Her Protector

Adalines Home

Not really wanting to hear what's happening just down the hall I change into some leggings, a tank top, and loose sweater that hangs off my shoulders and grab my ear buds making my way to the backyard. It's to cold to swim but the area around the pool has good space for dance practice. I connect the buds to my phone & press play on the hip hop medley I'll be doing my solo for finals to. I'm really excited about this one as I've choreographed it myself. I don't realize I have an audience until I do a spin and faceplant right into the warm flesh wall that is Johnathans chest. Gosh he smells good, like roasted marshmallows over a campfire. Sweet but masculine, he makes my mouth water. I raise my head to aplogoize but am distracted by his luscious lips that are mere inches from my own. I imagine what it would be like to really kiss him and be kissed back, unlike my stolen kiss months ago, and my breathe hitches. I force my eyes to move up and find him staring back at me, he looks conflicted, I wonder why. "S..sss..sorry Johnathan" I manage to stutter out nervously, what is wrong with me. "It's okay kiddo, I kinda caught you off guard, but what are you doing here? We were driving up to get you in a few days" "I know" I say. "But we finished up early and I missed y'all, I thought it would be fun to surprise my two favorite guys and get myself home early" He smiles, "That's sweet, but you really shouldn't have, it's not safe to travel alone, especially at your age" I roll my eyes at him and he lifts my chin "None of that" he says and for some reason my cheeks flush. He notices and releases me "Glad you're home kiddo, I gotta run some errands but I'll see you later, and don't worry, I won't spoil the surprise for Joseph" he gives me a wink as he walks away.

My smile fades as I watch him round the corner and my eyes land on the devious ones from earlier staring at me and right next to them the all to well known hateful glare of my mothers. So I do what I do best and plaster on a fake smile "Mother! You're home, I was hopeing to surprise everyone by coming home early" I say making my way towards her and giving her a very loose hug, you know the kind you give someone you don't want to be around but you want to keep the peace so you play nice. "Well it's definitely a surprise" she replies with venom lacing her words. Remembering she has company she claps her hands together and puts on her own fake smile. "Since you're home would you like to join us for lunch, this is my new personal trainer Ryan" I glance at the man, he's probably about 5'5 standing only a few inches taller than me, all muscles, chiseled jaw, squinty brown eyes, and chocolate brown hair shaved at the sides almost military style. I know she doesn't actually want me to join she's doing what she always and pretending to give a damn in front of an audience. "Oh no thank you mother, I'm actually quite busy working on my solo piece for dance class and I was planning on cooking dinner for everyone later as part of the surprise" not that she needed me to explain, her eyes lit up the second I said no. "Well you have fun with that, I already had plans with the girls tonight so I won't be here, see you later darling" and with that they walk away. Mr. Devious stealing a few more glances at me. ::shudder::

I spend the next few hours just kind of hanging out and preparing dinner, with a little help from our maid Maria before she leaves for the day. We talk about her family, my school, I find myself imagining if she was my mom. She seems to really adore her kids. I wish I had that, my mother only looks at me with hate. We prepare a lasagna, garlic bread, and side salad. Looking at the clock I realize I have about an hour before everyone gets home so I set the oven to keep the lasagna warm and rush upstairs to shower and change for dinner. I come back downstairs to see that Maria set the table up for me before she left. She's seriously so sweet, I love her. I've just set the bread & salad bowls on the table when I go to grab the lasagna and hear the garage door opening and on cue Johnathan comes in through the back door and winks at me as he makes a motion that his lips are zipped as he walks into the dining room. I follow behind, luckily I'm small enough Joseph doesn't see me yet when he comes inside. "Hello brother" Johnathan says I can just imagine the secretive grin on his face. "We have a special treat for dinner" he continues as he steps to the side revealing me standing behind him lasagna in hand. Joseph looks so tired and a little older than normal but his eyes light up when he realizes its me standing here. Johnathan quickly grabs the lasagna from as Joseph moves to scoop me up in a big hug and lands a gentle kiss on the top ofy head. "Hey sweetheart, what are you doing home? How did you get here? When did you get here?" I giggle hugging him back "That's a lot of questions dad" yes I call him dad now, it started about a month ago, it just felt right and when I asked if he minded he was ecstatic. Mother was not so pleased. "Come on" I say "Maria helped me make a lasagna for dinner, let's eat and I'll tell you all about it, mother said she won't be joining us" His eyes go dark. "I know, let's eat, it smells delicious"