Chapter 2

After the detention, I quickly ran to catch Zander. He was sitting on his bike. I rejoiced thinking that he might be waiting for me. I ran towards him.

“ Thanks for waiting for me.” I tried to sit behind him but he stopped me. 

“ Don’t. I am not waiting for you.” He looked at me frowning. 

I snorted. 

“ Then who are you waiting for?” I asked him. Because I know there is nobody he gives his time of day. 

“ Me.” I turned and saw Daisy standing with a meek smile. 

She is a sophomore. What is she doing with a senior I don’t get it?

I raised my eyebrows at Zander who only frowned deeper. 

“ So you would happily take some Sophomore with you but not me?” 

“ I can go on my own.” Daisy whispers behind me. My gut was instantly filled with guilt. As I know she is a very sweet and innocent girl. There is not a single mean bone in her body.  

“ Shut up and sit on the bike. She can stand here all day. Hell if I care.” Zander growled and I took a step back. It's not the first time he has shouted at me, but it's the first time he means it. I fisted my hands. 

Doubts clouded my mind and I raise my head to catch a little glimpse of his face. But I only get to see his back. 

I smiled at Daisy who only nodded in return. I ran towards the bus stop and missed the bus by a second. The next bus is scheduled for thirty minutes later. I could wait for it or I could call somebody. But I don’t like disturbing someone so I tried to call a cab but I didn’t get any response. 

A car stopped in front of me and he lower his window,

“ Get inside.” He grunts 

“ And why would I do that?” I raises my brow at him in question. 

“ You can always choose a hard way.” Adrian looks at me like I am dirt under his shoe. 

“ Like I can always choose to break your fucking nose.” 

He exists his car with a slam, and his tailor crafted suit gleams in the broad daylight. His black hairs are sleek and perfectly made. He narrows his raven eyes at me and gave me his perfectly practiced look.

I know all this very well, he does this to intimidate me. I was not scared of him when I was eleven and I am still not scared of him.

“ Hard way it is.” he informs me. 

He is an idiot if he thinks that I will go anywhere with him.

“ I was just wondering, how soft your lips felt against mine. Velvet smooth and a little hint of cheery in it. The small sounds you make while losing control and how your body felt against mine.” with every word he takes a step. 

Whatever he is telling me, I don’t have any memory of it, except the small flashback. I was drunk and sad and he probably was there. 

“ So keep on wondering. It was a one-time deal.” I shove him back when he tries to enter my personal space. 

He grabs my wrist and whispers in my ear. 

“ That’s what you think.” He hauls me up in his arms and I yelp in surprise. 

I take a swing at him but he makes a smart move and dodges it. 

He buckles me in the passenger seat and quickly steals a kiss. I pushes him away. 

“ My fee for dropping you home.” he smirks at me and slams the door. 

The whole back to the house I was wondering why Zander took Daisy and not me? Why does he act so bitter towards me? It's not like he is some saint, but can be a decent person when he wants to. I know him, ever since I have known my dads. 

___________________________________________________

Dad Mave was waiting for me when I arrived and I hugged him. 

“ My princess. What took you so long?” he asked me. He is Six foot five inches taller and I am only five-two. But we share the same red hairs and freckles on our noses. He is bulky like a mountain and his body is painted with gigantic tattoos. My favorite among them is me. 

Yes, you heard correct he has tattooed ten years old Daphne on his back.  

“ Ahh.” I groaned and continued.

“ I got detention for being late.” 

“ Why don’t you take your car?” I followed him to the kitchen.

“ Because I am scared, Dad. I don’t want to get into an accident.” 

He swatted my hands from the refrigerator. 

“ Believe in yourself. Tomorrow I will drop you at school but you have to rely on yourself.” 

I nodded like a bobblehead and he gave me his version of energy drink.

I made a face to it but drank it anyway.

“ Now go freshen up. We are going out for dinner.” 

“ Ohhh, isn’t the time of the year when you both went on a first date.” I mocked him. 

“ Keep this up brat and will see if you ever go on your first date.” 

I stilled. 

“ Dad.” I narrowed my eyes. 

“ Go hurry up and don’t mess with me.” 

I rolled my eyes at him and moved upstairs.

“ I saw that.” He shouted but I only smiled at him. 

My sour mood evaporated just seeing my dad smiling like this. This is what love does to the person. 

I looked outside the window and just like always his curtains were drawn and the lights were off. I rarely see him in his room nowadays. 

I got changed and headed to the garage where Mave was already sitting in the car. 

He took one look at me and said. 

“ I think you are forgetting one sleeve, princess.” I looked down at my blue one sleeve knee-length dress and scowled at him.

“ Ha-Ha funny. Where is Dad?” 

He chuckled before replying. 

“ He will be meeting us at the restaurant.” 

When we reached there Dad Nick was already sitting at our table and called us I hugged him. 

“ Where is your sleeve young lady?” Dad Nick replied and Dad Mave barked a laugh. 

I crossed my hands at my chest. 

“ Yeah, sure. Laugh at my expense. Laugh all you want.” I pouted. 

“ Don’t get mad, I was just teasing you.” he replied. 

“ No. You both are just a little old.” I smirked at them.

“ Nick looks like an old man. But not me I still look like I am in my thirties.” 

Dad Nick shakes his head and orders food. Dad Mave fights with us for not ordering nutritious food and we ignore him. He told us that we will be coming crying for his help later. 

“ I am Doctor, Mave. I know what is good for my health and what’s not.” dad Nick exclaimed. 

“ You are a plastic surgeon.” He replies. 

“ And you are not a dietician. So shut up.” 

“ But I deal with bodies.” 

“ So do I.” 

“ I am talking about healthy bodies.”

“ They are healthy.” 

“ I want to be a pastry chef.” I announce in this all fuck up argument.

They stopped fighting and looked at me. With wide eyes and strange expressions and I waited for their answer.  

“ You can be whatever you want.” Dad Nick smiled warmly. 

“ But don’t be a junkie okay. That’s gross.” Dad Mave piped in while sipping his version of wine. 

I looked at Dad Nick and he looked at me. First, we both sigh in exasperation then we started laughing. Dad Mave didn’t understand but he joined us anyway. 

This is my family, a little weird and strange. But it is what it is. We love each other. They told me first they wanted to adopt a kid who is a little older than two, but when they saw me, six-month-old sleeping in the cradle they knew I was the end game for them. They adopted me and treats me like I am their whole universe.