Ordinaries And Stars

Chapter Nine

Pamela was silent throughout the journey back home, making Cody stay alert. He was afraid that if he hits a porthole, she'd skin him alive with the current mood she was in.

She doesn't understand why everybody assumes she killed her mother. From the memories she still has, she was very close with her mom. She loved her dearly, so how could she have killed her mom? What hurts her most was that, her mom's sister Diana was also very close with her. But since that incident, she's bent on making sure everybody hates her.

She might not say it out loud but she really gets sad on her mom's death anniversary. Not just because it is her death anniversary, but also because of what her supposed family members do to her during the ceremony. She jolted out of her daydreaming when she realized the car had stopped moving and they were at her house.

"Why are you still sitting in the car? Get out and check if there are monsters in the house before leaving" she said to Cody

Yep, she's still scared of monsters in the dark. But she has a perfectly good reason that. She has nightmares at night, or so she says. Cody thought to himself as he went round the house to check for 'monsters'. As usual, her room was the last place he checked.

"All clear" he shouted back to her and she sauntered in. Thinking that his work was done here, he turned to leave but felt someone tugging at his sleeve.

Instead of walking past him, Pamela stopped beside him and remembered that time when he hugged whilst she was crying. And she really needed a hug right now so by the time she could stop herself, she was already tugging at his sleeve.

"Uhm...can I like...can I hug you?" She said in a soft voice when he stopped.

"I'm not taking advantage of you. I'll give you a bonus for it. It's just, I've been through a lot today and I really need a hug and I found out I can hug you without feeling anxious whenever I'm in a bad mood" she continued when she saw the shocked look on his face.

Cody was surprised at first when she asked for a hug, but his ears and mind stopped working at the word bonus. A bonus, just for a hug. Why not.

"Sure, you can hug me" he said hurriedly.

"Really? You don't mind?"

"No, not at all. I'd be honoured to hug a princess" he placed a hand on his chest dramatically.

"Okay, I'll be hugging you now. You consented. I didn't harass you". She said as she slowly slipped her tiny arms around his waist.

" Uhmm, you might have to draw a little closer to me for it to be called a hug" he said when he saw how she was standing awkwardly with her lower back pushed back like that.

She shuffled closer  and soon she was plastered to him. The scent of roses invaded his nose faintly and he realized that was the shampoo she uses in her hair. Her head was directly under his chin as she placed her head on his chest. He just realized how small she actually was.

Pamela waited for the anxiety to kick in but it never came. She snuggled closer to him, and even with that, her arms merely touched at his waist. Woah,he is this big? How come she never noticed?

Cody didn't know what to do with his arms. They were hanging limply at his sides, making him feel awkward. He finally decided to put his arms around her, all the while praying she wouldn't burn him alive. But immediately his arms went around her, she snuggled closer, as if she wanted to merge into him.

He heard a sniff and thought his ears were playing tricks on him. But he soon felt wetness on his shoulders and realized she was crying. Soon he could feel the teardrops and before he realized, he was stroking her hair.

"I'm sorry. I just don't know what's wrong with me. I mean, I lost my mom today. I lost a woman I love dearly today, but everyday this day, I have to bear with all these other people accusing me and everything. I'm not even able to mourn her properly" she said between sobs.

His arms tightened around her. This is the most vulnerable he has ever seen her. She's so young and has to go through this.

They stayed that way for so long until his phone rang. But she wouldn't let go of him. She even promised to triple his pay if he let's her hug him just a bit longer. He had to accept the call with her still tucked safely in his arms.

"Hey mom"

"Hey, when will you get home? It's half past 10pm"his mom asked worriedly from the end.

" Can you sleepover? I'll pay four times your salary" She added swiftly when she saw he was about to reject her. "I really don't want to be alone tonight. Please?" She said as she looked up at him tearfully.

Oh God, who can look at those big tearful eyes and say no? He thought to himself. Just as he was about to reply, his mom must have heard what she asked because she quickly told him to stay over, being the number one shipper that she was. So it got settled, he'll stay over.

After roughly 20minutes later, they were still in the same position.

"Uhmm, Princess, you might want to let go of me, go take a bath and go to bed" he said calmly.

"You won't leave when I go to bath?" She asked into his chest.

And lose four times my salary, No way. He shook his head and replied with a no. So she went to take her bath and he went to the car to take the little traveling bag his mom packed into the car just in case he needs to stay over somewhere. Mothers always knows best.

He made sure he got back before she came out of the bathroom. Or she might change her mind and reduce the bonus.

After she came out, he went round the room and checked under the bed to make there were no monsters.

"Okay, you're all good Princess. No monsters. Goodnight" he said and made to leave.

"Where are you going?" She asked in a shrill voice.

"To bath and sleep in one of the rooms"

"No, you're sleeping here"

What?