Puppets on a string

FAMILY

It's been a month since our first fight and 2 months since we started dating.

Things were back to normal between Samuel and I. Even we were more closer than before. The fight we had made us realize that we can't really be without each other. I have been falling for him more & more everyday. Now it was time for Christmas. Today was last day of our college because we will have our Christmas holidays from tomorrow. I was so excited for Christmas, it was my favorite festival. All of my cousins, aunts and uncles have a reunion.

But I was sad too because it would be my first Christmas with Samuel but we won't be able to spend it together as I will go to my uncles home with my family for Christmas. And the worst part is, they live in Colorado. We won't be even in the same city.

Today both Samuel and I were very clingy to each other because we won't be able to meet each other for almost 15 days. We both didn't want to go back home. Even our friends were teasing us as we both were not leaving each other for a single second. He even kissed me in front of others. Our PDA has also been increased. Yes, I was not comfortable in the beginning but now I just don't care anymore.

"I am gonna miss you so much baby" He said pouting while holding me closer by my waist. He was sitting on the table while I was standing between his legs with my hands wrapped around his neck.

" I will miss you too babe" I said poking his nose with mine.

" Do you really have to go to Colorado ? Please make some excuse to your parents. Tell them you are sick or something. We will spend the Christmas together "

" I am sorry love but it is kind of our family tradition. We will talk on phone and facetime each other when I am away"

"Do you promise ?"

"I promise " I replied sealing my promise with a peck on his lips.

He sighed pulling me in a bone crushing hug.

We both left for our homes after bidding goodbye to each other, hoping to meet before I leave.

It's been 5 days since our Christmas holidays begin and I was missing Samuel like hell. Our day begins with facetiming each other and ends with facetiming. I decided to text him and talk to him because I was missing him too much.

"Hey babe. What's up?"

"Hey love. Just working in the store. What about you?" He replied immediately.

"Nothing just missing you" I replied back.

"I miss you too baby. I really wanna come to your house and kiss the hell outta you. But your family is devil."

"They are not devil. They just care for me alot. They will accept us after 3 years maybe. They just think that I am too young to have a boyfriend "

"Ugh! I really hate them right now. No offence"

If it was someone else saying these things about my family, i would have killed them. But I understand why Samuel is a little against my family. His family knows about us, but I just can't tell my family about us.

"Can I call you right now? I really miss your voice" He asked

"Sure " I replied and got a call from him immediately.

We chatted for a while

"I need to go, there is a customer. I will talk to you later" He said

"Okay"

"Love you baby"

"Love you too" I replied hanging up the call.

What I didn't notice was my little brother standing at the door of my room listening to my conversation with Samuel.

After a few minutes my mom and Andrew barged inside my room with Sandy tailing behind them. I looked at them confused when suddenly Andrew snatched my phone out of my hands. My phone was unlocked as I was watching YouTube.

" What the hell?" I yelled out shocked and tried to take my phone back from him.

"Who is Samuel?" My mom asked me while her hands were folded in front of her making me freeze. God please save me.

"A friend in college" I replied confidently but I was freaking inside.

"Don't you dare lie to me Ashley Jenkins" My mom yelled at me.

"Why would I lie Mum?" I replied with same confidence.

"I know that he is your boyfriend. Sandy heard your conversation with him." My mom looked at me with a disappointed look.

I looked at Sandy with hurtful eyes and he looked down avoiding my gaze. How can my own little brother betray me like this? Siblings are supposed to support each other but my brother ratted me out.

"Don't look at him Ashley. Look at me. I am the one talking to you " My mom said making me look at her with guilty eyes.

"There is no point in lying Ash. I have your phone and I can see your text messages" Andrew said holding my phone making my eyes go wide. I saw that my chatbox was open while Samuel's name was seen on top. Don't they understand the meaning of privacy ? I am f*cking 18. Andrew was 19. He must be the understanding brother as we literally belong to the same age group.

I looked at him with accusing eyes and he looked down I guilt. Tears came streaming down my eyes after both of my siblings betrayed me.

"Mum, I want to talk to Ashley alone. Can you both please leave the room?" Andrew said suddenly. My mother nodded and took Sandy out with her leaving Andrew and I alone.

"Do you love him Ash?" Andrew asked me.

I nodded in yes not looking at him.

"Does he love you back?"

I nodded again

"Okay I will support you" He sighed and pulled me in a hug.

I cried harder as soon as I felt his arms wrapped around me.

"I am sorry, I shouldn't have said about your texts in front of mom. And I know that Sandy shouldn't have done that too. Please don't hate us."

I pulled away and looked at him with hopeful eyes. Maybe he will convince mom to not reveal this to my dad. My dad is very strict when it comes to this stuff. If he finds out that I have a boyfriend, he will force me to breakup with him. My mom is a little understanding.

"I don't hate you. You are my brothers. I can never hate you. Thankyou Andrew for supporting me. And i know Sandy is young but he is 14 now. 14 year Olds are not that young. But I won't blame him" I said still sobbing.

"Okay. But you need to tell this to dad too" He said making me scared

"No Andrew. Have you gone mad? You know that dad has always been strict when it comes to relationships. He strictly said that I am not allowed to have a boyfriend until I am independent." I said almost begging him.

"I am sorry sis, but Dad needs to know. Mom never hides anything from dad. Even if I hid it from him, but mom will definitely reveal everything to him" He said apologetically.

I know that he is right. My mom never hides anything from dad.

"I nodded but I was hella scared"

Then he gently took me out of my room taking me downstairs with him. I saw my mom sitting in the living room while Sandy was nowhere to be seen. My mom looked at me with so much disappointment in her eyes that I wanted to drown myself right there.

" I have called your father, he will be here in 10 minutes" My mom said making my eyes go wide.

" Why mom? Why did you call him? You should have talked to me first?" I almost yelled at her.

"Mind your voice young girl. And don't tell me what to do. I want to talk to that boyfriend of yours first" She said and took my phone out of Andrew's hand.

"Mom are you sure about that?" Andrew asked not liking the idea.

"Yes, Ashley dial his number and put the phone on speaker" My mum said handing my phone to me.

I looked at Andrew and he nodded at me assuring me that he will handle everything.

I dialed Samuel's number and called him.

'Please don't pick up' I prayed in my mind. But the luck was not with me today.

" Hey baby" He said. Why did he has to call me baby right now.

"Hey Sam" I said with a trembling voice and I guess he understood that I have been crying.

"Ash, what happened? Why are you crying? Please tell me everything is fine" He said with a worried voice.

"My family found out about us. They are really angry. You are on speaker right now. My mom wants to talk to you" I said hoping that he will refuse to talk to her. But I know that it won't help his case.

"Oh! Umm... Okay I will talk to her" He said trying to be confident but I could tell that he was nervous.

I gave my phone to my mom.

"Hello" My mom said

"Good evening Mrs. Jenkins" He said confidently

" I will come straight to the point Samuel. I will ask you some questions and I need you to answer them honestly" My mom said strictly

"Yes ma'am" I heard his voice.

"How long have you guys been seeing each other?"

"A little more than 2 months ma'am" He answered.

My mom asked him some questions about us and a few about his family and his future plans.

"Do you love my daughter?"

"Yes, I love her a lot. And If things stay good between us then I would also like to marry her one day" He replied making my eyes pop out. What? Marry me ? We have been dating since 2 months only and he said that he would like to marry me one day. This was a huge statement. And he also shouldn't have said that to my mom. And this is where he messed up.

"Aren't you too young to talk about marriage? You both are in college for God sake. You just completed your high school. You both should be independent first and then talk about marriage." My mom said with a disappointed look on her face.

"I am n..." Samuel started but my mom interrupted him

" I will Firstly discuss this with her father and then I will talk to you" My mom said hanging up the call.

And the very next second my father entered the home.

" What happened Kat? Why did you ask me to come home quickly? " My father asked worriedly. He looked around the room shocked to see everyone quiet. He looked at me and froze because he could see the tears on my face.

"Why are you crying Ashley? What happened?" He asked again confused.

"Your daughter here got herself a boyfriend" My mom said making me shut my eyes tight waiting for my father to yell at me. When I didn't hear anything, I slowly looked up and saw him looking at me with the same disappointed look my mother gave me a few minutes ago.

He just took a seat on the sofa and started rubbing his forehead a little.

"Tell me everything " I heard my father. Then my mother narrated everything to my father including the conversation she had with Samuel on phone. I looked at my father and could see the anger, hurt and disappointment on his face.

"I didn't expect this from you Ashley. I thought that you were smarter than that. I am really disappointed" He said making me look down in guilt.

"The people out there are not good. They will take advantage of your innocence. I have told you many times. You are too young. I want you to breakup with him. He is not good for you" He said making my heart beat faster. How can I leave him? He just proved that he loved me?

"But Dad.. " Andrew started but my father interrupted him by yelling at him.

"No Andrew. I don't want to listen to any of the excuses. She will breakup with him and that is final. I don't want my daughter to get stuck in stupid love things at this early age. She is going to focus on her studies." My father yelled at my brother making hum shut up immediately.

My mouth was shut. I was too scared to speak. I was just sobbing there standing in a corner looking down.

"Andrew take her phone, and text that guy telling him that she is breaking up with him" He said picking up my phone and giving it to Andrew.

"Please Dad. Don't do this. I swear I will focus on my studies" I begged my father.

"Andrew I asked you to text him" My father yelled again making me shut up immediately.

Andrew opened my phone and texted Sam.

"I am sorry Sam, we can't be together anymore. I need to focus on my studies. We are over" Andrew texted him pretending to be me.

"What are you talking about Ashley? You can't do this to me." He replied.

My brother didn't reply and just blocked his number from my phone. He was doing this while sitting next to me. He gave me an apologetic look.

"Go to your room Ash" My father said.

I just nodded, too hurt to say anything and slowly picked up my phone.

" Leave your phone on the table" He said and I quickly put it back on the table and ran upstairs. I locked my phone when I picked it up, so they won't be able to see his texts or call him. I will talk to him as soon as I get my phone back.