CODE RED (Book 1)

Unexpected Kiss

My foot touched the bottom of the stair case as I came down to the kitchen. I stopped mid step to look at the dinner table to see Jared sitting in one of the chairs, staring back at me.

I squinted my eyes distastefully at him before averting my them away from his to meet my mother's gaze.

She gave me a knowing look with a raised eyebrow before saying in a low voice. "Give him a chance."

"Seriously?" I asked in disbelief.

"Yes". She said urgently. "What's the problem he isn't a bad person Gareki, okay? Trust me." She genuinely sounded as if she really wanted me to get to know him. But I still found myself not wanting to be bothered by introductions.

I pursed my lips into a thin line giving her a hard look.

But of course being my mother she was persistent. She gave me the same look making me scowl and roll my eyes to look the other way.

"Don't be like that." She said sincerely. What is there to lose? He really wants to meet you and here you are being rude.

Mom! I whisper shouted. Did she seriously not understand what happened three weeks ago with that lunatic of a husband she had. I couldn't believe she was acting so care free as if nothing had happened.

Despite the things that I had been threw within these three weeks I couldn't forget, even though I hadn't had a nightmare for a few nights I still couldn't fully forget what he had done to me and threatened to do to her. I wasn't going to let something like that happen again. My father had made a mistake and I wasn't going to let it happen again with another man.

Please, Gareki. She muttered grabbing hold of my hand. She looked at me with her blue eyes silently telling me to do this for her.

I understand what he did to you. . . But Jared is way more different from your father. He treats me differently, and if you give him a chance he'll treat you differently to.

I stared at her for a few more seconds. She really wanted me to do this. . . I guess I wouldn't have a choice but to go threw with it. I sighed. Alright, I'll do it.

She smiled immediately her frown turning into a bright grin. Great! I'm going to need you to help me unpack the groceries and we'll see how this dinner goes. Okay?

I nodded following her into the kitchen. I looked down at the bags of groceries and began to unpack vegetables and pasta noodles. my guess would be we were going to be eating some kind of pasta dish for dinner tonight.

I'll be back in a sec, just need to take off these heels. Ok? My mother said walking up beside me.

I quickly turned towards her my face shocked that she was leaving me with Jared so quickly. I had just stepped in to greeting myself and she was literally leaving now?

Don't say anything rude. She whispered in advice before clicking up the stairs with her work bags and heels. I watched her dark magenta hair disappear from view.

The kitchen went quiet quickly. A little to quickly. I wasn't usually bothered by awkward silence but this time surprisingly I was finding this atmosphere awkward for myself and Jared. The feeling washed over me making me uncomfortable, the emotion I hadn't felt in months had finally resurfaced, and I had to say I wasn't glad it was back.

Your mother has told me a lot about you. Jared spoke breaking the silence. His voice was soft but deep at the same time. Oddly enough it edged off some of the awkwardness I was feeling.

I looked up at him from the corner of my eye. Some of my fringe hanging in front of my eyes as I did this.

I saw a slight smile on his lips as he continued to look at me. I couldn't say anything or rather I was speechless, I was to busy examining his features. Out of all the times I had seen him I hadn't taken a long enough look to examine his entire face.