Chapter 36: Chapter 36

JOSEPH'S POV

The smile on my face was not a normal occurrence, it hasn't been there since dad left. And today it came back out, because of a certain bubbly, rule following, brown haired, beautiful girl. Okay where did the last one came from? Am I? I shook my head no, I couldn't be, but the smile was still glued to my features, not moving.

I had dropped her off in front of her house, she was totally red faced, and it was really cute. I chuckle as I remember how she continually pushed back her glasses to on top of her nose. I couldn't stop staring at her because in that moment she looked so innocent and cute, I couldn't ruin it, even if all my senses were telling me to kiss her right after she pushed back her glasses the second time. I didn't want to ruin the innocent look on her... At least not now.. not when I knew Mom was watching from her room window up stairs.

"That smile is too huge, I have never seen it in my entire life, cut it out." Lucy said eying me from the kitchen door. I laughed softly.

Her expression only grew confused.

"Since when was it a bad thing to smile?" I asked her as I flung myself to the one of the new sofas she ordered.

"It is not a bad thing, it's just... unusual." She said looking at me thoughtfully.

"So should I still cut it out?" I asked testily.

"No no, keep it on, it's fine." She said waving me off and walking into the kitchen, only then did I realize how hungry I was.

Following her, I start to unbutton my shirt, I could already smell the fruit cake she was making.

"Fruit cake?" I asked with a raised brow.

She hummed yes without looking up, her hands were busy with the cake making.

"What's the occasion?" I asked leaning over the counter and taking a strawberry from the fruit basket.

I smiled again as I remembered it was her best fruit. She just has love everything pink doesn't she?

"Okay, now it's worrying, why are you smiling so much?" Lucy asked.

I chuckle,

"Is there something I can eat while waiting for the cake?" I asked dodging her question.

"There is pizza in the fridge, heat it up yourself."

I move swiftly to the fridge, getting the pizza out, I noticed she stocked the fridge to the brim. Impressed I wonder where the money came from, because as far as I knew she had used up her salary for the house.

"So why the cake?" I ask as I put the pizza in the microwave.

"My club got open today silly, I'm doing my celebration." As she replied I noticed her tone get irritated.

"Congratulations!" I exclaimed.

"Thanks, now why didn't you wait for me after school? Where have you been? Why are you coming back by this hour? Lastly, why are you smiling like a creep?" She asked in one breath.

"Luce, I thought we were past the stage where you ask me where I had been? This is what? 9 o'clock and you are mad I'm back late?" I ask also getting annoyed.

"No Mr I'm big enough to handle myself, you didn't tell me where you were going, the deal was, you can go as long as you tell me where you are going to!"

"I don't think that's your business!" By now it was a screaming match. We rarely had that, but when we did, it was heated.

She was about to retort when the microwave dinged, signifying that the pizza was hot enough like the quarrel we just had.

I brush past her and pull my pizza out. Taking a paper plate, I take just two slices, my appetite died already, but I had to eat because I was hungry.

"I am sorry I raised my voice." Lucy said quietly.

I was shocked so I turned to her.. she was slumped in her stool. Her face looked tired. I blinked, not waiting to say anything just yet, my pride would not allow that.

"I was looking all over for you, I waited for you to call or text, you didn't, and I tried to call you.. turns out you left your phone at home. I was worried. Really really worried." She said quietly.

The pizza clogged my throat, I couldn't respond. Swallowing harshly, the pizza went down.

"I uh.. I was with Carolyn... We went to get ice cream and walked around a bit, we lost track of time." I tell her awkwardly.

She smiled at me weakly.

"You are falling for aren't you?"

I choked at her response.

"I am not, I'm just doing what you and Mom asked me to do." I argued.

"Tell that to the smile you were spotting when you walked in." She said.

I could not respond, so I stuck to finishing my pizza, by the time I finished, I wanted more, I got up and took the remaining slices, and got strawberry juice from the fridge.

"Since when did you like strawberry?" She asked frowning.

I didn't want to get accused again, so I just opted for a shrug.

"By the way, where did you get all that money you used on the fridge?" I asked.

She smiled,

"You are still suspicious of Mr Anderson and I? How could I? After everything..." She swallowed without completing her statement.

"Anyway mom had some saving and she gave me a some."

I couldn't believe that the mom I knew all my life, who just hunched over her phone, and barely responded to our greetings except for a few 'hmmph's would have that much money. But I didn't say anything.

"Cake is ready!" She announced excitedly.

"I'm sorry I raised my voice back." I apologized as she brought out the cake from the oven.

She passed me a slice,

"All is forgiven."

I smiled and took a bite, lemon was prominent. I finished everything.

"It was great, thanks and congratulations." I say getting ready to go to bed. And trying to avoid doing the dishes.

"Here, take this to Mom, she wants to talk to you too." She said passing me a bigger slice.

"Did she say what it was about?" I asked her.

"No she didn't, and I don't think it's that serious." She said smiling at me.

But that did nothing to ease my worries. A knot formed in my stomach, the woman was not rational, and anything said out of line could set her off, I didn't want that.

I stood in front of her room, and knocked slightly. I heard one of her infamous 'hmmph's and I walked in. It was dark, but I saw her figure hunched over the only source of light. Her phone. No surprise there.

"Lucy wanted you to have this." I say leaving the fruit cake on her dressing table.

"I saw you are following the plan already. You are a smart kid." She commended. First time it happens and it wasn't true, I wasn't following her plan... I was following... My heart.

"Switch on the lights." She commanded sharply. My hand found the switch and I flicked it on.

She threw two cards at me, I caught it mid air, when I read it, they were two movie tickets. But the cinema was far from here, and I heard from people at school that it was a pretty dangerous place.

I was confused as to why she gave them to me.

"You are going on a date with her tomorrow... A movie date."

I gulped, I wanted to treat Carrie out on my terms, not her's.

"I heard this is a dangerous place, can we go somewhere else?" I asked in a thin voice.

"Why do you think I chose there? Anyway, when you will be coming back, you will suddenly have something important to do, she'll have to come home, alone."

Shock ran through me.

"What do you mean?"

"The movie theater is going to be in a dangerous place..." She said, I could see the outline of her smile, it was wild, and scary. Immediately, I got the hint of what she wanted. This woman was sick, but I couldn't do anything.

"I don't think that's fair to her, what if something happens?" I ask desperately, I knew her, once she wanted something.. she had to get it.

"Something did happen to me... Did anyone care?!" She sneered.

I couldn't even think of a proper response for that. Words were clogged in my throat.

"Get out." Her voice was icy cold, I could feel goosebumps along my arm. And like a pussy, I got out, without any argument.

I slowly walked out of her room, into mine. I couldn't sleep. The knots tied tighter in my stomach. I couldn't stand up to her, I can't protect Carrie, I was the lowest of all lows. I was.. or am.. a weakling.