Hand to Hold

Chapter 10

I was grateful for I was given the chance to have them as my family that is a mother who gave the perfect advice, a father who taught me cooking and the friends whose best interests were coincided with mine.

Just they weren’t as fortunate as me to have me.

.

.

Forcing my eyes open, the dried stretching skin was left from the salted solution last night. I pushed myself up and remained seated for a while to get control of my body before making my way to the bathroom.

I followed through the daily morning rituals and dressing in a comfortable pair of oversized sweatshirt and leggings moved to the study table to pass some time until the time for brunch, a preserved Sunday tradition of Verona household.

Reading from where I left it the night prior the phrases were finally coherent. Time flew by as I solved questions from the fat workbook.

When I finally kept my pen down it was to let go of a confusing question. Glancing up my gaze fell on the table clock, it was quarter past nine... The cook must have arrived and prepared something by now.

Getting up I walked downstairs to the dining room attached to Kitchen. There Aunt May, Blake, and Mary (Blake's nanny) were already digging in whatever the chef of Aunt May cooked. I joined them and Aunt May welcomed me with a smile.

Mary nodded whereas Blake broke into grin expressing his felicity. He was not the only one with all the affection since we never crossed path with each other even after living under the same roof.

It was hard for us to catch each-others, either I was concentrated on something or he was playing with Sally.

Halfway to the Breakfast and apart Blake's stories from nursery school, Aunt May was silent.

A hope ignited inside me... Maybe, just maybe she was letting me off the hook or even if it was for just then it was fine, I didn't wish to answer that the person who answered my phone was Crown Prince of our motherland.

"Belle."

As Blake ended on the rant about how delicious Sally's Mom's biscuits were, Aunt May called me and I turned to face her.

She was offering me her half-smirking smile with glinting and I knew I hurried in interpreting her silence, how could she let go of juicy gossip?

Not exaggerating, Aunt May knew Ruby, Nat, Lara better than me and it could be credited to her protectiveness over me and the fact that she was a better friend for people my age than me.

She kept the spoon down and fixated her eyes on me, "So... I know you know I want to know about your sleepover without prior information."

I averted my gaze to the table, "I was buzzed, and then passed out. My last conversation was with that boy. I suppose he took care of me, while I was asleep. And when you called, answered the phone since I wasn't in the state to do so."

Aunt May raised her left brow, “Well, who is the boy in question?”

Sighing, I shut my eyes tightly, “Ash Royale.”

“Is he a friend of yours?”

I opened my eyes and turned to answer my sibling’s innocent question with a tight-lipped smile, “Sort of, we are only badge-mates for the most part.”

I wasn’t explaining it to him, though disbelief was staring me from the lady’s eyes I was hoping to explain. She was smiling in a queer manner with her gaze still over me.

Unlike her, the lady took more time than usual before narrowing her eyes at me, "You drank?"

I shook my head, "No. The new night medicine that Ms Case prescribed has a strong drowsy effect. I am unable to hold it. And I was high because of it."

Aunt May nodded and resisted the smile for a bit but then broke into a grin, "So, do you remember what your drunk self talked to Crown Prince?"

Then glanced at Blake and shook her head, "Actually don't answer it. Blake is here and we don't know if things you talked about were filtered enough to reach Blake's ears."

“I was upset because my wicked Aunt sent me there on such a sorrowful occasion and when he came to know about it, he simply consoled me and then I passed out.”

I said it all while glaring at the wicked Aunt with the mind that needed to be cleansed. She merely laughed, and Blake furrowed his brows glancing between his Aunt, his sister and his nanny.

Continuing with her questions, she tried getting gossips about my life but I chose to focus on food instead of answering her. After I finished the food on my plate Aunt May lightly shook her head, "It is so hard getting something out of your mouth..."

Then took a deep breath, "I will ask Case about medicine but I am sure she will most likely call you and converse directly over the side effects."

I nodded gratefully and getting up walked to the exit when a loud voice caused me to stop and spin about.

"SISSY!"

Blake.

Running over to me, he stood in front of me and looked up to match my eye-level. He breathed from his mouth, attempting to suck in as much oxygen as he could in his tiny lungs.

I knelt and kept my hands on his shoulder taking in his upset eyes. He puffed up his cheeks, "I am angry with you. So, so, so, angry that I don’t talk to you... but I am talking to you. But I will have to talk to you to warn you..."

He pondered for a bit, and then added innocently, "Sissy, I am not talking to you, okay."

I shook my head, "Not until you tell me what is wrong."

His face fell and he pouted, "You never play with me. You are always, always, always busy. Mary stops me because you are... BUSY!"

"But Blake I told you, your sister has exams from tomorrow. She can't play with you today." Mary explained patiently, while she appeared beside the toddler from the thin air. Her eyes were soft and sympathetic as a matching smile rested her lips.

"No! I... Sissy... Never..." I turned my attention back to Blake at his voice. Tears glistened in his eyes and I sighed internally. Poor baby, he was upset because he was unable to spend any time with his 'always busy' sister

I forgot being his sister to him.

He was in a mess thanks to me. And now he was also lonely in the house thanks to me. I did have a hectic high school, but Aunt May was a professional interior designer who works six days a week and she still made time for us.

I wasn't able to become a good daughter. I sucked as a niece. I didn’t know the majority of the things about my current friends... And I thought we already established, as a lover I caused quite a destruction. The least I could do was to be a sister.

Giving in, I smiled in the most cheerful manner possible, "Okay Blake, I will stick with you today."

His cheeks stretched from grinning and two cute dimples showed up. This toddler was such a dramatic being that...

"I love you." He exclaimed and kissed my right cheek. I reciprocated by kissing his both the cheeks.