SONGS AND TRAILS (Book 1)

CHAPTER 17

That morning, Arabella took her time in the bathroom getting cleaned up before heading downstairs for breakfast with everyone else.

“Come, Bella, can you help me get water from the well outside?” Mima told her.

Arabella looked at the bright beautiful morning with the sun on her temple and thought of an answer. “No!”

She walked towards the breakfast table with Mima groaning at her rejection.

“Over here! I saved your seat from last night.” Mia told her.

The same seat next to Caldor, again. She was trying to avoid Caldor that morning that’s why she took her time in the bathroom to get ready but of course, Mia had to save her the seat.

Mima and she spent the whole night drinking and talking about how annoying and frustrating and infuriating he was without forgetting Mima mentioning his gorgeousness now and then just to get into Arabella's nerves. She could not sit next to him, not that morning. But yet again...

She ended up next to Caldor anyway as he poured tea in a cup and as she tried to pull herself together from the hangover so that he wouldn’t find out about her drinking session.

“Here you go!” Caldor gives her the cup of tea, “Drink!”

He then dismissed her as he sipped on his very own tea.

Mima groaned as she drank her tea. “You’re right Caldor, this tea does help with the hangover.” ...and that’s when Bella knew why he gave her the tea.

He was drinking the tea as well which meant that he was also drinking as well. Arabella sipped her tea slowly.

“Alright, here’s your bucket of water.” Rai said as he put the two buckets on the ground and went to the table.

“Thanks, Rai!” Mima appreciated. “Let's eat!”

Arabella felt her tummy hollow, she wanted to eat so badly. As people kept serving themselves, Caldor had already put a few toasts topped with avocados and chopped onions and tomatoes on the platter that he was ‘sharing’ with Arabella, AGAIN. As she waited for the toasts to come by, Caldor sprinkled a lemon on the two good-looking toasts and pushed them on her side.

“Eat!” he simply said and Bella looked at him confused as he dealt with two other toasts. Bella turned to Mia who gave her a look then back to Caldor, “Go on, Ms. Heydar.”

Arabella didn’t wish for it to get as awkward as last night so she took a bite of the beautiful toast and was overwhelmed with the explosion of flavours. It was just toast with avocado, she’s had it before. How was it that good now?

She was going red and she almost groaned but kept it together. She didn't know if it was the hangover or just the empty stomach.

“So, how was your sleep?” Mima asked with her tea.

“Comfortable!” Caldor said and the conversation went on with everyone doing the same.

Arabella ate as Caldor passed over a small plate of fruits for her after she finished the two toasts. She gulped down her forgotten almost cold tea and pulled the fruit plate. She pushed away the kiwi fruits and other fruits and ate the few sweet, juicy mangoes. Caldor passed her another toast when he realized her picky behavior.

Arabella just grabbed the toast and ate it after she was done with her mangoes. She was devouring her breakfast when she noticed some of the girls giving her a death glare.

“You’re still picky with your fruits.” Mima took her attention, “I thought you’ve grown out of it.”

Arabella looked at her with her mouth full and couldn't answer. Caldor looked at her and then turned to Daya.