His Rose

Chapter 12

"Oh, the weather outside is frightful, but the fire is so deligh-"

Mom interrupted my singing. "Oh my Lord. Ria, Christmas was days ago. Let it end."

"Right." Taliah agreed with her. "Didn't keep that same energy in choir." She said, laughing.

"That's because Ms. Weltzer gave us homework." I said incredulously. "Who the f-" I glanced at my mom to see her looking directly at me. I cleared my throat. "I'm unaware of which individual she thought would do and/or enjoy said homework."

"Hmm hm." She hummed, shaking her head. I glared at Taliah because she kept laughing. "I'm gonna go get ready for the dinner." She said as she headed to her room.

Taliah turned to me. "Bro, y'all already meeting each other's moms and shit." She said, wiggling her eyebrows.

I shrugged. "It's really not that deep." I said as I headed upstairs. "Help me get ready?"

"Of course." She followed me up to my room and helped me pick out an outfit.

<*^ ^ ^*>

"You've been hanging out with this boy a lot recently." My mom said as she parked the car at the Wells' house.

I unbuckled my seatbelt. "And his sister. We're really good friends."

" 'Friends' " My mom laughed, getting out of the car and walking to their porch. "Okay, Ria." She said as she rang the doorbell.

Mrs. Wells opened the door with a wide smile on her face. "Ria!" She hugged me. "Looking beautiful like always." She pulled away and turned to my mom. "Ms. Rose." She held her hand tearing up.

My mom glanced at me, as if asking for help and then back at Mrs. Wells. "Um, nice to meet you." She said hesitantly.

"No, the pleasure is mine." Mrs. Wells said with tears in her eyes. "You raised such a wonderful child."

I yelped in surprise when someone grabbed my hand. "Ria and I are going for a walk." Liam said, intertwining our fingers.

I smiled at our mothers and walked away with him.

"So how are we doing today, Ms. Rose?" He asked me, swinging our arms.

I laughed at how happy he was. "Just excited for the new year, you know? How about you, Mr. Wells?" I asked in a british accent.

He tried to mimic my accent. "Very well now that you're here." I had to stop and laugh.

"You're really bad at accents." I said, finally sobering up.

He gasped. "What a horrible thing to say." He said, still trying to make the accent work.

"Please never do that again." I said with tears in my eyes from laughing so hard.

"Damn, I didn't think it was that bad."

"Well you can't be good at everything, Wells." I said kicking a pebble.

He grabbed my hand and pulled me close to him. "You know, I think I know why you call me Wells sometimes."

"It's your name, is it not?" I responded crossing my arms over my chest. Having him close to me did things to my body I was not ready to talk about.

He shook his head, coming in even closer and leaning down to whisper in my ear, "Because I make you real wet." He pulled back and smirked at me.

Fuck...

But I'll be damned if I let him know how much of an effect he had on me.

"Corny ass line." I said, turning around and walking away as if I wouldn't just bust it open for him if he asked nicely.

He laughed and caught up with me. "I'm just playing with you, Babe." He said, throwing his arm over my shoulder.

"Hm hmm." I hummed as I wrapped my arm around his waist and continued walking.

This might be a really good year.

<*^      ^      ^*>

"Lauryn the food was great." Mom said to Mrs. Wells.

It was now 11:53 and over the dinner they had actually become friends. Emily had gone off somewhere so it was just us and Liam in their movie room.

"Oh thank you, Tiana. Actually I was wondering if you would..." I stopped listening when Liam started drawing circles on my wrist.

"That tickles." I whispered, giggling.

"Come to the backyard with me real quick." He said smiling and tugging on my arm.

I smiled back. "Okay." We got up and moved to go to the backyard.

"Aht aht. Where are y'all going together?" My mom asked.

Liam laughed. "Just to the backyard, Mrs. Rose."

She nodded. "Oh alright. Ria, we're going home after the countdown."

I gave her a thumbs up while following Liam out of the room. "Yes ma'am."

"Close your eyes for me." Liam said as we stood at the backyard door.

I complied. He led me through the doors and sat me down on a soft surface. "You can open them now."

I opened my eyes and was met with pretty lights decorating the entire space. The glow of the moon and their pool adding to the unearthly luminescence the lights created. It was truly breathtaking.

"This is- wow. This is really beautiful, Liam." I said, facing him.

"So are you." He said as he twirled a curl of mine. He laughed. "I know you think I'm the king of corny, but this," He signaled to the backyard. "could never begin to signify the light you've brought into my life."

The sincerity and vulnerability in his eyes scared me.

He cupped my cheek. "I love you, Ria."

As if there wasn't too much going on already, fireworks illuminated the night sky. My head was banging from not only their loud sounds, but from Liam's confession.

I closed my eyes and rubbed my temples. Trying, futilely, to stop the headache I could  already feel.

"Say something." Liam whispered.

I opened my eyes again and wished I hadn't. The emotion in his eyes was overwhelming. "I-"

"Ria, you ready to go?" Mom asked from inside the house.

Thank goodness. "Yes ma'am." I said and ran towards her voice without looking back.

This is not how this year was supposed to start.

Um...Goodnight🏃🏾‍♀️