Emma's Pov

"So you've been like this your whole life huh?" Mateo asks as I give him a tour around my home

It's been about an hour since we've made it here from the cafe and he asked to be shown around the glorious castle of the Clark's.

It's more gore than glammer, but I refrain from admitting it, knowing he'd want more information. Information that I can't give him.

"Yeah... I've been in pagents, school contests, and even television productions. But now my parents are focused on getting me into Harvard..." I reply trailing off at the end

"Is that what you want?" He asks looking at me intently and I weakly shake my head

He breathes through his nose and gently wraps his arms around me and I lean into his embrace.

"Have you told them that?" He questions in my hair and once again, I shake my head

He leans back to where we're face to face and gives me a stern look.

"You should, they won't know how you feel if you don't tell them," His tone is soft and reassuring, but I know the result of his pleads

My parents have never listened to my desires or wants. They believe they know what's best for me and it forced me to be fully dependent on them. I can't completely make a decision on my own because of them, and going to Harvard has already been set in stone.

"It's more complicated than that Mateo, my parents don't listen to me. When I disagree with them, they make a fuss about it. And arguments break out...I don't like arguing with them," I answer solemnly and his expression becomes softer

The vulnerability has re-emerged ten times worse but I feel oddly safe with him. As I always do.

His grip around me tightens and I close my eyes, allowing to live in the moment. Because I know when he leaves, I won't have the ability to.

Brrrr!

The sound of Mateo's stomach growling breaks us apart and he looks at the wooden flooring, his cheeks a bright shade of red.

"Hungry?" I ask sarcastically while giggling and he throws me a goofy grin, making me nod towards the kitchen

"There should be some food in there," I inform and his face lights up

He kisses my forehead tenderly then runs to the kitchen and throws open the fridge.

"Fooooodd!!"

••••••••••

"I already told you! I didn't eat the last piece of cheese!" I yell frustratingly to Mateo as he continues to rummage through the fridge for the fourth time

It's ridiculously crazy how much this boy can eat. He's ate half of the left over pasta and two sandwiches with two different kinds of meat on them, as well with the 4 slices of American cheese.

I'm convinced he has a dairy addiction.

So now he's scrambling through the kitchen for another piece of cheese. Looking in the drawers and cabinets, under the sink, and around the window pane. But what he fails to realize is... He already ate it.

"I know you fucking took it bunny. Show me the stash. Show me the staassh," He blurts in a maniacal tone running back to me and my eyes widen in response

"What in the flipperoo?!" I exclaim hysterically hopping off the couch to get to safety

As I'm running, I feel hands tighten around my waist and I'm being lifted into the air. The sudden wind pressing against my cheeks makes me dizzy but the way his arms are wrapped around me makes me feel content and warm.

"You ate the cheese didn't you? Bunnies eat carrots...so why won't they eat cheese too...? No wait, aren't those rats...?" He trails off confusingly and I laugh wholeheartedly at his questions

I turn around in his hold and his eyes are still trained on the floor with a puzzled expression.

Laughing softly, I touch his cheek and he looks down at me with his full bottom lip poked out.

Is he pouting?

"California," I mumble and his grip around my waist tightens as his eyes close shut

A smile creeps across my face in response and I look out the window to see that it's the evening. Almost time for my parents to get off work.

Fiddlesticks.

How could I just lose track of time like this? By this time I would've completed my homework, ate dinner, and prepared my backpack for the next day. But I haven't done anything.

"Ummm, you need to leave," I hesitantly mutter pulling away from him

Another puzzled look caresses his worried filled face and guilt engulfs me willingly.

"Did I do something?" He asks softly and I frantically run past him to grab my backpack that's still laying by the front door and walk up the stairs to my room

I hear heavy footsteps behind me and when I make it to my bedroom door, I hurriedly turn around, placing a hand on his chest, stopping him from entering.

No one, besides Nathan and mother goes past the door.

No one.

"No no, you didn't, it's just that... My parents will be home any minute, and they will murder you if they catch you here," I warn him in one breath and the crease in his eyebrows deepen

"Why can't I meet them?" He asks confusingly and I look at him solemnly not wanting to bring up the obvious

"Right... Nathan," He mumbles rolling his eyes and grabbing his things roughly to walk out the door

The door slams from his strength and I see him storm down the driveway before getting in his car to drive off.

After seeing him leave, I begin to feel suffocated. Not seeing him allows me to see the trophies and photos of Nathan and I throughout the years perfectly clear. Not seeing him allows me to remember what life I actually have.

The life I don't want.

Faintly hearing car engines and car door slams, I look back towards the window, noticing my parents are home, and exhale a breath I didn't know I was holding.

I'm already on egg shells as I haven't completed my daily tasks, I can't let them know I had him over too.

The door opens and I strongly sense the smell of their expensive perfume and cologne pollute the air. The new black fur coat my mother wears is to her ankles, as it's gotten a little colder out, and the usual brown business suit my father wears screams for attention.

I'm sure the both of them received forced looks and compliments from their staff.

"Emma, my dear, why aren't you at the cabins? With Nathan?" My mother asks coming up to me, taking medium strides in her fiery high heels

She places a strand of hair behind my ear and I continue to keep my gaze on the floor.

"I was feeling ill mother. So the principal instructed me to take the first day off and to return tomorrow," I lie through my teeth before twiddling with my fingers

So now I'm cursing and lying to my parents. Wow spending time with Mateo really has changed me.

Question is... Was it for the worse or the better?

"Oh, well have you showered and eaten? And prepared your things?" She questions, her red lips transforming into a thin line

"Yes mother," I lie again and I faintly see my fathers jaw clench tightly

My eyebrows furrow in confusion and when I hear her huff, I start to feel nauseous.

She forcibly grips my chin, making me to look up at her, her greenish eyes boring into mines, and I feel the blood drain from my body agonizingly slowly.

"Emma Raniya Clark... Who else came and left this house? You reek of boy,"