The Bad Boy's Babysitter

• Chapter 8

Chapter 8 // Fighting Fishes

A day later, I received a text from an unknown number the minute I woke up. I was half-asleep when I reached over to grab my phone on the nightstand, and with such a groggy mind, it didn't alarm me that an unidentified number had sent me a text.

Unknown, 6.15am: I didn't get to pick up your bike at school. So wait for me at 7.30 outside your porch. - Pretty boy.

I furrowed my eyebrows, and gave myself a moment for the message to click in. Realizing it was none other than Carson Ford, a tiny smile glided across my face. I'd completely forgotten about the bike I'd left the other day, and it was stupid of Carson to have lied to me about returning it.

It was, however, oddly nice of him to have offered me a ride. It just didn't seem like a thing Carson would do. On the contrary, I had a feeling the journey to school would end up in an awkward situation. So I typed back a quick response to Carson, rejecting his generous offer.

Jade Greyson, 6.35am: I'm good, you don't have go through the trouble. Although you attract a lot of that.

It was no longer than 2 minutes when my phone beeped once more.

Unknown, 6.37am: Don't be so ungrateful, Sherlock. Just wait for me, will you?

Rolling my eyes (which was practically the first thing I did that morning), I agreed. I climbed out of bed and started to get ready, not wishing to be late when Carson arrived.

•••

I was ready at 7.15AM. In the kitchen, my mother was sitting at the island, with a cup of coffee in one hand, and a black file in the other. Her face was buried deep between the pages, so I casually walked in and opened the fridge without so much of a 'good morning'.

Upon swinging open the refrigerator door, my mother finally spoke. "Sweetheart." She said.

I turned around, already uncapping the bottle of juice I'd taken out. "Mom." I said, my tone slightly clipped. Maybe a part of me was still mad at her for not turning up when Jason left for college the day before. Or maybe I have come to realize that she wasn't even trying to be the better parent for the both of us in dad's absence.

Either way, it shouldn't have bothered me at the age of seventeen. But it did.

"Do you need a ride to school today? You're running late." My mom asked, getting up to put away her mug into the sink.

I shook my head. "Luke is sending me to school today." I lied. I didn't intend to, but I knew how particular my mother was about my choice of friends. I wanted to go to school without being bombarded with questions about Carson Ford.

"It's been a long time since he did." She chuckled, turning around and sliding the black file off the table. "He hasn't been here for a while. Perhaps you should invite him some time."

"Sure." I answered, plastering a smile onto my face. He came by very often, mom. You just fail to notice it because you're constantly working. "I'll call him over some time." I promised.

My mother nodded briefly, offering me a small smile. And that's when I noticed the sadness and apprehension hidden behind it. The edge of her lips didn't quite reach her eyes, making my stomach stir uneasily at the sight. "Mom?" I said softly.

She looked at me, recovering from the daze she was in moments before. "Yes?"

"Is there something wrong?" I asked. "With work, or anything at all?"

My mother cocked her head to one side, returning me a look of exhaustion. She opened her mouth to speak but was interrupted by a car honking outside. Glancing through the kitchen windows, I caught a glimpse of a black BMW.