Roses And Daggers

The One Where The Problems Start

Amanda was a bit suspicious at first, but she was warming up to Zeke spending most of his time in their room... Just like he was doing then.

"You know you have your own house, right?" Amanda chided, turning around in her chair.

"As a matter of fact, I do." Zeke lay on his stomach on her bed, munching on crisps. A few crumbles fell on the checkered bed sheet. He rolled over, putting his hands behind his head. "But who else would take care of my 'delicate and fragile' girlfriend?"

"I can take care of your 'girlfriend.'" Amanda mimicked his air quotes, quite ironically.

Victoria looked up from her history textbook. "And don't you need to study for the test too?"

Zeke sighed dramatically. "Ah, who needs to study books when I can study you, babe?"

Victoria made a face and stuck her tongue out at him. 

"He's so cheesy!" Victoria mouthed to Amanda.

"But sweet!" She mouthed back.

Victoria rolled her eyes for show and smiled. She sat against the head board of the bed while Amanda sat on a chair, near her study table. She didn't even know why they were doing this, but now that they had started, there was no going back. How would she explain that they broke up after just a few days, when things were going perfectly fine?

Mrs. Rocher, Amanda's mother and Victoria's aunt, opened the door and peeped inside. "Zeke, son, your mum called. She needs you home."

"Guess I better leave." He got up waved the girls goodbye. "Thank you for having me, Mrs. Rocher."

"Oh, you're so polite. The pleasure is always mine," she gushed. 

Zeke gave a tight- lipped smile. Lucky Victoria- living with her nice aunt and cousin while her parents are probably vacationing somewhere. He stuffed his hands in his pockets and followed Mrs. Rocher to the main door.

Amanda shut the door with a bang as soon as they left. "Oh my god, you both are adorable! He's obviously crazy about you. And he is nicer than I thought. I always believed he was a loner."

If she only knew, Victoria thought.

Instead, she laughed. "Don't print the wedding invitations now, Amanda."

"Also, it's a good thing that mom likes him. Remember when I was dating that sophomore boy? Mom refused to let him through the main door!" Amanda chuckled at the memory. Her gaze softened and she came to sit beside Victoria. "Hey, I know it's not my place to ask, but have you told him about your parents? I just think he deserves to know."

Victoria's breath hitched in her throat. This was still a sensitive topic for her. It had been 3 years, but she still could not talk about it without feeling a gaping emptiness in her chest. She could she her silence was beginning to upset Amanda, and that was the last thing she wanted. Amanda was only one she had. So, Victoria took a deep breath and regained her posture. "It's okay, don't worry," she said through a pained smile.

._._.

"Were you in her house again?" Mrs. Brand, Zeke's mum, asked. She knew where her son was, but she always hoped that she was wrong.

Zeke didn't reply. He was well aware that his mum detested Victoria. He tried to go upstairs without making a scene, but that was not possible.

"Why are you dating her?" Mrs. Brand spat.

"I'm sorry mum," he muttered, like they had gone over this a hundred times, and went up to his room without another word. It hurt him to see her like this, but there was no other way. He didn't like Victoria either, but he could not step down now. And for a fearful moment, he had felt something, something other than hate, and he didn't like that one bit.
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I know that this is just the third chapter, but I wanted this short one as an introduction to their lives outside school. Better stuff is coming, promise!