14

"Come on, I'll drop you home." Sam suggested after a while of laying in bed together. It was almost six in the evening and we had spent time cuddling against each other.

"You don't have to worry about that, I'll do just fine-" I began to say but he shook my idea off.

"Don't even try to argue it out with me Ally. There is no way I am going to let you go all by yourself so don't even bother." He rolled his eyes, getting out of bed and expecting me to trail behind him.

"I know we talked about boundaries and i am definitely going to respect that but it's late and you can trust that I'm going to oppose you on this one." He picked his clothing that laid scattered around the room and tossed them into the laundry basket.

He walked to his closet and began to create a new selection of outfit. I knew he was right and so I sighed, bending to retrieve my own clothes from off the floor. Admittedly, I'd had the best time with him and he had done a great job with being a distraction. He deserved to be rewarded for what he did.

I was not sure if I was ready to go back home and face whatever was waiting for me. As I put my clothes back on, so many things began to run in my head especially with my sisters.

Surely, my parents would he back by now. Had Becca told Caramel about what she had seen? Had she gone as far as tell my parents?

So many things ran in my head and there was such little way to provide answers.

With a sigh, I decided I would find it all out as soon as possible.

"Alright Sam, thanks for offering to help." I smiled and followed behind him out of his condo and to his car.

"Anything for you babe." He winked and did his part as a gentleman to help with my side of the car, granting me the access in before turning around to take his side in the driver's spot. Within seconds, he hit the road and we journeyed down the path that led to home for me.

*

"Thank you so much for your help." I said to him, getting down from the car when we were a few inches away from my doorstep. I had not want any of them to notice the arrival of a car and begin with questioning and so I had told him to park where we were.

"It is nothing. Make sure to keep up with me on social media, we will talk later tonight alright?" He leaned his head in my direction so he could watch me from out the window.

"Sure." I nodded in approval, giving him one of my best smiles. I waved at him when he pulled out and only resumed walking when I was sure that he was out of sight.

I took a deep breathe in. "Okay Al, you have got this." I tried to convince myself as I made it to my doorstep. I concluded that whatever would be would definitely be so there really was no point in stressing myself about it.

I twisted the door knob but it didn't budge, an active sign that it had been locked from inside the room.

I sighed, rolling my eyes disapproving as I rang on the door bell. My ringing was accompanied by loud sounds on the door, coming from my fist.

"Will anyone open this door already?" I groaned when I realized they were taking longer than expected to open the door.

I was about to throw another harsh knock against the wooden door, standing firmly in its hinges, when it swung open. Caramel stood in front of me and for a second, I could not decided how to react.

What was she thinking? Was she aware of my feelings? Had Becca fed her knowledge on this part? I sighed, hating that I had no one to feed me answers based on my unvoiced questions. She made things worse by stepping away from the door to let me in.

She locked the door behind me and I tried to be careful not to jump into random words.

"Is that Ally?" I heard my mother call, walking down the stairs as she made her way to me with an elegant smile. Her short, blonde hair followed behind her, a small breeze playing its effect on it as she moved.

"Where were you?" She began, cupping one of my cheeks in her hand by the time she got to me.

"Becca said you were upset with her and so you took an angry exit out of the house. I tried to call your phone but turns out you had left it in a hurry." She pointed out. That meant they were illiterates on the matter. I wondered if it was limited to my parents or Caramel was also unaware.

"I'm fine now, mom. I just needed the escape." I forced a smile, gently putting her hand down. "I am exhausted so I'll be going to my room to take a rest now." I turned around on my heels and made my way for the staircase.

"Come down soon for dinner, okay?" She called behind me as I took steps out of the living room. I noticed how Caramel followed hastily behind me.

"Okay mom, I will." I called back. Soon we were out of sight and hearing and I breathed in relief at that.

"Wait!" I heard Caramel stop me in my tracks with her sharp call.

I rolled my eyes but turned around to look at her. She folded her arms across her chest, creased her eyebrows, narrowed her eyes and began to walk towards me.

"Wh- what?" I swallowed, feeling uncomfortable under her gaze.

She stopped right in front of me and put one hand on my shoulder. "Becca told me what happened..." She began.