Chapter 82: Chapter 82

It's been two days and things were pretty good with Steven, we all had started to talk to Tucker, who had changed into a dead man walking. We all have been trying to hang out with him to understand him, but for me, it was more than that. I couldn't wrap my mind around the fact that my parents died of an accident, that Uncle Ben died of an accident. I wasn't ready to forgive Lauren, and if she really had a hand in my parent's death, I was going to destroy her.

"Hey!" my roommate shyly greeted me as she entered the room. I shifted thereafter that night of our conversation in the cafe. This girl was cool, Bailey: a not so talkative but always smiling girl. The good thing about her was that she would mind her own business and not gossip about things.

She jumped in her bed and put the laptop in her lap, I received a call from Tucker and without thinking too much, I walked out of the room to the balcony. It was suspicious that Tucker didn't acknowledge why all of us has become so sweet to him, maybe he thought we were being nice because of Uncle Ben's death.

"Hey," I whispered into the phone, hugging myself when the cold breeze played with my skin. The view from here was beautiful, but sadly we were on the top of the hill, so going out was scary at night.

"How are you?" his voice was calm, he hadn't been hanging out with Ken, obviously after the leaked pictures and videos of Ken and Monica. Monica was sent away by the services; it was also made public that she was never his sister.

"I am good, how are you doing?" I asked, knowing I have to gain his trust in order to make him realize his mother is not really doing right by him.

"I am fine," he took a pause, "thanks to you guys," he added with a sigh. I was about to speak when he continued, "It is weird how I managed to make so many enemies when all this time I thought I was doing the right thing. The fact that you guys are still with me, makes me even more guilty." he sounded in pain, was he really unfolding the reality of his actions, was he really understanding that he was very mean and even rude to everyone around him? "Giselle!" he called my name when he found me absent. "I am sorry for that day, I don't know what happened, it was like I fel---," he halted when someone opened the room to his door and joined him.

"Why are you up this late?" I recognized the owner of the voice to be Lauren, she had this annoying voice.

"Nothing, just not sleepy." He lied, he didn't tell her that he was on the call with me, "do you need anything?" he asked very politely.

"No, I was just wondering about your health, you haven't had dinner so I bought you a glass of milk," she mumbled, I wonder if she really cares for him or it is just an act. The way she was controlling him made me think she can't share her son with anyone, her love for her son is poisoning his mind.

"Thanks, but I really don't feel like drinking this right now." like any adult, he didn't like milk too, but Lauren's obsession with a glass of milk has made us all hate it even more. I remember being tortured by that glass day in day out.

"You can't say no to this, it is important." she annoyingly murmured like a stubborn person, she was wrong for treating him like a child.

"Not milk, I will grab a sandwich," he stated and hoped for her to leave, but the next thing she did give me the creeps.

"Oh yeah, of course, I am a person who is alone now, my husband is gone and my kids don't even care for me. Obviously, I am a stupid person trying to control you guys, I am so stupid--," she began sobbing, with a glass of milk to this emotional speech, she went really far with it.

"I didn't mean it like that, of course, I will do that for you." his voice has turned nervous, I waited for another few minutes and once he was done, she left.

"Yeah, so I was saying that---," he continued, but I switched the topic, what just happened had me shook.

"That was sweet!" I commented, feeling bad for doing this to him, but that was not okay, what Lauren was doing was hurting him, she was treating him like a kid. "But don't you think it is too much? I mean, obviously, you should listen to your mother, but like forcing a glass of milk?" I tried to be nice, but it wasn't a topic where one could stay positive for a long time.

"I just can't upset her on small things." He quickly defended,

"Yeah, but pretty much what she told you in the kitchen wasn't a small thing." I couldn't control the anger inside me and I realized it after I have said it, I ceased and bit my tongue, his's raced breathing was evidence of his discomfort.

"You haven't forgiven me, have you?" he mumbled very softly, his voice calm and smooth.

"I have but the thought of Lauren wanting that for me had hurt me." I stated honestly, I can't just forget that moment, her eyes watching me in terror, but she mercilessly stood there and did nothing. "just tell me she would ever want that for her own daughter?" I sighed, calming myself.

"You are absolutely right, she is---," he stammered and then halted, not finishing his sentence.

"She is what?" I narrowed my eyes, keeping my breaths, calm but fearing he has something important to say.

"Nothing!" he quickly mumbled, "do you hate her now?" he questioned in a lower tone. I know how it works Tucker, I have spent time with you, I know your games, I thought. That was a thing about Tucker, I don't know if Lauren taught him that but he would always test everyone, it was like he can't trust anyone until he tests them.

"No!" I bluntly lied, "I am hurt, but I can never hate her." that was a hard lie, to be honest, but the sigh of relief he let out made me sure it was a test.

"You are amazing Giselle!" he crackled and then stopped, "don't hate her, she is just too innocent and caring, she loves with so much passion that she can't take a no." being a fool he was, he kept going on and on and I couldn't resist but to roll my eyes every time he called her innocent. At points I feel like she doesn't even love her own son, she was ruining his personality.

We talked for hours, taking notes on so many things that I didn't know when I used to live with him, it was weird. The crazy thing was that he was opening up to me more than he ever had, not even when we were in a relationship. He told me that the first girl he dated was because Lauren forced him, but he didn't put it like that, in his mind, Lauren helped him date a girl only at the age of thirteen when we don't even know what's right and wrong and that strange part is that the girl he dated was a girl whose mother had a rivalry with Lauren so she pretty much used Tucker to ruin that girl's life to get revenge from her mother, the way she was doing things was making me sick.

"See you at school tomorrow." I yawned, feeling my eyes heavy.

"Thanks for listening to me." He murmured, and we hung up. I let out a deep breath and checked the time on my phone, it was 4:40 in the morning, but that wasn't the only thing that shocked me, it was the missed calls from Steven that had me shook. He had left so many texts, why the hell didn't I notice?

Mine: Hey girl :)

Mine: So I was driving by MacDonald and I remembered how horrible food is at your orphanage, so I bought you some food.

Mine: Hey can you come out? I am not allowed you know at this time :)

Mine: Girl I am on my bike, I am freezing.

Mine: Are you asleep?

Mine: Whoa, something important going on with this phone call.

Mine: If I die tonight, it is on you: p

Mine: Giselle?

Mine: Whenever you see the message, come out.

Mine: waiting.

The last text was received at 3:50. Tears formed in my eyes, how can I ignore him like that? I know it was unintentional, but if I had talked to him when he texted, we would be having such a good time. I sniffled and cleaned my tears, I should go and check, maybe is still out.

I ran out of my room, leaving the orphanage and looking around with no sweater on in this cold weather. There was someone on the bench in the ground ahead of us, I slowly walked towards the person and sighed in relief, it was Steven. My happiness faded away quickly when I realized he has been out in the cold because I am an idiot. I stood in front of him and watched him, he had his head laid back, his eyes closed and his arms folded, the black jacket shining. He probably had fallen asleep. I watched him lay his head back on the bench and sleeping in a sitting position and a smile crept over my lips if he ain't the perfect man I don't know who is.

Biting my lower lip, I looked at his neck and blushed. If I kiss him, will he notice? Nah! he is probably asleep; he wouldn't notice a thing. I stepped close to him and bent down, softly touching my lips on his neck and gaining my posture straight again, see no harm. My smile quickly vanished when a huge smile was formed on his lips, his eyes still closed. I gasped and took a step back.

"Well, a smooth apology." He finally opened his eyes and smirked, I looked away instantly in embarrassment.

"That was a mosquito." Stupid? Yep, that's me.

"Wow, one se*y mosquito eh?" he commented and raised his brow.

"I am sorry okay; I didn't see your texts." I mumbled, "I was on a call with--," I didn't finish and he rolled his eyes.

"Yeah, yeah I get it, don't say his name." He got up and shook his head, "It is okay Giselle, I should have informed you before coming here." He smiled, but that wasn't comforting me, his hands were red due to the cold. "Look, even if you were asleep, would it be your fault?" he asked and smiled, "so stop being sorry for everything, at least not with me." he was really someone I felt comfortable with. I lifted my face and our eyes met again, there was a smirk on his face, I had to look away.

"Hey, you brought food?" I ran towards the bag and it was half empty, I stared at him and he bit his lip.

"I had to keep myself warm you know." he shrugged sweetly, "any progress on that douche?" he changed the subject pretty quickly.