Chapter 94

Bella-Rose POV

What had happened with James? What did he learn?... Were the thoughts swirling inside my head for the next week? Though he didn't approach me I could feel his presence wherever I went. Either I'm going mad or James has taken a new job as a stalker.

In either case, I became jumpy, more than my usual quota. Even my family took notice. Especially dad, who is scanning me from top to bottom every day as if some evidence indicating I met James without his knowledge can be found on my person.

Thank god he was not in the vicinity when we actually met the other day. I don't want the repeat telecast anytime soon.

Chris, however, remained blissfully unaware of my growing paranoia as he visited the bakery daily. Yes, you read it right. Daily. That guy has a serious case of a sweet tooth. He could beat Scott in a cookie-eating competition. And I never talk lightly about Scott and food in one sentence.

Within a week he became a permanent fixture in our family. And I shiver at how easy it was for him to achieve this feat.

Since the whole fiasco happened, I lived more with my parents than at home. Even now after over a month, I visit them daily. And Chris started accompanying me to these visits. He has the family at his fingertips.

Mom showers praise on him. "Oh Chris, you are such a nice man". Insert eye-roll.

As if Mom's blushing praises are not enough, he calls her 'Olive'. Dad and no one else call her Olive. But Mom doesn't mind Chris calling her 'Olive'. Go figures. You might ask what my dad said to this? Well, when dad has no sway over Mom.

And Nana flirts with him. Yup. She is back with a bang. She always has an eye on MY dates. Mathew is still on cloud nine thinking he was the Cupid who shot the arrow. One minute, I need to wipe my mind clean. I just pictured Mathew in Cupid's costume.

And Scott... Scott shared his food with him. I know. Shocking. In fact, I checked for any tremors on earth right after that incident happened. Though Mother Nature didn't protest, the remaining family dropped their jaws at Scott's unnatural gesture. See it was not just me. This is rarer than a hidden gem.

Everyone was team, Chris. Except for dad, who was the only one still grumbling. Me? Without knowing how it happened I started considering Chris as a friend.

Of course, he has other ideas regarding me. What with his heated looks he sent my way? And I just give him an awkward smile and play dumb or blush.

During these situations, dad is of great help. Whenever he notices Chris giving me a heated look or Chris standing too close to me, he pulls Chris to his side on the pretext of some help he needs. Gotta love an overprotective dad.

However, one of these days, he will get fed up with my playacting. I have to pay the piper then.
It's not like he is bad. He is really a sweet guy. Kind and goofy. But my heart... My heart has yet to lift its head from a certain arrogant guy and look at this one.

I don't know if it will happen anytime soon or will happen at all. But until then, I have to pretend like everything is roses and unicorns in my life with Chris.

Alas, my acting skills are piss-poor, to begin with. Hence, sometimes Chris gives me a deep look as if he knows what's going on in my mind and how I'm struggling to accept his advances.

Nevertheless, Chris being a good sport just smiles and continues the conversation as if nothing is amiss. Remember when I said about him being a good guy? That's why I feel guilt engulfing me whenever he gives me that smile that says 'everything is going to be alright soon.

If he has shown any kind of anger or demanded more from me, I wouldn't have felt this body-crushing guilt. I wouldn't still be thinking about James. Or perhaps I would be. I don't know. Only time would have unraveled what I would have chosen. As such, James's parting words are still swirling in my mind.

This isn't over Bella.

Does this make me a cheater? If so, I'm cheating on whom and with whom? Not even a single kiss and I'm already cheating two guys.

Thank God it's a weekend. I would finally be able to relax from the guy drama in my life. This is not my normal reaction when I have to attend the family dinner. But today is different. Because, I would get my family to myself once again, with no Chris hovering over them.

It's not like Chris kidnapped them or something. The truth is my family sans dad has become Chris-crazy. It's either they talk to him or talk about him. It's driving me nuts even though I'm aware of the game they are playing.

He is a good guy, but you too will get fed up if you hear 'Chris knows how to do that, 'Chris is so helpful', etc., every few minutes.

Alas, I counted chickens beforehand when the front door of my parents' home opened, revealing Chris standing facing me, holding the door.

He gave me a big goofy grin and asked, "what took you so long? We were waiting for you."

Great! Can this get any weirder? The guy is opening my parents' home and asking me why I'm late! Sigh. Only me. Perhaps I have a stamp labeled on my forehead saying 'doormat' to the guys. Why else would I attract the guys who like to walk all over me?

"I'm on time, "I grumbled, not in the mood to point out to him that he is early.

"Oh, my bad then. Come in. We are about to eat," Chris said, holding my hand and guiding me to the dining room.

Dad, who might have sensed with his sixth sense that Chris is touching my hand, materialized beside us, scaring the bejesus out of us.

"Dad! You scared me. Oh my gosh. What are you doing standing here?" I asked my hand, calming my erratic heart.

"Nothing. Just checking," dad said absentmindedly, his gaze focused on Chris's hand that is holding mine.

Chris, who understood dad's signal, swiftly unhandled me. Good choice. Otherwise, he might have to face a very angry cop. And I don't think Chris is ready to see the other side of my dad.
Someone faced him and came unscathed, my stupid brain supplied.

I put a lid on my thoughts before I get immersed in them.

"Where is everyone? I'm starving," I said loudly, my voice chirpier than normal.

Dad gave me a weird look while Chris accepted it at the face value and guided me to the dining room.

"Good, you are finally here. Chris is starving. But he said he won't eat a morsel until you arrive. He is such a gentleman," Mom said in adoration.

Even Scott never received this much praise. "Wow, he waited," I checked my watch and continued, "for 15 minutes. That must be a record," I said sarcastically.

"Oh shush, Bella. You don't know how many nutrients a growing boy need. You must appreciate his effort," Nana chastised.

"Growing boy...Who? Come on, Nana. It's only Chris," I scoffed as if she is being ridiculous in suggesting Chris is a 'growing boy'. As if he has any more growing left to do.

Since the thought of having my family to myself went into the drain, I resigned to the fact and chatted to the family while eating dinner.

In the middle of serving some dessert, Mom asked Chris, "Chris honey could you bring an empty bowl from the kitchen?"

"Mom! It's okay Chris. You enjoy the dinner. Let me get that for mom," I said embarrassed that mom would ask a guest to bring the dishes.

"No problem," Chris replied as if he hadn't heard me. Great! Now he too is behaving like my family when it comes to me. Remember the days when I was the center of attention? While I still am the center, the previous one helped me and this one is doing more harm than good. Now I'm wishing for my bland old days where the family ignores me.

Chris went in the way of the kitchen without looking back. I gave a shout saying, "it's in the top left cupboard," thinking why is he being so cool about helping and doing chores in my home.
Chris came back before I finished my sentence and coolly replied, "Uhh.. no. Olive shifted them to the bottom drawer."

I gawked at him dumbfounded. One week. Just one week. And he knows the location of the utensils in my parents' home better than I.

Have I landed on an alien planet? What's happening? How can he eclipse everyone in such a short time? He is cute, I agree, and... sweet. But why is no one suspicious of his motives?

Even dad's grumbles are because I'm 'dating' someone, not because of the guy I'm dating. I looked at the family as if I'm an outsider. Approval and acceptance shone in everyone's eyes. Are they thinking I will settle down and marry him just because I went on one date with him?

I agree going on a date is an achievement for me. But they are behaving as if I have said 'yes' to his proposal.

"What do you say?" Chris asked bringing me back from my reverie

"Sorry what?" I asked dumbfounded, blushing profusely for getting caught wool-gathering.

"I was just telling Olive about the party I'm taking you next weekend," Chris said as he ate his dessert.

"What party?" I was confused. Has he asked me and I was daydreaming like now?

"The party we both will be attending," Chris replied in a 'duh' tone.