You Belong To Me

17

On Thursday and Friday I convinced my mom I was sick, so I managed to get away with ditching school. It wasn't too big of a lie. I didn't feel like myself and my lower half still burned from Ripper's rampage. Thank God it was cut short. 

By Saturday the burning had mellowed to a stinging sensation and I could sit on the sofa without wincing. Today was the day of the party and I wished with all I had that I didn't have to go, but that just wasn't an option.

I had hardly spoken to Hailey and Sophia in two days so I agreed to get ready at Hailey's house with them while they got ready for Ryder's party.

I collected all my things I needed for the night and went downstairs to wait for Sophia to give me a ride to Hailey's.

It was a Saturday so it was weird for my mom to be home at this time, but what was weirder was the fact that she was dressed to impress. She stood in the kitchen in a beautiful pink dress that made her look like an actual queen.

"Mom you look beautiful, where are you going?"

I startled her a little as she jumped to look in my direction. "Well I was going to tell you but I'm on my way out to a date, it's a Doctor from the hospital. He's been asking me to go for dinner for a little while so I finally agreed."

I was silent for a second, this was the first time I'd ever been aware of my mom going out on a date and I was genuinely happy for her.

She took my silence for disapproval.

"Oh Annabella, do I look stupid? Shall I cancel? I'm probably too old for this, I just get lonely sometimes you know."

"Mom, don't you dare cancel this date. You really do look amazing. If I look anything like you at your age I'm going to be a lucky girl. You deserve to go out and find love more than anyone I know. So please have a good night and show this guy what you're made of."

She embraced me in a hug and I immediately melted in her arms, her familiar perfume giving me comfort, "Thank you princess. I'm going to be going then, have a good night and stay safe okay, text me when you get back to Hailey's later on."

We said our goodbye's and I saw her out the door feeling like a proud parent. Moments later Sophia arrived outside and we were soon on the short ride over to Hailey's.

Thankfully she wasn't still feeling the aftermath of Rippers wrath after what happened at the police station.

"I love when we go to Hailey's, my stomach always makes me feel like I'm floating and I get serious fanny flutters."

"Sophia, you really need a new guy to crush on or else you're going to be 80 still thinking about Jack. You can have any guy you want so why get caught up on someone you can't have?" I hated having to give Sophia truth's about hers and Jack's non-existent relationship but I really didn't want her to get her hopes up.

Instead of telling me that anything could happen, her smile only got bigger and there was a suggestive gleam in her eye that had me believe my words didn't settle in her brain that much.

"Sophia is there something you want to tell me- your friend of over a decade?"

"All in due time mi amigos, let's talk about something else. How's your Ripper problem? I can't believe no one at that police station did anything to help up! He attacked me right in front of them."

That was one thing I didn't want to talk about but I didn't want to keep my friends out the loop of this particular situation.

"To be honest I haven't seen him since Wednesday, I told him I was sick and he told me to get well soon he's been busy with the party and the gang anyway. I'm really sorry about what he did to you Soph."