Tell Me Why You Love Me (TMWYLM) Read online

  Right... I didn't even notice it was still broken. It was so warm in there, I doubt anybody would have noticed.

  Jordan yanked the sheet from over me and I protested with a glower. "Hey! I could have been sleeping naked!" I stated to him, which received a laugh.

  "You'd think I'd want to take advantage of that flat body of yours?" He teased. I hit him with my pillow.

  I eventually stopped bombarding him with it and tucked it beneath my head again and closed my eyes. "I'm tired. Get out." I stated.

  I hadn't had a good night's sleep last night. Heck, I don't think you can call napping for an hour actual sleep... But I just couldn't sleep in this atmosphere, knowing I had to share the same roof as Kyle.

  I yelped as a hand grabbed my foot and dragged me out of my bed. "I'm giving you no choice, here, brat!" I heard Jordan snap and he almost threw me on the floor.

  "Okay! Okay! I'm getting up. Happy!?" I yelled at him.

  He gave me a smug look and let go of my foot. "Good." He said, before getting his jerk ass out of my room.

  When he closed the door, I let out a large groan and forced myself to my feet. I looked towards the bookcase and touched the photo gently with my fingertips. "Morning, mom." I whispered to her image. I smiled to myself and ran my hand across the ornament before heading to my wardrobe and slipping on my hoodie and jeans.

  Although I was running on an hours sleep, I felt that today was going to be an okay day... As long as I didn't have to see or speak to Kyle.

  I left my room and went down the stairs to be greeted by 5 boys watching the TV, one of them being Kyle. I frowned but tried to put on an unmoved face when he turned to face me.

  "Morning, at last." He said. I groaned at him, not being bothered to give him an actual reply, and made my way to the kitchen, looking in the fridge for some milk and I boiled the kettle.

  "Hey, where d'you keep the teabags?" I asked anybody who was willing to answer.

  "Top shelf on the left!" Craig called back with his unbroken voice. It sounded so cute!

  "Thanks!" I yelled back, opening the cupboard. I saw the sugar in there, as well, so I took it out along with the teabags.

  When the kettle had boiled, I took a cup and poured the hot water in, then dropped the teabag into the water, watching it turn the clear water to a murky brown. I poured in the milk to turn the colour into a pale dusty brown and then placed a heaping spoonful or two of sugar in and stirred. I needed sugar if I was hoping to survive the rest of the day with an hours sleep.

  After I was done, I took out the teabag and dumped it in the bin and the spoon in the sink. I'll wash it later.

  I made my way to the boys, sipping my tea. They were all watching a soccer match. "I didn't know all of you watched soccer." I stated, sitting on the chair arm where Jordan sat. He gave me a glare and I replied with a childish smile, before placing the cup to my lips, focussing on the swirling liquid inside.

  "Yeah! We always watch the game on Sunday!" Craig explained, sitting on the floor in front of Kyle. I gave him an 'oh.' look and joined the boys in their entertainment.

  "We can change it to something more to your liking, if you want." I heard Kyle speak to me. I tried to hold back my hate for him and shook my head.

  "It's fine. I like soccer." I stated in a monotone, still sipping my tea.

  "Wow, a girl who plays baseball AND watches soccer!?" I heard Joe and Josh exclaim together, sitting beside one another on the couch. They then looked at one another and laughed at their similar reactions.

  I gave them a glance from the side. "What's so wrong with that? There's a lot all of you don't know about me." I stated, suggesting to Kyle, who had caught on to my meaning.

  "Like what?" I heard Craig ask me, now intrigued.

  I shrugged and gave him a smirk. "Not saying!" I said, teasingly placing my finger on his forehead and forcing it back, pushing him closer to Kyle.

  "Aw, come on, Freesia! You're our siste-"

  "I'm not your sister." I cut him off, snapping at his comment. I widened my eyes, realising what I said and I immediately slid off the chair arm and made my way to the kitchen, pouring the rest of my tea down the sink and then placing the cup into it. I'll clean that up later, too.

  I left the villa as quick as I could, slipping on my trainers I left outside from yesterday, and walked up to the top of the hill. It was colder than yesterday, for sure. Even whilst wearing my hoodie I could feel the chill. I guess it being close to autumn didn't help. But there was no way I was going back in the villa after I snapped at Craig like that.

  I could hear the construction workers lifting up the large pane of glass with a crane for my room. I was able to blank out the noise as I gazed out to the sea.

  The waves were snappy and not all that pleasing to look at. But I didn't care. The ocean was the ocean to me. And I loved the ocean... My mother loved the ocean.

  I lowered my eyes and sighed quietly. I miss you so much, mom. What am I supposed to do?

  I crouched down and put my head between my knees, weeping a tear or so. I promised her I wouldn't cry. But every time I saw the Ocean, it made me remember her smile. And those loving words she always told me that helped me in tough spots.

  I opened my eyes and raised it from my legs. That's right... I jumped up and ran down the hill as fast as I could, without falling, and ran into the villa, the boys still surrounding the TV. I stopped running and quietly made my way past them, unsure as how to act after snapping like that. Especially with Craig.

  When it was clear, I continued running and opened my door to my room. Some construction workers were finishing up the window and turned around to see me. They smiled and I smiled back.

  "I'm sorry for interrupting." I said sheepishly.

  One of them shook their heads. "No worries. This is your room, we're the ones who are intruding." They reassured me and I bowed a little, before running to my bookcase, skimming through the book titles.

  Wuthering heights... The Scarlet Letter.... Alice's adventures in wonderland... Oh! There it is! Gulliver's travels.

  I slipped the book from the row and opened to the middle page to find slips of paper. I took them out and skimmed through them.

  I stopped at the one I was looking for, and I released a smile.

  Whatever happens, you are never alone. Even in the most difficult of times.

  The handwriting was my mother's and it made me feel warm inside. I gathered the papers back up and slipped them back into the middle of the book and set it back where it belonged on the bookcase, with a gentle smile on my face.

  My mother's words were always what I turned to when I was little. Even when she and Kyle were together, I always ran to her and took her words as my support. Even to this day...

  I turned to the two workers and smiled at them. "Thanks for fixing my window." I stated.

  They both looked my way and laughed. "Miss, this is our job."

  I shrugged. "I know. But still, you fixed my window. So the least I could do is thank you." I saw the two men shy away a little with embarrassed smiles on their faces. "Would you like a cup of tea?" I asked them.

  They both nodded. "We'd love one, Miss. If it's not any trouble, of course."

  I shook my head with a smile. "Of course not. I want to personally thank you for this. Hard work should be rewarded even with the smallest of gifts." Another one of my mother's phrases.

  I left my room and headed to the kitchen with a smile on my face. After reading my mother's words, I felt better. I set out two cups and boiled the kettle.

  "You're having two more cups?" I heard a voice from behind me, making me jolt.

  I turned my head to see Jordan looking at me with his green eyes, a slight look of confusion on his face. I gave him a scowl and I carried on stirring the milk into the tea, making it turn a slightly darker shade of dusty brown than I normally did for myself. "These are for the workers upstairs. The least I can do is make them a drink after all that hard work." I stated, banging the spoon on
the side of the cups and throwing it in the sink. I'll clean that along with the other spoon and my cup later.

  I picked up the two cups and turned, pushing Jordan out of my way with my shoulder, a look of confusion on his face. "Why the hell would you do that?" He asked me as I walked out the kitchen. "They're just doing their job." He stated.

  I gave him a smile and shrugged slightly. "Just one of my morals, I guess." I answered before making my way upstairs and into my room, handing the two men their drinks.

  They gave me a thankful smile, took a few gulps, and then continued knocking the glass in, making sure it was secure. I stayed there with them for a while and talked to them about Menial stuff. After all, I didn't want to face any of the boys for a while. Thankfully, Jordan just shrugged it off because he sort of thinks the same as I do about Kyle. He understood. But the other boys, I'm not too sure...

  When the two workers had finished, I gave them one last thanks and they thanked me for the drinks and the chat before leaving. I couldn't help but lose my smile when they left.

  Talking to people was my strong point when I was a kid, but after my mum had gone that confidence all but vanished. It was thanks to Janice, the worker at the orphanage, that I got some of that confidence back. I should pay her a visit at one point. And all the other kids at the orphanage. It'd be nice to see them again.

  I made my way downstairs and set the cups in the sink in the kitchen. I decided to wash them, along with my cup and the two spoons. I didn't want it to get too much and forget about it. I hummed a random tune as I washed and dried them all before placing them in their allocated cupboards.

  When I was finished, I dried my hands on the towel and looked to the couch. Nobody was there anymore.

  I furrowed my eyebrows and looked around. Where could they have gone to? I stepped out of the kitchen to look around and stepped outside. The noise of ball hitting bat rang through my ears and I looked to the hill to find three boys playing baseball. There seemed to be another person lying on the grass, reading a book.

  I was about to go up to them to ask if I could join, but I remembered my previous bite at Craig. It still made me feel bad and I turned, making my way back into the villa. But I was stopped by a large hand on my shoulder.

  I immediately turned to see Kyle and slapped his hand off my shoulder. "Don't touch me." I stated. I didn't want to yell anymore. I didn't want to make myself feel anymore awkward.

  He frowned at me but gave me a weak smile. "Y'know, kid, you remind me a lot of your mo-"

  "Don't say it! I told you to never mention her!" I yelled at him. Okay, so my previous comment of yelling, if my mother was involved it didn't apply.

  I saw Kyle's face drop. "Listen to me, Freesia." he spoke softly. "Those boys aren't mad at you for earlier, y'know." he spoke quickly, before I could snap back at him.

  "What?" I asked as my body relaxed.

  He smiled at me gently. "Your mother had that ability. Nobody could ever be mad with her for long."

  What? So why did he...?

  He saw my look of confusion and shook his head. "Not right now. I'll tell you everything you need to know at a later date. You still need to get used to living with us, so just take your time, okay?" He gave me a smile and patted my head before walking outside and calling the boys, who immediately turned to face him.

  He grabbed me by the hand, taking me by surprise and took me under his arm. "You guys need two extra players!?" he yelled to them. I looked at him and he gave me a smile. "Just have fun for a while, kid." he said, releasing me and making his way up to the boys.

  Why did he say that to me? I thought he left my mother. So why...?

  Chapter 4

  Be a sore loser and you'll get a sore heart

  Another one of my mother's phrases. But this time, I had to break it. I wasn't going to accept defeat to Kyle. That was the last thing I'd ever do.

  The score was 9:8. One more run and their team will win. I was not going to let them win! No way!

  We had split ourselves into two teams - one being Kyle, Craig and Joe, whilst the other was Josh, Jordan and myself. Our team was up for running and, if I didn't get a home-run, then we’d be screwed.

  I wiped sweat off my face and slipped my hoodie off over my head. "Wow, never expected you to wear frilly bras!" I heard Jordan comment.

  I blushed when I realised that, when taking my hoodie off, my shirt raised with it. I threw my hoodie towards him with force. "Jerk!" I yelled as he laughed at my reaction and nonchalantly dumped my hoodie to the side. I readjusted my shirt and got my head back into the game.

  Right, I need to get a home-run. I have to.

  I picked up the bat and clicked my neck from side-to-side, looking at the players. It was Joe in pitching. And his fast ball was a mean one, no doubt he'd use it on me. But I was ready. I took my stance and set my eyes on the baseball in his hand.

  He set it high and launched it towards me. I swear the thing was flying 100mph! I readied my swing and went at it full force. Just before it came in contact with the ball, I stopped and the ball tapped the bat, rolling but a few centimetres away. I took my chance and bolted to the first base. To the second base. To the third base. I was almost there.

  I was close to finishing and I knew I was going to make it… Until I saw the ball thrown to Craig. He threw it to Kyle who was in front of me. I quickened my pace and sprinted as fast as I could.

  I wasn't going to make it.

  I decided to take a risk and slide in. I leaned my body back, and my arse skimmed across the grass. I hadn't enough speed and my body stopped inches from the home base. So I swivelled my body and reached out with my hand, touching the base with my fingertips.

  Just before the ball had been caught by Kyle.

  There was silence and then Kyle called it with a grin. "Safe!" He yelled.

  I released a sigh of relief from my lungs and got up on my feet, brushing myself down from dirt and grass, with a pleased smile on my face.

  Now that my turn was over, there was no reason to worry. I stuck my tongue out at the other team childishly and they all clicked their tongues, rolling their eyes.

  "You're up, Jordanne!" I yelled to Jordan who cast me a sharp glare. I stuck my tongue out at him and sat on the grass beside Josh.

  He gave me a nudge with his elbow and I looked at him. "Good tactic." He whispered.

  I gave him a sarcastic look. "Tch, I told you before that there's a lot you guys don't know about me. And my baseball tactics are one of them." I stated.

  Josh gave me a laugh. "yeah, I can see that!" his voice quietening with every word as he watched Jordan go up for bat. I watched with him.

  You have to get this one, Jordan. If not, I'll dip your head in scalding water...

  I saw him look back at me with a provoking look, as if he knew what I was thinking. I replied with a scowl. He smirked before he went back to the game and focused on Joe standing there ready to pitch the ball. When he pulled it back, Jordan's focus set directly onto the ball.

  As it lunged towards him, it caught him by surprise, and everyone else, that Joe had used a curve ball. But it didn't seem to faze Jordan. He stood his ground and swung the bat, tilting it upwards, hitting the curveball and throwing it over the other side of the hill.

  There was silence until me and Josh started cheering as Jordan made his way around the bases, jogging. Show-off, I thought. But if I was in the same position, I'd be doing dance moves every now and again, completely mocking the other team.

  When the game eventually came to a close, the night had started creeping in. It was a nice night, so Kyle decided to cook a barbeque outside.

  As we all headed back to the villa, I felt somebody leap on my back and I almost toppled over. "Woah, hey! What the hell!?" I asked, turning around to see Craig and his cheesy grin on my shoulder.

  "Great job, freesia! That last run of yours was awesome!" he smiled at me as I held him on my back, carrying him to the chairs set out by the twins.

 
I gave him a meek laugh. "Come on, it wasn't that good." I stated.

  "You're too modest, kid!" I heard Kyle say from the barbeque, roasting ham. I give him a frown and then looked away.

  I still loathed him.

  I set Craig down and he ran towards the barbeque, watching Kyle turn the ham and other meat on the grill with wide eyes of excitement. I let out a small pleasing laugh and went into the kitchen to help out the other boys who were getting the plates and drinks ready.

  "Craig's really enthusiastic about this, isn't he?" I asked the twins who were grabbing the cutlery whilst I poured the drinks.

  They gave me a smile. "Of course. Who doesn't like a good family barbeque-oh" Josh looked at me and his eyes narrowed. "Sorry." He said sheepishly.

  I gave him a look and then realised why he apologised. "No worries." I answered him with a half-smile and finished up with the drinks. I paused for a second, looking at the bland looking drinks in front of me. I turned to the twins. "hey, do you have any paper umbrellas?" I asked them.

  They both nodded and pointed to the same shelf. I swear, sometimes it was as if I was seeing double! I laughed and thanked them, opening the cupboard and taking out the umbrellas. I paused and decided to pour all the drinks in different cups and then started working my magic to spoof them up a bit, humming as I did so.

  Once I was done, I walked outside to find I had arrived just in time for food to be served. I smiled at the boys who all gave me confused looks.

  "What the hell took you so long?" Jordan asked, leaning back in his chair and rocking in it.

  I set the drinks on the table and they all looked at them with a mixture of surprise and happiness. "They looked bland. Thought I'd fun them up!" I stated.

  I had dipped the rims of the glasses in sugar and placed a slice of orange on the side. A paper umbrella in each with a skewered grape on the end and some ice cubes to make it taste more refreshing. And a straw to top it off

  Jordan scoffed at me. "That's not a sentence, brat." He stated. I ignored his comment and sat beside him, the only spare chair left.

  "You out-did yourself, kid." I heard Kyle, taking one of the glasses near to him, taking a sip.