Shades of Black

Chapter 22

After him finally drawing me, we went to the living room and I forced him to dance Bachata with me. I don't even know what Spanish song it was.
All I knew was that we were moving according to the music.
My laughter feeling the air, I was extremely happily.
With Liam turning me around and swaying me in air.

After our dance, we both showered, together.
We settled in bed, I was wearing his cozy pyjamas. Which were extremely bigger and longer on me.
He pulled me close, planting a soft kiss on my lips. His ocean eyes meeting my dark brown ones.
I smiled at him, when he closed his eyes, I instead opened mine.
I looked at his long black lashes.
This man was beautiful, a thought hit the back of my head.
Tell him the truth, about you and The Alchemy.

No, no, no. That wasn't happening, he'd despise me, I couldn't. I buried my head deeper in his chest.

                         ***
"Wake up you stud." I hit Liam's head with a pillow.
"This isn't fair, I always call you sweet names in the morning. I don't hit you pillows."
I was done showering and dressing up.
Turns out, I had space in Liam's closet. All the clothes he bought fit perfectly, how was that even possible. I didn't go shopping with him.
"I'm going home now."
It was six in the morning, "Wait I'll drop you off. But why this early?"
I lied, "Something at home came up."
He walked to the bathroom, exclaiming, "You have a beautiful family by the way. Mine only comprises my mother, I want you to meet."

I wasn't a fun when it came to meeting new people but I knew I wanted to meet Lauren Park.

                           ***
We sat quietly as Liam drove me home, I had decided to leave all the gifts at his place. "Hey, I'm going to Italy, this tomorrow."
I shrugged, "Go. Go to Italy... remember not to text or call me, okay?"
I gave him a fake smile, his hand reached for mine.
"I have to finish some business there. I told you I wouldn't hide stuff." I was so eager to know why he was going there but also didn't want to look suspicious.
We finally reached home, "Hasta pronto."
I kissed him softly, he pulled away, "Don't you want to know why am going this time round?"

I shrugged while exiting the car.
"Just make sure you text or call me, also don't die."

I entered the house tiptoeing, I knew they were still asleep.
As I was reaching my room something from behind startled me. "Goodness, Amandla...why are standing there like a ghost. That's scary." Her olive green eyes lit up.
She scoffed, "Sweetheart it's not my fault you hate horror movies."
We both instead ended up in her room.

"Lala, you were telling me about going to Seattle today. So what's the plan."
Amandla was team leader, she always made the attack plans.
She held out a large sheet with a plan on how we were probably going to rescue the children and women.
She explained how we would enter, strike, attack and everything. We were to attack at night.
As I was leaving, she pulled me back. Her happy expression changed, she pushed her extremely waist length curly hair to the side.
"Athena, people on the team are complaining. You don't come for training or show up for some missions. What's distracting you? Is it...."
Before she could finish, I put my hand on her mouth.
"No it's not him, please don't drag him in to this. I just wanted to leave The Alchemy from the beginning."

Amandla looked at me, weirdly without breaking eye contact.
"What's that around you're neck?" I quickly adjusted my turtle neck.
"No, it's a scratch." She rolled her eyes with a chuckle.
"Sweetheart, cover those before your mama sees them. Or else."

Later on, we all gathered for breakfast. It was a sunny morning and I wanted to take this thing off. The fact that it was baggy made things worse.
Nana was good at preparing all kinds of breakfast. I loved her tacos.
"Good morning fam." Micah said in a tired voice.
Paps took a seat next to me. My body shuddered, what if he realized. Amandla shot me a look , a worried one.
"I heard you went for a sleepover bumblebee." He asked.
I softly smiled, "Yes, I was at Kat's we had fun."
He put a hand around my shoulders, "I'm just happy you're doing teenage stuff. Soon you'll be a real woman and then I'll be a grandfather."

Everyone laughed, grandfather huh! "Paps no, please don't think of grandchildren yet."
I whispered, he just stroked my hair, technically disorganizing it.
Mum suddenly spoke, "How are you darling?"
Darling! She never called me such things before.
"Im okay." The doorbell suddenly rang. I insisted on getting it.

There was no one at the door, just a mini box with my name on top. I grabbed it and ran to my room, they were all eager to know but I ignored them.
I locked my room, on opening the box. There were pictures of my and Liam.
My heart sunk as I took deep breaths, deeper and deeper.
The pictures were from the day Liam and started going out frequently.
There was a tiny paper inside.

      Meet me in the old ware house afew blocks away from you're school. I'll text you the address on Friday night. Or else you're dearest mother will see this.
                                       Damiano. L

I felt my temples aching, my blood pressure rising.
Why would Damiano want from me? He was the same person who assaulted me years ago.
A tear rolled down my cheek.
Mum was already knocking on my door. I quickly cleaned the tears and hide the photos under my bed.
I opened the door with a fake big smile. "What was in the box?"
Lying had become my specialty these days, "Well, it was just this."

I showed my little set of make up Kat had bought me earlier.
It comprised lip gross, lip liner, some foundation and mascara. Thank God I had not yet opened it.
"Wow, Kat is a very good friend. Finally someone to teach you how to be feminine."
She was right but that hurt, a little maybe.
I was feminine enough but mum found ways of sighting out the tomboy in me.
I wasn't a tomboy though, maybe I was. No I wasn't.
Ahhhh, goodness LORD, whatever.