Leena.
Three years later.
“Mom, that Scott boy keeps pestering me. I don’t like him,” my daughter Revna whined as my driver took her to school. It was her second week there, and she kept talking about some kid named Scott who wouldn’t leave her alone.
“It just means he likes you honey,” I tried to be patient, flipping through my schedule for the day.
Revna huffed, crossing her arms. She looked like a cute bunny, with her bright blue eyes. My best friend Genna…at least that’s who she told me she was, said she really looked like her father. But whenever I asked who her father was, she would smile apologetically and shut off.
I never understood it, but I was comfortable with my life enough to not care.
Now, I run my own company, a bakery, and I was a full time model too. My popularity has grown a lot over the years, especially since my accident two years ago. I can’t remember anything from before then, not even the accident itself. The doctors claimed my memory would return, but it just seemed like fragments and flashes.
It bothered me when it did, although it wasn’t the main of my problems.
“But I don’t like Scott. He’s too pretty and his mom looks like an evil witch,” Revna went on, frowning and pouting aggressively.
I sighed. “Okay, how about I speak to his mom for you? He’ll leave you alone after that, okay?”
She nodded and smiled finally, focusing on the road. I checked the time and looked around, hoping that I could squeeze in a few minutes to have this meeting. Revna could be very demanding at times.
When we got to the school, I wrapped my scarf around my head and limped out of the car, holding Revna’s tiny hand. I spotted her teacher, Mrs Rose, standing at the entrance, monitoring the students go in for the day. She beamed when she saw me, and Revna squealed in excitement, running towards her.
“Miss Kensington, what a lovely morning. It's a good thing you decided to stop by today,” she said, scooping Revna into her arms.
I nodded and smiled politely. “Well, it's for a reason actually. Revna’s been complaining about a certain Scott in her class?” I tried to sound as casual as possible. “Could I have an audience with his parents at least before they start the day? I know it's just normal children’s play, but Revna keeps making a fuss about it,” I whispered so that Revna wouldn’t hear.
Mrs Rose smiled weakly and nodded, pointing towards the parking lot. “Well, that's him and his father coming our way now.”
Revna gasped and began tugging at my shirt, pointing in the same direction. I turned around.
Well enough, a small boy in a blue backpack trudged along the walkway, holding hands with a man I assumed was the father.
For some reason, my breath caught when I took his frame in. A light stubble on his sculpted jawline, dark blue eyes, six foot two(if I wasn't mistaken), and a tattoo peeking out of the rolled up sleeves of his white shirt. His eyes were intense and cloudy, like someone who barely opened himself to the outside world. I shifted uncomfortably where I stood.
The little boy beside him was an exact replica of him, although he was smiling brightly and already waving towards a very annoyed looking Revna.
“Revna!” The little boy squealed.
“Mom, please take him away,” Revna said harshly, clinging to her teacher.
I sighed and took the little boy’s hand, crouching down to his level. “Hi Scott.”
He turned his eyes to me, staring with curiosity. “I'm Revna’s mom.”
He blushed instantly, catching me off guard. “You’re really pretty, just like her,” he said in his tiny voice. I laughed awkwardly, looking up at Mrs Rose, but she just nodded and took Revna inside.
“Why don’t we talk about that for a sec, okay?” I said, ruffling his hair playfully.
“Talk about what?” A deep voice boomed from above me. I froze, slowly rising to my feet. When I looked up, I felt my breath catch.
Stormy blue eyes, a strangely intoxicating scent, and an overall aura of confidence that threw me off all my guards. I didn't understand why, but my heart started to pound painfully, and I could hear blood rush to my ears.
I buckled up and stretched out my hands. “Hi, I’m Miss Kensington. I’m the mother of your son’s classmate, Revna.”
He stared at me for a bit, his lips parted slightly as a muscle in his temple worked. He had an obviously confused expression, but his eyes dropped to my hands and he shook them firmly. “I’m…George.”
I nodded slowly, a bit uncomfortable with his tone. Everything in my head was screaming for me to leave his presence, but I promised Revna already. “Okay, let's make this quick. I need you to talk to your son about women.”
He blinked at me, and I instantly realized how raw I sounded. “Oh–no no, not like that. I meant I need you to talk to him so he stops pestering my daughter. It’s obvious that he likes her, but his method of approach is not what she likes. You know how kids can be.”
He hummed in response, still staring at me with a blank expression.
“Are you listening at all?” I waved a hand in front of him.
Just then, a shrill voice called from behind him. “Honey! I think Scott left his lunch in the car!”
I saw him wince, and the curious expression on his face shifted to one of exhaustion and annoyance. I glanced behind him and saw a tall, slender woman, dressed in a bright red dress and loud makeup. A scarf on her head, glasses, stillettos, and a gold purse. She looked a bit too…overdressed for an early morning drop off. From the way she was aggressively glaring at me, I understood she was his wife.
I shoved away the thoughts of how such a loud woman could be married to this man and took a big step back.
I waited until she caught up to us, and that was when I realized that little Scott was still standing beside us, looking up expectantly.
She wrapped her arm around his and shot me a disgusted glance. “Honey, who is this?”