Chapter thirteen
The Past
Elsie
Clothes scatter around the bedroom, some on the bed, the desk and all over the floor. I have been in my room trying on every item of clothes I own for hours. My mother didn’t bother to ask me why I came home running up the stairs as a lunatic and locked my door.
A silky yellow dress catches my attention as I bend down to grab it, holding it up. My head tilts to the side in consideration.
Would he like this color?
I put it over me, and face the mirror. The yellow dims my pale skin as I sway from side to side. A knock on my door startles me as my head turns to it.
“Elsie, can I enter?” the comforting voice of my mother, muffled by the door.
“Just a second!” I grab the clothes and shove them into the wardrobe as much as possible. Once they are hidden to my heart’s content, I unlock the door, opening it slightly. Blue eyes that match mine stare at me with amusement.
I put on my innocent smile, keeping the door open ajar. “Is there something you need, mom?”
She puts a hand on her hip and glances at the door with a smirk. “Do I need something to check on you?”
Knowing my mother won’t give up until I let her in. She knows that I'm up to something and one thing about my lovely mother, she is stubborn.
We stare at each other in a silent challenge until I groan out in defeat and her grin widens. “Fine.” I open the door further as she walks in and sits down on my bed, crossing her leg over the other as I face her, fidgeting with the hem of my skirt.
Her gaze glances over my shoulder to the wardrobe that is a second away from erupting then she looks back at me as her lips tilt up in triumph. “So..”
“Fine, I was asked out on a date, mom.”
Her eyes widen slightly then she smiles genuinely as her inches forward. “Clayton finally asked you out? This boy has been taking so long to take action. I’m so happy for both of you, Elsie!” her eyes are gleaming with joy, her toothy grin shining.
Her smile drops slightly when she sees my confused stare, my eyebrows furrowing. “W-why would Clayton ask me out?” she stares into my eyes for a minute, i’m not sure what she is trying to find.
“I thought–nevermind.” She covers her slip with a sad smile. “Do you like the boy that asked you?”
I look away thinking. I have known him for a while since he enrolled in our school recently, the girls talk about him a lot.
He seems lovely and kind to all our colleagues.
Clayton probably knows him, since they are both in the same grade.
I realize that I have been staring at the wall, while my mother is waiting for my response.
“He is handsome.”
“And?”
I stayed quiet, trying to make up a story of how we romantically met and he brought me flowers.
“Elsie, are you sure you want to–?”
“Mom, you know how embarrassing it is to be fifteen and never been asked on one date? I see all the girls with their boyfriends, talking about the butterflies they feel when they kiss. Every time they look at me with pity in their eyes and amusement, and I’m over it.
Why do I have to make an effort to stay in my friend group, knowing they would always choose each other over me?
Why do I have to be the last one who gets a date?
Someone finally chose me for once, mom. So, yes, I will go on this date.
” My chest rises as I take in a deep calming breath.
“I’m sorry for yelling at you, I don't mean to be rude, but I–” My mother stands up abruptly and wraps her arms around me, pulling me in between her embrace tightly.
I breathe in her familiar scent that never fails to bring me comfort.
Her hand smoothes down my hair as I fight back my tears.
We stay like that for a few minutes, knowing she won't let go until I step back.
I pull away a bit as I look up at her and find her beautiful smile staring back at me. “Elsie, you can’t force love. Let it find you when the time is right, just open your eyes and let your heart lead you. We love you without consequences, we simply do. You deserve to be the first choice.”
My lips tilt up as I hug her tighter. “I love you, mom.”
“I love you more. If you want to give this date a try, I won't stop you.”
Nodding softly as we hear steps coming up the stairs. “Bug, your friend is at the door, but let me tell you, I'm considering shooting him.”
I chuckle, shaking my head as my father stops at the doorway.
His gaze jumping from both of us, he can see we have been tearing up.
“What’s wrong?” he walks towards us, once he is close, he holds my mother’s chin between his fingers tenderly.
She smiles at him, shaking her head. “We were talking and just got emotional.” I nod along with her and he eyes us suspiciously, trying to figure out what happened.
I spare him the overthinking as I hug him.
His arms wrap around both of us immediately.
“I have never understood women’s emotions, even after being married to your mom for over a decade.
” He chuckles, hugging us tighter as we both laugh.
I feel His body sagging in relief as he hears our laughter.
My mother holds my father’s arm and walks out of the room as she gives me a wink and closes the door behind her. I look back at my wardrobe then grab a lilac dress.
The dress hugs my waist as it flows down to my ankles.
The color complements my hair as I leave it down.
I stare at myself through the mirror, taking it all in.
Afterwards, I found the courage to open the door and walk downstairs.
The front door is open as I see Jackson, standing in our front yard.
His head turns towards me as I stand before him.
His eyes cast down from my eyes to my dress, taking every feature until his eyes turn back up to meet mine.
My cheeks flush as I brush a strand of my hair behind my ear with a shy smile.
My eyes take him in discreetly beneath my lashes.
He stands tall, wearing a white dress shirt that hugs his broad frame.
The black pants compliments his outfit. His blonde hair is slightly shaved on both sides, dark blue eyes and a kind smile.
“Hi.”
“Hi, sorry I have kept you waiting.”
“Believe me, it is worth the wait.” His eyes take me in again with a quick glance.
My flush deepens as I clear my throat, smoothing down my dress to give myself time to calm down.
“Shall we go?”
He outstretched his hand towards me and I nodded.
Our hands brush gently as he wraps his fingers around mine and leads us out to the street.
The night fog is thicker today, but I have been used to it by now.
We walk for thirty minutes as he takes me to a small restaurant.
The interior is beautiful and more modern compared to the other restaurants here.
Not that Grimridge has many, but most of them are outdated and barely have any customers.
The crime rate never subsided for once. When I asked my father why he decided that we live here alongside criminals, he refused to tell me and promised that he will always keep us safe. Maybe someday I will move out of here.
A bell rings as Jackson opens the door for me and I walk ahead, giving him a grateful smile for the gesture.
A waiter tips his chin up at Jackson in acknowledgement as he walks away holding a tray of food.
A hand on my back startles me as Jackson leads me further into the restaurant.
We sat at a table in the far corner. The chairs creak as we pull it and settle down.
I look around us, taking in the new scenery.
“You like it?”
I smile at him. “Yes, It’s definitely different from the other restaurants around.”
He crosses his hands on the table, leaning towards me as he sits across from me.
“My father bought it when we moved here and turned it into this beauty.” I listen to him, nodding every once in a while.
My neck starts to strain as I glance over the clock hanging on the wall.
He has been talking for forty six minutes.
Nonstop.
I have not murmured one word since, our conversation is one-sided as he keeps gloating about his family and tells me an indepth story of how the restaurant has been built, how his father sacrificed all the money they have. Which he has mentioned twenty nine times already.
Yes, I counted them to pass the time. I can't handle him saying his family is rich one more time.
My mind drifts to Clayton as my lips tilt up, he would have probably corrected all the technical terms he has been spelling wrong.
He would definitely find this place obnoxious and overcrowded. Then he would take me to an abandoned new place he discovered.
I wish he was here.
Jackson is a sweet guy, I don't want to be rude to him and leave as if i have an emergency. But my coffee mug that he ordered for me has run cold. I stare down at the mug, I hate coffee.
I feel a familiar presence around us as I scan the customers in nearby tables. My eyes stop at the glass window, a shadowy tall figure stands away with a hood over his head, covering his features. But I can recognize that figure anywhere.
My lips turn up to my eyes as I feel my chest lighten. Even in the shadows, I can make the slight smirk he gives me.
“Elsie, everything okay?”
Clayton’s smirk drops in a snarl as my attention turns back to Jackson.
“Oh everything is fine, I just remembered that my father wanted me to go back home early.” standing up, leaving the untouched cold coffee as his eyes follow me.
“Wait, at least let me walk you home, this town isn't safe at night to–”
“No need.”
My back stiffens as a deep voice echoes behind me.
I feel the heat of his body on my back. I turn to face him as I look up into his eyes.
But his gaze is striking onto Jackson, his usual green eyes darkening.
He wraps his arm around my waist and pulls me beside him. Before I can ask him what he is doing.
Jackson stands up. “Who do you think you’re to-” a hand covers his mouth as Jackson's eyes widen.
“I have had a long day, no need for a headache.” Clayton says in a dark tone I never heard from him ever.
His eyes glance to the coffee mug and his jaw tightens.
He pulls me ahead of him as we face the door.
I hear porcelain shattering on the floor as I look behind me and find Jackson looking down his stained white shirt with his arms raised. A waiter rushes to him with a rag.
“What the hell man-”
Clayton leads me out of the restaurant as he throws over his shoulder with a smirk. “Didnt see it there, enjoy your coffee.” He looks down at me and winks.
I couldn’t help but smile.
The street light flickers, dining the empty playground. Clayton wanted us to take a walk before he took me back home.
The silence around us is deafening in the dead of the night, just the two of us stepping onto kids' chalk drawings over the concrete ground.
I notice a single swing in the middle of the playground as I walk towards it and sit down.
The chilly hair makes my body shiver, Claton notices as he always does and holds the hem of his black hoodie, raising it up.
My gaze landed on the slightly exposed part of his lower stomach then I turned my eyes away quickly, feeling my cheeks heat up.
“No, it's okay, I like my dress too much to cover it.” I smile up at him as he shrugs and takes the hoodie off, throwing it onto the ground, leaving himself in a gray shirt.
“Clayton! Why would you do that?”
“If you want to be cold, then we will be cold together.”
“You’re unbelievable.” I shake my head.
He steps behind me as I grab onto the robes, he puts his hand on my back and pushes me forward gently as I swing.
“Why?” His question fills the comfortable silence. I don't bother asking him what he means.
“I wanted to understand what it is like to be chosen for once.”
The swing stops as he holds onto the robe, leaning closer to me, his torso to my side as I feel a hand hold my chin. He turns my head to the side, towards him as I look up and meet his green eyes.
I sigh. “Clay, I already know what you are going to say, mom told me that I deserve to always be the first choice. I love her, but it’s different from how my parents love me.”
He inches his face down close to mine as his forehead presses on mine. His eyes never leave mine and I can see a million emotions clashing through them.
“Your mom is wrong.”
I furrow in confusion, disappointment filling my guts, he catches the change in my demeanour. His finger brushes my skin in reassurance.
“Mon ange, you're the only choice in my world.”
The next day, my father leaves a newspaper on the kitchen counter as I glance at it. A black and white picture of Jackson’s father's restaurant catches my attention. I grab the newspaper and read the title as my eyes widen.
Last night in Grimridge, The ‘Hearthstone’ restaurant burnt to the ground, the coffee machines were filled with gasoline, which resulted in a huge fire. The owner is displeased with the ruined business.