Next To Love [Book 2]

Chapter 9 : Blackmailed *

Melanie

"You should have bought ornaments."

I had finished setting up my miniature sized Christmas tree and tangled the colorful fairy lights around it but it still seemed to appear plain and dull. I'll take Vitani's suggestion on purchasing a small box of ornaments into consideration.

My week was full of work from my classes. Not only do we have assignments such as sculptures and paintings, we also have to write five page essays on where art originated from, what was the first sculpture ever made on earth and many similar things that have to do with art/artists and sculpting. I found that to be quite extra and annoying because English and literature were never my strongest subjects in high school, I only got around with a high C. I thought studying for art I'd rid myself of ever writing an essay ever again, but I was proven wrong.

"You're right." I respond with a small pout as I looked around my room in search for something, anything Christmasy that I could hang on the small tree. I found nothing.

My room was a mess before Vitani arrived, but she offered to help me clean it up. The bulk of the mess was my pile of clothing that sat in a corner and my desk that was nearly invisible with the amount of clutter that collected on it with an endless amount of dust resting on the surface.

"Are we going to go bowling with Yovann and your boyfriend still?" She asks as she slumps down onto my slightly uncomfortable mattress in exhaustion.

Oh gosh, I can't believe I forgot to tell her those plans had to be cancelled. I feel as if I'm a suffering bad case of amnesia because I forget nearly everything unless I'm reminded. It's awfully amazing.

"Ugh, I can't."

"Why not?" She sits up with a confused expression as her dark brows narrow between her forehead.

"I'm... babysitting." I had told her that I wasn't the most fond person of kids so I knew she'd have a hard time convincing herself that I'm not lying to her, and the only way to make her believe was by telling her whom I was babysitting for.

"For who?" Her voice is high in doubt and she lets a chuckle slip past her plump, ebony stained lips. "You don't even like kids."

I hesitate. "For Harry."

I don't even have to look at her to know her eyes rolled to the back of her head. "For goodness sake, Mel, stay away from that man and his family. You're gonna get yourself into some shít you'll regret in the future while I'll have the pleasure to tell you 'I told you so'." She advises me.

I turn around then step away from the small tree and take a seat on the edge of my bed close to her.

"It's not as bad as it sounds," I say, more so trying to convince myself. "Harry isn't going to be there because he has work and I'll only be with Junior." I explain.

"Who's Junior?"

"Junior; his son."

"You know his sons name!?" She gasp in dismay.

My eyes enlarged slightly due to her being taken so aback simply because I know Harry's sons name. "Is that a bad thing?"

"Mel, why are you questioning me? That's a horrific thing! You are becoming close to his family and I don't condone with what's going on."