why not?

chapter 18: snap

chapter 18: snap

SNAP!

What the hell? My head feels away and I'm suddenly aware of my drool. It pools onto Tristain's shirt. Oops. My eyes creep open and I see Eric, with a cheap digital camera (nothing compared to my Nikon), smiling at me.

"What do we have here?" he says, like those villans in the films always do. I kick Tristain awake. I'm on top of him, but at an angle so he's comfortable enough to breath. He stirs awake and smiles when his eyes land on me.

"Morning gorgeous" he mutters before falling back asleep, oblivious to Eric standing right there.

"Tristain" I hiss. He awakes again, this time looking more confused than pleased. Then he sees Eric and groans

"Go away Eric"

"No, I've just taken a picture of the two of you in bed together. And with matching rings today"

Fu**. He noticed.

"Good for you" Tristain's voice gets louder, "Give me the camera"

"Are you kidding?" Eric laughs, "This is awesome!"

I roll off of Tristain and gently tug him. He sits up and glares at Eric with the full force of his stunning blue eyes. They glare at each other.

"Eric, honestly answer me when I ask you why you hate me so much" 

Again he doesn't answer.

"Don't tell anyone yet, will you? We want to tell them ourselves"

"What are the rings for? Did you get married or something?" he finally says, pulling his tiny specs up his fat nose.

"No, they're...promise rings or sorts" I hate answering him like I'm obliged to. 

"Aw, how sweet" he spits. "I'll be back"

He runs up, with heavy footsteps, to wake up and show the parents. I fall back into bed and groan.

"What now?" I cry. 

"Don't worry, everything will be fine, love" He reassures me, "You look beautiful when you wake up, you know?"

"Thanks" I blush, "You do too. Really. I'm sorry I drooled all over your shirt"

"I expected it to happen. Lila, I've known you my whole life. Of course I knew you'd drool"

"You don't find it...disgusting?"

"On the other hand, I find it quite adorable" He smiles at me, that signiture beautiful Tristain Rukin smile that makes me melt inside. I think I've melted too much. 

"You're lips look a bit swollen" he says, touching my puffed bottom lip with his thumb, "Sorry, I shouldn't...done that so much last night"

"No, I loved it! I don't care if they're bruised. Yours are as well" I eye his fat lips, still pulled into a smile.

"Yeah, they hurt a bit"

I peck his lips and he grins. And then the loud, booming voice of my father peirces the air. Oh bloody hell. Murder me.

Tristain takes my hand and we run upstairs. The parents are all up, groggy and in pyjamas. That arse Eric probably woke them up for this. So selfish!

"Lila Parris, what the fu** is this?" I flinch. I hate it when Dad curses. He waves the digital camera around, his face boiling up.

"A photo that Eric took of me and Tristain while we were asleep to let drop our secret too soon" I say with as calm a voice as I can. Dad looks toward Tristain and closes his eyes.

"Did you bang her?" he asks in a low, dangerous voice.

"No Sir, I didn't" he answers. Tristain knows not to call Dad "Tom" or "Uncle Tom" anymore. It's "Sir" now.

"Did you marry her?" he asks again, he's still closed.

"No Sir, these were just our early Buddhmas presents"

Dad takes a deep breath and Joey, thankfully, steps in.

"It's alright Tom. Wouldn't you rather it be Tristain than any other boy in the world?"

"I've been convincing your Mum to let me have you as a daughter, for us to share and all that, and now I do" says Cara sweetly.

"I don't think any of you understand" says Dad, raising his voice, "Cousins"

"It's legal, isn't it?" asks Carli, in his revealing bathrobe. Phillip isn't here. I assume he's still in bed, that nasty bugger.

"Tristain, you're too old for her" Dad says. Tristain holds out his hand to show Dad the ring.

"Love has no limits" he reads aloud. Dad's face clouds with darkness and he turns towards me.

"Did you write that?"

"Yes"

"Lila, it's....you're too young to know. You're just infactuated"

"I am not Dad! I love him!"

"She does" says Mum. Dad slumps his shoulders in defeat at Mum's words. Anyone can say anything, but if it's Mum, Dad always listens.

"Fine" he sighs. He looks at Tristain with a look I've never seen before.

"Keep her safe. If you do her any harm..." He lets the threat hang.

"No need to threaten me Uncle. I'll never hurt her"

"I'll hold you to your word"

Eric, fat little pig he is, looked disappointed from lack of punishment.

"Thanks Dad!" I give him a huge hug, "And you too Mum! And Cara and Joey!" I give them all hugs, except for Carli and Eric.

Tristain smiles and thanks everyone as well. I'm so happy, that I start cooking breakfast. There's a knock at the door, and I jump when I realise it's James.

I open the door and everyone looks up curiously. 

"James" I whisper, "Have you got the sculpture?"

"Yeah, I've dropped it off at a friend's about an hour's drive from here. We'll pick it up really early tomorrow so when they wake up, they'll have it" He whispers, not moving his lips as much so that the family, watching us, wouldn't understand.

"Good good, that's awesome" I whisper. I return to my normal voice.

"James! Come in!"

He rolls his eyes and looks at breakfast.

"Pancakes! My favourite!"

He doesn't realise that Tristain and I are going out now, officially with family approval. I'll just let him figure it out....

(picture of angry looking Tristain---->)