Chapter 54

**Bella-Rose POV**

I woke groggily, sleep still niggling in my eyes as I checked the time. 4:00 am. Uhh...Life sucks when you have to work with only 4 hours of sleep.

I groaned and lay back on the bed again as I thought about the events that happened last night at the ball.

I closed my eyes as I pictured James's emerald orbs. Those eyes... I could stare at them for eternity. His hands... his shoulders. He is just...massive. He has this aura surrounding him that is hard to miss.

It all looks surreal now- how I met James, how we danced together, and how close I was to kiss the daylights out of him! If only I had stayed...

Has it really happened? Or did I imagine everything? Maybe my man-hungry mind got fed up with my fantasies and created this masterpiece of an illusion?

What! Don't snicker. You too will doubt yourself if Chris Hemsworth suddenly looks interested in you. And I'm not exaggerating about James's league. James's standard is THAT high.

Forget about the kiss, I didn't even get the chance to see his face. He was this close to me. All I had to do was lift the mask. And I didn't even bother to do that. What kind of an idiot does that? Simple. An idiot like me, who stood panting and simpering at him.

I clutched the pillow to my face and screamed my frustration into it. The cathedral release doesn't help to ease out the irritation at me.

What must he be thinking of me now? I checked the mail once more just to be sure I might have missed any spam. Nope. Nil. It's not like James to miss a morning. Generally, he is the one who bombards my mailbox.

What must have happened? Did he change his mind after I ran; Thought I was not worth the trouble? It doesn't sound like James.

Perhaps he is running late. All these thoughts might one day fuse in my brain. I sighed as I rose from my bed and went to freshen up.

Once I scuffled to the back entrance of the bakery, I shoved the thoughts of James into a corner and got busy making the goodies.

When I got free from the breakfast rush, I called Amanda to check whether she reached home safely last night.

Obviously, she doesn't bother with such trivial things. If I depend on her to check on me, then I could be lying dead somewhere before it happens.

I'm greeted with a busy tune. Uh... it's 10 am in the morning. How can she be busy this early? I called again three times...still a busy tone. That's odd. Since when did Amanda get busy not answer a call from her friend?

Not to sound rude but her work is a joke compared to mine. Amanda doesn't do menial tasks. So, it's a rare combination indeed if she gets busy at work. Maybe she met someone at the ball and is having the ball right now. Wink wink. This scenario suits her better.

Good. At least one of us got to enjoy it. I ruined my chance with my cowardly thoughts, I should at least let her enjoy her moment. With that thought, I returned to my work.

The shrill sound of my caller tune disturbed the quiet lull in the kitchen. Finally! Took Amanda long enough. I checked the caller Id and it's not her.

I answered the phone and was about to burst out with my accidental meeting with James when a panting voice said haphazardly, "Bella...Bella, run! Run for your life. Bella"

"What?" I asked, confused. Is she high this early?

"She is coming, Bella. She is coming for you", the person said dramatically.

"Who? Could you be any clearer?" I asked unconcerned as I whipped the frosting.

"She learned about you and James, Bella. She is very angry. I swear I saw hot coals burning in her eyes. If I'm in your place, I will hide in the deepest, darkest underground. Run, Bella! Save your life", the voice pleaded fervently.

"Seriously Sarah? You are watching too much k-drama. I fear for your brain cells. You need to cut it out. Now, take a long breath and tell me slowly", I said as I shifted my phone to the other ear and continued whipping.

"Well, your mom learned about you and James", Sarah blurted out without any preamble. The machine slipped from my hands making a mess on the counter. I quickly switched it off and concentrated on Sarah.

"Sarah!! How could you? If I'm dead while on the road you will be the one responsible for it. I won't let you off the hook that easily. Nope. I will write a note for everyone to know before that", I swore as I pictured different scenarios with which my mom is going to torture me.

"Now who is the drama queen?" Sarah snickered

"I have a valid reason. My mom is on a hunt to exterminate me. My blood is on your hands, Sarah. Mark my words", I wailed as I said that.

"Well… at least I helped by informing you beforehand. Doesn't it count for something?" She asked hesitantly.

"Not good enough. I said all that in confidence, Sarah. I thought you will take my secrets to your grave", I groaned imagining the consequences.

"Ah...about that... she was very incentive"

"You couldn't resist mom's glare? I expected better from you" I scoffed at her meager excuse.

"Actually...the thing is..." Sarah's hesitation made me think of one name.

"No! Don't tell me she used Scott on you. Please, anything but that", I pleaded with her.

"If you don't want to hear...then I won't", Sarah dragged reluctantly.

"You sold friendship for a crush? For my garbage-eating brother?" I questioned not to believe that our friendship is so cheap.

In answer, she questioned, "Don't you have to hide before your mom reaches the bakery?"

"This isn't over...sister", I narrowed my eyes as I delivered the deadly threat and cut off the call.

Just as I was planning my escape route, Mom barged in from the front door.

"Bella-Rose James...come with me", Mom said with a straight face.

"Mom! Hey! Fancy seeing you here. Not that you are not welcome...but you don't usually bother coming here. What's the ...occasion?"

"Now!"

"Can't we sort this here, please?" I pleaded with her.

"I'm waiting", she said as she folded her arms.

I dragged my feet and followed her as if I'm being taken to the dungeon.

Once I'm inside her car, I turned to her and put forward my case.

"Mom, I can explain. It's not what you think. Let me tell my side", I pleaded with her as she drove us to god knows where.

She parked at the entrance of a medical store. Ok...that's weird.

"Is Nana, ok? Are we here to buy her some medicines?"

"Get down", Mom said as she scanned the perimeter.

"Mom, I'm sorry. I wanted to take it slow. I would have told you guys earlier if we were dating like normal people. It's totally new for us and I don't want him to get scared when he sees my family...I mean overwhelmed, yes, overwhelmed when he meets our family", I said as I followed her inside the store. Fifibel, I can deal with it. But this new angle is scaring me.

"Mom, please say something", I said as we seemed to stop at a shelf.

Then something happened that I wouldn't have expected from mom.

Mom held something from the shelf and turned to me and said loudly, very loudly, "look, fifibel! There is an offer on condoms!"

Pin drop silence can be heard from the store. Not a single person talked. Every single person turned and looked at us.

My jaw came unhinged. This couldn't be happening to me. It's a dream...it's just a dream.
I slowly backpedaled from the future crime scene as Mom continued her chant, "and it's in strawberry flavor too. Your favorite one. Fifibel! Fifibel! Where are you going?"

I suddenly collided with someone as I tried to escape. I turned to apologize to the person. My cheeks reddened when I saw an attractive young man smirking at me.

"Do you know her? I think she is calling you", I said with a bite as I pointed in the direction of Mom.

"No, I don't think so", the guy smirked. The smooth but unmistakable cadence in the masculine voice spelled a foreign accent. I would have swooned listening to it if not for James residing in my heart.

"Whatever!" I said over my shoulder and tried to slip from the store when mom caught my arms and said very loudly, "fifibel! I'm talking to you".

I turned red-faced towards the shelf. The guy was giving me a large grin as he said, "you were saying?"

Well...here goes nothing. "Mom. I'm a lesbian", I said to her face. Her arm slipped from mine in shock. If possible, the silence in the store became more pronounced. Someone gave a choking sound from somewhere in the store.

I didn't find out who it was. I took this opportunity to run from the store before mom could ask me some more awkward questions. Ughhh. Kill me now.