Chapters 20 and 21 have both been posted. Don't want to leave you guys in suspense.
Francis has never been one for death metal. It rots brains, he thinks but Charlie seems to like it and for his morning jog, he needs something to inspire him to go hard. It's Saturday and he recalls last night at the party.
Mary spent the whole night by Louis' side, both of them laughing and giggling as she tripped on whatever Bourbon's sister gave her, Lola and Kenna. He was surprised with the plea to take them all home afterwards since he brought his car.
The car ride home was the most awkward ride he'd ever had. Lola was beside him on the passenger side, trying to catch fireflies which were nonexistent in the car. Leeza, Mary and Greer took the backseats with Kenna laying on their laps. It's a wonder why they went stopped by the police or why Bash didn't berate them when he arrived to stay the weekend to help out with extracurricular runs over the weekend.
Ever the gentleman he was, he helped his sister upstairs as Bash came to take Kenna in his arms as she fell asleep. He didn't return to the car, so Francis was left to help a loopy Lola and a droopy Mary to their rooms as Greer threw up in his mother's rose bushes. She eventually made her way to the house and up the stairs before passing out in her bed.
Francis can only imagine the hangovers those women would get and he's relieved he didn't drink that much. Only a quarter of a pint before someone was shoved into him and it spilt everywhere. It almost ended up in a fight but he'd calmed Leith down and pulled his friends and the girls away before going to see if he could help clean up. He hadn't managed to find anything since he found Mary lip-locked with Louis outside instead.
It was his idea yet he still felt a pang in his chest, a tightness which was only the incoming sign of a panic attack so he stopped looking and forgot about helping clean up when the kid of the owner of the house was busy kissing his girl-ex-girlfriend.
He jogs even faster, in fact, he's running and his neighbours are probably alarmed by his hastiness. He can hear his heart in his ears beat so loudly as the blood pumps vigorously through his body. He's breathing heavier, he feels tears sting his eyes but he banishes all thoughts of Mary and soon, he's back home, hunched over by the front door.
"I'm off to work. Grab a shower and focus on revising," his mother says, pecking his forehead and heading down to Bash's car. "Oh and don't forget to pick up the invoice for my car's servicing!"
"Yes, Maman," he mutters, dragging his heels when he enters the house.
Just before he closes the door, the doorbell rings and he turns, opens it and finds Louis standing there with a supermarket bag.
"What do you want?" He snaps.
"Is Mary home?"
"No, she went somewhere with the girls," Francis tells him before slamming the door in his face.
After he's taken a long shower, he joins Bash in dropping off the boys for the football club before grabbing his mother's car at the mechanic's.
"Mary told me to thank you before she and the girls left," Bash informs him as they wait for the mechanic to retrieve Catherine's car. "For helping her out last night. They..." He laughs a little. "Were out of it. Guess it's a lesson learnt."
"Yep," Francis replies, disinterested.
"So, I saw a guy walk away from the house. Who was he?"
"No one."
Bash sighs heavily. "Francis, you're the one who ended things, can you blame her for moving on?"
"But it's so soon-"
"Your choice, she tried to give you time to take back all you said," Bash cuts him off.
Francis rolls his eyes and gets out of the car to grab his mother's spare car keys from the mechanic as well as the invoice. He decides to pay it for her with some of his inheritance money rather than set up a recurring payment plan. It's the last thing she needs to worry about.
They drive back home separately, not before grabbing the boys and Bash deciding to take a detour. So Francis ends up driving the boys and Mary and Leeza back home as Bash takes Claude, Kenna, Lola and Greer.
"How was the self-defence class?" Francis asks his sister.
Mary decides to answer with, "Awful. Doing it hungover and drained from certain squared items was awful."
"Wasn't asking you," Francis snaps, making her eyes widen as they shine with tears and hurt.
Leeza clears her throat. "It was okay," she quickly says, squeezing Mary's hand in hers as Francis mentally apologises to her. She didn't deserve that. "So, tell us about football, boys."
Hercule grins. "Scored three goals myself on my team. We had eight goals!"
"And I scored four," Charlie says. "And Coach was happy with me. Says I have to ask Maman to see if I want to renew my membership next year."
"Yeah, same here!" Hercule tells him.
Francis bites his lip. They have been seeing about cutbacks lately since the restaurants are taking a lot of money out of them so she, him and Bash went through their spending habits on Thursday night to see where they'd make cuts.
The kids' clubs were one casualty.
"We'll see, buds," he tells them.
...
"Mary, can I talk to you?" Francis asks after she answers the girls' door. Earlier was unfair and he shouldn't have snapped at her. She deserves to know the truth behind his temper.
"Depends, will you snap at me again?" She asks, glaring at him as she leans against the door jamb, the other girls clearly listening in as they try to act as if they're watching the TV.
Francis sighs. "I saw you kissing Louis last night at the party," he tells her. "I saw red and I hated it but I have no right to be jealous because I ended things. You should be free to be with whoever you want. Just wanted to let you know that."
Mary nods wrapping her arms around herself. "Francis, remember what I said about us not being together and me still loving you no matter what. It won't be possible to get over what we had because that was special and I'm grateful for the time we had together. You're a great guy, you deserve happiness."
"Why does this sound so final?" He asks, wanting to touch her, to brush her hair from her face. "I want us to be friends."
"I think the distance is what we need right now," she replies softly, squeezing his wrist gently. "Your mother came to talk to us about paying rent. If you guys need anything-"
"It's just a blip-"
"We want to pay the rent. It's half what we paid for at the halls of residence so it won't be too bad for us all to foot in," Mary informs him. "Whatever we can do to help. If you guys need someone to pick the kids up, we're here too."
Francis shakes his head in disbelief. "You're an angel, you know that?"
"So I've been told," she replies softly, giving him a tight hug. "I don't want to hate you."
"I don't want to hate you too," he mumbles into her shoulder before they let go of each other. "Well, see you."
Mary nods. "See you."
Just before he goes, he says, "Try a raw egg, some kale and kiwi. Perfect hangover cure and if you're feeling brave enough, add some cayenne pepper and chilli."
Mary chuckles. "We really need that right now," she says tiredly. "Thanks."
"You're welcome," he replies before finally heading back to the main house.
He revises for the rest of the evening, heading down for a light dinner before helping his mother with the finances again. He sees the worry in his mother's eyes and he doesn't miss the fact that more of her hair is greying. She used to have bright blonde hair but since his father's death, it's gone duller and greyer and he leans into her side, giving her a one-armed hug.
"We need to close and sell one of the restaurants," she whispers. "That's thirty staff let go along with pay cuts. Just until we can fix things. How did they get this bad?"
"We need to think about refurbing the locations and making them desirable for more customers," Francis says. "Maybe even going for a cheaper menu, hold specials for three months at a time as opposed to monthly to save money on ingredients."
"You're talking like a businessman," Catherine states proudly. "Like your father. We need to look at the one making the most losses and close it."
"I'll stay up and help-"
"Go to bed-"
"Maman, I'm staying," Francis tells her firmly. "You don't have to bear this cross alone, you've got two sons to help you."
Catherine gives him a watery smile, patting his cheek before nodding. "Right, let's start going through the values again..."
...
Two months later, Mary is cooking dinner for her and the girls. Greer is next to her, chopping the vegetables as Kenna prepares the vegan nuggets. They're making their own spin of katsu curry and Lola works on dessert, a lovely British trifle full of custard, jelly and whipped cream that had been set overnight.
"'I don't know about you, but I'm feeling twenty-two'," Kenna sings.
"I don't know about you, but none of us is twenty-two!" Lola sings and they laugh. When she's done, she grabs their money box - a black and gold, cat adorned box. "I'll count it and take it over."
Kenna looks over her shoulder. "I can do that," she says casually. "Make sure all six-hundred is in there."
Lola nods, counting under her breath and laying the bills out in piles. She rolls them up into a big circle and ties an elastic band around it. "Six-hundred all accounted for." She then smirks. "The only reason you're going is that Bash is there."
"He's home from police school. Of course, I'll utilise any time to see my boyfriend," she says before gasping as their eyes widen. "I-"
"You're dating Bash?!" Greer cries out. "Jesus, you guys kept that secret."
"Since when?" Mary asks quietly.
"Urgh, two months ago..." Kenna rolls her eyes. "I think you guys were too wasted and high to realise he stayed in my room and we just talked until I wore myself out because of the weed. He held me and he's the first guy I've let touch me since... I know he'll never hurt me."
"We're happy for you," Greer says, hugging her. "You deserve a great guy."
Kenna eyes Mary warily. "I didn't want to say anything because his brother kind of dumped you three months ago."
"I'm over it remember," Mary replies. "I'm with Louis now actually."
"What is God's name did you just say?" Greer cries out. "You're with the guy who broke your relationship up in the first place?!"
Mary groans, covering her face. "He didn't mean to, okay?" She tells them, bringing her hands down. "We've actually close now and I like him too."
"If he makes you happy then-"
"Shut up, Lola," Kenna says sharply, her tone as disbelieving as Greer's was. "You need to dump Louis, Mary!"
"This is my life, okay? And wasn't it Francis who told me to move on?" Mary retorts angrily. "He said he had no right to be angry about it. That he told me to move on so if I want to move on, I will gladly do so."
She returns back to stirring the curry as Kenna leaves to give their rent to Catherine and see Bash. Lola sighs and checks on the rice cooker as Greer continues to chop up the vegetables. It's completely awkward and Mary knows it's her fault but it's her life and if she wants to see whoever she likes, she will.
Then why does she frown when she sees a text alert on her phone from Louis?
...
A month later, Mary's already over her and Louis. She's found out quite a lot about him now that they see each other almost every day as opposed to twice a week. And she doesn't like what she finds out for the most part. With the Easter holidays around the corner, she's drained from school and working at the bakery. She just can't wait to go over to her uncle and aunt's place and spend a week with them and Jim and forget about Louis for a hot minute.
"So, Mary, what are you planning to do for the holidays apart from revising?" Madame Bourbon asks her as they eat lunch in the Bourbons' back garden.
Mary sips her rosé, shrugging a little. "Spending time with my family. I'm actually taking a girls' trip away to Spain the following week."
"Shame, we were hoping to invite you on holiday to Morocco," Monsieur Bourbon replies.
"Papa, you know Mary's not about that lifestyle," Louis chides.
Mary sighs. He's just the typical rich boy who throws money wherever he can. They're not even on the same wavelength and he thinks showering her with meaningless stuff like perfumes and jewellery is what she wants. Even all the dates they have must be five-star-tier or nothing at all.
She feels guilty, wearing the necklace Francis got her when they went to the Alps (seems like a damn lifetime ago) around her neck and she lied to Louis about where she got it. From Kenna, was her excuse, for their friendship.
"Louis, why don't you take Mary shopping for her girls' trip away? I'm sure she needs some new swimsuits," Madame Bourbon says. "She's not exactly the sort you go for but I guess she'll do for the social media pictures."
"What social med-"
"You will need a social media presence if you are to continue being with Louis," Madame Bourbon explains, sipping her wine. "Our son can't be associated with the lower class. You have to at least act like you're one of us. And what is that hideous necklace around your neck? Looks cheap. Louis, I thought you'd bought her some lovely pieces."
"Oi, if you're done being a bitch, I need a ride to the shopping mall," Maddie calls out to her mother, heading down the steps to meet them at their table by the pool.
Their mother glares at her. "Madeleine."
"Well?"
"Tell the chauffeur," Monsieur Bourbon says dismissively. "Now leave."
Louis looks down at his plate shamefully and Mary gives him a look of disbelief. She's had enough. Standing up, she dumps her napkin down onto her unfinished meal and glares down at Louis.
"Are you just going to let your mother insult me?" She asks.
"Mary, I-"
"Forget it," she snaps, heading away from them and up the stairs to enter through the backdoors.
The butler arrives with her jacket and bag and she retrieves her phone from her bag before dialling a number.
"Hey, can you pick me up, please?"
...
"He's in the living room," Bash says when they get home.
Mary thanks Bash before she gets out of the car and enters the house through the garage door. Heading to the living room, she enters it and freezes when she sees Francis and a blonde woman kissing. They're oblivious to their surroundings, ignoring the show on the TV as he cups her cheek and the blonde giggles in reply, nuzzling her nose against his.
"You're amazing, you know that?" The girl whispers, her eyes still shut as he kisses her again.
"You're pretty cool too, Amelie Narcisse..."
"God, if my uncle finds out we're together..."
He chuckles. "He's only the dean, what can he do? Get my lecturers to fail me?"
Mary can feel the exact moment her heart shatters into pieces as she stumbles out and she suddenly can't breathe. Her vision becomes blurry and she knows it's her tears as she bursts her way out of the backdoor and closes it before opening the door to her home and shutting that door behind her too.
"Breathe, Mary, breathe-"
"He's moved on. Oh, my God, he's moved on," she says, sobbing. "I'm too late! I want him back!"
Greer sinks to the floor with her, hugging her tightly. "Oh, Mary..."
After she's calmed down enough and all of the girls snuggle into each other with ice cream tubs in their hands on the floor in front of the TV, she explains what happened during her first time meeting Louis' parents.
"...she more or less called me ugly and poor," she mumbles. "Going from Catherine loving me to Louis' mother saying I'm ugly and poor was a real eye-opener. She also said that Louis couldn't be associated with the 'lower class'."
"Fucking bitch," Kenna hisses. "I can kill her for you."
"I'll rent the car," Lola adds.
"I'll work on our alibis," Greer continues on.
Mary laughs through her tears and sniffles. "Maybe."
"'Ride or die'," Kenna reminds her. "Just text us and we'll be there to also kick his arse for not defending you."
Speaking of the devil, Mary's phone starts ringing on the coffee table and she grabs it, rolling her eyes at Louis' name on her screen. She contemplates letting him stew in his shame but she rather just end it all together and move on. They are just too incompatible.
"What do you want?"
"Mary, I am so sorry. I told my parents off-"
"We're over. Never contact me again and I'd like it if you didn't corner me in lectures," Mary informs him. "I don't really want to switch groups this late into the year."
Louis sighs heavily. "You're not going to let me fight for us?"
"Louis, your mother is right. I'm not the one for you. I hope you find her and where you and I are concerned, we're done," she snaps. "Goodbye."
"Mar-"
She hangs up and the girls cheer for her much to her embarrassment. She feels like crying all over again when she remembers what she saw earlier - Francis and this Amelie girl together. And her uncle is the whole-fucking-dean of their university!
"The dean's niece of all people," Greer speaks her thoughts out. "He really can have the pick of the litter."
"Greer!" Lola chides, pointedly side-eyeing Mary.
"She's not wrong," Kenna mumbles. "But so can you, Mary. Louis is an arsehole, a learning curve to choose up and not down. Just because they have money doesn't mean they have class, trust me on that one."
Greer snorts. "Honey, we do."
"I do miss the money," Kenna says honestly as she pouts. "And my brother left me a whole lot. If I get that money, I could pay off our rent and you guys can save up for whatever you need. Also, I can afford therapy for us all because we're fucked up and well, the Valoises' can't afford to pay for Mary's sessions anymore. We could even get a dog. A house dog."
"How can we look after a dog, Kenna?" Lola asks. "We're out all the time."
"Yeah, but a dog can love Mary and doesn't have parents who hate her or is distrusting of her like a certain ex-boyfriend is," Kenna replies. "A little toy dog. Or some fish!"
Mary laughs, palming her tears away. "I don't want a dog."
"Fine, we can get a snake."
"Kenna!"
"Snakes are cool," Kenna tells her. "I used to have a snake called 'Mr Slitherington III'. He was dope."
Mary snorts. "Are you high again?"
"Says the bitch who tripped out more than us," Kenna says.
"No, that was Lola."
Greer cackles now, slapping Lola's thigh. "Sweetheart, you told a picture of Louis's mother that her nose looked like a witch's before telling your boyfriend that since he's your baby, he should drink milk from your-"
"Jesus Christ," Lola mutters. "And you didn't tell me this all that time ago? No wonder he still laughs that he has something over me! Oh, my God..." She covers her face.
"Don't worry, I told Bash his eyes were like a cat's eyes since they were green and that I just wanted to eat them," Kenna replies, cringing. "He then reminded me that I was vegan and that I'd regret it so I tried clawing and trying to eat his eyes but kept missing since he held me back with one arm easily."
"Wow, drugs do weird shit to us," Mary mumbles. "Should we grab a bottle of Vodka? I don't want to think about guys right now."
Kenna grins, getting up. "Well, I might have got some cocktail brews and they're chilling in the freezer box," she announces, grabbing the cocktail glasses. "I've got glazed cherries, pineapple slices and strawberries."
Mary turns to look at her. "This is why we love you."
...
"Did it work?" Francis asks his brother when he gets back home from dropping Amelia at hers.
Bash rolls his eyes. "Yes, it worked. Mary saw and was terribly heartbroken to see that you'd 'moved on'. I really don't see the point of this-"
"Louis was flaunting their relationship in my face. Every day, he'd come to find me and taunt me," Francis hisses. "And the Instagram pictures of them weren't helping matters."
"How does Amelie feel about being used?"
"That's how she makes money you know? 'Girlfriend-for-hire' she calls it," Francis replies. "I got her services for free because she thought I was hot." He sinks down onto the sofa. "All I have to do is wait until Mary wants to get back together and then I'll 'break up' with Amelie."
Bash shakes his head and sighs, changing the channel to some soap opera Catherine loves watching. "I really don't understand you..." He mutters. "You're the one who ended things. Man up and get her back."
"It's not that easy-"
"You love her, I don't see what the problem is here."
Francis groans, giving his brother a light glare. "Don't forget you're ancient-"
"Three years older, arsehole-"
"So things were different back in your time-"
"Still three years older and you're still an arsehole-"
"I don't mean to hurt Mary but she moved on too quickly for my liking and I know that's selfish but she got with the guy who ended our relationship in the first place!" Francis finishes.
Bash feels like stabbing himself. "Again, you ended things but sure, blame it on her and Louis."
"She kissed him before that."
Bash's eyes widen as his eyes snap to his brother. "Wait, that's why you ended things? I just thought-"
"I was being irrationally jealous. Hmm, no," Francis says, smiling bitterly. "I'm not that petty."
"Oh, shit then."
"They kissed at the end of November and she kept it from me. If she'd told me, we would have worked things through quicker," Francis tells him. "But she..." His eyes sting with tears. "Waited until we had sex for the first time to hurt me. I gave her something, Bash, just as she gave me something back. That wasn't enough for her, I wasn't enough. She liked the richer guy, the one who'd flirt and help her with her work, who'd probably pay someone to write her essays. Not like we helped pay for her to see a therapist or anything or dealt with her emotional baggage..."
"Francis-"
"And then at the party, she seemed pretty happy kissing the hell out of him," Francis mumbles. "He could give her more than I ever can."
Bash sighs heavily, turning the TV off when the show becomes stupidly unbearable and he hears the tears in his brother's voice. "Mary thinks the world of you. Not thought, thinks. Whenever she comes to pick Kenna up from work, I see how she watches your every move as you make a point to ignore her. She's not happy, not more so with Louis than she was with you. You were actually a bearable brother when she was your girlfriend but now, you've gone back to being annoying."
Francis laughs wryly. "Sorry."
"Don't apologise to me, go and apologise to Mary and just get back together already," Bash whines. "I will be able to have a normal conversation with Kenna for once. She bitches about you an awful lot which is alarming considering she's my girlfriend and I should be on her mind, not my brother."
"You guys are the world's worst-kept secret," Francis teases him before conceding. "Fine, I'll apologise to her after the holidays."
"Why?"
"I don't want to disrupt her trip to her family's or the trip to Spain," Francis tells him with a blush. "She needs some time to de-stress from all the grief I've given her before I give her some more."
Bash chuckles, getting up. "Sure. See you later."
"Bye," Francis mumbles before sticking the TV back on and settling down to watch the soap opera. It's tragically horrible but it makes for good TV.