Page 14
I was there by 7 p.m. sharp. Rory was already in her nightwear after her parents had departed a few minutes before.
At the table we remained seated when Ro demanded we colour the pages of her colouring book. The colouring book featured Disney characters and she selected the Rapunzel page.
Ro demonstrated impressive steadiness as she filled in her dress while I worked on her hair coloring. After finishing the coloring activity, we created a decent-looking product which led to Ro developing a small appetite.
"Dino buggies!" "Let's have dinosaur buggies!" she exclaimed before dashing toward the fridge. Lily instructed me not to give more food but dinosaur nuggets remain irresistible to
Ro. Keep mum about this between us, alright Ro? I open the bag and place several nuggets onto the tray.
"I promise. Thank you, Emmy!" she smiled.
We resumed our coloring activity when we put the food in the oven.
Another page later, the nuggets were ready. I served her some while placing just a couple on my plate.
After we finished eating and washed our hands, I asked her to go upstairs to brush her teeth.
While she went upstairs to brush her teeth, I cleaned up the plates. I looked at my phone and confirmed it was 8:15. I loaded the dishwasher with the dishes as Ro came down the stairs in a hurry.
"Can we watch a movie!" she offered.
"Which one?" I posed my question despite knowing her selection in advance.
"Tangled!" she gave me another grin.
"You always pick that movie." I shake my head with a laugh.
"I like it, I like it!" she says. "Plus, Flynn is cute." I laugh while leading her into the living room. I turned on the television when I heard the front door opening. I looked around the wall to identify the person arriving.
"Jaxon?" I ask, quite confused now. "What're you doing here?" Jaxon turns his head towards me as if he thought I wouldn't be here. "I live here, Em."
"I know that" I rolled my eyes. Your mom told me you won’t be back until late.
He removes his shoes before entering the room.
"Change of plans." He smirked and sat down.
I glanced at him before my gaze shifted back to Ro. "Well, then, I guess I can go."
"No!" Ro whined. "We have to watch Tangled!"
I tell him Jaxon would be happy to watch Tangled with you although I'm fully aware he doesn’t want to sit through an entire Disney movie.
He called my name "Emerson" with a tone that revealed his irritation.
"What?" I asked, hiding a laugh.
I want to enjoy watching the movie together with both of you! Ro whined again before Jaxon could respond.
Emerson wants to watch this movie with both of us together. He taunts Rory by repeating her words.
My inner cheek feels the pressure of my teeth because I know he won't endure this experience by himself. "Please." Ro looked at me with her forlorn eyes which stopped me from saying no.
"Fine." I smiled at her.
"Yay!" She shouted in delight when I began the process of selecting the movie. Let's wait before starting because I must use the bathroom now. She gave me a friendly smile then dashed down the corner.
I lean back with my elbow resting against the couch's edge. The next hour will be spent with my least favorite person while he must spend it with me.
The sun's rays drained my energy completely throughout the day but at nighttime at eight only intensified the sleepiness in my eyes.
"Don't fall asleep on me." I hear him beside me. I can't even respond to him. He needs an answer, but I refuse to provide one. I reach for my phone to distract myself while keeping silent.
He mocks me by saying, "You know that's where you don't have any tasks." Without asking for permission, he takes me and but he withdrew it. You make my life unbearable.
He told me that I would feel bored without his presence. I want you to stop doing things like this and I extend my hand toward him once again. "But you seem never to quit it."
His actions pushed me off the boat today which made me angry and then there was this additional reason.
Every day he lives he becomes more difficult according to my observations.
He told me that my behavior today was strange.
"How was I being weird?" I scrunch my face up in confusion. You slapped me in the face of something you seem to love but never provided any argument against me.
I've already told you arguing with you doesn't get us anywhere. I reach for his arm again and successfully grab his wrist this time.
"When did you say that?" he asks as I struggle to grip. "You never listen to me, ever." I release a sigh and redirect my thoughts to the task at d. "I'm serious. Give it back."
"No." He says what I expected him to say yet I remain annoyed.
My grip on his wrist loosened so I tried again to remove the hair tie. His arm movement succeeded in pulling him away while he also dragged me along.
I steadied myself against his shoulder before pushing myself upward. "Jaxon."
"Emerson," he says while moving his face much closer to me.
Not to mention looking very slap able.
So that's exactly what I did. My hand quickly flew across his face without any warning.
"Ow." His hand moved up towards his cheek. "What was that for?"
As I tried to grab his arm once more, he demonstrated enough awareness to move it out of my reach. I explain that my behaviour was motivated by his annoyance although I really don't care about his reaction.
Em shouldn't keep striking me every time he gets irritated. He dismissively rolls his eyes then mocks my hair tie in my face before withdrawing it.
I will slap you whenever my impulse strikes me. Now. Give. It. Back." I ordered him for the millionth time.
The smirk he gave me proved he knew I was getting frustrated, which happens to be his goal every time he feels like bickering: Em you're showing your emotions more clearly than before.
"You don't know shit." I was quick to blurt.
"That you know of." he contests, making me uneasy. "You don't know anything." I reject his idiotic effort to convince me he's making progress.
This time when I reach for his arm again, he responds by grabbing my arm and pressing it against his shoulder. We were sitting extremely close to the couch because my knees pressed right up against his leg.
The sensation registered for a moment before I dismissed it to focus on my goal. "Give me my hair tie."
I could ask Kylie and Hazel for my hair tie but then that would be boring. He proceeds with his speech while disregarding my demands.
The sound of the toilet flush revealed that Ro would return shortly.
Jaxon, this is the final time I'm telling you—you're not going to win this foolish bet so please return my hair tie!
He gave me an evil grin while narrowing his eyes which made me roll my eyes back into my head. "No."
I relaxed my shoulders knowing that this defeat would not last long. My frustration remained at its peak because of his actions.
With a determined voice I say "Fuck you" as I push away from his shoulder. "Want to?" He flashed me with a smirk that pushed me to the brink of losing my temper.
The sound of Ro's feet pattering reached my ears as she rushed toward the living room.
"Shut up." I turn my gaze toward the television after snapping.
He says "That's not a no" with a lighter tone that sounds amusing.
If Ro hadn't intervened by sitting between us, I would have cursed him or slapped him after shooting him a glare.
"Okay, start, start, start!" I hit the play and Ro's excitement became immediately obvious.
I felt uncomfortable when I realized who she had by her side. "You're the worst." I find myself saying.
"I've heard," he responds.
"Hey! Stop fighting; I don't like it!" Ro whined and looked between us.
I noticed her face showed clear distaste and instantly regretted my words. Our frequent arguments disturb me until I realize other people can hear us.
Sorry Ro.