Baby Steps

9.

B A B Y S T E P S

[CHAPTER NINE]

♡

"Right, I'll probably miss lunch but I'll be back for dinner!" I explained to my mum as I strolled into the kitchen. She was stood in the centre of the kitchen with a spatula clutched in her hands belting out lyrics to the songs playing on the radio without a care in the world.

"Alright darling, have fun!" She whistled as she began ridiculously dancing around in circles.

"Bye then-"

"Wait, where are you going?" She suddenly questioned, grasping hold of my wrist tightly to stop me from moving.

"Out with Brad and Arabella to the shops." I shrugged, rolling my eyes slowly. "Weren't you listening earlier when I told you?"

"Like a proper little family!" She cooed, throwing her arms around my waist and squeezing me - completely ignoring my question.

"No, please don't!" I squirmed out of her grip. "We're just friends-"

"I know, you keep telling me and yourself that but I saw the way Brad looked at you last night." She said softly.

"How did he look at me?" I wondered intrigued to see what she had noticed.

"Big eyes, laughed at everything you laughed at, constantly licking his lips, smiling to himself when you were speaking." She rambled on, leaning against the cabinet as if she was going to faint any second telling this story she had vision.

"I think your mind is playing tricks on you." I laughed uneasily, grasping hold of my bag from the side. "I haven't got time to stand here and listen to your nonsense stories."

"He obviously trusts you a hell of a lot." She admitted, continuing to cook the late breakfast for herself and my dad. "Not many parents would hand their child over to someone they hardly know and allow them to help out with personal-"

"It's not like I'm some total stranger!" I snapped with slight annoyance. "And with your speculation of Brad liking me, we wouldn't even be talking if you answered the door when he begged for help. You can't fall in love within a week."

"How would you know?" She questioned directly. "Have you ever been in love?"

"No." I stated with a huff.

"He's not a bad guy." She commented. "If I was your age, I would would, totally would."

"And after that vile remark, I'm going." I mentally groaned, shifting out of the kitchen to the front door where awaited Brad beside his car.

"Hey!" He greeted me friendly as I moved to the passenger side. Instantly, he noticed my mood and clambered in the car after me. "Why the scrunched up face? Feeling unwell?"

"After what my mum has literally just said, yes." I gulped, shaking my head to erase the thought. "I'm going to be disturbed for months now-"

"Is it too disturbing for me to know?" He asked curiously.

"You definitely wouldn't want to know." I said strongly, peering out of the window to see my mum standing at the door, waving. "Go before she says anything more!"