C21 Chapter 21

PHOEBE thought it were at the hut late but the man hadn't finished yet. Sawyer stared at her while he was walking. She just shook her head. She tried to avert her eyes from him.

"Stop staring, Sawyer Zane."

"Make me, Flower."

"If I'm going to annoyed you were going to sleep on the couch outside my room.”

"It's unfair."

She raised her eyebrows, still looking away. "What's unfair? You know something like that, huh.”

"Make me stop staring at you, Flower. Because no matter what I do to restrain myself to stop looking at you, it's just self-inflicted." Phoebe immediately blushed at his sweet words.

She wanted to answer him but they were already at the gate of the Mayor's house. Phoebe's greeted the guard there with a smile.

"Hello! Is the mayor there? I'm going to get the another books now."

The guard nodded and opened the small gate. He already know her thought.

"Come in, Phoebe. Just go straight to his office, he's there with Sir Brelln."

She nodded with a smile and said goodbye. But that disappeared when a hand gripped her waist.

"Stop smiling. You can't smile at anyone," Sawyer said emphatically.

"What is it now?"

"I do not like it."

She pouted. "I'm used to smile at anyone, Hon, there's nothing we can do about that."

“But I don't like—”

"Shut up! I'll leave you with Laurel later.”

He didn't answer. She glanced at him. She saw him snorted.

"She's pushing me to that girl and then get jealous later." He whispered so she didn't heard it.

"What are you whispering at?"

He shook his head. “Nothing. Am I whispering? I'm not."

"That's bad." She walked him first but he quickly followed, hands still on her waist.

"Do you always come here?" he asked.

“No. Only when I finish our topics will I come here."

He nodded then became silent. When they entered, they immediately saw the maids going back and forth. She smiles and waves at them when they see them.

"Hello, Phoebe! Are you looking for the Mayor?” An old woman came to them.

"Yes. He's here, isn't he?" She pointed to the upper part of the house where the Mayor's office was.

"It's in his office, Phoebe, just go. Sir Brelln is with him too.”

"Ah yes, that's what the guard said earlier. Alright Auntie Melva, we're going now."

"Alright, Phoebe."

The Mayor's maids are kind. In fact, they are also her close friends here. It's a good thing the Mayor didn't hire a teenager maid. Brelln also doesn't want it because the others don't go there for work but to pay attention to mayor's son.

When they got upstairs, Phoebe quickly knocked. They haven't even had lunch yet. The children still go to school at two o'clock so they still have a long time. Phoebe first gave Shenay to Sawyer.

“Mayor?” She knock again.

"Come in." She turned the lock and went inside first.

"Phoebe?" Brelln stood up and was about to approach when Sawyer also entered. He froze in his place until he slowly sat down again.

"Good afternoon, Mayor. I was just going to get a new book. We finished the topic earlier.”

The Mayor's face lit up. He snap his fingers because of happiness. She shook her head. The Mayor looks happy now.

"Just a moment and I'll get it. Sit down first. Would you like something to drink or eat? You can tell me so I can get it from the maids right away."

She shook her head. "Nah, we're good. We won't last long. We'll just take the book because I will going to cook our lunch."

Mayor looked at Sawyer then he cough softly. He just shook his head before looking away.

"Can you eat here then?" Brelln spoke.

"No thanks," Sawyer answered, giving Brelln a bad look. She elbowed him lightly and faked a laugh. She is the one who is ashamed of the behavior he has shown. He can tell it in a nice way thought.

"Ah don't worry Brelln, we're just eat in my house."

He nodded and looked at his father. "Well, dad the books."

"Yes, this is it." The Mayor came out from a door carrying a large box.

Brelln quickly stood up to help his father. "Give it to me."

When he get it, Brelln approached them afterwards. Phoebe was surprised when Sawyer gave her Shenay and he took the box from Brelln.

Phoebe shook her head when she saw what Sawyer did next. After getting the box, he turned his back on Brelln. This man's behavior is really bad. Just be thankful but he is still struggling.

Phoebe bowed slightly. He simply elbowed Sawyer. "Thank you for this, Mayor." She looked at the Mayor's son. “Brelln, thank you too. We're going now."

"Go ahead, just take care,” the Mayor said.

"Be careful, Phoebe." It's Brelln.

"Be careful, Phoebe." Sawyer mimicked Brelln when they left the office. "Tsk! That fucking jerk was flirting with you. He flirt you in front of me, really?" He frowned when he whispered the last.

She spank his shoulder as they went down. "You are very bad. We are in their house so behave."

"Tell that man too to fix himself, don't flirt with you."

"What is Brelln's fault with you? Why are you so mad at him?"

"So fucking too numb," he whispered.

"What? Please raise your voice.”

He was about to answer when Shenay's voice rose. "Pretty Phoeb numb!"

Her eyebrows met. "Is that what your brother said, Shenay?"

She? What did he say? Numb? Is he really the one who told this numb? In both of them he was even more numb.

“Yes—”

"What? Did I say that? Of course I didn't say that. That's not what I said, Flower."

"Then what?"

He looked away and led them out the gate. He obviously avoiding that. She just let it go. Just like this morning, everyone they pass by is looking at them. Others actually stopped walking just to be curious.

Chismosas. There is nothing else to do in life but to watch over the lives of others. It would be okay if their voices were weak, but no, maybe even in her house their voices could reach.

THEY take the box to school first before going straight home. Phoebe cooked immediately after they arrived at her house. She let Sawyer and Shenay play inside the room. Their voices reached the kitchen.

"Hon, bring Shenay here," she shouted but they didn't seem to hear her.

Somehow, no matter how much she shouts, her voice is still weak. Her friends are so used to it that even if her scream is weak they can hear it. She just went to the room.

“Sawyer Zane, come on. Let's eat." Instead of following her, he even played with Shenay.

“Sawyer!” Still nothing.

She even saw that he stopped Shenay from answering her properly. His hand covered the child's mouth. She raised her eyebrows. It's intentional. She came closer.

“Sawyer, what the!” He didn't really notice her.

"Ah, you really don't want..." She stopped. He remembered something suddenly.

-FLASHBACK-

"Stop calling my name from now on. I love the way you call me 'Honey'.”

She was surprised to look his face. "Huh? I'm shy—"

"I'll ignore you if you don't call me that."

-FLASHBACK END-

She already knew the problem. He can tell her directly what his problem.

"Honey, let's eat. I'm hungry." She softened her voice even more.

She saw his face light up as if he heard something he liked. Phoebe looked away for ten minutes. She wanted to laugh but he might annoyed again.

"Shenay, come on." He picked up Shenay and approached her. She looked up. "Why didn't you say you were hungry right away? Let's go.” He walked first, left her there.

She just winced at what he said. She followed the two into the kitchen.

"Sit here." Sawyer patted the seat next to him.

"I don't want to." He stood up and took big steps towards her. He grabbed her by the hand and pulled her to his side.

"I want to be next to you."

"You're been by my side ever since."

"Eh, that was a while ago."

She shook her head. "You have a lot of mannerism. Oh, eat.”

She served the him out of her own accord as if her body was moving on its own to do that thing. Sawyer was just looking at her.

"My Flower is so sweet."

She rolled her eyes at him. Why does she seem thrilled? She think she's getting used to being called Flower. It's okay for her to hear that.

"Shut up." Phoebe looked at Shenay but she was busy eating so she just let it go.

After eating, they stayed at her house until one o'clock. Phoebe fixed her bag and then the three of them left.

"Pretty Phoeb, do you love handsome brother?"

She and Sawyer were both surprised by the child's sudden question. She glared at her. Her cheeks were red, she was sure of that.

"Shenay, where do you get those questions?" She took Shenay from Sawyer.

His warm arm even touched her. Her fur stood up and she stilled slightly.

"Brother teach." She pouted at Sawyer with a wide eyes.

He quickly shook his head and waved his hand in front of them in confusion. Phoebe couldn't help but grin. Too obvious. She shook her head and handed him the bag.

"Hold it."

"What's in it? It's like it's empty."

"My medicine is there. Don't even bother with that." She hit him on the arm with a raised eyebrow. It's really tough. "Then don't teach this child anything. I don't want this Shenay to inherit from you."

"What? What will she inherit from that? All I have is good looks.”

She think she almost vomited from what he said. Since when did he become self-absorbed? Phoebe snorted. She wanted to laugh but he might suddenly get angry.

“You're so excited—”

“Sawyer!” What Phoebe was about to say was interrupted when someone called Sawyer.

They looked at that person together. Phoebe was stunned when she saw her best friend, Laurel. She walked and ran to get closer to them.

Laurel was wearing a short that was too short, she thinks that it can be seen because it was too short. And paired with it is a sleeveless that shows too much chest. She frowned.

Since when does this friend dress like that?

What he knows Laurel always wears is a t-shirt and jogging pants. She doesn't like that because it's too revealing. Sawyer came closer to her. She was still stunned when his arm wrapped around her waist.

"Laurel? Don't you have a game today?”

Laurel was playing mobile legend all the time. She only comes out of her room once in a while. Sometimes the game has stakes. Laurel just glanced at her before returning her gaze to Sawyer. But Hieven has also been busy teasing Shenay.

“Nothing. Tomorrow is our game again. Where are you going?" She answered her but the sight was still on Sawyer. She sighed.

"At school."

“Can't the two of them bother you? I can take Sawyer around first while you have class—”

"No thanks. I'll stay where my Fiance was. Where she is, I'm just there, I won't leave her. That snotty Brelln might even go here.” She pinched Sawyer hard stomach.

Laurel also looked at it but she just ignored it. "Brelln doesn't go to school."

"Oh, maybe Caldwell will go. No way! I'm just here for you."

"You don't want to go around? Laurel will take you around first so that— ” They tend to cut off when her say. She's not even done yet.

"I do not want. I'm just want to go around with you." Phoebe did not expect what he did next.

Sawyer kissed her temple before he pulled her towards the hut. Laurel was left standing there and looking at them with envy and annoyance. This is probably the beginning of the change in the relationship between the two of them.