The Album of Perfect Moments

Harmful person

Mom tilted her head almost imperceptibly. A gesture. It was her way of telling me to explain myself. Rochelle Grant was a woman of few words, and over time you came to realize the expressions she used for each situation. In that case, if I didn't give her what she wanted right away, it would surely earn me a good lecture for an hour or more. I was not in the mood for that, nor to tell her what she wanted to know. 

"Alieth just wanted to take care of me," I said, feeling very small in front of her gaze. She was the only person who could make me feel this way. "He brought me home because I was still under the influence of alcohol... I couldn't drive."

She sipped fresh coffee from her elegant, minimalist mug and leaned her elbows on the counter.

"So, just to see if I understand this correctly," she said and instantly knew nothing good would come of it. "You went to the house of the boy who wrecked your sister to do some work. Instead, you ended up drunk and losing the car we gave you only three months ago."

When she said it with that dismissive tone, it made me sound naïve and foolish. It was something I hated about my mother. Still, I couldn't tell her that Declan had mixed the drink he gave me with sleeping pills. If I was still angry about it, she would be screaming. I didn't want any more drama.

"I didn't miss the car, and I definitely wasn't drunk, Mom. He thought it was unwise for me to drive, and that's it. Today he will return it to me completely unharmed."

She nodded, looking at the matter from an objective point of view and not as an overprotective mother.

"I understand." Her gaze softened, but it wasn't over yet. "People like him can be very persuasive, Siena. I suggest you finish any unfinished business with him and walk away. Someone capable of doing what he did to Rossie can't have anything good to offer."

"I know, Mom."

"I trust you'll always do what's best for you, sweetheart." She kissed my forehead before grabbing her designer bag from the counter and walking off to the lawyer's firm she managed, along with Dad and two friends. Even when she made me feel small, I knew she did it for my good. She was less of a loving mother than she was a lawyer trying to prepare me for life.

I looked down at my hands...She was right. Alieth could only cause more harm to my family. I needed to get away from him. Last night I hadn't thought my parents would be home because they had such a busy life, but they had been, and I was glad Mom had wanted to talk it over with me that morning.

"What were you and Mom talking about?"

I turned to her voice sound, almost jumping because I did not expect her to be up so early in the morning. My sister was standing under the threshold of the room. I looked at her. She was still sleepy.

"Nothing important. It was about joining the group of volunteers to organize the prom," I replied with a concerned pout. She believed me.

"Don't you think you have enough work to do?"

"Oh, come on, Rossie. You sound like Will now," I protested.

"If two people tell you... I think you should consider we are right," she suggested with a shrug, pulling her lips into an indulgent smile.

"I'll think about it," I gave in and said goodbye to her when a message reached me.

The most stylish girl in school was waiting for me inside a metallic pink convertible car parked in front of my house.

Alieth was not joking.

A beautiful smile spread across Brianna Silver's lips while watching me cross the main entrance of my house to her car.