Chapter 8: Chapter 8

That night I was able to sleep somewhat better than the previous one, despite the effect that the encounter with the twins had on my mind, which kept fluttering around. However, since I had already stayed up late, despite the effort of my memories and the accelerated pulse of my heart, I managed to fall asleep almost instantly as soon as my head rested on the pillow.

Upon waking up, I heard Lia talking to Dub about having the day off, so even though I would have liked to, I had no choice but to go to school. I would prefer to face fifteen copies of the twins a thousand times rather than spend a morning with the disastrous couple that lived with me.

I dressed in the first thing I found that wasn’t too wrinkled or dirty. It was a somewhat worn-out dress that I had once bought considering it beautiful. With that on, I cautiously approached the kitchen, intending to just grab something to eat on the way to school. However, I came face to face with Dub and Lia, who were having breakfast in the kitchen. In a very unusual manner, Lia offered to prepare something for me, and it didn’t take much to guess the reason behind her unusual kindness.

“Could you call the social worker again?” Lia asked when I refused to accept anything that came from her hands.

“So, that’s what this is about,” I replied.

“We could split the money,” she said with an expression and tone of voice I hadn’t seen in her in a long time, perhaps fifteen years ago when she still acted like a mother to me.

I was moved, and that stressed me out even more.

“I’ll think about it,” I said, with the sole intention of being able to leave soon.

“Are you really going to think about it?” Lia asked, perhaps aware of the effect she was starting to have on me because now she seemed determined not to let me go so easily. “Just so you know, that money has also been useful to me. Don’t you think I deserve something too?”

More than her words, it was the way she was saying them that was bothering me because I knew that Lia, when she set her mind to it, could have that effect on me. She knew that I longed to treat her as a mother, that I needed her, that she, and no one else, could fill the void of affection I had inside me, and she was taking advantage of that without me being able to do anything about it, despite knowing it.

“I already told you yes, that I’ll think about it,” I said. I tried to be tough and headed to the refrigerator to grab the first thing my hand stumbled upon so I could leave.

“Of course, we can save the rest of the money for your university,” Lia said, still determined to get a commitment from me. “Although you’re about to become an adult, I know he’ll keep making those deposits, and in a few years, you’ll have enough to pursue a professional career.”

I’ve said it before, it wasn’t so much her words that, although they sounded sweet, I knew she only said them to get what she wanted. What was truly convincing me to accept her proposal was the fact that her attitude, the affectionate tone of her voice, and the special way she looked at me tempted me to want to accept with the sole purpose of holding onto a hope that, perhaps, things could improve between us, and I would finally have a mother.

“Fine. I’ll talk to the social worker today,” I replied when my hand reached an apple and a juice box from the refrigerator.

“Good. Thank you.”

I walked out with tears welling up, refusing to let them escape.

How could she do this to me? Manipulate me like that. I don’t know what was more painful, her constant indifference or creating false hopes of reconciliation between us.

Aly had already arrived and was waiting for me in her car.

“Is everything okay?”

“Yes, it is. Everything’s wonderful,” I said as I wiped away the tears with my hand, pretending to only be fixing some poorly applied mascara.

“Are you still thinking about what happened yesterday?”

If there was something positive about what Lia did, it was that she distracted me, at least for a few minutes, from what had happened with the twins, and if Aly did something wrong, it was reminding me of them.

“I’ll follow your advice,” I replied with the sole purpose of preventing Aly from talking about it during the drive to school.

“I like your dress,” she said after starting the car.

“It’s nice, yes, but it’s getting old.”

“We can go shopping for clothes this weekend.”

“No. I told you I don’t have money, and whatever little I earn, I have to save.”

“I’m not saying you have to pay.”

I turned to look at her with determination.

“That’s even less likely. I won’t let you use your money to buy me things.”

“It’s not a problem. I can use my father’s credit card.”

I knew she wouldn’t stop, and Aly could be quite stubborn in her own way.

“I’ll think about it,” I said, using the same strategy I had tried to use with Lia.

“Very well. But promise me that in the end, you’ll say yes.”

I smiled and ate the apple I had in my hand.

The first few hours of class went by without any incidents, and I didn’t see the twins, which allowed me to feel more at ease. But before noon, I ran into them again, both of them. They had taken seats in different places, and I had to choose which one to sit next to. As soon as I saw the arrangement, I knew they had done it on purpose because there were no more available seats.

I felt inclined to sit with either of them. They were equally attractive, with their unruly hair. Although Ethan had a somewhat darker and playful look, Liam behaved with a bit more seriousness and that aura of mystery that also attracted me a lot. I left it up to chance and sat next to Liam.

“You were chosen, brother,” Ethan said as soon as my bottom settled in the chair next to Liam.

“Is something wrong with you today, dear?” Liam asked, looking for my gaze.

I had to pull down my skirt a little because I had already noticed Ethan’s eyes wandering over my legs.

“Nothing is wrong. I just want to focus on class. Is that too much to ask?” I replied, fulfilling Liam’s desire to see me in the eyes.

“It seems like our girl is not having a good day,” Ethan said with that mischievous and wicked smile that made my mouth dry.

“Our girl? Are they going back to that?” I wondered before getting angry again and responding with more strength and determination.

“I was having an excellent day until I ran into both of you, that’s all.”

They both smiled, excited, and I had to tightly press my lips together to resist doing the same because I knew my response had impressed them.

“I promise to leave you alone during class, dear,” Liam whispered in my ear, his fingers lightly touching my hair. The proximity of his hand to my neck brought back the memory of when he bit and traced his tongue on my nape. I shivered.

They kept their word, and the class ended without them saying anything else to me, just exchanging glances.

In the next class after lunch, only Ethan was there. He had sat with other guys, and although I felt relieved that he was distracted, I soon reproached myself for my premature celebration because I immediately noticed Chloe, who had also noticed my presence. I sat next to Aly, but that didn’t prevent Chloe from taking her time to approach. When she did, her perfume hit me hard, so much that I felt dizzy, and I even considered the possibility that she might be pregnant, although it was impossible, as she would be the second woman in history to be pregnant without ever having s*x.

“I thought I wouldn’t have the misfortune of seeing you today, weirdo,” Chloe said. “When do you want me to fix the bump on your forehead?”

I wanted to respond to Chloe, anything, I didn’t care, but the smell of her perfume was truly overwhelming. I couldn’t stand it, and I started to feel sick, really sick.

“What’s wrong, weirdo? Have you lost your ability to speak now? Say something,” Chloe mocked, with her hands resting on the table right in front of me. Now her perfume was nauseating to me.

“Stop bothering her, Chloe,” Aly intervened when she saw that not only was I not responding, but perhaps also the paleness that was beginning to take over my face.

“You stay out of it, nobody called you. Or is it that your little friend can’t defend herself?”

I swear I was trying, anything, whatever, but I feared that if I opened my mouth, I would vomit right there. If only her horrible perfume wasn’t wreaking havoc on me.

“Can’t you see that Sussan is feeling sick?” Aly said as she got closer to me and inspected me. At that moment, I couldn’t even lift my gaze to meet her eyes, which were trying to meet mine.

“And why should I care how this weirdo feels?” Chloe mocked, now more determined than ever to attack. Aly must have assumed the same because she immediately threatened Chloe with calling Ethan.

“He won’t like it if you keep bothering her,” Aly said.

I didn’t understand why that would affect Chloe so much, but it seemed to have an effect, if only for a moment.

“I want the weirdo to tell me to leave.”

“Ethan, look, Chloe is bothering Sussan.”

From the corner of my eye, with the little I managed to lift my gaze, I could see Ethan turn his face as if he had been warned about a fire. Without understanding what was really happening, I saw that Ethan’s gaze, projected onto Chloe, took on a particular shine, one of fury, almost anger. I didn’t see Chloe’s reaction, but it didn’t take more than two seconds for me to see her perfect behind move away, taking her horrible perfume with her.

“Are you okay, Sussan? What’s wrong? You look very pale. Do you want to go to the infirmary?”

“It’s that damn perfume,” I said when I managed to regain my speech without the threat of vomiting.

“The perfume?” Aly asked. “I must be coming down with a cold because I can’t smell anything.”

Before I could fully recover, I saw Aly opening the windows of the classroom and the teacher entering to start the class. In a few minutes, I had recovered, but I still didn’t understand why Chloe’s scent had affected me so much, even though Aly hadn’t even noticed it.