Song: Colour by MNEK featuring Hailee Steinfeld

Chapter Sixty-eight: You want me to massage your feet?

Ding Dong!

I groaned. "Can someone get that?!"

Zane rolled his eyes at me. "Don't be lazy."

It was Wednesday and Grace went grocery shopping so, except her, everyone was at home. Zane and I were in the kitchen and he was cooking. Or at least trying to. Living the life of a pampered rich boy, cooking was probably not on his agenda, but he was adamant on making food for me so I was giving him pointers. Although I was sitting a good distance away and I didn't know what he was making, so the pointers were more like warnings not to burn himself or the whole house.

"Then you get it."

"But I'm cooking and it's your house."

"Actually...."

"Cherry just get the door. It's really not that far."

"Urghh. Fine."

I pushed myself off the stool and headed for the front door.

Do I hate work?

Yes.

Do I hate people?

Depends.

It's weird that I was a waitress then.

I opened the door and was an engulfed in a hug before I knew who it was, but with the doctor behind, I could guess. I forgot that she was going to be back today. I squeezed her as much as she was squeezing me.

"Hey mum!"

"Hi sweetie! I've missed you." She kept me at arms' length and examined my face. "Are you okay?"

"Yes mum. I'm fine. It's not like anything-"

"Is someone at the door?" I looked back to see Mrs. Brooks descending the staircase like it was some fashion parade.

It's now she comes.

I know right.

"Yes. Someone is at the door. My mum's here to take us home."

I can swear she looked relieved.

Well, we gotta do something about that.

I sent her my charming smile. "But that won't be until later today. We haven't packed and my boyfriend is cooking me a delicious meal. I can't leave until I've tried it."

"Oh."

"Yes. Oh."

I turned back to Mum who was hidden from Mrs. Brooks view.

"I also have to talk to your father before I go."

"He's in the office, but first come in. Make yourself at home." I dragged her in and reached behind her to drag Dr. Wallace in.

"How are you Charvi?"

"Splendid. How was your trip?"

He gave me a sideways glance with a smile playing at the corners of his lips. "Splendid."

I smiled and turned to Mum who was in a supposed stare-off with Mrs. Brooks. "Was this the first place you came from the airport?"

She nodded.

I turned back to Dr. Wallace. "Then you must be tired. Let me show you to one of the guest rooms. You can have a hot shower and then come back down to try my boyfriend's mystery meal."

He gave me a weird look before I started pushing him up the stairs. "Stay here. I'll be right back."

She just nodded again, as she was now no longer in a supposed stare-off, but looking around. Mrs. Brooks had come fully down and down one of the corridors. She didn't know the twins were here yet so it was more like a surprise.

I honestly didn't know the difference between the guest rooms and normal rooms because I never asked so I just stopped in front of one. 

"You know all our luggage are in the car, right? So there's really nothing for me to change to. I didn't think we were staying long."

"Well, we're not. I just want to make Mrs. Brooks think that so she can have a mini heart attack."

He shook his head with a smile. "Sneaky girl."

I laughed as he entered the room. Then I turned around and headed to Rev's room. She was on her bed scrolling through her phone.

"Rev, mum's back."

She wasn't moving. That's when I noticed she had earphones on. I walked close to her to scream in her ear. "REV!!!!!"

She jumped and I laughed at her expression as she removed the earphones. "Why on Earth would you do something like that?"

Instead of answering her question, I just laughed some more and told her, "Mum's back!"

Her face lit up. "Finally!! I don't think I can stand any more of the drunk boys that have wandered into my room thinking it was the bathroom."

I laughed in remembrance of the mini parties Anastasia would have in her room with about 8 people from school. She and the clones never bothered me anymore, but their presence was still unwanted.

"Tell me why they didn't just use the bathroom in her room." I wondered.

"Because someone was already using it I guess."

"Poor Grace has to clean up the vomit they always leave."

"I know right. I'd help, but vomit cleaning isn't for me."

I rolled my eyes at her face before walking out of the room. I wouldn't clean vomit either. She walked out after me, but was heading downstairs. I was going towards Shane's room when I saw someone walk to his door. Anastasia. I waited behind. This would be fun to watch. She knocked.

After a few seconds, the door swung open. The look on his face when he saw it was her was priceless.

"You again? What now? You want me to massage your feet?"

She blushed. "That's not what I came here for, but now that you mention it, I-"

"No." He cut her off bluntly.

She didn't notice his tone, or she chose to ignore it because she put a hand on his biceps. He looked down at it and back up at her. "I am not your age." He said slowly as if talking to a baby.

She batted her eyelashes seductively. "Age is nothing but a number. You see, I sent all my friends away so I could spend time with you. How about that?"

I snorted.

"Not interested." He removed her hand from his and was already closing the door, but she shot her leg out to keep it open.

He groaned and looked up to face her. "What?"

Ouch.

Poor girl isn't even noticing.

"You know, you'd like me if you got to know me."

I think he'd hate you more, but hey, you say what makes you happy.

"My sister doesn't like you, so I won't either."

She faltered. "Charity an-"

"Charvi!" Shane bit out. "C-H-A-R-V-I! I don't think it's that difficult." He sighed as he pinched the bridge of his nose and released it.

"Sorry, I meant Charvi. Charvi and I just had a misunderstanding. We're actually friends."

I rolled my eyes. Could she be any less pathetic?

I was about to step in when I heard a voice whisper to me from behind. "Spying is bad."

I turned around to see Shay smiling at me in amusement. "It's not exactly spying. Where were you?"

"I was in the game room. I think I'm taking the games with me." She joked. "We better go bring Shane out of his misery."

I smiled as we started heading towards Shane's door.

"I wouldn't be friends with you if my life depended on it." That was the first thing I said when I got there.

Shane turned to me. "That's what I told her."

Her eyes bulged out of her head. "Were you spying on us?"

"There was nothing really to spy on, because if it was a private conversation, you wouldn't have had it in the corridor."

She just shrieked- will that ever stop?- and sashayed away.

Shane turned to us and engulfed us in a hug. "Life savers! I thought she was going to force her way in. That's like the 5th time today."

I patted his back. "You know, I should be thanking you for getting her mind off my boyfriend, but you don't have to worry about that anymore. Mum's back!"

Shay screamed and pumped her fist in the air. "Yes! Yes! Finally!"

I rolled my eyes at her. "You've only been here since Sunday."

"And each time I step out of my room is a new possibility of seeing him." She shuddered.

"Well she doesn't know you're here so let's surprise her."

"Okay."

It wasn't much of a surprise, but still.

I grabbed their hands and started dragging them downstairs. When I got down, I heard laughter from the kitchen. I released their hands and walked in. It was Mum, Rev and Zane talking.

"Hi guys." I announced my presence. They all turned to me, but Mum's eyes zoomed in on the people behind me. She stood up from her seat and started heading towards them. I stepped aside before I got booted out of the way. She engulfed them in a hug. "Sweeties, I've missed you. When did you get here?"

"On Sunday." Shane replied when Mum released them.

"The longest 4 days of my life."

"She's over-exaggerating." Rev replied.

"I honestly can't wait for us to move to that new house. Like now. Shane needs some privacy." Shane said.

"New house?" Mum questioned as her eyes darted between us.

"Didn't dad tell you?" I asked.

"Haven't spoken to him."

"Well we better let you go. The sooner you're done, the faster we can be out of here. He better have some arcade games there too." Shay scoffed.

Mum nodded before starting to head out. Then she stopped at the door. "You guys should go pack." And then left.

I groaned as I went to sit at the stool. "More work!"

"Shay and I haven't unpacked so, ha!"

Rev rolled her eyes at him as she walked out. "You act like a child."

"I do not!" 

"Sureee." She replied.

He went after her to prove his point.

Shay laughed at them before turning to Zane and I. Then she smiled awkwardly before waving and backing out of the room.

"Ignore her. She's weird."

"I wonder where she gets it from."

"You better not be referring to me."

He sent me a cheeky smile. "Of course not, I love you."

I beamed. "I'd like to hear that more often."

He laughed at me. "The food's almost done."

"Now, can I know what you're making?"

He nodded. "It's Tarte aux cerises."

My brows creased. "You speak French?"

"Not really, but this cookbook has the meals in French and English."

I laughed. "Well, I'm only bilingual so translate please."

"Cherry pie."

"Please tell me you're calling me and telling me you're making pie and not that you're making cherry pie."

"But that would be lying."

I frowned. "Did you forgot I hate cherries?"

He laughed at my frowning face. "I'm just kidding. I wouldn't make something you won't eat."

"Better. Now stop teasing and tell me what you're making."

At that moment, his timer went off.

"It's done."

He wore very cute mittens that I planned to tease him on later, and reached into the oven to pull the square pan. He placed it on the counter and removed the glass cover. The smell invaded my nostrils and I walked over to him to see what he had made.

"Lasagna." I sighed when I saw it. 

"It was your next favorite thing after chili cheese dogs. It seemed to be the easiest thing in the book anyways."

I wrapped my arms around his waist. "I love you."

He put his arm around my shoulder. "Now, I'd like to hear that more often."

"Hurry up and serve it so we can sneak it into my room and not have to share. It only seems enough for two."

He barked a laugh at me. "I'd call you a glutton, but I'm scared of the outcome."

"As you should be." I pouted. "You can help me start packing too."

He closed his eyes and opened them again with a sigh. "How can I say no when you look at me like that?" 

"Yay!" I squeezed him tighter.

"And what would you be doing?"

"I have some important matters to attend to. Very confidential."

He raised his brows. "You're going to spy on your parents, aren't you?"

I feigned amusement. "How can you think that of-" I cut myself off. "You're not buying this, are you?"

"Not one bit."

"I should hate that you know me so well, but I don't." I went on my toes and kissed his cheek. "I won't be long." I called out as I started out the room.

"You better not be."

I dashed out of the room, and slowed my pace when I got closer to dad's office door. Turns out I wasn't the only one with the intent of spying.

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How was that? About 8 chapters left, so don't get tired so fast :D

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