Sorry, I haven't updated in quite a while, I think. My holidays end today, and soon begins the tragic torture of homework, projects, exams and more. Well, anyway, I'm trying to get out other chapters for other stories before my life becomes tons busier. So here I bring you the second chapter. You might be wondering when you read - Saselin, weird name, huh? Yeah I know, but this is from fondness that I use that name, for I came up with it a long time ago. She's this old "butler", really, and so she's here. And do note that Theresa here is called Theresa Fairfield, which in my opinion, sounds like a pretty snazzy name in my books (as in figuratively).
Chapter 2
The limosine pulled up in the driveway of the stately manor, and Theresa casually got out, smiling fondly at the place where she had grew up in. Still blinking from the ride in the expensive, sleek limosine and now facing Theresa's huge home, Jay, too, got out, looking a little blown away.
"Wow," was all he could say, breathless, his neck craning up to look at the top of the towering manor and feeling a little inferior suddenly.
"Yeah, wow," Theresa said humorously, dragging her boyfriend away from the limosine. "That's what I always get from everyone who comes here. Well, every rich kid gets this kind of reaction." Her voice grew subtly bitter, and Jay knew she was recalling some scarring memories of her past.
"You know, you're not like other rich girls." Jay's comment made her stop in her tracks, deep green eyes softening.
"Jay, you hardly know what I've gotten from other kids. It's either the type that thinks I'm the stereotypical rich kid and hates my guts for that, or the type that sucks up to me just to get favours. You have no idea how much you - and the rest of the team - mean to me."
"Maybe I don't, but I love you," Jay said softly, feeling the need to comfort her, knowing that she needed it. Pulling her into a warm embrace, they both remained silent for a while, him offering her the solace she needed once in a while.
Finally, Theresa sniffled, then laughed softly. "I don't even know why I'm crying on the front lawn of my house. What happened is already in the past. Come on, let's go."
Breaking free from his hug, she wiped her tears with the back of her hand and pulled Jay to the front doorstep, which she promptly rung the bell.
"Don't... Don't you have the key?" Jay asked a little curiously.
Theresa shook her head. "I left it behind the last time when my dad didn't bother to spend much time with me. I forgot to bring it with me, and I didn't bother to return to get it. Well... I guess he has a justifiable excuse to why he's too busy to spend much - or any - time with me..." She managed a ghost of a smile, and Jay felt bad for once again dampening her sunny mood.
Just then, the door opened and a cheerful-looking, bubbly old servant in Theresa's household appeared. "Miss Fairfield, you're back!"
"Yeah, I am, Saselin," Theresa answered, smiling in return. Handing her luggage to the old woman, she said, "Is Dad in?"
"Yes, Mr Fairfield most certainly is," Saselin returned, smiling gladly to see the young, orange-haired teen back again in the house. She had seen Theresa grow up and felt attached to her, not surprisingly so. She cast a bright smile in Jay's direction, hoping to make him feel welcome. Something about this young man seemed to separate him from all the other... superficial boyfriends she had seen Theresa go out with before. "And you must be Jay. If the both of you would just follow me here..."
OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo
Knocking on the sturdy wooden door, Theresa waited a little eagerly as an awkward Jay stood beside her. Alright, although her dad had hurt her feelings the last round, she still loved him. After all, he was her dad. Besides, she was excited to introduce Jay to him.
"Come in," a distracted voice said from within the room, and Theresa spared no time in flinging open the door and saying with a burst of energy, "Hi Dad!"
"Oh, hi, Theresa," her father replied, looking up from his work with a look of surprise etched onto his features. Then he gave her a brief smile and leaned back. "I'm glad you could come over for the holidays." Noticing Jay standing in the doorway, he raised an eyebrow and said casually, "Oh, and may I know who this is? Your friend, I suppose?" Jay thought he saw a flash of uncertainty and suspicion flash through Mr Fairfield's eyes, but in a moment what he thought he had truly seen was gone.
"Well, yeah, but more than that. He's my boyfriend. Jay, meet Dad. Dad, meet Jay," Theresa chirped cheerily, slipping her hand into an abashed Jay's hand and tugging him into the room.
"Uhm, hi, Mr Fairfield," Jay said with a newfound shyness he never even knew he had. To his surprise, he found Mr Fairfield's expression darkening and changing from an expression of fake welcoming to guardedness.
Theresa's father narrowed his eyes a little, and leaning further back onto his chair, Jay noticed his lips curled up in distaste as he surveyed the teenager before him. Suddenly, Jay felt like he'd stepped into an interrogation room, and he was pretty sure he looked like the deer in the headlights at the moment.
"Kooky fashion taste," Jay distinctly heard the mutter that escaped the father's lips and he blushed, looking down self-consciously at his bright yellow-purple sweater and puffy jeans. Alright, so they might not exactly be of branded material, but he was pretty sure they weren't hideous... Right? He would have to consult Neil on this when he got back to New Olympia.
Mr Fairfield gave them a friendly, polite smile, but Jay could tell there wasn't any warmth in it. He gulped silently, feeling like the odd one out in the room. Apparently, Theresa had noticed her own father's looks of disapproval as well.
Richard Fairfield rang an old-fashioned bell, and Saselin appeared by the door immediately, noticing as well that there was a slight unspoken tension in the room.
Richard nodded at Jay, then said, "Saselin, why don't you show Jay here to do the guest room?"
"Yes, Sir," Saselin replied, giving the young man a smile and leading him out of the room, closing the door behind them as she had a feeling things were about to get a little darker than usual.
The minute the two left the room, the father crossed his arms and leaned onto his desk. "Theresa, what were you thinking when you brought that... that kid back?"
"Dad, what do you mean by that?" Theresa looked hurt. "He's alright. In fact, he's the nicest guy I've ever met -"
"That's what you think," Richard said with a frown. "He's probably only dating you for the money, just like all your other fake boyfriends back then. Look at him! He dresses... tacky. And you can tell he's not really well-off."
"So that's why you didn't like him," Theresa muttered, eyes flashing dangerously. "So that's what it truly is about. He's not rich. You've always wanted to ship me off to some rich fellow, didn't you? You always seemed to mention that, and favour them more. Let me tell you all those rich boyfriends I ever had were way more fake than any of the poorer ones!"
"Theresa, don't raise your voice like that at me," her father answered, his voice rising in anger. "What I'm doing for is for your own good. He probably doesn't love you. And no, it's not because I need him to be rich. It's not a requirement! But I can tell he's just like the others!"
"Well, then, at least he's much better than you! You never did spend any time with me after Mom's death, but he cares! He even visited Mom's grave with me when you couldn't even stop by for her death anniversary!" Theresa screamed, boiling with pure rage. She didn't even feel the hot tears spilling out, and gently dropping on the floor. Turning around, she rushed out of the door before her angry father could say anything more.
OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo
Saselin made her way to the kitchen after making sure Jay was comfortable. She smiled at the rememberance of the young man. She was convinced that he was alright, because he was pretty polite and all, and seemed nice enough. At least not like the other rude boyfriends Theresa had brought home.
She was surprised to see Theresa rushing into the room suddenly, wiping her tears.
"Miss Fairfield, what happened?" she asked concernedly.
"It's Dad," Theresa said sorrowfully, crossing her arms and sticking out her bottom lip sadly. "He doesn't like Jay. He thinks that Jay's just like other uncaring boyfriends I used to have. But he's not... Right?" She looked up at her mother figure hopefully. "What do you honestly think of him?"
Saselin smiled gently at the girl. "Well, I find him to be pretty nice. He seems to be an alright guy. Don't worry, in time to come, I'm sure your father will warm up to him."
"Warm up to who?" a voice behind them asked questioningly. It was Jay. Seeing Theresa's tear-streaked face, his eyes widened. "Theresa, what happened?"
"Don't ask," Theresa said, looking away. "Not now."
"Uhm... Okay." Jay silently put a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Whenever you ever need a shoulder to cry upon... You can always tell me."
Saselin laughed quietly. She quietly slunk away, out of the kitchen, leaving the two lovebirds to time for themselves.
OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo
Saselin was just walking past Jay's room when she stopped short suddenly, a gasp leaving her mouth.
"Oh my gosh," she breathed, peering curiously into his room, her eyes wide with horror.
She saw the sword lying on his table. It looked like a retractable xiphos, she recalled from her old days of learning Greek Mythology. Some heroes used to be described as using a xiphos. Oh dear, what was Jay doing with one of those?
Could it be... That he really had some ulterior motive?
OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo
Okay, here it is! This chapter was a little angsty and OOC. Well, hope not. Anyway, I hope you're just about hitting your head that Jay actually brought his sword along and Saselin thought he had evil intentions. Okay, the following stuff would have humour is up on its way.(: And review!