turned it down. This was going to be our routine for the next two hours until we reached Carmel.
"Your dad seemed pretty pissed for some reason. I hope it wasn't because of me." He said finally, turning up the sound just a wee bit but it was enough to make my ears bleed.
"It's not you. He is just mad at me." I screamed over the loud beats.
I received a sting eye from Chez. "I can hear you just fine. You don't need to scream."
"We can either talk or you can listen to your dumb music, what's it gonna be?"
Without another word he turned it down and said, "I thought you and Rowan were here to talk to your dad over the weekend, so why isn't he with you?"
I played with my hair. "Rowan told him about everything. You know, about Minnie, and his trip to the psychiatric facility. Shit hit the fan, y'know. That was bound to happen."
"So what did your dad say?"
I was avoiding eye contact. "That I was being stupid and that I should break up with him."
"Okay, and what did you say?"
"That it wasn't going to happen."
"Do you want me to talk to your dad?"
I gaped at him. Chez had not just offered to talk some sense into dad on my behalf. There was a time when Chez hated Rowan for what he put me through, the long breakup and everything, but deep down I guess he knew there was no Alana without Rowan.
"Can you really do that?" I asked, placing my hand over his.
"Of course, babe. Anything for you."
"I thought you hated him."
"Hate is a very powerful word. I just didn't like what he was doing to you, and I guess I was just jealous that you were always clinging to him like a baby koala."
"I'm offended, Chez." I punched him.
"What? Koala's are cute."
I rolled my eyes and he continued. "But I know Rowan is a good guy. He makes you happy, and what makes you happy, makes me happy too."
"Aw. You're so cheesy sometimes."
It was almost midnight when we reached Carmel. I knew Rowan's house was a few minutes away from the university near Carmel Beach Heights so I convinced Chez that we were going to make a quick stop at Rowan's place even though it was almost midnight because I didn't think I could get a shut eye if I had to wait until evening to meet him, what with him dodging my calls since yesterday after he took off. Chez insisted on waiting in the car, and I didn't push him. He still felt very intimidated by the ex-professor.
Mason, the security guard of the condo building recognized me, I wondered what Rowan told him about me because he seemed to shrug when I asked him if Rowan was in his condo. Thankfully, he didn't protest when I walked inside the elevator.
When I reached the thirteenth floor, I watched a woman marching towards me, or towards the elevator precisely. That woman was none other than Lauren Sanders, Rowan's ex and Minnie's biological mother. She noticed me and passed me a coy smile. The look on my face probably told her she had done some serious damage.
"How are you, Alana?"
"I was better before I saw your plastic face. What are you doing at my boyfriend's place? Wow I totally rhymed it." I was going to put an emphasis on the word my.
"Your boyfriend?" She chuckled, flipping her oh-so-perfect shiny hair. She whispered the next words. "Do you realize that he and I have a child together? Let me tell you something, honey, Rowan has an uncanny habit of playing around with toys. The day he is bored, he will toss you aside and come back to where he belongs."
"That's never going to happen." I said.
"Minnie is going to grow up and she is going to find out who her mommy is. Do you think Rowan wouldn't cave in and want his family together? A child needs their mother." She fixed her jacket and I watched her get inside the elevator wearing that smug face.
I don't think I'd been this angry in my life. How had I believed her croc tears in the past to think she was a good woman? I'd probably been on a high dose of crack. I strode towards Rowan's condo and rang the bell. He opened the door, and appeared puzzled as I forced my way inside without waiting for him to invite me in. He was dressed in gray pajama pants and a white t-shirt. His brown hair was ruffled like I'd just forced him out of the bed.
He closed the door behind me as I stood in the passage connecting the living area. I folded my arms across my chest and glared at him. "Why was she here?"
Rowan threw daggers at me in turn. "Lower down your voice. Minnie is sleeping."
"I asked you a question, Rowan. Why was Lauren in your house at this time?"
"She wanted money." He said. And I knew he was lying.
Then I saw the lipstick mark on his cheek and that put some really crazy ideas into my mind.
"Looks like she got something more than your money." I said as I touched his cheek and wiped the lipstick stain off his cheek. "Can you explain this?"
He quickly wiped his cheek with the front of his t-shirt and looked guilty. "It's nothing, Alana."
I wanted to scream at him. "She leaves your home after midnight, there's a trace of her kiss on your cheek and you're saying that it's nothing."
Rowan sighed. "You think I'm cheating on you?"
I didn't say anything. What were the chances that Lauren begged him to take her back and Rowan finally caved into the temptation, after all, she was the mother of his child.
"Don't you think you're over-reacting?" he asked, clearly pissed off.
"I called you several times yesterday, I texted you a dozen times, maybe you were too busy fucking...Oh, I'm sorry...entertaining your tall blonde ex, mother of your child to take a look at your damn phone."
I'd done it. I knew that look. Rowan was about to go ape-shit psycho on me.
"Watch your fucking mouth, Alana. I'm warning you." He said, his hands were balled into tight fists and that told me he was furious. "You know what, I think you should go home and rest. I don't have the time or the patience for your childish behavior."
"What do you see in her?" I was sounding so pathetic now. I couldn't help it. This wasn't me. I'd been so worried when I left my house thinking about how Rowan was going to react after what had gone down back at home, and it made me so angry that she was here, walking out of his apartment.
We heard the sounds of footsteps. Minnie walked into the passage, rubbing her eyes as she stifled a yawn. "Daddy, can I cheep in your room?" She pointed at me. "Is Alana here for a cheepover, daddy?"
"No, baby. I'm going home." I responded.
Her face fell. "Can you read me a story? Uncle Dwight bought me new books."
"Sweetheart, Alana has college tomorrow just the way you have school."
"It's okay." I said. Minnie was my weakness. I wondered how that selfish bitch could produce someone so cute and lovely. "I'll read her the book."
I sat beside her on the bed and opened a book. Her eyes fluttered close as soon as I reached the third page. I placed the book on her bed and tiptoed out of the room quietly. I made a straight beeline for the door ignoring when Rowan called out to me. I closed the door with a bang. It was my signature walk-out when I was mad at someone.
****
The next day after classes, I walked towards the parking lot with Justin who was partnered with me for an English assignment. Justin played basketball and I'd always had an impression that he was high-maintenance, what with him always surrounded by a flock of girls, but then when I actually talked to him, I realized how nerdy he was.
We were talking about how Talia had insulted the English professor and how she had brushed it off like it was a petty joke when I noticed Rowan in the parking lot standing by his Lexus dressed in formals, a white shirt over black trousers with a matching stripe blue tie. He kind of reminded me of when he used to be my professor.
Geez. I was a sucker for him.
Rowan caught my eye and then his eyes shifted to Justin. Justin followed my gaze and passed me a knowing smile. "Catch you later, Al."
I approached Rowan with caution.
"Hey." He said.
"Hi."
"I'm sorry about yesterday." He completely surprised me with that apology.
I shook my head. "I should be the one who should be sorry. I thought you would be upset about how my dad reacted to everything so I just wanted to drop by and check on you and I met her on the way."
"So I was doing a lot of thinking yesterday and I came to the conclusion that Lauren must have said something to you that made you so upset. What did she say to you, baby?"
Rowan was a smart guy and he knew Lauren too well.
I explained to him what she had said, every word and watched his expressions turn to rage. "How dare she fucking say that to you?" There was a moment of silence after which he said. "I lied to you when I said she asked for more money."
That made me nervous somehow.
"Lauren wanted to see Minnie."
"And what did you say?"
"Minnie was asleep and I don't know why, I thought Lauren changed so I let her see Minnie. And I told her it was the last time." I remained silent. Rowan wrapped his arms around me. "I promise you, Alana. No matter what she does, no matter what she says, I will always belong to you. Do you believe me?"
"I do, but, she is Minnie's mother. What if one day...."
Rowan's lips claimed mine in a slow passionate kiss that conveyed a lot of things that words couldn't. His tongue probed my mouth in a delicious way that forced a moan from within my throat. We pulled apart and he kissed me again. Someone shouted 'get a room.'
"I thought you hated PDA." I said.
"I still do, but I know you like showing off your mature, handsome of a boyfriend. I can make exceptions." He winked.
"Wow, you're so full of yourself."
"I hope you know that no one can take your place in my life. I will never let her control me like she did before. And I love you, that's never going to change. Sorry for acting like a douchetard yesterday, I was so upset about what happened with your dad, but I'm not holding anything against him because I know he cares for you."
"Thanks. You don't have to worry about it, dad will come around eventually. I know that for a fact." I said. "so what's with the sexy formals today?"
"I had an interview at Westwood University. I'm feeling positive about this one." He grinned.
"That's awesome. With that face and body, if they rejected you, I'd know for sure the interviewer was blindfolded."
Rowan laughed. I continued. "Are you free after eight tonight?"
Rowan narrowed his eyes at me. "Yeah. Why?"
"There's an economics test coming this week and I would love if you could give me a hand." I grinned.
"A hand, huh?" He grinned. "Well, can't pass up on that request."
"I meant a helping hand, geez!"
"Alright. Bring your study materials." He said and waited until I was in my car and closed the door behind me. "See you at eight."
"Bye." I said as I pulled my car out of the parking lot, watching him get inside his Lexus. I knew his car was going to be tailing after me until the intersection where he took the other road leading to Carmel Beach Heights.
In a matter of twenty-four hours I'd taken a big decision and I wanted to surprise him. I knew for a fact that it would make him happy. I was already feeling giddy and nervous with the idea. Now, I had to just pass the upcoming test. Perks of having an ex-economics teacher for a boyfriend.
****
A.N: Hey! Sorry for the late update. Took a long time to complete this chapter because I hit a temporary writers block lol. The next update will be fast :) Hope you enjoyed this chapter. A few more chapters to go.
Please don't forget to Vote and Comment telling me what you think. Stay Blessed!