Chapter Forty-six

Chapter Forty-six

“You two!” My mom called in a pissed off tone, “are you not done talking yet? Are you both gonna leave me lonely out here?” she asked again as she took menacing footsteps towards us.

“Derrick, you need to excuse us, I need a me-time with my daughter.” she said icily, glaring at him. My dad chuckled bemusingly and turned to me with a small smile on his face.

“See, I told you she’d cool off.” He said reassuringly and squeezed my hand a little before getting up to leave.

My mom glared after him as he walked away, while he made faces at her, teasing her.

“You can stop glaring, she’s all yours Miss Carla.” my dad whispered sardonically, enough for everyone in the room to hear.

“Miss!? Really!?” my mom fumed as she turned to him angrily.

“Oh,” my dad laughed, “my bad. She’s all yours Mrs. Derrick Fields, in shouty capitals of course.” He said mockingly as he twisted his eyes in an amusing manner, and my mom scoffed, rolling her eyes at him as he walked away.

“Annoying being!” she said after him through clenched teeth before slouching down beside me. I think their fights just got better, they never just stop fighting. I think that’s their kind of recreational activity. Love language at best.

“So,” she heaved, turning to face me, “how are you baby?” she asked softly as she stared down lovingly at me.

“Great.” I said simply with a pensive look on my face. I knew a bombshell would follow so that was my own way of saying; “cut the act.”

“Glad you are,” she gave me a warm, reassuring smile. “Can we talk about it now, honey?” she asked calmly with no traces of anger or disappointment in her voice, but still, I could not form the words to say anything to her.

She gently squeezed my hand reassuringly as she sensed my reluctance and fear. The warmth of her hands seemed to send a calming feeling down my spine, and strangely, it kind of reminded me of Brandon. Yeah. Brandon West. The very same entitled, over-possessive, bossy human.

“Don’t be scared, alright? Of course, I might be mad at you or feel bad, but it’s only for a moment. I can’t stay mad at you, so talk to me.” she said with sincerity in her eyes, and I gulped nervously, trying so hard not to look into her brown inquisitive eyes.

“So, did you find out who this stranger was?” she asked calmly again, trying to sound meek as possible.

“He… he found me.” I stuttered embarrassedly, avoiding her eyes totally.

“Oh my God, that’s so cute.” she said with a sober look on her face as she expressed how touched she was to receive the news.

“How did he find you? Was it like you gave him your contact or something?” she asked again with a growing curiosity.

“Umm… I think, I mean, we had a mistaken uh… night together and then… um… after I left him, I met Ethan and I…” I paused, heaving, trying to find my words. “I woke up one morning to find myself in a hospital, and he was there watching over my head with fierce, misty grey eyes… oh, I mean, he was there.” I stuttered, feeling embarrassed by how over-expressive I was, but her interests seemed to be piqued immediately by my words.

“Misty, grey, eyes? Who was he?” she asked with a confused expression on her face.

“The stranger. The man I met.” I said slowly, almost reluctantly.

“What was his name? Can you tell?” she asked with furrowed eyebrows.

“Brandon.” I said dryly, the name sounding strange in my mouth.

“Brandon? That’s a fine name… what’s his surname?” her eyes quirked up with a bit of excitement, as she stared intently at me, soft brown eyes to embarrassed hazel eyes.

“Umm… Brandon? Brandon West.” I said quickly, swallowing the lump in my throat.

“Oooh…” she cooed excitedly, “sounds nice.” she said in a sing-song voice. “What does he do?” she asked, clasping her hands together.

“There we go again!” my subconscious whispered furtively over my mind.

“He… uh, he works, yeah. Big company. Boss. Entitled, annoying CEO, bossing everyone around. Crazy, idiot.” I said gibberish words while she stared on in total confusion, wondering what exactly I was trying to say. Even I did not know what I was saying. I guess I was just pouring out all my grievances about him to her without even knowing. I wanted to hate him or so I thought, but I was pretty sure I couldn’t just explain who he was without actually saying those ill things about him which were actually true.

“What are you saying, Galena?” She asked with a very confused look and a squeezed voice.

“Um… Brandon, yeah! He works, but I have no idea where.” I say quickly, fondling my hands and totally avoiding her eyes.

“Did you ever try to ask him what he does?” she asked again.

“No. Not interested,” I breathed, “I guess he’s bloody rich and I don’t care.” I said carelessly.

“Ooh,” she cooed, “kinda sounds fictional. You like him huh?” she asked mockingly with an amused expression on his face.

“I hate him!” I say defiantly with a fierce look on my face.

“Sounds like the opposite to me.” she says in a mocking tone, laughing and I gulp down nervously, avoiding her eyes.

“What is he like? Tell me about him!” she says with childish humour.

“He was my first.” I spat cluelessly and immediately regretted my words.

“Really?” her eyes widened in surprise as she clasped her hands over her mouth in shock, “oh my God!” she breathed as she watched me in disbelief and I looked away from her.

“Ethan…” her voice trailed off.

“Never.” I said simply, understanding her concerns.

“I’m glad you never got intimate with him. I seem to like Brandon already, I don’t know… has he called yet?” she asked with a bit of uncertainty in her voice.

“Mom, you’re with my phone. I can’t tell.” I said dryly.

“No, I’m not. Did you bring it here?” She seemed confused by my accusations, and this was news to me. If it wasn’t here, where then was it?

“I thought…” I was trying to say but got interrupted by the barging in of my dad into the room.

“Hey waffle, you’ve got a package here.” He beamed warmly. He held fast to a large bouquet of flowers, a teddy and something in a sealed box. I wondered who it could have been from since no one knew I was coming here and I stared at the gifts, stupefied, while my mom also looked on with confusion.

“Who is it from honey?” she asked.

My dad grinned widely before spelling out that same old name that haunted my heart, clouded my mind and haunted my dreams;

“Brandon. It’s Brandon, Matthew West here.”