The Bully's Princess

CHAPTER TWO

Peter Blythe wanted just one thing in life, and that was unconditional love from someone, anyone. It does not matter who gave it as long as he got it. His father was definitely not going to be the one to supply him with the kind of love he wanted. His mother left him when he was four, she hated the fact that she had to live on a low income, and her husband was not ready to change jobs. He was satisfied with his job, at the factory. Peter sighed as he walked past him, lying in a stupor on the living room floor. It was a personal habit of his father to drink himself to oblivion every day.

“pa, get up” He shouted. However, his father only snored louder rolling to his side. The hard floor pressed into his sides, His body was certainly going to ache when he awoke.

Peter groaned and left him alone. He was not surprised his mother had left, he only wished she had left with him.

Crossing over to the kitchen, He opened the small old fridge making a lot of noise at the corner. It was so rusty; it only ever worked when there was light in it. There was a time his father forgot to pay the light bill, and the contents of the fridge were spoilt overnight before they could pay.

Groaning deeper in frustration, there was no provision left in the fridge. Just some banana bunch that was fast getting overripe. Peter groaned in defeat. There was no way he was going to sleep without eating again.

Furious, he went around the house searching every nook and cranny. He knew his father’s hideout places for his money. He searched his jeans, underneath his closet. There was no single penny.

He walked over to him and shook him violently

“Pa”

But there was no response just a drunk dead old man. Sighing in defeat, he got up and walked back to his father’s closet. He ransacked it for anything of worth he could lay his hands on. There was none. His father had sold them all to keep up with his drinking expenses.

“dammit” Left with no other option. Peter took his coat and wore it. He knew his usual joint where he could get easy food, all he had to do was listen to an old woman nag about his lifestyle and bad manners. But he was sure of having a healthy meal, her only perk was her attempt to mother him. He was about to enter her apartment earlier when Richie, the barman had given him a call about his father.

Opening his apartment door, he came face to face with the woman on the elevator earlier. He cursed under his breath. Mrs Smug lives right on his floor. s**t.

He gave her a brief glance and he saw she was shocked as well, that’s a good thing. She had definitely tagged him as a bad kid so he was sure she would keep away and hopefully her kid too. The girl had been too awestruck by him; she would only be trouble later

She stood looking at him as he left. He offered her no greetings; he only covered his head with his hoodie and walked down to the lift.

He had better things to concern himself with than how a smug parent viewed him. Stopping on the third floor, Peter went straight to Granny Jane’s apartment.

Granny Jane was an old woman in her late sixties. She lived alone and had a housekeeper, Miss Rita who comes in every day to keep her apartment clean and leaves. The woman does her cooking herself, she had been a chef in one of the city's fine restaurants. But she quit after the death of her husband and just lives writing cooking books and recipes.

Knocking on the door tentatively. She opened the door almost immediately

“Come on in, I was expecting you. You left in such a hurry earlier. I knew you were at the door. I guess that father of yours is in trouble again” She said, her mouth moving swiftly, one thing about Granny Jane was she knew just how to nag and was very blunt with her words regardless of whom she was talking to. He had been under her fire several times, so he was used to her sharp mouth.

“He is just having a rough time, that’s all. “ Peter muttered softly, his attention drawn away by the sweet fragrance in the air. Fresh pies were being baked, he swallowed in anticipation of the fine meal he was going to have soon.

“What rough time is he having? Are not all bothered by the struggle? Must he be so irresponsible with his drinking habits?” She alleged as she walked to her kitchen slowly. Peter followed her swiftly. For an old woman, she did have a good sense of hearing

“His work has been rough lately.” Peter muffled in between pies he was stuffing into his mouth.

“You eat that gently, you don’t want to go choking on me. You are the only friend I have in this building.” She muttered bringing out more pies from the oven.

At her statement, Peter felt stricken with a pang of guilt ”You know I only come here for the food” he said somberly.

“And I don’t mind hosting you. It gives me pleasure to cook all of this food for people who really need it.”

Peter nodded absentmindedly. His curiosity soon increased as he saw her bring out more pies from her oven

“Who’s all this food for? Cause I know Miss Rita isn’t coming in today?” Peter asked perplexed.

She ignored him and began arranging the pies in a colourful bowl. Her actions were so deliberate, that Peter laughed.

“Gran. “

“Gran”

“You go eat your pie in peace and leave me alone.” She urged him, using the napkin to tie a bow on the bowl.

“You are not preparing this for the new residents in the building right? Forget it. She won’t appreciate it. I doubt if she will even collect it from you” Peter scoffed as he arranged his own package.

“Not everyone is as unfriendly as you and your father Peter. That man did a bad job raising you. I blame your ma though, she should have taken you with her.”

That shut Peter up, that was Granny Jane for you. She never filters her words, though he knew she loved him, it could be felt as she continued her never ending preaching of love

“People are not that hateful, they are new to the building and we ought to welcome them properly. And you are going to help me go drop this at their apartment.”

“Hell no,” He said without thinking.

‘No cussing in my house, young man” Granny Jane emphasized with a stern look. He kept his mouth shut and walked out of her kitchen with his package in hand.

“I will not be helping you deliver them, Granny. I don’t like them. They don’t like me when I first saw them and I don’t like them either, and I won't be nice to them for your sake”

“No one that meets you, likes you even after knowing you for a long time. The other parents think you are a bad influence on their kids and only God knows how wrong they are. You are the sweetest human I have ever come across. My very own personal helpmate. Surely, you will help Granny deliver this and do your part to get their name alright.” She said sweetly, tapping him on the back. She placed the wrapped bowl in front of him and took her seat.

She gestured for the remote control. Peter rose up to hand it over to her. The nosy woman knew just how to wrap him around her fingers. His food for the next hundred days of life was at stake if he refused, so he agreed.

Peter stood up with both packages in his hands and went out the door.

“Say it’s from me.” She called after him. He had half a mind to tell her he would say he picked it from the trashcan but he kept his mouth shut. Granny Jane was having health issues lately it will not do his diet good to fast track her health problems. Because she was sure to make angry outbursts.

So, he went. After ringing the door for a long time, Peter was already half smiling in his mind. If they refused to answer the door, he would gladly keep the pie for tomorrow’s breakfast.

He was about to turn away from the door when the door was abruptly opened. A man in his middle age opened the door, he was averagely tall with a lanky frame, and He looked mightily stressed.

“Hi, how may I help you?” He asked politely

“uhm…..uhm.. Granny Jane sent….” He paused as he heard the voice of the smug woman indoors

‘Honey, whose there?”

“It's our neighbour I think”

“Then invite the person in.” She called. Peter chuckled; she had no idea who was at the door definitely. Her husband was not keen on letting him in either due to his outwards appearance. His clothes were not so clean, and neither were they new. He must be sporting a few rough edges.

“Okay,” he called. Peter could hear the uncertainty in his voice.

He entered anyway, it was not the first time he would be having such unkind reactions from people. The apartment was scattered with boxes and new appliances. The man coughed when he saw Peter’s perusal of the room.

Peter blinked, calling himself to order. He stated his mission without much ado.

It was then a smile came on the man’s face. He extended his hands to collect the bowl.

“Marilyn, come see this.”

Peter hitched his breath, things were about to go downhill.

The sound of footsteps could be heard, Marilyn of course, Mrs Smug, her shocked look was clear on her face. Peter gave her the weirdest smile in return. He was not one to back down. Granny Jane simply picked the wrong person to deliver her goodwill package.

“Oh oh, “ she muttered.

“What is your name?” The man extended his hand for a handshake seeing his wife’s disrespectful stare.

“Peter, Peter Blythe.” He said shaking the man’s hand.

A sound of feet could be heard running to the living room, wide soft eyes stayed glued on his person. Her feet were bare, with sweaters more oversized than hers draped around her. Her pale beautiful face stared at him. Marilyn noticed the change on her daughter’s face

“Come on Dahlia, you will catch a cold” she cooed softly

Peter sneered; the girl was so tightly wrapped, he was sure she was sweating tons underneath all the sweaters.

Marilyn gave him a pointed look. He returned her stare without blinking. She was over-mothering the girl into a stupor. Their daughter should be sixteen. Yet, she was being pampered to a fault. He smiled at the anticipation of meeting her in school. He knew for sure, that she was set to be on the island of bullying. Edron was a tough school, not for the soft-hearted at all.

“Thank you very much for your assistance. Do tell Granny Jane, we will pay her a visit soon” The husband said cautiously

“Well, she asks me to get your name,” Peter said curtly. Shifting from one foot to the other. He could still feel Dahlia’s gaze on his person. They had better keep their daughter under a tight leash.

“Mr Richard Golden and Mrs Marilyn Golden. “ Marilyn answered equally curtly, The tension in the atmosphere was rising gradually. Peter noted she failed to introduce their daughter and just to provoke them further. He waved to the girl as he left.

He was sure he was having bad looks as he left their house. This would be the last time, he was doing Granny Jane any favours of delivering goods.

And he hoped to meet Dahlia in school on his own turf. Maybe they did not know that their extreme protectiveness of their daughter only ended in their home. Life was not sweet and rosy, he would teach her all the things, her parents failed to teach her.

he hoped that they were in the same class. He would gladly keep an eye out for their daughter.