Chapter 51 Practicing Sumo Wrestling
"Where'd you go? Why are you upset? Did someone bother you?" Brad asked, grabbing my arm as I ran into him by the restroom.
"Got bitten by a mad dog," I grumbled, frustrated.
Brad looked me over and asked, "Did Daniel bully you?"
I shook my head. He didn't bully me, but his words were infuriating and ungrateful. Serves him right to be played by women.
"Then what's up with you?"
I kicked the wall angrily. "Daniel's a jerk."
Brad got it right away. He glanced towards the backyard, then patted my back. "Didn't you see this coming? Why say anything? Haven't you heard no good deed goes unpunished, silly girl?"
I had no idea what happened after I left, how Zoe left, or why Daniel sat alone in the backyard for so long. The family dinner ended on another sour note.
When we got home, Helen and Ronan kept whispering, avoiding me like I might overhear.
For years, Daniel and I barely talked, and I didn't care about the dinner drama. It didn't affect me.
In other words, I didn't want to waste energy on irrelevant people. But my parents' sneaky behavior was amusing.
In the following days, Lillian and Amelia came home. We spent our time shopping and eating, having a blast.
One afternoon, we were resting in a drink shop when we ran into Zoe. She looked haggard and wanted to talk to me alone.
Lillian and Amelia were furious, shielding me and mocking Zoe.
"Who do you think you are? Just because you want to talk, we have to?"
"Yeah, stay away. You're ruining my juice."
Zoe's face turned sour, but she refused to leave. Remembering her look at the dinner table, I knew something needed clearing up. Zoe and Daniel were irrelevant to me now, and being misunderstood by them was pointless.
After much persuasion, Amelia let us talk alone at a corner table. They watched us like hawks from a short distance.
"Say what you need to say quickly. I don't have much time," I said.
Zoe looked up with red eyes, looking pitiful. Seeing her like this was enough. Even if she was drop-dead gorgeous, always having the same expression would get old.
Besides, she was nothing special. I had no patience for her fake frailty, which annoyed me.
"Cut the act. I'm not Daniel, so I don't appreciate it. Say it or leave. I don't have time to waste on you."
"Alright, since you're so straightforward, I'll be direct too. Did you tell Daniel about my time at Northern Institute of the Arts?"
I sneered. She was practically admitting it. "Did you do something at Northern Institute of the Arts?"
Zoe choked, clearly not expecting my response. She scrutinized my expression, trying to figure out if I was serious.
"If that's why you came to see me, Zoe, let me tell you, no secret stays hidden forever. Be careful."
"Jane, you know me. John is just a good friend from Northport. I wanted to tell Daniel, but it's not a big deal and doesn't affect us. The future is between me and Daniel, not anyone else."
I was speechless at Zoe's shameless defense. If hugging and kissing with a guy counted as nothing, then going to a hotel room together might be described as practicing sumo wrestling in her words. Talking to her was a waste of time.
"Zoe, if you want to clarify things with John, talk to Daniel. You're right, the future might be just you and Daniel's. Just take responsibility for your words and don't make choices you'll regret."
I got up to leave.
"Jane."
I stopped. "Anything else?"
"I'll be spending New Year with Daniel." She bit her lip, pride and provocation clear in her eyes.
"Does that have anything to do with me?" I explained patiently, "Zoe, I had nothing with Daniel before, and I won't in the future. He's just my neighbor. Stop testing me. My temper isn't great, and if you push me, I might say something you'll regret."
Lillian told me Zoe was so angry watching me leave that she almost popped her eyes out.
Zoe spending New Year with Daniel was confirmed by Brad; it was the result of Daniel's efforts. That day, Zoe was forced to leave midway, and later she had a big fight with Daniel. He only appeased her by agreeing to bring her home for the holidays.
But Hugh and Emma didn't like Zoe at all and strongly opposed her coming home for New Year. Daniel even resorted to a hunger strike to force them to give in.
I told Helen I didn't want to spend New Year with the Pitt family anymore. It wasn't that I was timid or had unresolved feelings for Daniel, but Zoe could turn the household upside down even when she wasn't around. If she were there in person, Emma would have her hands full.
With her character and behavior, just seeing her made me uncomfortable, let alone spending New Year together. It would make me want to throw up. New Year was a time for celebration, and it wasn't worth letting Zoe ruin it.
My dislike for Zoe had nothing to do with her relationship with Daniel. It was purely because I couldn't stand her actions.
Helen said they hadn't planned to spend New Year together this year anyway but just hadn't found a good excuse. Ronan, being the head of the family, demonstrated his intelligence at the crucial moment. With a wave of his hand, he decided the whole family would go to San Francisco for New Year, and we booked three plane tickets.
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