It was lunchtime and Claire had helped from the mothers of the family to make the food. The adults sat at the table while we kids sat in the living room with a promise not to spill our food.
"I heard you are going to London for study" Harrison says after swallowing a spoonful. "Yes I am" I confirmed with a small smile before looking down at my plate. "Why not just study here with us?" Henry asks from his spot beside me. "I want a change of scenery and I'll have Gloria and Gladys with me" I smiled at my sister's. "Yeah we are going to have so much fun" Gladys winks back at me. "So are you guys going to rent a bigger apartment?" Harrison asked. "Yeah Lizzy you haven't told us if will be living together" Gloria says. "No need" I smirked, "why?" Gladys furrows her brows. "Dad bought me a duplex!" I squeaked with a grin so wide my teeth was on display. "Fuck! No way" Henry gasps, "yes way and it's 5 bedrooms so I'll be living with my friends and we can find two extra roomies when we get there" I explained the plan. "Good I didn't want to move our apartment has a great view of the city" Gladys smiles shoulders relaxed. I'm glad they don't feel bad about me not inviting them to live in the duplex . "It's also really close to the firm" Gloria agrees. We all nodded and placed the conversation behind us.
"So how is Sarah?" Henry smirks, "bro" Harrison hits his arm chuckling. "What about her?" I frowned at them, making gest of my friend was not cool. "Relax sissy I'm just wondering where my number one fan is" Henry teased. "Sarah doesn't watch basketball" I say dryly, "but she watches dicketball" Henry jokes and Harrison claps him like he said something funny. "You guys are being disrespectful" Gloria frowns, "what! It's a joke" he shrugs. "How would you react if you heard boys talking about one of us like that?" Gladys gestures to us girls. "They'll be dead" Harrison shrug like it's nothing, "you guys are hopeless" I sighed. They are never going to learn how to treat a woman right, especially when women flock over them because of their looks and status. Hailey walked pass the living room with her now empty plate, she had joined Ethan and Hunter to eat in his room. Hannah was with the adults in the living room since her mother still fed her sometimes. "How is Hailey?" Gladys asks the twins, "I won't know we leave on campus" Harrison sassed. That's his way of reminding us that his family live in Spain, that's where aunt Fiona's from. "She's your sister" Gladys rolls her eyes, "if you're interested in knowing about her just ask her" I tell her. Hailey walks pass just then, "Hailey!" Gladys calls. "Hi" she blushed from the attention, "come seat with us". "Okay" her voice was a whisper as she sat beside Gladys. The twins sat with me, Gloria was on her own chair, same with Gladys until now.
"How is school?" "Fine," " do you have a boyfriend?" "Gladys!" Henry yells. "What! At 13 I had kissed my First boyfriend Lizzy back me up here" Gladys turned to me. "I had my first summer fling at 13" I stated honestly, "see there's no harm so Hailey do you have one?" "I'm out of here, bro let's go" Henry pulls Harrison along, "boys!" Gloria scoffs. "Good! Now you can tell us without worrying about your brothers reactions". Hailey looked at all our faces before blushing, "the boy I like doesn't like me back" she murmurs. "Oh! Darling what's he like?" "His handsome and he places soccer, he has alot of friends and his girlfriend is the cheerleader" Hailey gives us a quick run down. "Typical highschool drama" Gloria rolls her eyes. "Hey! I was the cheerleader but I didn't date the soccer captain" I retort with a glare her way. "That's true, how did you dodge that bullet?" "I was dating someone else when he asked me out" I shrugged. "Hailey does the guy know you exist?" "Gladys!" I scold her that question was inappropriate. "What!" She groans like she couldn't see how that question would make Hailey feel. "He asked me for a pen once and I said no hoping that will catch his attention" Hailey sighs crossing her fingers and looking at her lap. "Did it work?" I asked softly already seeing the answer written all over her. "No he just turned and asked the next person" her voice cracks, highschool love. "Shit! Sorry little sis his not for you" Gladys wraps her hand around her shoulders. "I know but I don't think I can stop liking him until I graduate highschool" Hailey groans. "You still have a long way to go I think you should fight the attraction" I admit, "or try approaching him" Gloria adds. "No no I can't he'll embarrass me" she tensed up at the thought. "Hey calm down Gloria is just crazy" Gladys pats her back glaring at her sister. Gloria rolls her eyes before looking back down at her food mine was getting cold so I ate quickly.
"Please take mine" Gladys points to the coffee table, "sure" I picked it up before walking to the kitchen. "Lizzy boo here" Fiona stretched and added her plate to the pile on my hand, "thank you" she gushes. "Anything for you" I passed her a tight smile before walking into the kitchen, leaning on the counter I tried to think. How will I get passed everyone without them suspecting anything. This was my chance since everyone were in group talking.
Quickly I ascend the stairs not wasting much time in grabbing my jacket and purse. I sent William a quick text as I grabbed his Christmas gift from my drawer it was a photo frame of us. Tiptoeing to the front door, I glanced at the couch to make sure no one was paying attention. "Hi Simon" I greeted the security guard just then my phone lights up with a text from William. His on his way and I just needed to find somewhere to wait. My phone vibrates again. "I saw you sneaking out Lizzy, tell William I said hi" - Gladys. Fuck! I hope she's the only one who noticed. "Please cover for me, if anyone asks I'm at Geraldine's home"- Lizzy. Pulling my jacket tighter I sat down on the walkway. My teeth was clenched as snow drizzled on me and my jacket I had a beanie over my hair. I should have grabbed my coat along I'm freezing to death here. "Babe can you hurry up please, I'm outside without my coat,love you"- Lizzy. It indicated being red but he gave no reply, he must be driving. Playing some candy crush on my phone to while away time I didn't notice William's car until he turned his head light on. Standing up I dust my butt getting rid of the snow. "Hey" I murmured slipping into the front seat. "Hey" he leans in to kiss me, "your lip is cold" he groans pulling away and turning the heater up. I smiled at the thoughtfulness as he turns the engine on driving off.
"Where are we going?" "I thought we could take a stroll but you're not dress for that". "Sorry I snook out there was not enough time to grab my coat". "You snook out? Why," "my family are around and I didn't want to explain my whereabouts". "Okay" he frowns looking ahead. "Babe?" "Umm?" "What's wrong love?" "I don't like this sneaking around, we've being dating for three months now". Guess we're having this conversation on Christmas Eve. I won't say this was our first disagreement we argue all the time. "William you have to understand I'm not sure how my parents will take us being together" I sighed. "You won't know unless you tell them, will you prefer they found out from someone else?" He retorts. "Can we just drop it" I frowned looking out the window. Non of them understood my fears, dad isn't a type to let me make my own decisions and I never want to go against him. "Belle I'm sorry, please don't be mad, please" he takes one of my hand in his. "William I want to tell them and I will but I don't need people pressurizing me about it". "I know I'm sorry, I just want to formally introduce you to my parents as my girlfriend". "Me too love me too" I whispered squeezing his hand and we rode the rest of the way in silence.
William parks beside a deserted park. "Where are we?" I looked around confused and alittle scared. "The poorer side of New York, where people live in crappy apartments and bath with cold water" he explains. "Oh!" Why did he bring me here? "I want you to meet someone come" he answers my thoughts releasing my hand and climbing down from the car. I followed suit, pulling my jacket tighter as the cool breeze kissed my naked legs. I could see goosebumps on my exposed legs even my breath could be seen. "Let's go" William comes around and grabs my hand leading me pass the park. His hands warmed mine slightly. I squeezed myself into his side if he noticed he didn't comment. Turning through a block William stops in front of a pastry shop. The sign said open so he pushed the door open and pulled me along. "Welcome" an elderly woman says before looking at us properly. Her eyes widens when she sees William, "Willy my boy" her voice cracked filled with emotions. He leaves my hand to hug the fragile lady, "Aunty Vivi!" He sobs into her shoulders. "It's being too long my boy I worried for you" she sobs before pulling away. I stood by the corner watching this weird reaction as they talked. "Willy?" The lady pinched his arm nodding her head in my direction. Finally! "Oh my! Sorry Lizzy" he pulls me to his side, "aunty Viv this is my girlfriend Lizzy" he introduced. "Oh dear you're so pretty" she gushed covering her mouth, "thanks?" I looked up at William confused. "I'll tell you later" he whispers in my ears before looking back at a certain aunt Vivi. I took my time examining the homey decor, to be honest I was pissed William brought me here just to ignore me.
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