“Soo yeah, Mom,” I said, immediately regretting at sounding casual. I rolled my eyes and tried again. “Um… Mom?” My brows furrowed as I acknowledged my red-face, blonde mom being quiet.

The thing was my mother was never quiet. I would have expected her to at least slap my face (ouch!) and slam the door close in Shadow’s face. Actually, I expected a lot of things, but they never went as planned.

Life you know. Bitch. That was its motto.

I looked at Shadow, who just looked clueless as me. I cleared my throat and reached out for my mother’s blouse sleeve—anticipating for her to pounce.

She did, but not as I expected. She grabbed my arm and started sobbing in my shoulder.  I froze, not really expecting this at all, and just stroked her shoulder till she calmed down.

She kept mumbling stuff—well, crying them--, but they didn’t make sense at all. Especially, since I was really jumpy and scared. Scared for what would happen after she was done with her crying.

I glanced at Shadow, but he just had his elbows on his knees, and was watching my mom like a hawk. Calculating, I guess. He didn’t even glance at me when I nudged him with my foot. Just stared at my mom like an animal ready to jump out of the way if a trap lounged at him. Same here.

After awhile, my mom calmed down. I tensed up and got ready to jump at the door at any second. My adrenaline was pumping through my body—

“Okay, then,” she said. My mother said that.

I gaped, my adrenaline gone, and was momentarily replaced with shock. “What?!” I shrieked, not knowing at all how to respond.

She—that cruel monster—wipe the snot off her nose and ruffled her shirt. My jaw hit the floor. Oh. My. God.

Man, you had no idea how much I wanted to grab her skinny shoulders and rattle her to death. I’m not mad or anything; more than relieved actually, but I mean… I guess you could say I was disappointed, but I mean… C’mon on!

“I… Um, “I fidgeted, playing with my nails and looking down. 

My mom gave us a small laugh. “I know, I know, I should act more serious, but I mean I am…. Just shocked and kind of unsure for the moment. I wasn’t the one keeping this big secret you know. Yours is more unacceptable than mine.”

I flinched. I guess I did deserve that, but I mean… I didn’t expect it as well. I didn’t expect this relationship or secret at all. I didn’t ask for it, but things happen for a reason. And now I’m okay with this. I just hope that she’s okay with this since I’m not trusting her with her mood right now. Odd.

My mom took a look at my face and then sighed, crumpling the tissue in her fingers as she went.

“Fine. I wasn’t going to get you off the hook anyways. I’m not that good. Or bad,” she said, getting up.

I frowned, ready to argue, but she brushed past me, and headed straight to Shadow. My Shadow. Oh Shadow! I flinched and looked at him with guilt; knowing that he didn’t deserve this.

My mom straightened her back and stood in front of Shadow; ready to pounce on him I would say.  I frowned, my frown getting deeper, and looked around my mom for Shadow.

“Okay, Shadow. Listen closely; you will be questioned under my supervision and if you fail to give me what I want then consequences will be made,” she said cooly.

I groaned and slapped a hand to my face. “Mom, seriously. He’s not a criminal!” I cried, noting how she imitated her voice as one of those blank-face, cool detectives in one of her favorite criminal shows.  She was that bad.

Shadow’s mouth was in a tight line, but it wasn’t like he was pissed off or something. He was trying to suppress off laughter. I shook my head, chuckling softly to myself as well.

And then Mom had to get to business. And so she started barreling him with questions. Oh boy. 

“Have you forced my daughter to keep your secret?” Eyebrows in motion, eyes sharp.

“No. She decided it for herself. Freedom of speech,” Shadow’s voice cool , but open.  Playing along, I thought, Nice.

“Have you ever threatened her or give her any sort of example for her to be afraid?”

“No; I would never hurt her especially when I never knew her,” he responded, voice soft.  He gave me a small glance.

I smiled a little, but mom wasn’t done yet.

“Have you ever touched my daughter in any way; knowing that she is still a minor?” I gaped at her. She couldn’t be serious! He wasn’t a rapist or molester. Apparently, we are not in the same page.

I fumed and pretended to strangle her behind her back. I knew her motives meant good, but this was just… GAH! I can’t even talk about it.

Shadow raised an eyebrow, chuckling a little bit. “No, ma’am. You do know I’m just a gangster right? Not a rapist or molester. Or anything outside of that.”

“Just gathering my facts. Who knows what else is lurking behind your…status,” she replied back, giving everything away. Bad detective.

I tapped my foot, waiting for this to be over.  Knowing my mother that this would take awhile.

“Have you ever forced her to any such cult or club?”

“No,” he said firmly, jaw tightening, teeth grinding. I didn’t blame him. What is my mother thinking? She wasn’t. Clearly.

“Have you ever forced her to take drugs or steal drugs?”

“No. Never,” getting agitated, Shadow’s voice grew stronger.

“What about weaponry? She ever touched one?” I drew in a surprised breath. Already knowing the answer to that.

“Yes, but it was for her own protection. She didn’t deserve that,” Shadow replied, apparently being honest about everything.

My jaw hit the floor. “I-Shadow?” I asked, keeping my eyes on my mom and him.

My mom’s jaw tightened. “Oh? What kind of danger?”

“Life or death kind of danger. Serious situation.”

My mom arched an eyebrow. She looked at me. “Arielle?”

I sighed, hands falling to my side. “Yeah, Mom. It wasn’t his fault… It was mine. I just… kinda got in the way. Well, something like that.” There I said it.

“No one force you?” She blinked. “No one manipulated you in some way? Him?”

 I shook my head, half lying. We didn’t told her the whole story you know. No need to interview the rest of the gang members.

“No. Mom, Shadow never emotionally or mentally hurt me. He was protecting me. And his friends too. I never asked for their protection since I didn’t want to be a bother to them, but they were…nice. They’re not cruel people,” I said, finally speaking out.

My mom’s cool face slipped off and now she just looked… relieved…shocked. Somewhere in between. “I…I don’t know what to say. Um, are you being honest with me? He never hurt you or—“

I half-smiled and half-laughed. “No, Mom. Your just misunderstanding things. I know you want me to be okay, but I am. Honest. He never hurted me. He’s not that type of person.”

My mom struggled, fighting with her parenting styles and me. Yes, weird, but no, not really.

“I think I owe someone an apology,” she finally said, looking at Shadow, “I…just never like to see any of my kids hurt. They’re important to me…. I could—“ She was caught off when Shadow stood up and gave her a nice hug.

My eyes grew wide. Did not expect that.

“I can’t blame you. If anything happened to the people I love,” Shadow said, looking at me behind her shoulder,”I would never forgive myself.”

My mom chuckled and rubbed her hand against his broad back, trying to soften his tensed back. This was pretty much truce. I sighed, exhausted, and flopped on the couch.  I blushed when I looked up and found Shadow’s smoldering eyes watching me. I even grabbed a pillow to hide my red, embarrassed face.

He chuckled and untangled himself from my mom. She smiled and nodded toward me. She mouthed sorry and slinked away to the kitchen for who knows what. I smiled.

I looked at Shadow and still found him standing. I arched an eyebrow and pouted. It was unlike me, but I was in my playful mood right now.

He in return raised an eyebrow and stood his ground. I laughed and reached up to grab the collar of his leather jacket. I pulled him to me and crushed my lips to his. He immediately kissed me back. I wrapped my legs around his waist and pulled myself more closer to him. His hand wrapped around my back just like the way I liked it. I opened my mouth wider and in he went. I gasped as our tongues made contact and so wanting more I grabbed a fistful of his hair in my hands. He chuckled above me and pressed me against the pillows.

“Ahem!” someone annoyingly said, clearing his or her throat.

I waved my hand impatiently at them, telling them to fuck off. I’m in a state of bliss here.

He or her groaned and yanked at my arm. I gasped and fell on top of Shadow, clearly surprised as well. I looked up to give that person a sense of my mind, but little did I know that my mother was still in the house. Dammit!

“What is this?” she demanded, waving her hand at us.

I bit my lip and untangled myself from Shadow. We sat on the couch. I scratched my ear and wrinkled my nose. “Um, we were making out? Mom, you know what it is,” I boredly said.

She crossed her arms. “I know that, but even though I’m okay with this you guys really have to be careful. What happens if you get preg—“

I leaped at her.  “Enough mom! I think we get it. If you’ll excuse me… um, we need to go somewhere… A friend’s house. We will be back soon.”

“But I—“

“Yeah, sorry Mom! Love you!” I grabbed a smirking Shadow and tugged him toward the door.

“Gosh your cruel,” he said, jingling the keys in his hands. I glared at him and he just laughed,” Just take me to Seth’s house. I hope they’re all there.”

“Sure,” Shadow said, planting a light kiss on my forehead. “I’ll need the directions though.”

I gave him my are-you-serious look and he just laughed it all.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I took a deep breath as I prepared to knock the door. I glanced back and Shadow gave me an encouraging smile. If my mom understood all of this than so could my friends. I mean, yes they knew, but this was the first time we have seen each other in days… I was nervous. Don’t blame me.

I lifted my hand, but before I knew it, the door slammed wide open and out came Ruby and Jodie. And then all of us—Me, Shadow, Ruby and Jodie—went tumbling down the small, but hard steps. And it hurted. A lot.

I winced and squinted up as an average figure blocked the porch light. Seth! Seth. I glared at him and he just shrugged. “Told them not to do that, but you know they never listen to me. Bunch of crazies.”

“Bastard,” Ruby said, standing up and giving him the death glare. Then she tackled me and once again we hit the floor. Can’t she save her energy for another time. Like I don’t know, gym! She’s as limp as rubber when she hits that floor.

“Oh my God, Arielle! Your alive! I mean, Seth told me, but I don’t believe that chipmunk a smidgen!” she squealed with glee.

“HEY!” Seth called out, arms crossed at the chest.

I laughed and pushed her wiggling body off me. “Yeah, I’m alive. Such a shock.” She giggled, but the world went upside down again when I got tacked by… JODIE!

I’ve know Jodie since I moved here for Freshman Year and I always knew at the star that she wasn’t a girly girl or a loud kind of girl. She was just Jodie. My tiny Jodie.

She wrapped her skinny arms around me and gave me a giant squeeze that knocked the breath of me. I really should stop disappearing in thin air. It’s torture not only for me, but for them.

I got my jaw back from the ground and hugged her just as tight. It was nice. Painful--I cringed as my ribs were tightened unmercilessly-- , but nice. I needed to smell and feel them around me or I knew I would burst out crying.

After awhile of them hugging me and almost bursting into happy tears, we got up and headed where Shadow and Seth were, lounging around like… well, like that.

Seth gave me a big smile and leaned down to hug me. I laughed and hugged him back; knowing that I missed him so much.

“Nice to have you back,” he said in my ear,” These are always in my case when your not there to protect me.”

Aww, poor Seth.

“Well, I’m here now and I’m here to stay!” I whispered back, eyes twinkling.

He laughed and pulled back. “Yes, you are. Now let’s head inside because I know I will be seeing bruises soon.” He laughed and gave Shadow a pat in the back. Shadow rolled his eyes and shook his head at the gash on his elbow.

I cringed, already feeling my blood pool to a small bruise on my back.

While Seth laughed we all looked broodingly at our soon-to-be bruises.

Oh boy.

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 Woohoo! I'm not a failure after all! NOW I did a freaking awesome chapter--if I say so myself-- and hope you guys like it as well.

Like, seriously, this is perfect. This was 6 pages in Word and so it'll probably be 4 pg. or so here. :D I know the song at the right isn't the perfect one, but hey it gives it a comedian look to it! It's awesome and it's almost like they're celebrating her b-day, but it's not. Lol. 

I loved Arielle's mom part in here. Just hilarious. I loved it! Woo! I'll calm myself down, but I'm just sooo happy!! I love the photo on the right as well. Oh. I remembered something. I was gonna post the new cover instead, but I'll do it for the next chapter. And it doesn't fit.... Wattpad's size requirements are sometimes a pain. :( 

Oh well. Bye now! <3<3<3