Impossible to Forget

Chapter Four

I picked up my shoes and socks and walked up the stone steps. They were cool against the soles of my feet and their soothing smoothness felt heavenly after the hour of pounding friction against the sand. 

My mind hardly registered this cooling balm. That note was a declaration of intention, open hostility, and this meant there would be no compromise, no semblance of negotiations. This meant war. Whether or not it was my fault, I was not welcome in Ram's home. 

Well, he really hadn't done anything to me,yet. Of course, it was certainly a lot of antagonizing for only two hours, but the rest of his family seemed to like me. It was three to one in favor of me. Right?

But just because they liked me doesn't mean they'll take my side over Ram, because like the saying goes, blood is thicker than water. If it does come to an open conflict, Ram has the advantage. As much as they might like me, they're not going to create conflict in their own family over a girl they hardly know. I was en route to getting kicked out...

Unless...I used my charismatic self and slowly and slyly swayed them over to my side.

...And while I was at it, I could seduce the entire world and name myself dictator.

But since I was already considering something one step short of world domination (one step for me)...

How could I avoid being kicked out?

By making them like me more than Ram?

I would need to give them a solid reason to stand by me.

What should I do?

The obvious answer is that I have to convince them that Ram is being unreasonable by being so hostile towards me. I do not deserve his icy treatment, thank you.

He’s being so unreasonable! Is that how I should deliver the argument? Did it sound a little too petulant?

I know this, but they need to know that too. They promised my parents I could spend the summer here. So they would need a really good reason to make  me leave, and if there isn't any reason then I won't have to leave!

What do I do?

Nothing.

My brain comes up with the most helpful of suggestions.

Oh, I get it, I should just do nothing about it.

But, but...

I'll just be my normal self and not give them any reasons.

But what if Ram already has a reason?

Then I'm sunk and going home.

I need to stop thinking and decide what to do when I walk inside. How should I act when Mrs. Vyas introduces me and Ram? Should I pretend we hadn't met, cause technically we hadn't? Or should I tell her about the attitude and the note? I need a battle strategy.

Tell her? Tempting, but if I tattled on him to his mommy,  he would probably think I was incapable of handling his animosity. It would just make me an easier target in his eyes. He was a bully, and like all bullies if I stood up to him this would all just blow over. The note is nothing, no big deal, guys like him are nothing, no big deal. If I've seen one, I've seen a hundred and they're all the same. He's not worth my time, energy, or anger, so I'll kill him with kindness. 

Yeah, what happened to my motto? Kill him with kindness. I need to be the better person. He can act like a kid throwing a tantrum all he wants, with his whole ignoring act and threatening note but I wouldn't stoop that low! Patience and restraint were what I need. After all, what goes around comes around.