Ties (Book 1)

5. May

Finally the best day of the world arrived, Friday. I was excited enough that I didn't even care I had every dang class with the annoying Levi. Friday was equal to freedom in a teenager's life. Fridays were probably the only days I woke up in a pleasant mood. I went downstairs and saw Maryanne already cleaning every surface.

"Why are you here so early?"

"Your mother's PA called me last night saying Mr. and Mrs. Mars are going to be here around noon from Italy," she said as she continued to wipe the marble countertops.

"Oh, well good for them." My arms crossed over my chest. "It has been like two months since last time I saw them." It was the second week of summer vacation when they left. My heartbeat increased as I remembered the horrible summer.

"You know they are busy people, sweetie." She stopped cleaning for a second and completely faced me.

"That doesn't mean I don't miss them or need them here." My voice rose in volume.

"You know they need to provide for you."

My arms crossed over my chest. "No, they need to get away from me because they can't stand the sight of me."

"You know that's not true."

"Then why do they try to avoid me?" I raised my voice again.

"You remind them too much of him." It felt like she was twisting a knife in my stomach. Maryanne had worked for my family long enough to know too many things about us.

I could not manage to breathe properly, but somehow I was able to speak. "That's not my fault; we were brother and sister and bound to look alike."

"I know, sweetie, I know. How about I cook some breakfast?" She started moving towards the kitchen.

"I'm fine thank you; I'm not really hungry."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes don't worry, Maryanne." I waved and left.

As soon as I stepped outside the door, I let my tears fall. I got in my car and drove to school to what seemed like not a very good Friday.

Once I got situated in the parking lot, I retrieved some tissues out of my purse and applied mascara so my eyes looked brighter and not swollen. I finished doing my makeup and turned off the ignition. Despondently, I climbed out of the car and walked to the trunk of the car to get my cheer bag. I was so involved in my own thoughts that I did not notice Levi pull up beside me and walk towards me.

He crept up behind me and grabbed me by my shoulders. "Boo," he yelled, scaring me half to death.

"Oh my gosh! What's your problem?" I turned around with my eyes wider than usual.

"You get scared so easily, May!" I froze at his words.

"What did you call me?" No normal human being used May as a diminutive for Mackenzie; it was always Ken, Kenz, or Kenzie. Only special people found unique nicknames. Levi was still a stranger to me. Why he decided on May or even though of it, I had no clue.

He started smiling. "I called you May. What? Don't you like my nickname for you?" When he noticed my pained expression, he wrinkled his forehead.

I shut the trunk of my car and turned without saying a word. "Hey wait! Look I won't call you that if you don't want me to, but please don't be mad at me." He jogged to catch up to me.

"Yeah don't call me that, and for the record, I'm not mad at you."

His face was still set in a scowl. "Then why did you react like that? It's just a nickname."