Song: At My Worst by Pink Sweat$

Chapter Twenty-nine: Stark naked is definitely the best way to go

"Mister Zane."

The door of the library flew open and Steward walked in.

Hey, look! It's Stout Stewart.

I didn't stand up because Zane made no move to either. So my head was still comfortably positioned in his lap. Surprisingly, I was actually paying attention. It was okay so far.

"We're busy." Zane replied as he looked back to the book to continue reading.

My eyes were still on Stewart. He bowed down and looked unsure of whether he wanted to continue or not. He chose to continue.

"Sorry Mister Zane, but your parents are around."

Zane snapped the book shut. I sat up. I was somewhat nervous. I wasn't ready to meet his parents yet. Not that I had an important reason to. I was just his friend. But still.

"And they couldn't come to welcome their son?"

Stewart stared at his feet sheepishly. "I- They were-"

"It's okay." I found myself blurting out to soothe his rant. He sent me a quick thankful smile before turning his nervous eyes back to Zane.

Zane sighed and ran a hand down his face. "Thank you Stewart. You may go."

The stout man hurried out the door and closed it.

Zane sent me a small smile and I returned it. "I guess I'm going to have to meet your parents."

"I guess so too."

"Well, unless jumping out the window is an option." I joked.

He chuckled as he shook his head. "Unless you want to break all your bones, it is not."

"Weirdly, I'm nervous."

He widened his smile. "I would tell you you shouldn't be, but then again I would be lying."

I punched him. "Stop teasing me. You're not helping."

"Stop punching me." He replied, clutching his shoulder.

"So it hurt, right?"

He stood up and yelled. "Mom! Dad! I'm coming!" He walked out of the room. I wore my sneakers, stood up too and went after him. "Real mature!"

He just laughed and continued down the stairs. I jogged after him. I realized I had left my purse in the library, but I didn't think that mattered. I didn't need it just to meet his parents.

I followed him to the living room, where his dad was sitting on the couch. And his mother was standing behind him.

We had come in from the back so they hadn't yet noticed us. Zane looked back at me and it was then I realized I had stopped about a few feet away from him. He gestured for me to come forward with his hand, and then grabbed mine with his. I smiled up at him.

A really big part of me really wanted them to like me. A really, really big part. So I had to suck in all my bad qualities like rudeness and sarcasm. Sarcasm is not a bad quality, but I had a feeling they wouldn't enjoy it very much.

Zane cleared his throat. His mother turned back. And to say her beauty blinded my eyes would be an understatement. A woman already with a son should not look that good and young. And she was rocking the silver pan suit she had on. She had blonde shoulder-length hair and green eyes. She looked s elegant and had so much poise, just like I expected from her. She really was a sight for sore eyes. Is everybody I know extraordinarily beautiful, but me?

She smiled brightly at Zane. "Oh honey. I've missed you." She walked up to him and engulfed him in a hug.

He smiled back at her, and used the hand he wasn't holding in mine to pat her back. "And yet you've been gone for weeks and haven't called at all."

"You know how busy I am."

"No time for your only son?"

Her eyes flickered with an emotion I couldn't quite place. It was sadness mixed with something else.

Was I invisible or something?

Only one way to find out...

I could test it by taking off all my clothes. Brilliant!

Yes, stark naked is definitely the best way to go.

His dad was just standing up from the couch then. He turned to us. He looked like a splitting copy of Zane. Except for his eye color and the sign of age on his face. His eyes were brown and he had the same color of brown hair, but his hair was short so it didn't look as full or curly as Zane's was.

He dropped the newspaper he was holding on the couch, and walked to stand beside his wife who was rolling her ring round her finger.

"Hello son." He nodded slightly.

Zane nodded too. "Hello father."

Wow. Was that all? They seemed to have a strained relationship.

His father's eyes flickered to me, and I immediately straightened my back. His eyes looked me from up to down, no emotion revealed yet. I felt so conscious. I was dressed in black leggings, a red T-shirt and sneakers. Was that bad?

"Who is this girl?" He questioned. Zane's mother looked up at that. She seemed like she was just seeing me for the first time, which I supposed she was.

"This is Cherry, my... friend." He introduced.

I ignored his hesitation and what it may mean, and beamed at them. "Nice to meet you." I stretched my hand out. His dad just looked at my hand, and back up to my face. Realizing he wasn't going to shake me, I put my hands behind my back.

Well, that was rude.

Yeah, but I want them to like me.

Not everyone has to like you.

I know that, but they do.

"She stretched her hand out to you, what you're meant to do next is reach out and shake it." Zane explained to his father like he was a child.

The mom tried to soothe, "I'm sorry about that, dear. It's been a long and stressful business trip and even a longer flight back." She came to stand in front of me and grabbed my hand to shake. "It's nice to meet you..."

"Cherry." My smile couldn't help, but return. Well, she's nice.

"You referred to yourself as Cherry." He leaned down and whispered to me.

I glanced at him with a smile. "I didn't even notice."

His dad just turned to him and asked, "Where's Serena?"

Ooh, that stung! It stung like hell.

He brings Serena here?

Well, what did you expect?

The mom also turned to him. "Yeah, where is she? I bought her some things on my trip." Double ouch! "She was supposed to have dinner with us when we got back."

"Well, you were supposed to get back two weeks ago." Zane continued. "And Serena couldn't make it, she's busy."

Zane's dad crossed his arms as he leaned his back on the back of the sofa. "Well, you should have her come by sometime. What a lovely girl. Oh, and her parents too."

"Will do, dad." Zane nodded. "But for now, can we stop talking about Serena. I have a guest over."

Both parents turned their attention back to me, and obviously only the mother apologised, "Oh, so sorry, darling. Just making small talk,-"

Zane cut her off. "By checking to see if everything is still good with Serena and I?"

She just chuckled as she raised up his chin and spread his curls out of his face. "Only because I care about you."

She turned back to me. "Again, so sorry darling, would you like to stay for dinner?"

I thought over it for a while. Would it be good if I said no or yes because I seriously didn't know how their minds worked? If I said yes, and they didn't want me here and were just asking for the sake of being polite, it'll be bad, but if they actually wanted me here, and I declined their offer, it would be rude, and they may never invite me here again. I guess I'll have to take a chance and choose what I actually wanted. "I'd love to."

She nodded and I sent her a small smile. I like her already. It's his dad I was having a problem with. More like he was having a problem with me. He was sending me scrutinizing glances, and also at Zane and I's intertwined hands. Maybe he thought we were dating, and didn't like that for his son.

I wanted to shrink back, but I stood tall. When he met my gaze, I kept it and refused to be the first to look away. After about a few seconds of just staring. He stretched his hand out to me. I was so happy, I could combust. I don't know why and I didn't care, but he seemed to 'not hate' me and that was okay.

I took his hand, making sure to keep a straight face like his, and shook it. He retracted his hand first. Obviously.

Zane nudged my shoulder, and I looked up and returned the beautiful smile he was giving me. I held his gaze for a little while longer before turning back to face his parents. His mom was smiling at me, and his dad still had that straight face.

"Thanks for the offer, Mrs. Rivers." I thanked her realizing I hadn't before.

She smiled. "You can call me Shayan."

"Really?" I asked enthusiastically. I was surprised she said that. "Yes."

I turned to his dad who was still looking at me. I didn't feel so uncomfortable anymore. And from the excitement he could see bubbling out of me, he knew why I was looking at him.

"You can call me Mr. Rivers."

Zane and his mother chuckled lightly. "Perfect." I said keeping a poker face like his, but when he turned to leave, I think I saw a smile twitching to appear at the corner of his lips.

His wife went after him. Zane and I stayed back to talk.

Zane turned to me with an amused look. "Is it just me or do they actually like you?" 

"I was about to ask that same question."

He smiled. "I mean, my dad doesn't shake hands with anybody, well, except business partners or potential ones. I guess he sees something in you."

I smiled at that and started walking out the room. I thought I heard him mutter, "Only you, Cherry. Only you."

I felt like he had said that before, but I wasn't paying attention. All I could hear was a chant in my head: I scored the parents!

I did a little inward dance before I decided to act normal.

He spoke up. "Just a pointer though."

I turned my full attention back to him.

"My dad is very mysterious with his questions, and you never know what he might want as an answer, so just flip his question so that you're the one asking him."

I nodded before I walked into the dining room.

*******

I always said I hated silence, but now, I wasn't so sure.

Zane and his father were talking about business things I had never heard in my life, that was until the conversation landed on me.

His mother gave him a worried look. "So are you and Serena still friends or have you replaced her?"

Serena this, Serena that. Wow, these guys were really hung up on Serena. She must have left such an imprint on them.

More like a satanic stamp.

Zane dropped his fork. "No one has replaced Serena."

I dropped my fork too. That didn't sit right.

I felt his eyes on me. "No one has replaced anyone." But I didn't look up.

"Is that so?" His father asked.

He turned to his father with a steely gaze. "It is."

No talking, more eating. Like food is life.

I smiled because I had no idea what was going on here as I continued eating.

"Is there something amusing going on here?" Zane's father asked.

I remembered Zane's words.

I flipped his question. "I don't know. Is there?"

He stopped drinking his water midway to direct his gaze to me. "Apparently yes."

With newfound confidence, I asked, "May I ask what that may be?"

"No." He paused. "You may not." He went back to his glass cup.

That answer didn't surprise me one bit. I just wonder what he was finding amusing. He didn't seem to want to speak again, so his wife started the small talk. "Tell me about yourself."

I dropped my fork and rubbed my palms together. Uh... Where to start? Well, my name of course.

Your actual name this time.

"My name is Charvi Brooks." I introduced.

"Did you say Brooks? As in Nicholas and Amelia Brooks?" Mr. Rivers cut me off.

He knew my dad? And I'm guessing Amelia was Mrs. Nicholas Brooks.

"Um yeah. That's my dad."

He nodded, and went back to his food. Is that all? No more?

"So... How do you know him?" 

He looked at me as if wondering why I don't already know him. "He recently started working for me, but before I was just doing business with your mom."

Nope. Not our mom!

I shook my head. "She's not my mom."

"Stepmom." He corrected.

"Not that either." I think.

"Before I was just doing business with his wife." He corrected himself for the right way this time. And went back to his food. At least he wasn't giving me worried or pitiful glances like Zane and Shayan were.

I couldn't stand it. At least I knew where my dad suddenly got all his money from. Amelia and the leprechaun who owned the pot of gold, the rainbow and even all the land below it. I chuckled at my own joke.

"Anyways..." Shayan gestured for me to continue.

"Oh yeah. I don't have a favorite color, but I don't have any problem with any color except yellow." I frowned slightly remembering I still had a problem with Axel I hadn't yet straightened out. But I turned that frown upside down when I realized I was drawing attention. "Umm... My hobbies. My main hobby is actually reading novels. I love it."

"That reminds me of something." She beamed brightly at the memory. "There was this time Zane was reading a book and Zaiden ca-" Zane's strained and almost warning voice cut her off. "Mom."

There was something he didn't want me to hear, but I already heard it. Zaiden.

Zaiden. Probably that cousin, Zane said used to live here.

Then why wouldn't he want me to know?

I looked at my phone. "Look at the time. It's getting really late. My... They'll be worried. I better go." I stood up.

Shayan looked upset. "But you aren't done with your food yet. Should I call Rosita to pack it up for you? Rosita!" She called out.

"No, no. It's fine. I just don't want my sister to be worried, so I better go."

Shayan was about to oppose again when Zane said, "She's right mother. It's getting late."

I smiled at Shayan and poker-faced at Mr. Rivers. "Thanks for having me and for the meal."

She nodded and smiled. "You're welcome dearie."

I turned to Mr. Rivers, but he just stared right back at me. I smiled. "Good night Mr. Rivers."

"Good night Miss Brooks." He said before quickly going back to his meal.

I sighed. This is going to be the start of a wonderful relationship.

With Zane?

No. Not with Zane. With Mr. Rivers as his son's friend.

As I walked out the dining room, I heard Zane saying something I didn't quite catch to his parents. Then a few seconds after, I heard his footsteps and then felt his hand clasped over my arm.

"Again with the grabbing."

"Again with the running away."

I scoffed. "I wasn't running away."

"Then what do you call that?"

I would have replied, I already had a reply, but then I took in his eyes. They looked like green, brown and gold together. I think that was hazel.  Who would have thought that brown and green would look this good together?

"You're staring at me." He pointed out.

I blinked, embarrassed snapping myself out of it. "Sorry, not you per say, but your eyes." I blurted out.

A small smile formed on his lips. "My eyes?"

I nodded. "I was just noticing the color."

He too nodded begin at stare at my eyes, practically looking into my soul. "What?" I asked him, uncertain of what he was doing.

He shrugged. "Well, it's my turn." 

He continued staring, and then said. "Your eyes are the most beautiful shade of blue."

I smiled. The way he just said it was.. heartwarming. What was I supposed to say? Should I say thank you? I mean it was a compliment. We were just looking at each other.

You seem to be doing that a lot lately.

I don't mind.

He just had to break it by clearing his throat. "Why are we even talking about eye colors anyways?"

"Because it's so random."

He raised his brows in amusement. "Was that a joke?"

"Pun. I actually better go. I'm going to get my purse." I turned to start heading upstairs.

"Let me get it for you." He walked past me, up the stairs. I didn't bother objecting because I was tired anyways. I know the doctor said three weeks, but it literally only took a week before it stopped paining me as much. I guess they weren't as bruised as the doctor thought. Strenuous work was a little tasking, but then again, wasn't it always?

I sat at the bottom of the stairs, then contemplated. Was that considered unladylike? But before I could decide whether to get up, Zane had already jogged down the stairs and was in front of me, handing me my purse... the book and car keys? Maybe it's just my eyes. 

I stood up and grabbed the purse. Actually I tried to grab the purse, but Zane gripped it tight.

I looked up at his piercing hazel eyes. "What are you doing?"

"What does it look like I'm doing? I'm handing you your belongings."

"You know to actually hand me my belonging, you need to release it." I pointed out.

He retracted his hands, including the one with my purse. "I would release it, but you know, where I come from-"

I cut him off. "You mean America?"

He seemed to think for a while even though we both already knew the real answer. "Maybe. Where I come from, people collect their things in alphabetical order. It's obviously the right way to go."

I blinked. And then I blinked again. You've got to be freaking kidding me.

"Where I come from, you know, maybe America, maybe not." I shrugged, playing along. "When you only have one belonging, there's obviously no use for alphabetical order. It's obviously the right way to go."

"In this case, you have three belongings."

He was handing me the book, and his what? His freaking car? It's not something you just give people.

"The only way I'm taking the book is if I accidentally drooled on it or tore it, and I need to get it fixed. And the only way I'm taking the car keys and/or whatever comes with it, is if I scratched it and need to repair it. And seeing as I did neither, may I have my purse now?"

"So you won't take a gift?"

"Firstly, it's two gifts. And secondly, you don't just give your freaking car to anyone."

"Well, that's the difference, you're not just anyone."

What's that supposed to mean?

I raised my eyebrows. "And that's supposed to mean something?"

"Yes?" He offered.

"No."

"Come on. Just take it." He urged.

"Fine." I lied.

"Really?" He looked surprised. Good.

I reached out and took the book, letter 'b' of course. Then next he handed me the car keys. Since he was focused on me taking the keys, I reached forward and tried to snatch my purse. Emphasis on 'tried'. He had raised his hand up and I had to jump before I could reach it.

Damn you, you stupid height.

"Did you really think I'd believe you'd just take it that easily?"

I sighed, defeated. "I guess you know me better than I thought."

"Yes. So you should know me as well. I'm strong-headed so don't expect to leave this house anytime soon. At least, not with your purse."

I glared at him. "Well, I'm relentless."

He smiled, teasingly. "Good for you. I'm sure you'll find our house a very nice place to spend the night."

My jaw dropped. "Why can't you just let me go?"

"Why can't you just let me help you?"

"I do not need your help." I emphasised each word so he'd get it into his 'strong head'.

"I am not going to let you walk all the way back to your house this late, especially when you know who is still out there."

I sighed because he was right about that, but like I said living in fear doesn't actually protect me from anything. I can't live a shielded life forever. "Then drive me."

"No."

I gasped. "Wha- why not?"

"I wouldn't always be right by your side, Cherry. I thought you'd prefer to be independent." He shook his head as he tsked at me.

"How am I being independent if I accept a goddamned car?"

"If it becomes yours, you could just see it as buying it."

"But I didn't give you any money."

"Then see it as a favor, because like it or not, people who care about you are going to do those. I don't see why you're so adamant on not receiving help."

"I don't want to be a burden!" I almost yelled. Then much lower, I repeated it. "I can't have my friends seeing me as a burden. As someone who just receives the benefit from their money without giving anything in return."

He took a step closer to me, and looked unsure of what to do. I would to if he had just spoken his mind to me.

He hugged me and whispered the most beautiful words I'd ever been told. "If I had a star for every time you brightened my day, I'd be holding the galaxy in my hands. And I think that costs way more than money. If the people who care about you can't see that, then they don't really care about you."

I hugged him tighter. "I honestly don't know what I would do without you."

We released each other and he gave me a bright smile. "Then it's a good thing you don't have to ever find out."

I smiled back and took the keys he'd been handing me, then my purse.

"You're not going to need it?"

He waved a dismissive hand. "Nah! I have a bunch of cars anyway."

"Living the life, aren't you?" I teased.

"Yeah, but it was missing something." Was? "That was until I met you."

I almost blushed. Almost. "If you keep flattering me, you'd make my head explode. I'm sure you'd love to see that happen."

He raised his hands in mock surrender. "I'm not denying it."

I punched his shoulder and we laughed a little. Everything was so much more beautiful with him. How on earth was I living before?

We're clearly doomed because he is bound to leave at some point.

Don't remind me.

He walked me to the car, and we hugged goodbye before I drove home with a very silly smile on my face.

*

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Thanks and Toodles <3