"Aria! Wake up! We have a guest!" I heard as I brushed my teeth.
She hadn't figured out that I had woken up twenty minutes ago, I had just stayed in the room to clean up and do some yoga. I needed to stay flexible and fit because I wouldn't have time to get back into shape when I got back to San Diego.
"Alright!" I yelled back as I wore my gown and headed downstairs.
As soon as I got downstairs, I heard my mom talking to someone and I could hear her excitement, which made me worried. Here's the thing, when my mother spoke to someone excitedly, it usually meant disaster was close to follow.
She had a tendency of over-sharing certain information with people when they made it easy for her to talk to them. At times if the topic was going and flowing in the right direction she would get over-excited and start sharing extremely sensitive things.
One time she told my crush's mom that I got my puberty extremely early because I kept bothering God with questions about it. I had never seen my crush and his mom so embarrassed on my behalf. Let's just say I stopped bringing my crushes around her and I wasn't planning on changing that decision anytime soon.
"Yeah, mom," I said as I entered the dining room, only to see a face that I hadn't seen for a few days.
"James…" I whispered
"Hey, Princess Aria." He teased as he stood up, giving me a small smile. A smile that would have any girl melting to her knees.
I wasn't falling for it.
"James, what are you doing here?" I asked, slightly shocked that he was here, in my mother's house.
"Daughter, that is rude, offer him something to drink and eat. I'll be back, I need to fetch something at the post office. I hope to see you soon Jameson." My mom said with a big smile as she gave him a bear hug.
That ain't your son in law, I wanted to remark.
As soon as the door closed, I gave him one of the meanest expressions I could before I turned around to head to the kitchen. Pulling out two glasses and the carton of orange juice. Pulling out the pan, I turned on the stove and put a small bit of butter in the pan.
Letting it simmer, I turned to the fridge, I pulled out four eggs and a few spices with bacon bits. I pulled out a bowl and mixed everything in the bowl. Making sure to balance everything and as soon as the smell of the heated butter filled my nostrils. I poured the whisked eggs and bacon into the pan.
Once ready, I pulled out three plates and placed them on the counter, I reached inside for leftover gravy and heated it in the microwave. I spilt everything on the three plates and gestured for him to take his food as I put my mother's food away. Just in case she hadn't eaten before she left.
Because for all we know my mother could be trying to set me up with San Diego's top ten sexy boys. I had no interest in him and for the least part, I hope he knew so. Everyone was stubborn in their assumptions, thinking that there was something between me and James.
We knew each other well, yes. We were usually partnered together, yes. We might as well be good friends, yes but was there anything more than friendship, maybe a possible relationship.
Hell to the no.
Taking a seat on across him, I placed his orange juice in front of him and placed my food and drink properly. I began eating, not even bothering to make small talk because honestly, I was hungry and I was afraid that I might say something that would offend him.
Food helps to balance a woman's mood swings, believe it. If she hasn't eaten and you drop a bomb on her, expect a nuclear reaction in any second. Don't say I didn't warn you.
Once we finished, I sat back on my chair and watched him. waiting for him to say something since I was ready to decide whether or not what he would say could be digested with the food I had eaten or would be flushed down the toilet when it was time for me to take a shit.
"Come on, aren't you at least happy that I am here?" he said, trying to make the atmosphere somewhat light.
"Out with it crab," I remarked, not changing the expression on my face as I looked at him.
"Oh, Princess Aria" he teased.
"Would Sebastian from Princess Ariel like to be cooked with butter and lemon?" I asked, still not buying his bull.
"The little mermaid, really?"
"Honey, I got more try me," I said, taking another sip from my orange juice.
"I just need help, okay, and no judgment please." He pleaded, finally dropping the little façade.
"Do I look like Judge Judy to you?" I snorted.
"You could be, for all I know you could slam that glass on the table like 'court dismissed'", he said slightly mimicking her voice.
"Is this conversation dismissed?" I joked.
"I mean it Aria. I wouldn't ask unless I was serious." He sighed, I squinted slightly noticing he had bags under his eyes.
"Where did you go this time?" I asked after a second of silence.
"The motel a state away." He said.
"First meal in how long?" I asked as I gestured at the empty plate in front of him.
"A day. I actually wouldn't have found your address if it wasn't for the fact that the receptionist had swapped our payslips." He said as he pulled out the envelope.
"I hadn't even opened the shit yet."
"I need a place to hide. Just for a bit please." He begged.