Hidden Secret

Chapter Four: Manya

instead of looking at me, he is looking straight ahead. He kind of looks intimidating like this but I don't release his arm. I'm to scared. We walk along the airway, while the crew is unloading Mike and Ace's cars. "So who do you want to ride with me or Ace?" Mike says this and looks at Ace. I almost didn't catch him wink at Ace. A sign that I wasn't crazy and he did wink though, is Ace's face turned bright red. I giggle to myself because it is funny seeing, a big guy like him blush. Just to make matters worse though I decide to ride with Ace, maybe I can tell him about my dream. "Can I ride with Ace? I really like his car." I look up at Mike and let go of his arm finally. "What and you don't like mine?" He holds his hand over his heart and starts stumbling around acting like he is wounded. "Stop it silly, I just have a strange love for corvettes." I playfully slap his arm and he stops and we all laugh. "Well, if you're riding with me let's get going. I want to stop by my house, and see my family." I look at him, this was the first time Ace had ever raised his voice at me. Even though I had only really known him for two days. But I mean damn I don't really know him at all.

The ride is silent, until Ace turns on the radio. A song comes on and I can't understand the words, but I like the beat. "Do you know this song?" Ace breaks the silence. "No, I don't remember how to speak Russian, but I do like the beat." "Oh, I forgot." "Yeah." And the silence continues. "So...you have a little sister?"  "Yes, she is Anna's age actually." "Really?! That's so cool..I miss Anna, already." I tuck my head down and look at my shoes. "It will get easier, you can alway write her letters, but", He looks at me real quick then back at the road, "If you want someone to watch her you better not ask me! I'm on vacation for the rest of my life." He says this and I have to laugh."For the rest of your life huh?" He nods and has a huge smile on his face. "So that means we can't hang out? Since I mean you watching and talking to me was bussiness." I look back down. I'm not sure why, but I feel a strange draw towards him, hell I feel more comfortable with him than my own brother! What is wrong with me? "Hey, talking to you was never bussiness, just watching you was. So yes we can hang out, who else is going to show you around town?" He has a smug grin on his face, and I can't help but smile also.

"ACEY!" As soon as we open the door to Ace's huge house I hear little footsteps running towards us. "Hey cutie!" Ace meets his little sister half way and picks her up and swings her around in a circle. It makes me miss Anna so much but I try and keep a smile on my face. "Who is it Brit-. ACE?! Oh my goodness!" An older woman runs from the kitchen and wraps her arms around him and his little sister. I’m guessing it’s his mom, she looks to old to be a girlfriend. I stand here awkwardly not sure what to do while they are all having a family moment. Out of nowhere I feel the need to goto the car and leave them alone, I’m the reason that they haven't been able to see him. I turn to walk out the door but I get stopped. "Wait Manya, this is my mother Isabella, and my little sister Brittany." His mother lets go of him and looks me up and down. "You look just like your mother, oh my goodness." Then she is coming at me and wraps me in a hug. I'm not to sure what to do, since Miss.R never really gave me hugs. I just stand there why she does this. "I'm sorry dear I know you're not used to a lot of affection." She kind of blushes. "Oh, no it's okay the lady I was living with wasn't very affectionate but I did have a little sister so I'm kind of used to hugs." I laugh and she smiles. "Hey Brittany are you going to give Manya a hug?" Ace is looking at Brittany, but she just looks scared of me. This upsets me a little but I know how it feels to meet new people, but just as soon as I think she is going to run away screaming she pounces. "Hmph" Is the only sound I make as I hit the ground. Brittany has me wrapped in a hug and is squealing with joy. Weird. "Brittany Lee-ann!" She stands up really quickly. "Sorry Momma." She cast her eyes down at the floor. "She's okay it was just unexpected." Her mother shoots her a glance and Brittany leaves the room.

"It was really nice to meet you Isabella, and you too Brittany." I reach down and tickle her stomach. They hug Ace again. "Hey I will be back tomorrow, me and Manya both. I'm going to be showing Manya the town, so maybe mom you can cook some steaks for lunch?" His eyes light up and my mouth drops. "Anything for my baby boy." She kisses his cheek and we go to get in his car. When he shuts his door I turn and look at him. "Steak?! Are you crazy? That's expensive!" "Not around here, it's free." I look at him with a puzzled face. "What?" He looks at me real quick, then back at the road. "Your brother owns a cattle farm, and a packing house." "Oh," I giggle awkwardly. "What doesn't my brother own?" I ask just joking. Ace's face turns serious, and he looks at me. I look back at him. questionably. "What?"  Ace looks back at the road. "He doesn't own you.." He trails off. I look at him, "You're right..he doesn't." I look down the road, not wanting to meet his gaze. "You're right", He cleares his throat,"Uh come on I better get you to your new home." 

"Are you sure this is my new home..?" Ace laughs. "Yes, I’m sure, I’ve been coming here since I was 9 years old." "Oh, it's just so..large." "You lived in a large house while you was in the states." "Yes, but it wasn't this big." He laughs. We walk up the steps and I stop at the door. It has one of the old time knockers on it, and it is shaped as a wolf. "Well, go on, go in, it's getting’ cold standing here watching you look at a door." "Oh, sorry." I push open the door and I have to try and remember how the breath. As soon as I walked in I was greeted by white pearl floors, shining and gleaming. Then two staircases one on either side going up to the second floor which had railing all the way around so you could see over into the main floor. I look around in disbelief. It's beautiful. "Miss.King it's good to finally have you here. We have heard a lot about you." A beautiful older woman walks up to me. "Please call me Manya, and it is nice to meet you too." She smiles. "I am going to be your maid, if you need anything you let me know, and if you ever need to talk about anything I'm here, just in case you don't wanna talk to those stinky boys." I laugh and look at Ace who is smiling at me. 

All of a sudden a strange smell hits me. "What is that?" I sniff the air, "It smells like smoke." "Oh boy" The lady looks at Ace and says. "Ace go help Michael, smells like he is burning dinner, I'll take Miss.Ma- or uh Manya up to her room." "Okay, I'll see you soon." Ace places his hand on my back as he walks away and a wave of what feels like electricity moves through me. "Okay." I whisper. "Follow me." The lady takes off walking and goes up the steps. She walks so fast it's hard for me to keep up. "My name is Rosa." She says. "You look just like your mother...We were best friends, your mother, Isabella, and I. I miss your mother a lot, I just want you to know." I look at her. I don't know what to say back to her. "This is your room here." She stops at a set of two large oak doors. I look at her. "Well are you going to open them? I want to see what you think. I designed it." Rosa has a large smile on her face. I smile back. I Open the doors and I'm shocked. The room is huge, it has a large couch, and loveseat, with the largest tv I have ever seen. There is a desk over in the corner with all my favorite books stacked on it. "This is amazing." I say in aww. "I'm glad you like it. I hope you don't mind, I unpacked your things for you. I figured you would be tired, once you got here." I don't mind and thank you so much that's too kind, I'm used to doing all my own stuff so this is something I'm going to have to get used to..people helping me and all." "Well honey you haven't even see your bedroom yet!" "Oh, this isn't it? I figured the couch pulled out into a bed or something." This made Rosa laugh. "Okay, so your bathroom is over there, and this door-" She walks over to a door that has light shining out from under it, "Is your bedroom." She swings the old door open and what I see inside I can't even comprehend. The largest bed I had ever seen, it had grey drapes laying over it making it look like something out of a movie. There was also another larger tv, and two glass doors leading to a balcony, which overlooked a beautiful garden. The walls were painted multicolored, with the top and bottom being grey and the middle being white. "It's Beautiful.." I couldn't say much more because I was on the verge of tears." "Your brother picked out the colors said you always wanted a grey and white room.." I looked at her, and I couldn't stop the tears from spilling over. "Hey, hey now come here." Rosa walks over and wraps me in a hug. "It's okay." "I'm not sad though," I say as I pull away from the hug. "I'm just so happy, I had thought my brother had forgot about me, I never thought he would come back one day and bring me back to Russia." "Honey he never forgot about you." She looks at me with this sad light in her eyes, like she lost someone who felt the same about her. "But let's get off this sad topic, let's find you something comfy for dinner." I smile at her, "I'm not sure why but I feel like we are going to be best friends." "I sure hope so," She smiles at me. "Soooo," She wiggles her eyebrows at me. "Soooo, What?" "You think Ace is cuuuuute!" She starts laughing and I blush. "Uh." "It's okay! He thinks you're cute to! If he didn't I don't think he would of watched over you for so long!" "Wait he said that Mike made him." I look at her confused as she is going through my drawers looking for some sweatpants. "Your brother did, for the first three months, it was supposed to be just for him to check up on you, but Ace said he wanted to stay and watch you, he didn't want to leave you." Rosa looks at me and wiggles her eyebrows again. I laugh this time. "I think you may be crazy!" I say laughing. "Found them!" She says throwing a shirt and the pants at me, "Now go shower you stink!" I laugh and smell myself as she pushes me into the bathroom. She closes the door after she pushes me into the room. "When you're done just come downstairs someone will be waiting to show you to the dining room!" "Okay!"

30 minutes later I'm drying off and combing my hair. Once I get dressed I walk down stairs and Ace was waiting for me. I feel like Rosa planned this but I don't say anything, I just giggle to myself. "What's so funny?" Ace asked with a smirk on his face. "Nothing you need to worry about." I say laughing still. "Sure." I look up at him and his hair's a mess. It looks like he just got out of the shower and ran a hand through it. He looks at me with those crystal blue eyes and I have to look away or I’m scared I’ll say something stupid. "Do you like your room?" I perk up at talk of my room."Yes! I love it! I can't believe you guys did all that for me." He just kind of grins and looks down. I think about it for a minute but then I turn and grab him in a hug. My body buzzes wherever his body meets mine. The electrical charge is back and it feels weird but good. Finally he wraps his arms around me also, although it seems like it took him forever I'm sure it was only a couple seconds. "Thank you," I say. "You're welcome," He says and it feels like he pulls me closer. I finally go to let go of him but he hangs on just a little bit longer. When he finally lets go he blushes a little. "Well, we, uh, better get heading or they are going to wonder where we went." He blushes again and so do I. 

The walk to the dining room was silent. We walk up to these large doors. "I'm sorry." I whisper before we walk in. "You have nothing to be sorry for." He says as he opens the door. There is my brother sitting at a huge table and he is at the head. "Manya! You can sit by me!" He says patting the seat next to him. Me and Ace both laugh a little and start walking towards him. "I tried to cook dinner to make it special, but I'm not very good at cooking, so I burned it. But! Ace rescued me, because for some odd reason he can cook," Mike looks down and scratches his head. "Maybe I should take lessons." He looks like he is actually considering it. This makes me laugh again. Ace takes a seat next to Mike on the other side of the table. "So tell me what you think of your room?" Mike asked as he grabbed a spoon full of some kind of food. "I love it! It's amazing, you guys didn't have to do that for me." Mike grins from ear to ear. "I was scared you wouldn't like it." "Well you shouldn't of." Mike offers me the spoon for the unknown dish but I shake my head and go for the fried chicken and mashed potatoes. As we eat we all just talk about life and what all we have done, I didn't have much to say, but Mikey and Ace had tons of stories, from the trouble they got into, to the plan to get me back. It reminds me of what an actual family diner would be like. Yes with Mrs.R we sat and ate together but no one spoke. Mike interrupts my train of thought though. "So I hear Ace is going to show you around town tomorrow eh?" I look at Ace for confirmation. "Thats right, then my mom is cooking lunch for us. Is that alright?" "I don't care, I have meetings all day anyway so at least someone can keep her company." Mike says around a mouth full of food. This made Ace blush though.