Chapter 19 Shopping

Elena

“Yo!” Liam waved as he yelled from where he stood beside the red Aston Martin that was currently being fixed.

“Hey." I grinned, waving back.

Liam smiled his typical lopsided grin before he went back to what he was doing. His unclad body was covered with grease from the car and he was with Aiden, who had no shirt on as well.

His muscles flexed as he tightened the loose bolt on the tyre of the Aston Martin, his toffee brown hair was a bit longer, lustrous and tousled as ever.

My hands clenched into a fist at my side, I stomped my feet firmly to the ground so as not to embarrass myself by running to touch him.

What I felt for Aiden was more than an attraction- it was obvious- and my body couldn't stop feeling hot whenever I stared at him.

As if he sensed my gazes on him, he lifted his head and his blue orbs bored into mine.

My cheeks reddened, and I glanced away from his scrutiny.

Aiden needed to only stare at me with those gorgeous deep-set eyes of his to turn me into a blushing mess. It was kind of awkward seeing as his siblings often noticed this.

“Where are you off to?"

My head snapped up whilst I stared at him.

"I'm going shopping for today's event.” I frowned as he gripped his discarded shirt where it was in the car and slipped it on.

“Bummer,” I mumbled to myself.

Sorry princess, you should be glad he did it since you can't even control your desire for him, and you wouldn't want to embarrass yourself.

“Shut up.”

Oh, the full moon is only a matter of time, and you'll get a piece of that.

“Ugh!”

I groaned, before shaking my head to clear my naughty thoughts.

Inner me was so vulgar compared to outer me and it made me look weird since I was talking to myself.

Perhaps, not too weird in this part of the world I was in because everyone could communicate with the other just by staring at them, so I heard.

I have not figured out how that works and maybe I would never. I was not a werewolf, to begin with.

Even as Aiden had his shirt on, I tried not to stare too long at him, so as not to elicit a response from inner me who had been active ever since I met with Aiden.

“Without me?” He lifted a brow as he moved closer. “And isn't it a bit too late to go dress shopping?”

He was sporting a few days old-growth beards on his face, his biceps contract as he did little stretches. Then, he winked as he caught me staring.

I stuck out my tongue to wet my lips, and my eyes stayed on him for a while until I realized what he was doing.

“It's not and I know what you are doing Aiden," I muttered flushing.

“What?” He stared at me with mock innocence whilst trying his best not to chuckle.

“Stop seducing me!” I whisper-yelled, smacking his hands that reached for mine away.

Discreetly, my eyes roamed around to see if any of his siblings present here noticed our little exchange.

I let out a sigh as I saw them going about their businesses. Kellen walked out of the big mahogany door and slipped out of his red plaid shirt before joining Liam.

The Crooks boys had a body to die for- Broad shoulders, well-toned muscles and a statuesque physique. Including their father, despite how old he was, he still looked quite fit.

Ellen sauntered towards us- the tucked in, polka dot pink chiffon blouse, and stone-washed high-waisted jeans she donned on made her look super cute. She even wore her signature nude heels which often enhanced her height.

“Everything isn't about you Aiden, ” She said, rolling her eyes.

I guess she had heard that part because Aiden had been loud.

“Let her have some girl time to herself,” She added, scowling at him. She whacked his hands that gripped mine off as she stood in between us.

“I wasn't talking to you." He pointed out as he attempted to reach for me again.

“El Move.” He shoved her gently and she tottered on her heels but she didn't fall since the push was only done to make her move.

“Whatever." Ellen rolled her eyes for the umpteenth time as she regained balance.

“I could have sprained my ankles, you know.” Her lips were pressed together as she crossed her arms across her chest.

“But, you didn't.”

Aiden gave a half-shrug and quickly pecked my lips before Ellen steered me towards her car.

Sparkles sat shotgun and her head lifted from the screen of her phone as soon as I opened the passenger door.

She eyed me through the rearview mirror and twisted her lips like she often does whenever she saw me.

“Soften up, Sparky. She has come to stay and no amount of scowls from you can send her out.” Ellen mumbled.

“Don't call me that, Barbie!” She ground her teeth together.

“Unlike you, Sparklight," Ellen paused observing her sister's reaction before she went on, “I preferred to be called Barbie. Tell me, don't I look like one?"

Ellen's eyes twinkled and her cupid's bow lips stretched out in a dimpled smile.

Sparkles hands tightened into fists, and she squinted at Ellen who flicked her slick blonde hair.

She beamed, showing off her straight teeth.

“Be glad I can't hit you because you are my sister else, you'll need to search inside this car of yours for the missing part of your teeth.”

Were there rules against hitting siblings in their household?

Since I knew them, they only bickered with each other and nothing else. I haven't seen them fighting each other before or maybe it was a rule set by their mom.

“Oh, I'm scared of you, sister dearest," Ellen rolled her eyes, “And I know what is running through your head, Lena. Can I call you that?

“You already did.” Sparkles drawled, curling her lips.

I nodded, ignoring Sparkles retort. Though it was only Renee that called me that, I wouldn't mind if anyone did anyway.

“You can.”

“Great, the answer to the question in your head is, it's a rule set by mom. If we hit each other, we'll be in the cellar for days and lest I remind you, that is the last place on earth you would like to be in." Ellen shivered, and Sparkles did the same.

If the cellar could frighten Sparkles, that means it wasn't a pleasant place to be in.

Ellen turned on the ignition and drove away from the lot. The ride to the mall wasn't a silent one and I wished I had asked Renee to come with us when she had begged.

I didn't let her because of the cold vibes radiating off of her and Sparkles. I wouldn't like to see them tearing each other hairs' out.

Also, I wished I had my earbuds with me, at least I wouldn't have to listen to their rants.

“You have the worst taste in songs and sometimes I often wonder why we are related because you are so weird.”

“You are one to talk, uhn? Your fashion sense is so severe and makes me want to retch!" Ellen sassed back.

“No, offence, it is.”

Ellen giggled and Sparkles twisted in her seat to glance at me.

“What did you just say to me?” She sneered.

My eyes widened as I realized I had said what I was thinking aloud.

“I'm sorry, I didn't mean it to come off that way.” I stuttered.

“Good and stay out of this, I mean whatever is happening between me and my siblings. Or else you'll get hurt.” She threatened.

I recoiled at her cool words and went back to staring out of the window.

I gripped my hair and did it in a loose ponytail as the cool wind whipped it around my face. The road blurred, and I watched as the tall trees swayed as we sped by. The journey seems like forever, but we eventually got to our destination.

I stepped out of the car as soon as Ellen turned the ignition off. Sparkles moved next to me and prodded my shoulder whilst I was stretching.

“Hey, don't mind whatever she's doing to you. Just know Sparkles is the friendliest in us and she is this way often whenever she encounters humans for the first time.”

Perhaps, I was the human she never liked because I had seen her relate to my step-siblings and she had been very receptive towards them.

However, I nodded and I nudged the door open. Ellen and I separated as soon as we stepped into the mall. She went to the decoration session to get what was needed for the founder's day ball whilst I went in search of dresses.

After searching for a while, I found something I finally liked.

“Damn! that looks ugly on you." Sparkles grimaced whilst checking herself in the full-length mirror.

She donned a red maxi, off-shoulder, bell-sleeved high slit dress. The low V-shaped neck made her look slutty as it left nothing to the imagination. But Sparkles being Sparkles didn't care what anyone said about her.

Except for Aiden.

I placed the black gown with me back in its box and swirled to see who she had been talking to. I found no one, not even Ellen was present.

“Be nice Sparklight!" Ellen said from a counter next to mine.

“Shut up Barbie, and besides, I didn't say anything bad."

“Elena, I'm sure whatever you pick out, Aiden will love it," Ellen assured.

“Thanks, Ellen,” I mumbled, picking up the first dress I had plucked from the rack before. I didn't try it on because I wasn't ready to hear another demeaning comment from Sparkles.

The ride back home was worse than the first as she began to chew gum she had bought from the mall very loud. Also, she was yelling out the lyrics of the song playing out from the car Mp3.

Even as the earmuffs I had purchased were on, I could still hear the irritating sound.

She continued with her irking behaviour until we got to the parking lot.

“Thank goodness, I thought my ears would fall off," I said as I stepped down from the car.

“It would have been perfect if it did." Sparkles snickered.

“I don't like you." I narrowed my eyes on her.

“The feeling is mutual, darling." She faked a smile, bumping her shoulder into me for the umpteenth time.

I had had enough of her childishness and I wasn't taking it anymore.

I tugged her back as she was about to step away from me. “Don't ever do that again."

“And if I do?” Her eyes narrowed as she glared at me.

She yanked her hand away from mine and brought out a wipe from her bag to clean it.

“You are mean Sparkles and that makes you very ugly."

“Whatever. “By the way, I know I'm so pretty." She said before walking away.

“I'm glad you are maturely handling everything. Like I said before, she isn't this way.” Ellen assured me as I assisted her to carry the bag with the decorations inside.

“She better come around real soon so I won't be tempted to smack that pretty face of hers.”

“I know she could be that annoying, and I would like to say, I've felt that way. I still do because she knows how to push my buttons.” She grimaced.

I bobbed my head agreeing with her on that. Sighing, I pushed the door leading to the living room open.

“At least tonight would make you forget all her nastiness and I'm sure you are excited about it?”

“Of course, I am.”

Indeed, I was excited as well as nervous since Aiden was going to announce my engagement to him. In front of hundreds of people.

“Right now, all you need is your beauty sleep before the party begins.” She pushed me towards the room I share with Aiden and stared at me sternly.

“Sleep”

“Yes ma'am.” I joked.

“Good.” She beamed back.

I stepped into the room and walked towards the well-made bed. Sighing, I plopped on it and drifted off immediately.