Song: I'll Make A Man Out Of You by Donny Osmond from the movie; Mulan (animated)

Chapter Twenty-nine: Sweet Steam

"Mum?" I croaked out. She just looked so small and pale on the big white bed. Her eyes were closed when we entered, but they fluttered when I called her name. Reveka was already sat on the right, so I took the liberty of sitting on her left.

I grabbed her hand. "Mum? We're here. We're here and we're not going anywhere."

Her eyes opened a fraction. She was probably exhausted. Apart from the little bruises I saw on her face. Her right hands and leg were in a cast. I'm so glad she didn't actually break her leg. That would have taken about six months to heal. And I just don't think she can handle any more physical pain, especially not when she's on an emotional roller coaster.

So are you.

No. It's very different. I like a boy who is my friend and taken. She's in love with a man she was married to. He became a drunk who would bring women into the house until she couldn't take it anymore. Now ex-husband, he returns two years later, renewed and happy with his new wife and children living in a big house where they all gather around the fire to sing Kumbaya!

Okay...

I'm over it. I've not forgiven him, but I'm over it.

"Charvi?"

"Yes, mum." I nodded vigorously. "It's me and Reveka."

"I'm so sorry, Mum." Reveka choked out.

She turned her head to her and gave her a small smile. "It's not your fault."

We were silent for a long while just holding hands.

"There's so much I want to say." She said in a small voice through brimming tears. "I'm just in so much pain right now."

"We understand. We can talk instead."

"I'd love to lighten up the mood." Reveka sighed. "How about we start with that teenage witch we just started living with? Or her mother Ursula? Oh, wait. I have a better idea. The tarantula."

"Did you just call our dad a spider?"

She shrugged. "Isn't he?" 

Mum let out a small laugh. "I shouldn't be encouraging this."

Reveka waved a dismissive hand. "We all do what we're not meant to at a particular time in life."

"Haven't I passed that time?"

"Still."

"Charvi. What morals have you been teaching your sister?"

"The only kind?" I offered. "But really, are we going to actually live there?"

"I know it may seem difficult, but I may be in the hospital for a while. Dr. Wallace refused to release me until I'm properly healed."

Reveka smirked. "Dr. Wallace, huh? Interesting."

"It's not like that."

"Then why are you blushing?"

"I can't even blush in this state."

I scoffed. "Yeah, right."

"Girls, come on."

"We're just saying that if anything is going on, we're totally fine with it." I soothed.

"A hundred percent."

"That's good to hear, but nothing is going on." She confirmed.

"Okay, then."

"If you say so."

"So, how has living with them been?"

"Horrible." Reveka deadpanned. I gave her an incredulous look and she just shrugged.

"Ignore her. It's not bad. I mean it's hard seeing as Dad has moved on, but we're coping."

"She's lying."

"No, I'm not."

"You know that Mrs. Nicholas Brooks," She said her name with disgust. "Is going to end up being the wicked stepmother and Arabella, the wicked stepsister. Aaron is the nice sweet munchkin and Dad is going to be the mouse to turn into a horse to ride my pumpkin carriage that you," She pointed at me. "The fairy godmother, created."

She smiled proudly after her stupid rant.

I pointed at her. "You? Cinderella?"

She nodded and I snorted.

She scoffed. "What? Do you think it'd be you?"

"I fit Cinderella perfectly. You can be Lucifer."

She blinked. "The cat?"

I smiled victoriously. "Mmhmm."

"Oh please. Can't you just be happy with Bruny? Some of us are still waiting for our Prince Charming."

Before I could bring up Sam, Mum asked. "Who's Bruny?"

Veka smiled mischievously. "He's this hot jock that Char is dating."

"You're dating someone?"

"Don't listen to her."

"Really? Is he or is he not outside right now?"

I was about to deny it, but she sang very loudly. "Oh Bruny!!!"

He opened the door and stepped in with a bottle of water in his hand. He gave Veka an incredulous look before turning to my Mum.

"Good afternoon, Mrs. Brooks. I am so sorry about your condition."

She smiled at him. "Thank you. Nice to meet you..."

"Zane Rivers." He finished for her.

"Nice to meet you, Zane Rivers."

"You too, Mrs. Brooks."

"And you're dating my daughter?"

Oh God!

"Mum..." I whined and put my face in my palms. "Really?"

"What? It's just what Reveka told me."

Zane sighed. "Course she did."

Reveka just laughed at our faces.

"Can you blame me?"

"Yes." Zane and I deadpanned.

"See... You two are like two peas in a pod."

I scoffed. "Trust me we're very different."

"Yes. She has horrible taste in music, horrible taste in shows, and worse taste in cereal." He listed with his fingers. "Who the hell doesn't like Pop Tarts?"

Reveka and I raised our hands. He gave her an incredulous look. She dropped her hand and shrugged. "I don't like any cereal."

He raised his brows before turning to me. "Has she been to the doctor?"

"You're so funny." She said sarcastically.

He touched his heart. "It means a lot coming from you."

"You two talk like you've known each other for ages." I interjected.

He smirked at me. "I have a gift Cherry. You should know this by now."

Veka rolled her eyes. "I'm pretty sure it's all me."

Before a potential verbal war could start, Mum cut in. "You kids should get going."

"Already?"

Reveka raised her brows. "You're that tired of us?" 

She let out a light laugh. "Yes."

"Ouch." She touched her heart. "That hurt right here."

"She probably meant listening to you two bicker like children is not the best way to recover." I butted in, with a roll of my eyes.

"Well, it's all Zane's fault. He's older, he's meant to be more mature."

He sighed. "Perfect. Just point fingers at the most innocent in the room." 

She smiled cheekily. I stood up from my seat and planted a kiss on Mum's head.

"We'll see you tomorrow."

Reveka stood up too. "Am I going to miss my ballet classes everyday?"

"No." Mum said before I could reply. "You guys should only come on weekends."

"But Mum..." I whined.

"You'd still see me more than before. Since we're barely ever at home at the same time."

"True."

"Exactly." She smiled at us. "Goodbye girls. Bye Zane." 

We waved back at her and exited the room.

"We're really sticking to the Bruny?" Zane asked Reveka.

"Why not?" She shrugged.  "Unless you'd prefer a nickname from Charvi seeing as she's yet to give you one."

She took the bottle of water he was holding.

"I got that for Cherry." He said. She just hummed as she walked away.

"She is one handful." Zane ran a hand down his face. "I wonder where she gets it from."

I crossed my arms lightly, careful of the bruise. "You better not be referring to me."

He raised his hands in mock surrender. "You said it, not me."

I rolled my eyes.

"I'm waiting on that nickname though." He commented.

I don't think you know what you're asking for from me.

He really doesn't. I'm not the best at giving nicknames. How did people even come up with stuff like that?

"Are you sure about that? I'm not the best in giving."

He smirked. "I'll take whatever I can get."

I shook my head. "I don't think so."

"Try me."

"Okay..." I raised my hands. "You brought this on yourself." 

"You're being overdramatic."

"Am I, Sweet Steam?"

His eyes widened. "Sweet Steam?"

I nodded and continued walking even though he stopped.

"You mean to tell me, that you plan to call me Sweet Steam."

I smiled mischievously. "Mmmhmm."

"But Cherry..." He whined.

"What? I warned you. Plus, nicknames come naturally."

Maybe for other people, but not for you.

"You're right."

"I always am, but since you really want a nickname. To make it better I can say it in Spanish."

"That's gonna make it worse."

"Just wait."

Sweet is dulce and Steam is vapor, so it's dulce vapor.

"Dulce vapor."

He laughed. "What happened to I've been learning Spanish since I was three?"

"What?!??"

"It's vapor dulce."

"How?"

"The order of words for languages is not always the same."

Oh!

"I knew that. No one just says Sweet Steam so it kinda... I was kinda..." One look at his smug face made me groan and start walking faster towards the car.

I heard his hearty laugh from behind me. It was disappearing as I walked, meaning he was still in one spot. I just wanted to stay and listen to him laugh some more.

The only reason he'd be laughing then, is at you.

Shut up. You don't have to remind me.

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

"I think someone is following us." Reveka said, looking back again.

Rev had been repeating throughout the drive from the hospital to home that someone was following us. I don't see why anyone would want to follow us. Unless they wanted to rob Zane, and I gotta tell them, they had another thing coming.

I rolled my eyes for the 23rd time. "Don't be paranoid. For the 23rd time Rev, no one is following us."

She sat properly again. "Don't exaggerate. I've said it like only 5 times."

"As if."

"I think she's right." I turned to Zane who had just said that.

"What? What do you mean 'she's right'? Even if she was, you're meant to be supporting me." I crossed my arms.

"I am." He turned to me as he packed his car in front of Dad's house.

"I don't think anyone would be following us this closely to the house. It just won't make any sense."

"Fine." She huffed as she got down from the car.

"Are you sure you want to be in there by yourself?" Zane surprised me by asking.

I know he knew about my Dad from our first encounter, and he knew how strained our relationship was. I just didn't expect him to ask.

Rev turned and smirked. "Bruny... Aww... You care."

He shrugged and looked away. "I don't. I was just asking."

She smiled, wide. "Mmmhmm." We pulled out of the driveway and I think I heard her murmur, "Trying to impress the in-laws, are we?"

I might just be paranoid because I was thinking that far. 

Charvi Rivers.

That sounds horrible. 

Char Rivers.

Better. How about Cherry Rivers?

That's worse. That's not even your name.

Then how are we going to make this work?

We're not, remember...

True. The painful reality that is my life.

Couldn't have said it better. 

Oh my God! I'm so weird. I put my face in my hands.

Imagine what he would think if I was pairing my name with his. Why did I have to be so freaking weird? This is why people like me don't have boyfriends.

Exactly why Axel is weird as hell for thinking he loves you.

Brain, snap out of it! I programmed you to not bring up Axel until I'm done with Leyla.

Too bad your mind always wonders.

Zane must have thought something was wrong because I felt his hand on my shoulder. "What are you thinking of?"

"Oh, nothing serious. Just me imagining a life with you where we get married and we'll have two children preferably twins. Both genders. That's very important. We'll live in a big house and kiss every second of every minute of every hour of every day." Is what I would have said if I wanted him to think I was a complete psycho. 

Who knew you could catch feelings so fast? It's only been a few weeks.

Well they've felt like months, okay? Leave me be.

I removed his hand from my shoulder. "Shouldn't you be focusing on the road?"

"You only need one hand to drive." He put it back on my shoulder.

I removed it again. "Says the guy who would soon end up in jail for killing me."

"False. If I killed you, I'd have killed myself too. So I wouldn't be in jail."

I laughed at his idiocy. "You rather die than spend a while in jail?"

Or you rather die than spend your life without me?

Brain! Control yourself! Or, wait... Is it my hormones?

He just shrugged and focused on the road.

Well, I guess than means silence all the way to Tate's. 

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

How was that update? I know this is literally the 29th chapter, so I hope I'm not stressing it out too much or rushing it. Well, there's time for everything.

Please vote, comment and share. Thanks :D