Destined ||EDITING||

15. Confusion

Now it all makes sense...

My mind couldn't stop bringing the images of the day of my mother's trial. She was the woman that sat right next to me, the one that held me while my mother was shot right before my eyes and after Richard was arrested.

-"Um...It's nice seen you too"- I lied.

I didn't feel comfortable at all with her here. Seeing her again made me remember unpleasant things. I stretched my hand and politely shook hands with the woman.

-"Mum, Ash's girlfriend's pretty"-the little girl told her mother.

I avert my gaze quickly, for I don't want anyone to think that I am dating Ash Lewis. I hear a chuckle and decide to look with the corner of my eyes. The woman was patting the little girl while telling her to not come to any conclusions and to stop embarrassing their guest. The girl apologizes while her mother puts her down and then runs off. Ash's mother gestures me to follow her and I obidiently do so. There's a huge Christmas tree in the middle of the living room with colorful decorations hanging from it. On the wall right behind it, there are three red socks with some names in them: Ash, Marco and Holly. I keep walking and find myself in the dinning room. There table was about for 6 people and there were lit candles as a centerpiece. It looked more like a romantic dinner than a family gathering. I keep walking and stumble upon a small side table with pictures on it. I curiously look at them and spit one that called my attention. It was a little boy wearing his school uniform, he looked around ten to eleven years old. I keep staring at the picture when---

-"So, you're Ash's girl?"-said a male voice.

I put the picture back at its place and turn around to meet the voice's owner.

-"I'm Marco Lewis, Ash's younger brother"- he introduced himself.

-"Riki...Rikilda Archer. "-I said a little nervous as I stretched my hand towards him.

He simply looked at my stretched hand and kept walking.

He totally reject my handshake!

Then, I realized that I didn't deny when he asked if I was Ash's girl. My face went red as I noticed that I was so nervous for being caught touching things from someone's house that I simply ignored that comment.

-"Riki! There you are!"-said Ash as he walked towards me with a smile. "What are you doing over here? Everyone's gathering at the living room."

I didn't know what to say, so I simply gave a slight nod and followed him without asking about his brother or about the picture of the little boy. We reached the living room and there was the little girl playing on the floor with her dolls.

I miss being so innocent and carefree.

-"I've heard that you've been playing the guitar lately at your town, Rikilda. Have you always played musical instruments?"- Mrs. Lewis was the first to break the ice amongst us.

-"I've played ever since elementary school, I just quitted all of the sudden due to some problems. I did try to play time from time, but it wasn't the same anymore. I guess I should thank Ash for helping me get out of my cave"-I said as I smiled at them.

-"That's good. I wish Ash could be as dedicated as you are. He wants to be a music teacher...or most probably, he just wants to become a well-known musician."

-"That sounds like a good dream, but if he wants to achieve it, he needs to dedicate some of his time to his instrument"-

-"Oh come on, don't scold me now..."-complained Ash as he brought us some cupcakes on a small trail.