The date was great!

Liam is like the perfect guy, but guess what stands between him and me?

My thoughts, wandering back to Arlo, our night, our times together.

I tried to pay attention to everything he said but that was harder than I thought it would be, I often zoned out, staring at the oblivious.

We travelled  New York and he took me to places like his school (we didn't enter, we just looked at it through the outside), The Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Empire State Building and more.

It is nearly 5 pm, the sun is almost set, colors were scattered across the vast, endless sky. The car stopped in front of our driveway. Liam looked at me.

"So? Mr. Emerson, would you like to drop me off till the porch?" I turned towards him.

"Sure Miss Newfeld" he grinned, before opening the door and getting out.

He came to my side and opened the door before putting his hand out for me to hold.

I instantly remembered Arlo, how he put his hand forward, how he looked, how his hand felt on mine- how yesterday night was.

I took his hand and stepped out of the car.

"Such a gentleman" I muttered, loud enough for him to hear, and as a reward I felt him laugh next to me.

We walked up to the porch and he stopped there turning to look at me.

" Did you like your first date with me?" he asked, still holding my hands.

"I didn't like it. I loved it Liam!" I grinned like a little child, or at least I felt like one.

"So does that mean I get to take you out on a second date?" he asked.

"Um let me think...Oui, vous pouvez me sortir à nouveau" I replied.

(Translation-Yes you may take me out again)

Oops! I forgot he didn't know french!

As expected he looked puzzled.

"I mean yeah you can. Sorry for switching the tongue" I said, sticking out my tongue.

"So do I get a goodbye kiss?" he asked, somewhat shyly.

That's just absolutely cute!

I leaned across and placed a quick kiss on his left cheek, which left his eyes wide open.

"Wow I really didn't see that coming" he huffed.

"Yeah" I smiled.

"Okay bye, if someone sees us here, I'll have to face a lot of questions" I softly said.

"Bye Newfella, see you on?" he asked.

"Physically on next Monday in college, and tomorrow through Skype" I told him.

"Then? See ya tomorrow!" he turned around and hopped down the porch steps with a vigour.

"Silly boy" I muttered to myself.

I rang the doorbell and stood there waiting.

Camilla and opened the door smiled, gesturing me to get inside.I went in, she closed the door and said-

"So how was your day Elle?"

"Awesome! I never knew New York was so beautiful! Now I know why Ethan told me this city is as alive as possible!" I gushed over.

"I'm glad you like it here" she patted my back.

I went up the stairs towards my room. As soon as I got inside I locked the door and plopped down on the bed.

"Huh such long day"

I opened my heels and rubbed my toes.

After cleaning up, and wearing an over-sized T-shirt with shorts and a pair for fuzzy slippers, I headed towards my mom's room.

As I was about to enter her room, I heard her talking.

"No Alan, I can't, I-I can't tell her. I know you saw her last night but if I tell her she will hate me forever"

Pause.

I didn't enter,instead I stood close to the door, wait to hear what she says next. I know I'm eavesdropping.

"I can't,why don't you understand?"

Pause.

'No Simon doesn't know, not yet. How is Theodore?" she asked.

Pause.

"I saw him and Aurelie talking last night at the ball, when I was searching for you. He-he doesn't know right? That Aurelie is his sister, right?

"I can't meet you Alan but, Je t'aime, je t'aimerai toujours" she spoke.

(Translation- I love you, I will always love you)

I could feel my head pound along with me heart.

What is she saying? Whom is she talking to? About what? Who is Alan? Or Theodore?

Questions swirled in my head, as I knocked on the wood of the door.

"Come in" the reply stood between my and the door.

"Elle? What happened? How was your day?" she started asking questions as if nothing happened.

"Great. How was your day mom?" I asked.

"Good. Did you enjoy last night? By the way who was the man you were talking with, by the Champagne fountain?" she asked, more like interrogated.

"I think I should ask, who Alan is or maybe who is Theodore?" I ask through gritted teeth.

I could feel anger boil inside me.

"Wh-what? Alan? I don't know an-anyone named Alan or-or Theodore" she stuttered.

"Don't lie mom, I heard you talking! Tell me everything! Who is my brother!Tell me everything!" I shouted, I couldn't control my anger anymore.

"I'm not lying! You don't have any brother Aurelie" 

"Fine where is dad? I will tell him everything thing I heard! You-you cheated on him? Really mom? What I saw in that journal of yours is true!" tears flowed down my cheeks like rivers.

"What did you say? You read my journals? How dare you?" she became furious.

"Don't try to change the subject mom. Why did you do this to dad? He's so good! He loves you so much, he did so much for you and you cagna ingrata!"

(Translation-Ungrateful bitch!)

"This is not how you talk to your mother! This is what you learned in France all these days?" she took one swift step towards me and her hand came flying to my right cheek, followed by the stinging sensation.

Did she just slap me?

I was too dumbstruck to say anything, tears continued to run down my cheeks. I swiveled round and dashed to my room, with blurry eyes.I banged the door shut and locked the knob firmly before jumping on the bed face first and bawling my heart out.

"Why did she do it"

"What did my dad do to her to get such a payback!"

"Why did she even marry dad if she loved that bastard!" I shouted with my face in the pillow.

While thinking these things I fell asleep. I slept and slept until it was broke by the sound of sharp knocks on my door.

I groggily sat up, rubbing my eyes vigorously.

"Go away" I yelled at the oblivious.

"Aurelie what happened? Open the door" a muffled voice came, but it was enough for me to realize that Cami was stading in front of my room.

"I said leave me the fuck alone!" I shouted again, imagining the flinch on her face.

I again buried my face inside the cave of pillows.

After a long time, my stomach growled, asking for food, but I refused to go; I will not see her.

Sometime later after that, another knock was there on my door, only this with a different voice.

"Are you guys deaf? I told you not to disturb me!"

"Aurelie open the door!" a masculine voice boomed as the asnwer.

I crept up and opened the door, enough to peek through.

"What do you want Arlo?" I said.

"What happened? Were you...crying?" he pushed aside and came in.

"No-no just go, go away"

"Wait" he took my hand and lead me to the bed, making me sit next to him.

"Tell me, what happened?"

"Uh um nothing" I replied, hiccuping a bit.

Noticing my condition, he took the glass of water and handed it to me.

"Drink it" he ordered.

I took a few sips and kept it back in it's place.

"Now what happened?"

Suddenly I felt like crying again, so I grabbed Arlo by his neck and buried my face in the crook of his neck, and opened the gates of my wild emotions.

His hands crept up to my head and he stroked my hair strands, while I continued to snivel and whine.

"Shh. It's alright" he whispered into my hair.

When I thought it was enough crying for the day, I looked up and wiped my face.

"I'm sorry I shouldn't have cried like that"

"It's okay. Do feel a little...light?" he asked, his eyes, soft and caring.

My stomach growled for the third time, only this time in front of Arlo.

"You didn't eat?"

"No" I answered quietly.

"Wait , I'll bring your food" he got up and left the room.

"What did I do to get this?Theodore is her son and he met me which mean...that night it was...that guy was Theodore too..Theodore Marlon? I have to ask Arlo about him" 

A few minutes later, Arlo came in with a tray of food, making me remember the time when I did the same.

"I have some questions" I took the first step.

"Sure go on"

"Promise me you will answer them honestly"

"Yes I will" he replied, sitting down and putting the tray on the bed.

 He took the fork and put some chicken in my mouth and I chewed it, while staring at him.

"Who is Theodore Marlon?" I asked, as soon as I gulped down the food.

He features tensed within no time.

"Why are you asking about him?" he asked.

"You said you will answer me honestly. I need to know it Arlo" 

"Well he is a human being" he answered.

Oh! No sarcasm in my tea please!

"You know what I asked" I said, before taking in another mouthful of rice and chicken.

"He is an entrepreneur, a social figure" he said.

"Who is his father?" I continued- to ask and to eat.

"Alan Marlon" he replied, stiffly.

By now the food was almost finished, another two spoonfuls will clear the plate.

"Who is ...his...mo-mother?"

"Don't know" he replied.

"I know" I muttered, with food still in my mouth.

"What?" I think he heard it.

"Nothing" I said, after chewing and gulping the food.

"Okay, no go wash your mouth and get to bed, I'll go keep it in the kitchen" he got up and took the tray in his hands.

I noticed he was wearing a black shirt and tailored slacks.

I nodded before hopping down and padding towards the washroom basin.

"How does he know and why did he look so tense?" I muttered, twisting open the tap.

I rinsed my mouth and splashed some water on my face. After wiping my face when I saw my reflection on the mirror, I saw tear stains adorning my pale face, with red puffy, glistening eyes staring back at me.

I went back and switched the light off before sliding open the balcony slide and slipping out in the cool night, where the sky, stars and the moon stared at me with their eternal grace.

End of a long-ish chapter...

New mystery at hand!

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All my love~Lily