Xavier's girl

Vanessa

In the midst of soaking in the bath when I heard a noise, I knew Xavier had to back to the office so I was startled. I sat up, listening carefully incase I just imagined it. The bathroom door was slightly opened letting the room light sip through. Did Xavier come back early? He said he would be home at night time. Did he come back to tell me he changed his mind about me staying here?

I heard another creaking sound as if opening a door, the hair on my neck stood up. Getting out the bath quietly, I put on the white robe that was hanging on the wall. My first thought was to check on Amelia, maybe she was awake. I paddle out the bathroom my wet feet living footprints on the carpet.

"Xavier?" I called out into the empty hallway, Amelia's room was right in front of the guests I was staying in.

When I didn't get a reply, my stomach dipped. I opened Amelia's door slowly to check on her, expecting to see her awake. She was sleeping soundly in her crib. Taking a step out, if she wasn't the one making noise who was?

Just as I closed the door, I hear shuffling coming from the living room. Each step I take towards the noise heartbeat grew louder in my hear. I was now wishing I called Xavier, this is how people die in the movies. By following the noise.

I stopped when the living room and kitchen were in view, it was empty. I shake my head confused, I'm sure I heard something. I walk dipper into the kitchen only to scream.

I scream bloody murder when I saw a figure rummaging through the fridge. I can't see anything but long blonde hair on a petty person.

"Oh sorry, I didn't mean to startle you." She spins around looking apologetic. I immediately recognise the face, she was another image of Xavier to expect the hair. This was Xavier's mother.

She looked nothing like the last time I saw her, she looked healthy. Her eyes were sprinkling in happiness, she looked neat and well dressed. Didn't look crazy anymore.

"I just came by to drop my son some lasagna, I heard he was in town. I didn't expect him to have company" she looks over my wet hair and robe.

"Oh no, no-no." I shake my head at her "this isn't what it looks like." I was so embarrassed, this wasn't a good impression I was making.

"Don't worry dear, I'm not that old. I know what you young people get up to these days." She closed the fridge

"I assure you Ma, I was just taking a bath, Xavier, actually at the office right now."

"Call me Eva dear," she grabs my hands in hers smiling

"You are so beautiful, you look just like my old friend." I stood there not knowing what to say.

"Thanks?"

"You're welcome dear," she laughs,

"I'm Vanessa," I tell her

"That's a beautiful name, Vanessa." She plays with my name, still smiling.

"Oh silly me!" she shakes as if she just remembered something. "Would like some lasagna?"

"Yes please," I was starving

"Seat down," she pulls a barstool before opening the fridge

"So tell me, how did you meet my sweet boy," she dishes me a plate of lasagna.

Sweet? She thought Xavier was sweet?

"We met in high school, a year and a half ago."

"How comes I never ran into you? I knew all his friends, we were sort of a big family." She looks confused for a second. I can't tell her I met her before, doesn't feel like I should. She's a completely different woman.

"We weren't that close," I lied

"That's good, they weren't like normal teenagers. You would have gotten caught in the middle," she muttered quietly

"Xavier didn't tell me you were in New York," I change the subject, truthfully because I wanted to know how she got here.

"He moved me here a year ago, he bought this beautiful house on Long Island. Surprised me on my birthday, to be honest, I was happy leaving LA." She placed a plate of the lasagna in front of me.

"Isn't he sweet?" She asked

"Oh yeah so sweet," I wanted to scoff but for her benefit, I didn't. I can tell she loves him.

"Do you love him?" I stopped just as I was about to eat, looking at her. Shocked she would ask that.

"Because if you don't love him you need to leave, I can't have anyone hurting my boy. I don't need him hurting, he needs someone to love him." She yanks my hands making me drop the fork,

"I need to make sure you love him and you are good enough for him," her grip grew tighter making me wince

"Answer me, Vanessa! Do you love him?" She was shaking violently, her eyes filling with unshed tears.

"I don't know" I whisper in pain from her deadly grip

"GET OUT!" She jumps back as if I burnt her

"GET OUT NOW!," she yells slamming her hands on the counter. I look at her afraid, where did the sweet woman go?

"Mother?" I hear his confused voice behind us, I never felt so relieved of him interrupting.

"Xavier!" She exclaimed

"Are you okay?" I felt his arm around my waist "did she hurt you?" he whispers in my ear

"Get away from that slut!" Eva yells wagging her finger at me

"She doesn't deserve you no one does," she continued now sobbing

"Go to the room Vanessa, I will come get you after." he pushes me towards the corridor.

Instead of leaving, I stood there speechless, how can her entire mood change so quickly. I watch Xavier closely as he slowly approaches her.

"She will take you away from me," Eva says. Was she talking about me?

"How did you get here? Does Clare know you left the house?" Xavier guides her to the living room, leaving me standing in the kitchen.

"No, I just wanted to see you. I'm doing so much better now." She runs her hair through her thick hair.

"I know, but you can't leave the house alone." I was so surprised by how gentle he was with her. Like a baby. I was tearing up just watching them.

"Xavier, I'm fine. I even made you some lasagna." She points to the fridge.

"Why were you yelling at Vanessa?"

"I didn't yell at anyone," Eva said defensive,

Excuse lady but I am standing here still in shock and traumatised.

"Okay, It's okay," Xavier says tiredly

"I will call Clare to come to get you, she must be worried." he pulled out his phone and dials a number.

~~~~~~~~~~

I turn around before he catches me watching them, Eva just left with the nurse called Clare. Clare was worried looking for her, she wasn't allowed to leave the house alone.

I was still in the robe, but I moved to the living room when the nurse came. I still can't comprehend what happened, I thought we were getting along. Before she changed mood, it was like she was a completely different person.

I look behind when I didn't hear him, he stood in front of the fridge like his mother was when I caught her. I watch quietly, he took out the lasagna before closing the fridge doors. Expecting him to place it in the oven or microwave to warm it up, instead, he walks towards the bin and dumps it in.

"Why did you do that?" I asked angrily, even though I and Eva didn't get off on the right foot. I won't let him throw away the food she made.

"She made you that," I rush to the bin

"Leave it," he said his voice filled with coldness

"No, I won't let you waste food." I try to get to the bin but he didn't move

"She's didn't fucking make that, I don't even think she knows how to cook. I don't know where she got it from, I'm doing us a favour by throwing it out." he sheers at me

I almost ate that.

"She could have taken out of a bin," he moves to a cabinet, revealing the bottle of alcohol it's contained.

"Sorry for all that." he pours himself a drink. I watch as he downed it like nothing. I couldn't read the look on his face as he walks closer to me,

Something on Xavier's face shifted, a shadow of the past. "She's doing better than before."

"She looks better?" I whispered not sure. For some reason, his mouth appeared even closer than before.

Acting on impulse, I leaned forward and brushed my lips across his then darted my tongue out, tasting the liquor clinging to his mouth. Smoky and sweet.

Xavier stiffened, but the look on his face became even more intense than before. "What was that?" His voice was a low rasp that I could feel everywhere.

"A kiss?" I wasn't sure why I did that.

"Are you trying to influence me with your body?"

My eyes grew wide. "No. I could smell the liquor on your breath, and I just wanted a taste."

Xavier's chuckled. "You are a strange girl." His mouth twisted. "Woman."

"Can I have a sip of your whisky?"

Xavier's eyes bored into me. "You've never had whisky before?"

"No."

"I own all your first." A small shiver passed down my spine at the contemplative growl.

"You aren't old enough for hard liquor."

My lips parted in annoyance. Was he serious?

He downed the remains of his drink, and before I could say something snarky, he cupped the back of my head and pressed his lips to mine. Gently at first, his eyes searching mine. I grasped his bicep and stood on my tiptoes—his permission. Then he really kissed me, his tongue stroking mine, discovering my mouth. The taste of whisky swirled in my mouth, intoxicating—not as much as the kiss though.

God, his kiss set me aflame. Just like before. When he pulled back, I was dazed.. But not for long, there was a loud cry coming from the monitor.