VERONICA
As we got home, Liam went to his room, but I went to my mum's room because I noticed she didn't go to work today.
Something is wrong because it's rare for Mum to stay back home and not go to work.
"Or is she sick?" I asked myself as I headed to her room.
As I got to her door, I knocked because, trust me when I say she respects privacy, and I didn't want to go inside and find her crying.
It will break me.
I wonder why that thought even crossed my mind.
Fear and insecurity gripped me.
I know Liam might act like he doesn't know something is wrong but sometimes I can see it on his face when he looks at mum like he wants to ask her what's wrong.
I don't want to go through any divorce sh*t that some children have no choice but to go through.
We used to be a happy family, what went wrong?
I knocked again and I heard my mum walking to the door before she opened it.
"Hi mum, can I come in?" I asked.
"Of course", She replied with a warm smile as she moved away from the door to let me in.
"Everything okay?" I asked her as I sat down on the bed which she later came to Join me.
"Yeah," she replied as she looked anywhere but my face.
"Mum, you need to stop doing this to yourself; just tell us what is going on; we are your children, and we deserve to know," I said, fighting the tears that were about to drop from my eyes.
"I'm tired of being in the dark side of this house; we are grown-ups, for crying out loud," I said, surprised by my loud tone.
"Honey, I know what I'm doing okay? Just go to your room and freshen up.
You haven't even gone to your room since you came back.
I can handle this, you just have to trust me." She said as she pulled me in a tight hug.
"Okay, I trust you," I said as I stood up and went to my room to drown in my thoughts.
**************************
After some minutes of thinking, I decided to call Jennifer to ask her when she planned on coming over, and it happened to be very soon, so I decided to take a shower and eat a little food even though I didn't have any appetite for food.
I later went downstairs to the living room with my phone and dialled Sam's number.
BRYAN'S POV: EARLIER THAT DAY
I heard a noise that stinged my ear and it just had to be my alarm clock.
I quickly turned it off and then stood up from my bed.
My curtains were open, and I wondered why I didn't close them.
Yesterday, I and Hunter had an argument concerning Veronica and it pissed me off.
He doesn't even like the girl so why is he doing all these?
Believe me, I'm no saint, but I don't force myself on girls, and I don't chase after girls who don't want me.
Not like I have met any girl that doesn't want me.
As I got up, I slowly went to the bathroom because I was drained of energy.
I washed my face and brushed my teeth.
"Bryan, Bryan!" I heard my name and I knew it was Anne, my baby sister.
"Come play Mickey Mouse with me," she said as she badged inside my room.
"Great" I muttered as I rubbed my face with my palms.
"Anne, I can't play with you now it's still very early," I said as I got up from where I was sitting.
"But it's already 8:45 and I'm bored," she said with a pout.
"Oh my! How did you know the time? my baby girl is all grown up." I said with a grin as I carried her to the bed and started tickling her.
"S..st.stop it B..Br..Bwayan, I'm ticklish," she said between giggles.
"And who is teaching you all these big words?" I asked as I widened my eyes, pretending to be in awe.
"Umm, Miss Britney said I have to learn them because I am a big girl and big girls are very smart.
She also taught me about animals and the sounds they make.
Do you want me to teach you?" she asked as I looked at my five-year-old sister.
Anne happens to be a very smart kid, and I'm truly glad to be her older brother.
"I know you want me to teach you and I will because you are the best brother in the whole world," she said as she raised the teddy bear that she was holding up and used it to draw a circle on the air and gave me a big smile which didn't fail to show that her two front teeth were missing.
"And you are my best baby sister and cupcake in the whole world," I said as I picked her up from the bed and pecked her on her cheek.
"ew,", she said as she cleaned the place. I just pecked her with her hand, which made me chuckle, and I'm very sure she had forgotten about the Mickey Mouse she wanted to play with earlier.
Good for me I guess.
I carried her downstairs to the kitchen to meet Mum.
"Good morning, Mum," I said as I kept Anne down to stand, but she quickly ran to where Mum was washing her hands in the sink.
"Mummy." she ran, giggling as she hugged Mum's leg, and I was very sure she had already seen Mum this morning.
"How was your night?" my mum asked me with a smile.
"It was fine," I replied as I opened the refrigerator and brought out a bottle of water, which was barely cold, and gulped it down thirstily.
"Careful, and how many times will I tell you to pour your water into a glass cup and not to drink directly from the bottle," she said with a frown.
"Okay mum, what are we having for breakfast?" I asked.
"We are having my special, tantalizing Pancakes and bacon with warm milk to wash it down," she said with a smile as Anne started clapping excitedly, and I knew it was because of food.
" Mum I'm not going to school today," I said as I sat rested on the kitchen counter.
"Why, everything okay?" she asked concerned.
"Yep, just not in the mood for school. I'm really tired." I replied with a shrug.
"Okay then, let's eat," she said as we all sat down ready to dig in.
I know Mum wants to ask more, but she knows I will tell her when I'm ready; I always do.
VERONICA
After calling Sam about three times and ready to give up, he called me back.
"Hey, everything okay?" I asked him.
"yeah, I was taking a shower so I just finished," he replied.
"So, when are you coming over?" I asked.
"Soon, just need to put on my clothes," he said.
"did you ask her?" he asked.
"Yes, and fortunately for you, she doesn't have a boyfriend," I replied with a smile.
I asked her about it when I called her earlier.
"Why is that fortunate?" he asked me acting like he didn't know what I was talking about.
"Oh, please cut the act; I know you feel something for her," I replied with an eye roll, even though he couldn't see me right now.
"I have to go, see you later at your house," he said before I hung up.
As I kept my phone on the table, the doorbell rang. Then I quickly rushed to the door to open it, and as expected, it was Jennifer.
I tackled her with a hug.
"Easy there", she said with laughter as she hugged me back.
The both of us got inside then I closed the door before settling on the couch with her.
"So what's up, what are you doing?" she asked.
"Nothing, I was just waiting for you to come so we can watch a movie or do something else."
"Right, let's not forget about our ice cream," she said.
" Wait I will go get it," I added as I stood up and went to the kitchen to get the ice cream.
I came back with the bucket of ice cream, a deep plate to scoop in some of it and two spoons.
"Is Sam coming over?" she asked as I sat down next to her.
"Yeah," I replied trying to hide the grin on my face.
As I picked the remote control to select a movie for us to watch, the doorbell rang.
"Speak of the devil," Jenifer said as she stood up to open the door.
"And he shall appear", I completed as I continued searching for a movie.
I decided to check Netflix then I came across "AFTER"
I have watched the movie before and it's the typical cliche romance movie.
I have also read the novel on Wattpad, but I don't mind watching it again, and I'm not sure Jennifer has watched it.
"Hey," Sam said as he came over to the couch and pecked me on the side of my head.
"I guess we are complete then," I said, and I know Sam could hear the smile on my voice, but he didn't comment on it.
I can see the questions in his eyes and I know that one of them is why I didn't inform him about Jennifer being here.
"Is that AFTER?" Jennifer asked as she moved closer to Sam, who was sitting on the couch.
"yeah," I replied as I sat down by the other side of Sam, and I could sense his discomfort in being between me and Jennifer.
"Do you care for?" I asked him pointing at the ice cream.
"No, I will just go to the kitchen to get some chips; thanks, though," he replied as he stood up.
I looked at Jennifer and noticed that her attention was on the movie so I turned to look at Sam and gave him a full smile.
"get some for me and Jennifer," I said, and I didn't miss the threat in his eyes, which only made me giggle.
"You are so dead." he mouthed as he left for the kitchen.
"This guy is not that hot", Jennifer commented as she pointed at Hardy on the flat-screen TV.
"I still have a huge crush on him, "I said with a wink as the both of us giggled.
Sam came back, but he didn't return to his previous space on the couch; instead, he sat down next to me, so I was between him and Jennifer.
He handed me the chips and I gave one pack to Jennifer and took one for myself.
"Thanks, Sam," Jennifer said and I think that is the first time she is speaking to him today.
"It's nothing," Sam said with a shrug avoiding her eyes and pretending to watch the movie.
I noticed the tension building between them so I decided to give them some space.
"I will be right back, just want to get something from my room," I said to no one in particular.
"Okay," Jennifer said with a nod and continued watching the movie.
I looked at Sam and noticed he was just busy staring at Jennifer so I quickly left them alone with a full smile of satisfaction.
SAM'S POV
I know Veronica sensed the tension between me and Jennifer, and she decided to give us some space.
I know what my bestie is capable of doing so I was not surprised when she stood up and made that silly excuse.
Jennifer, on the other hand, didn't seem to notice that I had been staring at her for a long time.
I couldn't stop myself from looking at her dark coils that were made into four braids but were let loose from the middle of her head and packed up with a pink hair band.
I can't stop wondering how her hair will feel in my hand.
Her heart-shaped face, not-too-small button nose and pink lips also didn't miss my eyes.
" she is a work of art," I said to myself as I took in her beauty, imagining how that full pink lips would feel on mine.
I didn't notice she had turned until I found myself staring directly into her soft chocolate-brown eyes, which looked like it was staring deep into my soul.
She was smiling widely, and she caught me staring.
I took in her dimple, which was only on her left cheek, as she smiled.
"You are beautiful." I found myself saying in a voice I didn't recognize as mine.
I saw the way her cheeks flushed and turned pink as she blushed hard.
"You are also handsome," she said as I felt my stomach flutter.
What is she doing to me?
"Eehemm", we heard someone cough around us as we both turned and Saw Vee's mum.
I couldn't be more embarrassed, I didn't even know she was home.
"H...hi Mrs Casper." I stammered before clearing my throat.
"Sarah!" Jenifer screamed as she stood up and rushed to embrace Veronica's mum in a big hug.
Veronica's mum always asks me to call her Sarah, but I'm not comfortable doing that even though my parents have always known her and her husband.
"Oh, sweetheart, I can't believe Veronica didn't tell me you were here," she said, smiling.
"Veronica just found out yesterday, so maybe it skipped her mind," Jennifer replied with a smile.
"It's so good to see you," Sarah said as she released Jennifer from the hug.
"Oh, Sam how are you hun?" She finally asked me.
" I'm fine, thank you, ma, what about you?" I asked her.
"I'm also fine; I just need to head out to get some groceries; you guys be good," she said, and I could read more meaning to what she said.
"Okay, ma'am", I replied before she left, and the both of us burst into a fit of laughter.