WITHOUT YOU

CHAPTER 5

I hear two people talking and laughing from the hallway and I quickly assume them to be Ari and Sara, and from their distinct voices, I can guess that one is a girl and the other one is a woman who is probably my mom’s age mate.

"Liz, we're back!" The girl shouts and I hear the creaking sound of the door as she opens mom's bedroom and then it slams shut the next second. "They are not here," she says and the disappointment in her voice is almost traceable.

"She is probably upstairs," the other woman tells her, and mom chuckles beside me.

"That's Sara and her niece Ari." She tells me, confirming my speculations, but I didn’t know they were a family.

So the girl is called Ari and the woman’s must Sara then.

"God, I am so eager to meet Emmy," the girl says and a smile pulls on my lips.

I didn't think anyone would be eager to meet me and it looks like I won't have a problem making another friend.

Well, making a friend, Jus is already out of the list. He is cool and all but I think mom is right, I should maintain a healthy relationship with the Andersons.

"They are both dying to meet you," Mom tells me and my smile broadens

"I want to meet them too," I say excitedly and she grins at me as she stands up.

"Let's go say hello then."

I smile when she helps me up and my heart swells as we walk out of the room hand in hand, I can’t believe that I finally have the chance to get close to my mom and I am planning to make the best out of it.

We head to the room that's right opposite hers and she knocks softly before pushing the door slightly open and then she peeks inside.

"Where is Emily?" The woman asks curiously. “Ari can’t wait to meet her.”

"She hasn't arrived yet." Mom lies and I suppress a giggle when Ari groans in disappointment.

"But I saw Jus' car in the parking lot," she says and mom chuckles as she opens the door for me and I step inside wearing a wide smile on my face, so eager to meet them both.

"Oh my God, Emmy!" The girl shrieks like a two-year-old and I am taken entirely by surprise when she engulfs me in a tight hug, almost suffocating me and I chuckle as I wrap my arms around her. "I was so eager to meet you." She tells me as she pulls away and she giggles when I sigh dramatically, and when I start to rub my neck, she cracks up completely.

“You chocked me.”

“Kinky, huh? I like it.” She says and we both break into laughter, earning strange suspicious looks from both mom and Sara.

"You and I are going to be best of friends," I say and the idea of having a BFF excites me, I can't help the smile.

See, I have never had an actual best friend and it seems like Ari and I just clicked.

“You bet.” She smiles at me and I smile right back and turn towards Sara who is standing next to Ari, watching us with a smile on her face.

"Please excuse my niece, she is crazy," Sara tells me, whispering the last part into my ear as she pulls me into a bear hug and I chuckle lightly. "I am Sara and this is-" She makes to introduce Ari but she beats her to it.

"Arielle, they call me Ari but I like Elle more."

“Elle, got it,” I say as I sit on the bed next to her and mom sits on the only chair in the room.

"You are so pretty, I can’t believe it," Elle tells me and I smile.

"Thank you, you are pretty too," I say and I mean it by the way.

She is very pretty, she has the most beautiful pair of blue eyes that I have ever seen, a long blonde hair that cascades over her shoulders in beautiful natural waves, and a gorgeous dimpled-round face. Judging from her physical appearance, I guess we are of the same age, but I am a few inches taller than her.

I shift my gaze towards Sara and there is no resemblance between them at all. Sara’s hair is black and it is styled in a short bob, she is big and shorter than Elle. The two seem very close thought.

"Your mom has told me a lot about you and I am so happy to finally meet you," Sara tells me as she sits next to me.

"It's nice to meet you two too," I say glancing between them, and they both smile at me.

"Did you buy some veggies? I forgot to include them in the list." Mom asks them and Sara nods. "We should start preparing dinner then."

Sara sighs as she stretches a little and then she stands up and I follow suit.

"You are going too?" Elle asks me and I nod while Sara shakes her head at me.

"Not you, sweetie, we got this." She tells me and I smile at her.

"It's okay, I want to help." I offer and she shakes her head.

“Give up already, they won’t let me help with the chores too,” Elle tells me and I look between mom and Sara wondering why they don't want our help, if anything they should be happy they have people to help around.

"We got this, girls," Sara says as she struts to the door.

"Mom, I want to help," I tell my mother and she smiles sweetly at me.

"You just got here, sweetie, go take a shower and Ari will show you around, okay." She tells as she follows Sara but she stops at the door and turns towards us. "Tell her about the rule, Ari." She smiles at Elle, and then she walks out.

"You guys have rules?" I ask with a raised eyebrow and she nods, laughing lightly.

"Just one though, don't mess around with the Andersons, especially the boys."

"Oh, okay. I can easily follow that," I say while I toss myself back on the bed.

“Can you though?” She asks, squinting her eyes at me and I nod confidently.

“Yeah, I can’t afford to mess any thing up.”

I wouldn’t even dare think of something that could cost me the opportunity that Mr. and Mrs. Anderson presented to me in a silver platter. I can’t mess up, especially not for some rich kids who obviously have billions in their trust funds plus I don't even think the boys would be in any way interested in us. We belong to two different classes.

"Have you seen the boys in question? f**k! They are mad hot." She says dreamily and I chuckle.

"I have only met Jus."

"And?"

"And?" I ask shrugging a shoulder nonchalantly.

"You don’t think he is hot?" I chuckle and stay quiet. “Come on, Emmy, you can be real with me.” She prods me and I give in.

"Okay, he is handsome but he is an Anderson."

She pouts and sighs heavily.

"Yeah, you are right. I should get him out of my mind."

"He has already crept in?"

"I can't help it, but I keep reminding myself that he is out of bounds."

"I totally understand you, Elle, Jus is mad hot." I say and smile to myself.

You can't fall for an Anderson, Emmy, they are totally out of bounds. My subconscious reminds me and I sigh.

The Andersons are out of bound!