Song: Beautiful by Bazzi featuring Camila Cabello

Chapter Eight: The letter N is his fetish

"Wow!"

"Wow indeed."

Even though the proper decorations haven't been set yet, the tables were there and the place still looked splendid. Let's just say this is the finest banquet hall I've ever been to.

This is the only banquet hall you've been to.

That's not true. I went to that one, you know, six months ago.

That was only because Tate's was part of the catering services and you were a server. You didn't even stay long.

Pfft. That still counts.

"So how's it?"

"It's beautiful, Leyla. Don't even bother asking."

"Let's wait for Ellie."

"No need to wait. I'm already here." A shrill voice called out. We turned to the door on the other end of the room. A woman dressing in an elegant pantsuit walked in with a younger woman speed walking to catch up with the older woman's long and smooth strides.

When she got to us, she did a graceful bow. "Elizabeth the only."

"I did hear you were quite the joker." Leyla commented.

She rose up and gave us a stern face. "Joker? Who told you that? I'm a very serious person."

"Of course you are. Don't mind me."

"Oh, where are my manners? This is my assistant. Amara."

The younger one who was dressed in simple jeans and a shirt just rolled her eyes.

"I'm not her assistant. I'm her younger sister. I'm also a designer. That's why she brought me along. In case you haven't gotten anyone to do your dresses yet." She grinned.

"Perfect. Because we don't." Leyla smiled. "I'm Leyla and these are my friends, Charvi and Zahra." We both smiled and waved.

"They're here to assist us."

"Perfect. We need all the hands we can get."

After that, it was a series of running around, lifting stuff and constant breaks. Different people came with a DJ set, some speakers, table clothes, extra furniture, beautiful curtains, a makeshift stage to put at the centre apart from the one already at the front, and many more.

We talked to Ellie about our preferred colours, food, drinks and a lot more. We found out that the door Ellie and Amara came in from led to a little garden with a beautiful fountain. She spoke to some gardeners to tend to it.

It is definitely going to be a night to remember.

**********************

"Hi mum. Hi Rev."

"-eka!" She said it so fast, it sounded like the same word.

They were in the kitchen. Mum looked to be tidying up and Reveka was carrying food to the table. It was about 8 pm when I got back. We had a long day of planning and organising with Ellie and Amara. I should get back to Axel about the tutoring, but not right now.

"When will you accept your lovely nickname?"

"When will you accept it's not a lovely nickname?"

"Touché." I nodded as I kicked off my shoes and sat down at the table.

"I actually prefer the nickname Veka to Rev." Mum offered.

"I hate both. They make no sense."

"But your name is too long. I want a shorter version."

"My name is not too long."

"You could use the name your dad gave you."

"No, thank you. Veka, it is."

Veka tries so hard to forget everything about dad. He used to call us by our middle names, the one he gave us because he wanted to be different. Not once did he call me Charvi. Veka's special name was Nora. All our middle names begin with N like his. Maybe the letter N is his fetish.

"Perfect."

"Now, can we eat?" Veka groaned.

We made small talk over dinner, when mum dropped the bomb on us.

"Your dad's back."

Didn't hear that right.

Veka choked and I had to pat her back repeatedly and give her water.

Okay. Probably did.

"He reached out. He wanted to know if he we still lived here."

"Did he perchance send us the money that'll enable us to move?" I asked. She kept quiet.

"I thought not." I replied with a scoff.

"Charvi, don't be rude."

"Why not? He left so he doesn't deserve an ounce of my respect."

"It was a divorce."

"That who gave rise to?"

We were silent for a while.

"He just left, mum. He didn't tell us. He didn't even say goodbye. I thought nothing was wrong. And then one day, he just up and left." Veka pointed out. "Why would we want anything to do with him?"

"He's a coward, that's for sure." I scoffed.

"He really is. And he called for the divorce from wherever he ran off to. Just couldn't face us, could he? I didn't know his hate ran that deep."

"He doesn't hate you." Mum soothed.

"He doesn't. Where is he, mum?" Veka was at the verge of screaming now. "Did he call? Did he visit? Did he even pay our tuitions? No! He left us, he left you. He's the reason we're struggling. The reason you work so hard and you're barely ever at home. It's his fault that we might not even be able to pay for college. And you want to defend him?" She stood up and wiped the tears from her eyes. "I'm not hungry anymore." And she stormed up the stairs.

Well that was one hell of a conversation.

After that, mum and I ate in silence. Veka wanted her alone time, so I decided to check up on her after.

After dinner, when we were cleaning up, mum spoke up.

"I'm really sorry, Charvi. For everything you have to go through." She paused. "There's something I'm not telling you two."

At the sound of that my ears perked up.

"What is it?"

"Remember that summer you and Reveka went to that summer camp. The summer your dad and I divorced."

"How could I forgot? I came back home and he was gone."

"That summer, your dad got fired from his job because of his fight with the boss. After that he would always get so angry. It was only me, Shayna and him since Shane went to that football camp. After a while, he just started drinking. A lot. I'd always send Shayna to any of her friends' house so she won't be here when he's passing his aggression. She didn't understand, but she always complied."

"Do I want to hear this?"

"Yes, you do."

"I decided to bear with him and just take his beatings until he could calm down. I tried everything. I looked in every newspaper for any place hiring. I hid all his bottles, but it seemed that whatever I did, he always got angrier. He started bringing women home, our home, here!" Tears were brimming her eyes so I rushed to her and hugged her. "He didn't care. He didn't mind he was hurting my feelings. One of those days, I came home and didn't see him in his usual spot by the fireplace. I was walking around until I heard someone sobbing. I traced it to Shayna's room. And what I saw?" A sob escaped her.

"What did you see mum?"

She just broke down into tears.

Maybe that's enough story time for one night.

Whatever she saw was probably the last straw.

I took her to bed, tucked her in and went back to cleaning up. On my bed that night, it was difficult to sleep. My mind kept drifting back to what mum said. Whatever dad did to Shayna must have hurt both of them so bad. I was so hurt we weren't there to stop it.

Maybe you could ask her tomorrow.

She'll tell me when she's ready. I don't want to upset her.

No matter how much you're dying to know?

No matter how much I'm dying to know.

**********************

"Every Friday night? Really? What are we, bored?"

I did my locker combination and opened it to exchange my books. First period was about to begin in about 10 to 15 minutes and I was here listening to Xander blab about how cool the party on Friday was and how I shouldn't have missed it. He's crazy if he thinks that was fun.

It may not have been fun for you and Zahra, but there were people on the other side of the house who were partying their lives out.

Fair point.

Kai drove me to school today, but he immediately went to the Principal's office to sort some things out. He wasn't as droopy as before because he said when he went to see his mum yesterday she responded to his touch. Her fingers twitched when he held it. He was very happy and decided to keep his hopes up. He blanks out often now, but apart from that, he seems fine.

I wasn't too excited. I was going to see Axel today. I admit I was behaving a little unfair and selfish. I ignored all his calls and text messages from yesterday. I just wanted to stay cooped up in my room and watch what I missed on Saturday. Reveka seemed intent on doing the same thing. But last night, we had a Skype call with Shane ad Shayna. At least they missed us as much as we missed them. They said they'd visit Christmas break. And I couldn't wait. I haven't seen both of them in a year.

"You won't be if you attended it."

"Oh please, what's so fun about a bunch of drunk teenagers passing out everywhere?" Leyla snorted as she was sorting out stuff in her own locker. Her locker was about 3 away from mine. Xander's own wasn't close to ours so he just rested his back on the ones in between ours.

There weren't a lot of people at school by now. People like Zahra just love to rush to class.

Sarcasm intended.

"I just don't get why it's every Friday. Even Saturdays too. It seems like all everyone wants to do is party. And those aren't just typical house parties, they're ragers."

"That's the best part. It's a party, yeah, but ragers are the best ones. They're wild and involve large consumption of alcohol."

"You know you're an underage drinker, right?" Leyla pointed out.

"No, I'm 18."

"Legal age is 21."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes."

He turned to me and raised his brows in silent question. I just shrugged.

"Well, if you're right, it's good it's a secret. Plus, both my parents are lawyers."

"That's the life." I joked.

"Exactly." He nodded.

I just laughed. We shut our lockers and headed and for the Principal's office to see Kai. We decided to wait for him. I hadn't yet told the others about his mum. I didn't think it was my story to tell.

Xander entered the secretary's office and backed out making me and Leyla halt.

"Xander. You need to walk forward not backwards." Leyla said.

"Yeah. It's easy. Left, right. Left, right." I teased. Leyla and I laughed, but Xander wasn't paying attention. He was peeping into the office and blinking his eyes rapidly.

"I think I just saw your dad."

"My dad? Not possible. He's out of town till Friday." She went in front of Xander to check, but she didn't need to because the panicked look Xander was giving me should have been enough to tell me.

"Mierda!" I cursed, not even realizing the word escaping my mouth.

Seems like Axel's taking a toll on you.

Students passing were staring at me weirdly, but I didn't care.

I rushed past both Leyla and Xander into the office. Once I got there, the sight I saw almost knocked me off my feet.

My dad was there, clad in a suit. He was talking to a very beautiful woman sitting on his left. And on his right was a girl who looked my age, texting on her phone.

He's moved on. He has a new family.

I made a sound. It was very light and most likely a whimper, but I know they heard because both adults looked at me. The girl on her seat was still staring at her phone, but I didn't care. All I cared about was the man who had locked eyes with mine.

"Nova?"

***************************

How was that? I hope it's okay.

Sorry the chapter was a little shorter than usual, but I wanted it to end here.

Please vote, comment and share. :)