Romeo sat in silence, his eyes onto her brown ones. His heart began to hammer in his chest. He stared as she shrugged and smiled, starting on her food again. "You would really do that? Abandon everything you've worked so hard for, just to satisfy the needs of your partner?"
Amaya giggled, his question seeming silly to her. She found it funny how incredulous he was. "If I was really 'in love; Romeo, I think I'd be able to set everything aside for him."
He stared at his water bottle, his heart making rhythms again. A thousand things ran through his mind and encircled her comment. She was right. Love was selfless, it was putting your significant others needs before yours. Guilt suddenly overtook him, but only for a brief moment before disappearing.
Amaya ate in silence, the awkwardness once more sitting in the air. She licked her lips and turned to him. "So…" she smiled, "is, Knightsfairy a big city?"
Romeo he shook his head, shoving a fork full of noodles in his mouth before he spoke, "its mostly countryside. Not so much a city. But there's a nearby town almost as big as here. You get everything delivered to my-our- the house." He stuttered a little and blushed.
The girl blushed too. Their house.
"After we head there… I'll make sure to give you a full tour. So, maybe you can meet new people." He went on eating and Amaya sat there with her eyes on him.
"As strange as it sounds, I think 'Independence'," she put her fingers in quotations as the word Independence was brought up, "is calling to me."
There was silence suddenly and then she giggled. "I'm not going to lie… I'm a bit nervous."
Romeo pushed away his food suddenly and furrowed his brows. "you have nothing to worry about. I'll be there every step of the way. I promise." He held his hand out across the table and Amaya stared at it. She locked eyes with him and slowly her hand went to his, his fingers were soft and warm. Trust enveloped her being and suddenly their eyes were locked in each other's.
His thumb began to circle her wrist, "I promise." Her breath caught in her throat as his voice deepened.
They stayed like that for a few minutes until the loud crying of the robo-baby interrupted whatever was going on.
Romeo quickly stood, his chair screeching against the tile as he did so. Amaya quickly stood too, her chair almost falling to the ground from her brusque movement. She blushed uncontrollably. He fidgeted with his watch as she excused herself to check on her assignment.
Romeo took in a deep breath, as he placed his hands on his hips, with his head hung. He stared at the pale of his tile, while his mind raced for an answer to whatever he had just done. Then ever so slowly his eyes roamed towards the girl. Her back was to him as she moved quickly towards the fake baby.
She held at the small robot and wrapped it up against her chest, a fake bottle being held to its mouth. She turned to him with a nervous smile, "she's hungry."
Romeo nodded as he passed a hand through his hair, a small strand of white fell to his forehead. "You tend to her, I need to finish printing out some more papers before we head over to your parents house."
Amaya nodded and bit her lip with her head hung low. "yeah, you go ahead."
He walked away and sat there in front of his miniature home office desk with his laptop pulled open. Yet his eyes were locked on the girl that walked the fake baby around his living room. She looked so natural to him as she paced the tile. Her lips were curled in a small soft smile, her arms were wrapped around the baby, and her plump lips were closed as she hummed to the little bundle.
He blinked a few times trying hard to work on his papers but his eyes kept fishing out towards her. After a few moments he was able to look away and he finished up his pending work. The robot fell asleep and Amaya bent down to lay it on the sofa. "There, she fell asleep. Finally." She smiled, her eyes falling onto the mess they had left behind in the kitchen. She looked towards Romeo and then back and decided the least she could do after him inviting the meal was to clean up. With a smile she walked over towards his kitchen picking up a towel as she did so. She picked up the mess and ended up wiping with disinfectant she found in one of the cabinets, the smell of the liquid pleasant to her nose.
Romeo stared at her, he had not moved and had not said a word but a stupid smile lay on his lips. After she was finished he pushed himself off of the wheelie chair and walked over towards the rest of the papers that lay flat on the coffee table. He pulled an empty folder from under his desk and placed all the documents together. He heaved a sigh and fixed the wrinkles on his shirt.
"I'll have a talk to my lawyer so your parents only worry would be to just sign the papers. He'll take care of everything for us."
Amaya suddenly became serious. Her lips going into a thin line.
"what's the matter?"
She found it hard to make eye contact suddenly. "my parents… I don't know what they're going to say."
"What?" he suddenly rose a brow. "what do you mean?"
"I know them. I haven't spoken to them, but I know them. I'm afraid they might say no."
Romeo furrowed his brows. "Why? Why would they waste such an opportunity for their daughter?" he scratched his left wrist. "we can try talking to them."
"You think they'll agree?" She pressed her lips in a line again, her mind wrapped around the idea of her parents reaction.
Romeo nodded, "it's only for your own good, I think they'll say yes. " he looked to his watch. It was getting late, again he realized that time seemed to fly by when he was with her. It was well passed 4 o'clock. He nodded towards her and placed his hands behind his back. "Shall we be on our way?" his professionalism settled in himself again.
There was a loud ringing all of a sudden, but this time it was his phone. It vibrated against the table in the kitchen and he walked over for it. When he checked the screen he rolled his eyes. Again it was, Anna. He clicked his tongue and slightly shook his head.
"You want my help?" Amaya suddenly popped into his vision and she giggled.
"What do you mean?"
"Here, just give me that."
She took his phone into her hands and she swiped to answer. "Hello?"
He rose his brows, what on earth was she doing? His eyes followed her as she twirled a strand of hair in her finger, her bracelets jingled as she moved around.
"who is this?" she smiled towards Romeo and he furrowed his brows, she began walking around the apartment, her shoes clicking as she did so.
"Anna?" She smiled. "Me? I'm his personal assistant."
There was some indistinguishable sound from his phones internal speaker, and Amaya furrowed her brows, "I'm sorry but, Mr. Mecano is out-" she widened her eyes suddenly, "with his girlfriend I believe." There was yelling suddenly and Amaya had to pull away from the phone.
Romeos eyes widened suddenly and he quickly rushed over snatching the phone away from her hands; swiping to hang up.
"AMAYA!" He stared at her in horror. "What did you just do!?" he shook his head. "She's the most possessive person I've met, I was trying to slowly tire her of me."
The girl blushed, embarrassment sitting on her features, and shook her head. "it's the only way to get her to back off."
He shook his head, his white strand of hair catching her attention, she could see the distress in his face, and suddenly it dawned on her that maybe he still had feelings for her.
Amaya walked over to the living room quietly without a word and picked up the robo-baby, she began towards the entrance of the apartment and looked back towards him with an embarrassed expression. "Are you mad?" tears almost threatened her eyes but she quickly looked away.
Romeo stood there for a few moments, his mind racing. He knew deep down that what Amaya had just done would bring him problems now that he would return to Knightsfairy, he turned to look at her and frowned, it would bring her problems too. He closed his eyes, Anna was the worst decision he'd ever made.
Finally he shook his head, his hands fishing into his pocket then clinging on to his house keys, he made a semi circle and grabbed at the papers he had previously laid on the kitchen counter. "No, I'm not..." There was a small sigh to his reply and he faced her.
Amaya nodded with her teeth stuck in her bottom lip, and she realized that they really weren't all that well acquainted. She looked to the ground, he wasn't Greg, he wasn't Conner. Even though they knew each other as children, They didn't have that bond she shared with her two boys. Suddenly her stomach felt warm, maybe coming with him wasn't such a good idea after all.
Romeo began to the door and Amaya quickly followed, no word passed between them, once they stepped outside his door, he made to lock it.
Amaya stood there with her head hung low with guilt, and red cheeks with embarrassment. She didn't know why she had just done what she had, and with what authority had she just done it… but she thought it had been a good idea. She had been impulsive, rash. She didn't know why, she wasn't like that. She glanced towards Romeo and then away.
Amaya held onto the baby and looked down again, she worried what he was thinking of her.
"Shall we go?" Romeo didn't wait for a reply, he simply placed his keys in his pockets and began off with the papers in his hand. She followed a few steps behind in shame, they walked away from his apartment without sharing a single word. The pair got a few funny glances again as they exited the lobby but neither of them said a word or acknowledged it.
Romeo looked back towards Amaya, his blue eyes finally soft towards her. "I have to make a small stop before we head to your parents house. If we make it there before six; Mike might have the papers in with your parents by Friday."
Amaya blinked, she was lost, "who's, Mike?"
Romeo smiled, his fangs catching on his bottom lip ever so slightly. It wasn't on purpose that was just the way he smiled. It was cute she decided. "Mike, is my lawyer. I've been friends with him for a good while now."
Amaya nodded quietly as they headed out towards the parking lot. Their shoes clicked against the ground and echoed, bouncing off the walls as murmurs of strangers conversations did too.
They quickly found his car and settled in and buckled up.
Romeo sat at the steering wheel, his keys jingling as he placed them in the port. "I'm going to make a call, alright?" he pulled out his phone from his pocket and smiled that wolfish smile of his. Amaya nodded and pinched her lips together, also pulling out her phone. Awkwardness once again settled in the air. She hated it.
There was a few missed calls on hrr phone screen and two texts from, Greg.
'AMAYA I WAS TOLD YOU'RE OUT WITH ROMEO AGAIN!'
'Why are you doing this, where are you? Conner is really mad.'
She clicked her tongue and rolled her eyes, she understood to a certain extent that they did care about her, but Conner of all people should feel ashamed of playing with her. How dare he even declare he was mad at her. She gritted her teeth as tears threatened her eyes.
She suddenly received another text.
'we're outside your house.'
Amaya turned to Romeo as he finished up his conversation on the phone, "we'll see you there." He finally hung up and shifted his gear to reverse and soon they were out of the parking lot.
He began to maneuver his way through the city as elegantly as ever and his blinkers went crazy as he turned on the intersections. Amaya was uncharacteristically quite and apparently lost in thought. He caught on to it.
Romeo eyed her then stared back at the road. "Hey listen… I'm really sorry for snapping on you over that silly phone call. You only did a favor for me and I… overreacted. He looked to her quickly before he turned back to the road. "I don't want you being angry at me or anything."
Amaya nodded and stared back down at her lap, "I'm sorry too, Romeo… I don't know why I felt the authority to have done… that… I did it without thinking… and I shouldn't have done it… I don't want to cause you any problems."
He suddenly chuckled as he turned on his blinker again, this time pulling up to a small lot of properties. He drove past a few cars on the parking spaces and skillfully backed into an empty lot.
"Amaya, I have a million problems, you are not one of them." He looked down at the steering wheel before looking at her again, "in fact, you make me forget about most of them."
The girl smiled suddenly and he switched his car off, the keys making noise again as he pulled on them and his seat belt off. "Do you mean it as a compliment," she giggled suddenly, "or as a nuisance?"
Romeo shook his head with another smile, "do you want to come?"
"Can I stay out here?" She pulled on her phone, "I gotta make a phone call."
The young man nodded and pushed the keys into the port again, he started the engine and flipped the A/C on, "I'll be back then. I do warn you it will be a little bit." He pulled the handle of the door open and stepped out, "if you want to come, I'll be just inside, alright?" She nodded and that was all the young man needed as queue to take his leave he closed the door to the car and half walked half jogged into the office, looking back once towards her with his wolfish smile.
Her brown eyes stayed on his figure and she smiled back at him as he did so too. He opened the door and she saw as he made his way into the office.
Amaya sat there in the silence of the running car and she messed with the buckle against her breasts, she could only smile at the thought of his apology. She hadn't deserved it, but he apologized either way. His blue eyes came to mind again and she shook her head. Her eyes landed back at her lap where her phone sat and with a sigh she decided it would be a good idea to talk to Greg. After all as far as she knew they were heading back to her house after this stop. She began dialing. There was a few rings before the answer.
"It's about time you answer!" Greg's voice was stiff, there was obvious annoyance in it.
"Listen I'm just calling you to tell you that I don't want to see, you or Conner, anywhere near my house."
"what!?"
"You heard me, Greg. And I'm dead serious. I don't want any problems with, Romeo. He's been nothing but kind to me, and I don't want you guys to bully him!"
"This is about-"
She gritted her teeth. "this is about- nothing! I want not you, not Conner outside." She took in a deep breath.
"it's just that-"
She angrily swiped on her phone and hung up.
Greg turned to face Conner, he was sitting on the side of the curb throwing little pebbles at the grass, waiting to hear what his friend had to say. His dark blue eyes looked expectant at the blonde, "well?"
"Conner, she said she didn't want us anywhere near her house right now that, Mr. Smartypants brings her home."
Conner stood, his shoes scrapping the pavement loudly as he did so. "What!?" his hands formed fists on his sides, "she's bringing him home, again!?"
Greg suddenly looked worried at his friend, "yo, Conner, calm down." He neared the boy, "I'm sure there's a reasonable explanation to all of this, I mean, c'mon… it's Amaya."
Conner relaxed at Greg's comment and heaved a sigh, "I-I guess you're right. She can't possibly be seeing this fool, right?"
Greg's blonde brows suddenly rose, curiosity growing in his being, "so what if she was?" He saw the danger in his friends eyes light up and he put his hands up in defense, "I mean… you have, Daisy…"
"that's different." The Jock shook his head, leaning himself against the car parked in the driveway. "she's, Amaya."
Greg rose his brows again, his green eyes curious, "so what if it's, Amaya? What difference does that make?" there was a pause and Conner clicked his tongue as he shook his head. "When I wanted to ask her to be my girlfriend; that's the same excuse you gave me." Greg crossed his arms, even though he hated arguing with his best friend, he had to know.
Conner pushed himself off the car, "that was different… I just didn't want things to change between us."
Conner began to pace, his hands on the back of his head. "If you went out with her then… imagine to not ruin the trio you would've had to have married her."
Greg shook his head that was the dumbest excuse he'd ever heard. "and what if I had ended up marrying her, she's beautiful, she's caring, and I've known her my whole life."
Conner stared at Greg and shook his head.
"Seems to me you're being selfish, Conner. You don't want her for anyone and not even for yourself."
The brunette stopped pacing and turned to face his blonde friend. "That's ridiculous, Greg. I just don't want to lose her to, Romeo."
The blonde rolled his eyes and went on, his heart hammering in his chest, there was buried rage in there and he didn't want to let it out not on, Conner. "You're the one who basically pushed her away from our plans. You decided to exclude her after going out with, Daisy. All of this is happening, her going out with Romeo, because of that." He spoke as a matter of fact and Conner didn't like that.
"You're blaming me but you did the same." He unzipped his sweater and pulled it off throwing it over his right shoulder. "You went out with, Luna. Knowing damn well that they don't tolerate each other."
They were arguing, the situation almost getting out of hand, when suddenly a car pulled up by the driveway, parking a few feet away from them.
"Look!" Conner punched Greg on his arm and they shifted their attention to the two figures inside the car.
Romeo stepped out from the driver's seat, a pair of aviator glasses sitting on his face. There was a smug smile on his lips and he pulled on the glasses to place them inside his car. He was wearing a dark tight shirt that hugged at his broad shoulders and thick arms, he wore a pair of white pants, perfectly ironed. A pair of heavy black boots were on his feet, and a black bracelet sat on his left wrist. His hair was fluffed back and a strand of his white streak fell down his forehead.
Conner stared at Romeo, then looked down at his gym clothes, they were stained with sweat and dirt from the soccer field. Greg couldn't help but notice and looked down at himself too, also dirty and sweaty. They had had soccer practice and hadn't had the patience to go home and change out of their training clothes.
Amaya pushed the door open of the car, in her arms the small bundle of the fake baby. Romeo walked up to her, helping her step out, there was a smile on her lips and she nodded at the young man.
The two boys stared dumbfounded.
Romeo smiled towards them and he waved before the girl stepped out. The two boys stood there in silence as the scene unfolded before them.
There was a file in Romeos left hand and his keys on the other, he helped Amaya off the car and hung her backpack over his shoulder.
"Good afternoon, Conner, Greg." Romeo walked behind Amaya as they walked up the pathway into her home, the girl didn't even bothering looking their way. A slap of cologne hit their senses and all the two could do was stare. No reply, no nothing.
The door to her house sounded as it closed and the two boys stood there in silence, their eyes on one another.
Greg was the first to snap out of it. "what just happened?"
Conner suddenly blushed, jealousy warming his belly. "he's trying to play the nice guy, that's what just happened."
"You think so?" Greg questioned in disbelief, "cause he looked sincere to me."
"I don't think so, Greg. It's Romeo, for God's sake."
The blonde looked around, "so what do we do now?"
"I have to talk to, Amaya. Alone. We'll just have to wait until pretty boy leaves."
"Is that what we're going to call him now?"
Conner ignored the comment and turned his heels towards his house, "come on, let's go change… we'll just have to keep an eye open when he leaves so we can catch, Amaya alone."
Greg nodded and walked off after his friend his head shaking as they walked away.
Amaya sighed as she peeped out her window. Her heart hammered against her chest and she flipped around, her eyes catching sight of Romeo shaking hands with her parents. She quickly walked towards her living room and laid the fake baby on the sofa, bundled up in a blanket.
She pinched her lips together as Romeo began his speech about her situation.
She stood there until her mother invited them to sit at the dinner table to discuss the matter at hand. There was a smile on her fathers face when Mr. Mecano spoke about her future, and her mother's eyes watered with nostalgia when he mentioned moving from state.
Dinner was served with the help of Amaya and soon they had come to a conclusion. Amaya had her parents approval for a bright future. There was smiles and laughter and her father beamed proudly.
There two men were talking and Amaya was entranced as the conversations went from professional to personal. There was a sudden clearing of throat and the girl turned to face the owner. "What is it, mom?"
There was a smile on the woman's face, "will you help me pick up the plates? I want to bring some banana pie, it's delicious. I bought it yesterday, not knowing that we'd celebrate such good news!
The two walked into the kitchen, Amaya beaming with a smile on her face. She was so grateful for everything that was happening.
Her mother stood at the sink, her back towards the girl. She began to wash the dishes quietly. And Amaya couldn't help but feel tense.
"mom, is everything alright?"
There was no answer from her mother.
She walked up to her, placing her hand on her shoulder.
"Mom?"
Her mom turned to face her, wiping her wet hands on a little towel that hung near the counter. "Amaya, I don't doubt anything he's saying. You're a brilliant, and intelligent young woman. All I want to know is that if you go with this man… that I can keep trusting you." Her eyes teared. "I want to know that you are going to be safe. That this Romeo figure isn't thinking about anything else."
Amaya took a step back from her mother. Those words of doubt making her stomach feel warm with distaste. "Mom, why would he?"
"No, Amaya. Please don't get angry at me. I just- can you promise me that there is nothing going on between you two? Why is he offering to sponsor you?"
"I knew something like this was going to happen. I knew you were going to doubt me. My capacity."
"No," she held her hands to her daughter arms. "I just… he's young and you're young. And he's going to take you to his house, and you're going to live there with him. Is he married?"
Amaya stared at her mother in disbelief, she had always thought her mother was not tainted with perversion. "Does it make a difference if he's not?"
"You are going to be there, living in his home. HIS HOME. Spend his money." The older woman's eyes watered, "what do you think he's going to ask for in return!?"
She laughed sarcastically, "answer me!"
Amaya stood there in disbelief, she didn't understand where all of this was coming from. Her father was calm, she could still hear the laughter of the two men out there in the dining table.
"He already said what he wanted in return, mom. And it's not what you think."
Her mother blinked shaking her head, "and what is that he wants?"
"for me to help another student become a thriving scientist, just as he's helping me now."
Her mother shook her head, not looking convinced, and walked towards their fridge. "that's what he says now. Once you become a burden he'll ask for repayment."
"Mom, why are you acting like this!?" She just about had it. "Mr. Romney did the same for him, did you not hear?"
Gretel gritted her teeth, "it's not the same!" she pulled out the banana pie and began out towards the dinner table.
"how so?"
"He's a man."
They stepped out of the kitchen and the laughter of her father resonated the walls. It sounded as if the conversation on this end was nothing but joy. They were served the dessert and that was ate up quickly. Soon the dishes were picked up, and the sky was dark. Romeo bid his farewells and shook hands with her father. Amaya was quiet, while her mother smiled and talked.
"I will see you tomorrow, Amaya." Romeo smiled, and the girl nodded with her lips in a thin line. She hummed a yes and he rose a dark brow. "excuse me then. I will see you all on Friday."
They walked him to the door and bid a goodnight. As soon as the door was closed behind him, both her parents turned to look to her.
Amaya's heart began to hammer against her chest, so loud she thought for sure they would hear it.
"Away, to a different state, Amaya?" her fathers voice was stern, his lips in a deep frown.
"I knew this was going to happen." She shook her head and began up to her bedroom. Her parents walked behind her, their footsteps loud against the hardwood floors.
"Of course this was going to happen, young lady!" she walked into her room and the couple stepped in behind her. She sat on her bed and hugged one of her pillows. Her glasses fogging up as tears flowed down her cheeks.
"what were you thinking, agreeing to this crazy sponsorship!?" The man shook his head, his cheeks were flushed with internal rage. "He is as old as you! Do you have any idea how dangerous it would be for you to be under his supervision. It's the blind leading the blind!"
She pushed her pillow aside and stood from her bed, conjuring all the bravery she had in her system to stand up to her parents. "No. He's a very successful young man! And he is no idiot, and I am by far not stupid either. I have every right to have and take this opportunity! I have worked so, so, hard during all my school years… I just thought that you guys would be supportive…" her voice broke. "and not doubt me. I'm smart enough to make wise decisions. You two have raised me that way." She locked tear filled eyes with her mom.
"It's as if you guys don't have any faith in me. When have a I broken your trust?" her eyes were to her father now.
The couple simply stood there, her words breaking every bit of rage they had had.
Her mother nodded slowly, her lips going in a line. She shifted her gaze towards her husband and the man did the same.
"If I don't take this chance… this opportunity life is giving me… then I might as well have dropped out of mid high-school." She crossed her arms and sat back down on her bed, "if I was going to work a simple job anyways."
Her fathers brows creased, "now you don't say that, young lady. Every job is honorable, there's no doubt about that. It's the opportunities in life-" He caught himself biting his tongue as he said those words.
Dan settled down suddenly, his daughters room going quiet. His wife looked to him with curiosity.
"If you promise to behave and let your head rule your decisions, and not your heart. I will give you permission to study with, Mr. Mecano."
Her eyes lit up, and she turned to face her father. There was a giant smile on her face and her mother's frown deepened.
"Dan, he's her age!" she went on, "what if he suddenly asks for something in return!?"
Her father closed his eyes, then he turned to look at his daughter, "then we can trust that, Amaya is going to reach out to us for help."
The woman suddenly turned to face her daughter. "Will you?"
Amaya stared at her mom, and suddenly it dawned on her that it wasn't that she didn't trust her, it was that she worried about her. "of course, mom."
There was suddenly laughter from her father and he hugged his two girls. "Then it's settled, our little girl is set out to become a beacon in the family!" Amaya couldn't help but giggle as she hugged at both her parents. "thank you, I love you guys! I won't let you guys down!"