Bad Girl

Auntie

'Suspended?' You repeat as the car door shuts, Victoria sits on the left side, you on the right, and Emma in the middle. 'Why were you fighting?' Emma looks uncomfortable. 'Jackson was being mean he was saying horrible things.' she stresses. 'That's not really a reason to break someone's nose kid.' You awkwardly clip your seatbelt on as your other arm is still in a sling. 'What did he say?' her eyes dart to Victoria who watches from underneath her oversized sunglasses with mild curiosity. 'I don't want to say.' You are getting concerned now. 'Sweety, what did he say? Was he rude to you?' Emma shakes her head. 'Well, what?' you sigh. 'He...said....he said that his dad said auntie Baroness was the B word.' You and Victoria widen your eyes but for different reasons. 'Oh, so he talks like that in front of his kid, nice.' 'Auntie Baroness?' Victoria repeats. Emma smiles happily hugging her newly adopted relative. Victoria sits awkwardly.

'And that school has decided to let that slide, not a chance I'll be going down there.' you grumble. 'It's hugging me.' Victoria sits still. You roll your eyes. 'Yes, that's what children do when they like you.' You speak slowly like you are explaining this to a toddler. The Baroness awkwardly pats Emma's head. 'Alright, that's enough.' Emma lets go and Victoria straightens up. 'Baroness is my title, my name is Victoria dear.' she explains. Emma has unpacked her bag and shows you both a drawing she's done of the three of you. 'What this?' you examine the work. 'It's me, and you, and Auntie Victoria.' You see the Baroness's jaw clench with a visible sense of discomfort and you know she regrets telling the girl her name. 'I think it's beautiful.' you kiss her forehead. 'Do you like it, Auntie Victoria?' The Baroness cringes and you shoot her a look keeping a smile on your face. 'Yes Auntie Victoria, do you like Emma's drawing that she has clearly worked very hard on and would be really upset if someone criticized it?' Victoria huffs and looks at the drawing. 'Ah, yes it is quite fabulous.' Emma looks happy.

The car takes you all back to Hellman Hall. 'Victoria, why don't we go for a walk? I'm sure John can mind Emma for a little while.' The Baroness considers and then nods as Emma runs inside, you both start to walk around the gardens of Hellman Hall. 'I'm sorry I made you miss fashion week, you must hate me.' you begin. Your footsteps crunch across the gravel. 'It is not a big deal, there really is no fashion week without me, I'm not missing anything. How's the arm?' she questions. The Baroness has always been a great beauty, so poised and so elegant you admire how she walks with her head held high even after everything. 'I-it's fine.' you stop walking. 'Do you hate me, because every time you look at me I feel like you see him.' The Baroness freezes and turns on her heel to look at you. 'I see it...sometimes. It frightens me, it ignites fear more than hatred.' she admits bluntly.

You walk over to her so you are only a small gap apart. 'I don't want to hurt you, I don't want you to be scared of me, it's why I left and gave it all to you. It should've been yours from the beginning, I didn't want you thinking that I thought I owned you or pitied you. I know you hate pity. I wanted to give you a fresh start away from anything connected to him, including me.' The Baroness places her hand on your cheek. 'It's the look in your eyes when you say such things that convinces me you are nothing like him.' You close your eyes relaxing your cheek against her hand. 'Will you stay with me, yn?' the insecurity in her voice makes you open your eyes you see she is anxiously studying you. 'Baroness...are you sure it's what you want? I'm kind of a package deal now with Emma.' She strokes the pad of her thumb across your lips. 'I want you.' she repeats firmly. You smile she gently runs her fingertips over your throat and across your collarbone. 'Then we will stay.' you reply softly.

Leaning in you finally close the gap between the both of you kissing her softly. She returns the kiss as it lightly starts to rain despite the sun shining down on you both. Victoria pushes you up against the wall of Hellman Hall and deepens the kiss careful not to hurt your arm. 'I love you.' she moans and you immediately both stop. You stare at each other in shock, her more than you. A blush spreads over her elegant features and she looks uncomfortable. 'What?' you ask unable to hide your smile. 'I...' she doesn't know what to say now. 'I love you too.' you squeeze her hand. Victoria now looks shocked because as much as people worshipped her she never for a moment believed anyone would truly love her. You grab her and start kissing her hungrily again your good hand grabs hers as you interlace your fingers with hers.