The Island Goddess.

iixc.

After the slow and silent walk Emerald was now at her doorstep. The young woman peaked through the peep hole and made a silent prayer, hoping she wouldn't get caught with her mother. Emerald pressed her ear to the door and nothing but silence was heard so she slowly twisted the door knob, making her way in as she shut the doo quietly behind her. Emerald sighed to herself in relieve.

"Eh heh! An where yuh come from!"

Emerald's eyes widened and her heart skipped a few beats as she turned around and noticed her mother and her aunty sat on the couch. They had two drinks on the table and they're legs were crossed, as if they'd been awaiting her arrival for awhile now.

"I....I... went fuh walk out.." She mumbled quickly, nodding to herself to try and convince herself to lie. There was no way she was going to tell them the truth.

"She lie!" Her aunt instantly jumped in.

Aunt Frieda was one of the most nosy relatives she'd come across. She was always on her case about everything she did. Whether it was friends, relationships and even school; she never gave Emerald a break and she was sick of it.

Emerald crossed her arms and squinted her eyes, looking at Aunt Frieda in disgust as she shook her head in disgust.

"Fix yuh face!" Her mother yelled, making her jump slightly. She obliged to her command as she now stared blankly at the two of them.

"Frieda say you was wida man... all over him in da sand." Emerald's mother was now looking at her in disbelief. She never understood why Emerald would ever need a boyfriend at this age, her main motives should've been to study hard and achieve her goals; then find love. In he mother's eyes men were just a distraction and she didn't want her getting hurt.

Emerald remained silent, and her mother squinted her eyes.

"Come, now." She calmly said to her.

Her mother wasn't like other Bajan mothers she was quite calm but her calm nature when she was angry had a major effect on Emerald. She didn't need to be yelled at or canned, her mother being disappointed in her was enough.

"Wuh all dat on yuh neck, Em." She said as her hand gestured on her neck and she was quick to cover it with her hands as she began to blush; her neck had most likely bruised up from Lance nibbling on her skin.

"Emerald.." Her mother began as she looked at her then tugged at her own ear. "Emerald.." She said again and Emerald looked down. "I dun want yuh disgrace me in these streets!" She exclaimed in all seriousness. The last thing she needed was people coming to her complaining about her daughter or spreading rumors.

"Let dis be de first n last, don't yuh ever see dat boy again." She replied and Emerald nodded multiple times in agreement as she then dismissed herself to her room.

As she hurried up the stairs she couldn't help but feel ashamed and very guilty. Her mother didn't deserve to be woken up at 2AM in the morning to here about her sneaking out to see a man. She sighed as she got in, cursing at herself for thinking she'd really get away this one.

When she closed the door and turned to see Melissa sprawled on the bed, snoring she wanted to jump on her and cry and tell her what had just happened but she decided against it; Mel had already helped her enough the least she could do was let her rest.

Emerald took off her dress and placed in the washing basket. She rid off her matching jewelry as she then got wipes and took off her makeup. Emerald stared at her reflection as she sighed to herself.

Don't yuh ever see dat boy again .

Her mother's words kept replaying in her mind and she fluttered her eyes as all the memories of her and him began to play through her mind. Her mind urged her to oblige with what was right, which was obeying her mother. But her heart said no, her heart wanted him and nothing more!

She didn't know how but for the meanwhile she was going to avoid him, she had to. Maybe this was for the better good, after all in the long run he was just going to leave back to his country anyway.

Emerald cut off the lights as she then dressed in her nighting gown and laid beside her best friend. She fluttered her eyes and headed to a deep sleep, which was much needed after the long day.

*******

Maybe it was the way her heart shape lips curved into a wide smile, or the way her soft lips felt along his own. The way she reluctantly opened up to him and he found himself doing the same. It was the way she showed signs of a caring heart, she was down to earth. Never dramatic, angry, mad or upset over little things, rather accepting and appreciating the smallest things. Now Lance only had a week and a half before he had to go back home, but he was glad he'd been here, she was one of the main reasons for that.

Lance began to wonder how she would feel when he had to go, there was obviously no denying that the two of them felt something for each other. Lance had gone to realize it as he found himself making effort to impress her, he found himself always thinking about her and how he felt the first day he approached her; is how he feels each time he greets her. Which was quite rare. Usually he'd get bored and tired of a woman after he'd gotten what he wanted, but between the two of them; the igniting fire was still present.

He didn't want to let it go either.

He got out his iPhone and began browsing through social media, catching up with what his family and friends had been up to. It was then he realized that he hadn't been capturing moments of this beautiful island, moments that he could've captured included, Emerald.

He smiled to himself as he made a mental note for him to carry a camera the next time they were on a date.