(THAT'S LARA)

Shout out to this amazing person!! Like FR, much love g💜

follow her, you won't regret it and check out her book, Stupendous, if you aren't afraid of the dark LOL!

You will definitely be mentioned! Don't be a silent reader! Xxxxx

Enjoy---- NB: No Rude Comments! ❤

Emma hesitated, sighed, took a deep breath, and exhaled.

"When I was-"

"Emma?" Ella knocked on the laundry room door which made Emma freeze.

"Emma are you in there?" Ella asked.

"Oh my goodness what if she heard me!"

Emma's eyes darted from side to side in anxiety.

Ella opened the door and laid eyes on Lara and Emma, who were standing side by side.

"Emma," Ella began, her voice projecting waves of astonishment, "Why are you crying?"

Emma held Lara's arm.

Ella's eyes moved in that direction and rested on Lara's face.

Lara spoke, "Emma was telling me something emotional."

Ella shifted her gaze to Emma, "Emma, I'm your sister. You should be telling me what bothers you, not somebody else. Come," She held Emma's wrist but Lara wrapped her arm around Emma, preventing Emma from being able to move.

"I'm Emma's friend too, not just 'somebody'. And she was telling me about her dog that died and her best friend. I asked her about it, but I shouldn't have, because it brought back painful memories."

Emma hung her head in silence, and Ella glanced at her, then at Lara, then back at her sister.

"You're right," She said to Lara, "I'm sorry. Um, me and the girls are in the pool and Brie wanted me to find out where you two are."

Emma was now able to lift her head, and she caught her sister's intense look.

Ella added, "Lara, we haven't seen you the whole day. Where were you? Katy was looking for you."

"Katy? To pick another fight?"

"I don't know but let's go."

Ella opened the door and waited for Lara and Emma to move.

Her eyes were still fixed on her twin sister as Lara and Emma stepped out of the laundry room.

A cacophony of voices and splashes greeted their ears when they entered the indoors swimming pool room, and an eager Ella immediately took off the short peach dress she was wearing to reveal a strapless bikini that had a bandeau bra and briefs contrasting with the design.

"LARA'S HERE." Ella yelled in excitement and jumped into the rectangular pool where the rest of the girls were.

Brie turned to where Lara stood, "Lara! Jump in."

She was in a white, golden lined, microkini which barely covered her boobs.

"I can't. I'm not wearing a swimsuit," Lara said.

"Go change!" Brie ordered, "Don't you want to take advantage of Mrs. Benson's absence? She's coming tomorrow. This is our last night of fun."

Lara glanced at Emma, who smiled softly, implying that she was okay and that Lara could go change.

"You should change too, Em." Dana yelled, but Emma replied,

"I'm good!"

"I expected that!" Dana said before disappearing into the water, and the other girls laughed.

Lara went into her room and decided to wear a black one piece bathing suit.

She stepped out of her room to rush to the pool room when she bumped into Uncle Sam.

"Lara," He quickly took his eyes off her body to her face after involuntarily looking there.

"Uncle Sam, I'm so sorry!"

"Don't worry." He stepped out of the way.

She ran along, but this time, he voluntarily looked back.

Lara joined the girls in the six-feet deep swimming pool, and she was glad she had made that decision.

The lukewarm water immediately embraced her like its own, shutting out the existence of the others, to serve her unwaveringly. The water caressed her gentle skin delicately and moved with her as she lay back with closed eyes, trusting herself to her loyal servant and best friend. The only best friend who put her needs above everything else.

Her body felt weightless in the arms of the water as she was being transported to what seemed like Paradise, only to be dragged back into reality by a simple splash on her face.

"Hey! Earth-to-Lara?" Brie was close to Lara's face now, "What are you doing?"

Brie laughed which made the other girls laugh too.

"Something you wouldn't understand, Brie." Lara splashed some water on Brie's face as well which picked up a water splash fight.

Brie and Lara splashed water on each other, and Dana and Ella joined them while laughing their heads off. It was Katy's voice that stopped Lara in her tracks.

"Lara," Katy called out from behind and Lara turned. The other girls put a hold on their water fight as well.

"Yes?"

Katy began, "I'm sorry about yesterday. I didn't mean for it to end that way. And I really didn't mean all those things I said."

Lara checked her eyes to see if they were in synch with her words, and they were.

She continued, "I only gave those answers to my questions to make the girls laugh. That's all. I'm a joker, but it can get bad. And it did last night so I'm sorry."

Katy turned to move away, but Lara stopped her,

"Katy, wait,"

Katy turned around.

"It's okay. And I'm sorry too." Lara hugged her, "I'm sorry for what I said about no college wanting you. You are an amazing person, and it'll only be their loss. You will find your perfect match."

"That means a lot, Lara." Katy blinked away a tear forming in her eye because she wasn't one to display blue emotions in public.

"Aww, you guys are gonna make us cry," Dana spoke for the rest of the girls, and they all cooed.

Lara withdrew from the hug and said to Katy,

"There's just one more thing."

Katy appeared concerned, but Lara smiled and unexpectedly splashed some water on Katy's face.

"You just got served!" Lara laughed and stuck her tongue out, provoking an uproar of laughter from Brie, Dana, Ella, and even Emma, who was watching them from the side of the pool.

"Lara, you're slick." Ella laughed and splashed some water on Lara's face, with Lara returning the favor.

Katy smirked,"Oh, no, you didn't!"

She repeatedly splashed water on Lara's face, giving her no chance to fight back, and the entire water fight was on again.

Just then, Sam entered the pool room and paused for a moment, before saying,

"Mr. Benson just called. He's forty-five minutes away with his Italian partners, and he wants dessert to be ready before then."

"I hope Mrs. Benson isn't coming home," Ella anxiously said to Sam, but Lara knew Ella was aware that Mrs. Benson was coming the next day.

It was almost too obvious that she had wanted him to notice her half-naked body, but her plan seemed to have failed when Sam simply said, "No, she's coming tomorrow," and left the room.

The girls deserted the pool to prepare dessert for Mr. Benson and his Italian partners.

Emma was already in the lead and met up with the other clique of maids, Rachel, Tess, Bo and Mabel who were cleaning up the kitchen after making dinner.

Lara dried her hair with a towel Brie had passed to her and walked beside Brie, who kept her head high, and Katy, who was trying to adjust her one-piece swimsuit by the waist.

Dana and Ella were right behind them, walking like they ran the place.

The smacking sound of their flip flops invaded the quiet space of the hall way.

"So what dessert are we making for Mr. Benson?" Lara asked, becoming another source of noise pollution.

Their bedrooms which were one after the other were in sight now.

Brie replied, "He told us earlier Lara. If you were here, you would know. Which brings me to my question, where were you?"

Lara definitely couldn't say she had spent the day at Pierre's, which was the first thing that had come to mind, and the delicious food she had eaten.

"Where else?" She remembered she had met him at the grocery store, "Grocery shopping for Mrs. B. before she gets back."

"Ohhh," Katy chipped in, "In that case I want the change. You know Mrs. Benson leaves more money than necessary for groceries."

Dana and Ella protested, asking why Katy should have the change, but Lara stopped them,

"There really was no change this time. The woman's getting thicker by the day."

Brie rolled her eyes, and the other girls sighed.

Lara didn't feel remorseful for lying, even though she not only had the change, but the entire money because Pierre had paid for the groceries.

She needed the money. They needed it too but you win some, you lose some.

The girls took quick showers in their respective rooms and joined the other maids in the kitchen in their uniforms.

Dessert was ready, and the table was set ten minutes before Mr. Benson arrived with his Italian partners.

Brie and Katy had rushed out of the house to get the gentlemen's briefcases, and the other maids quickly crosschecked the preparations to make sure everything was in perfect order.

The maids made themselves present in the hall, waiting to give a proper welcome to Mr. Benson and his guests as soon as they arrived.

Brie was the first to enter with Mr. Benson's briefcase and his coat in her hands, followed by Katy, who had one coat and a briefcase in her hand.

Mr. Benson then walked in wearing grey slacks and a button up white shirt. He was followed right after by two middle aged Italian men dressed in black and deep blue suits respectively.

The maids greeted and welcomed them.

Brie was still standing at the door beside Mr. Benson who received compliments on his home from the Italian men.

She glanced at Lara, and Lara didn't understand the look Brie had given her, but in a couple of minutes, she did.

Walking through the door in a pair of Desert peak boots, blue Lennox Slim fit jeans, a grey shirt and a black leather jacket was Jayden.

Lara felt her heart jump into her throat instantly and almost gasped.

Jayden, more dashing as ever, was home. Finally home. Alive and well and extremely handsome.

She couldn't help but stare as he grinned at what one of the Italian men had said, and as if feeling the weight of her stare, he cast a look in her direction.

Lara wanted to tear her eyes away, but she couldn't. Not when he stared at her like that.

It was Mr. Benson's pat on his back that made him shift his gaze first.

Mr. Benson gestured them to come in, and Rachel led the way to the dining hall.

They had to pass in front of the line of maids, the Italians smiling as they did so, Mr. Benson glad the maids were organized and Jayden trying hard not to look at Lara before he got lost in her stare again.

They took their seats and Dana, Emma and Ella rushed to serve water and the vanilla and chocolate ice cream with chocolate syrup, strawberries, dices of chocolate and raspberries Mr. Benson had told them earlier.

Mr. Benson, Jayden, and the Italian men had already eaten dinner before coming home.

Fifteen minutes into the lively chat, one of the men made mention,

"Jared, your son is taking after you." His voice was loud and deep and his English words screamed of Italian accent. "He is so humble and smart. A mogul in the making."

Mr. Benson laughed heartily and nodded, and Jayden laughed as well, but his laughter carried some doubt.

Lara was in the kitchen, hanging with the maids physically but her mind was somewhere else, and she could hear their uproars from where she was. They seemed to be enjoying their conversation.

Just then, Brie rushed into the kitchen towards Lara. She had been present at the dining hall with Katy and Rachel.

"Lara! Come!" She held Lara's wrist, which alarmed Lara.

"What? Why?"

"Mr. Benson says you should come. Hurry up!"

"What-" Lara trailed off as Brie pulled her gently towards the dining hall.

When they got there, all eyes were on them. And Brie walked in, prompting Lara to walk in as well.

"Aha, Lara dear, come." Mr. Benson held out his hand which made Lara's heart beat inside of her chest tremendously.

She got closer to Mr. Benson and carefully placed her hand in his, which was the first time she had ever made physical contact with him.

"Berto, this is the girl I was talking about." He held Lara's hand.

Eh? What have I done? Lara wanted to ask because she was panicking inside, but she was glad Jayden wasn't looking at her, otherwise it would have been worse.

But why hadn't he been looking at her?

"She has the voice of an angel. She sings beautifully. Lara," Mr. Benson turned to her and she directed her focus to him.

"Sing so I prove these men wrong. They say their friend has the best voice they have ever heard, and I told them they haven't met Lara yet."

What the fuck, Mr. Benson, this is too much tension, Lara wanted to say but dared not.

And to make matters worse, Jayden's attention shifted from his ice cream to Lara, almost as if he was surprised.

The Italian men also shifted their gazes to Lara. In fact, everyone in the dining room did.

"Molto bella." The other Italian man said to his fellow partner and he nodded,

"Nessun dubbio."

Lara felt her anxiety level increase by the micro second as everyone waited to hear her sing.

What if her voice cracked with all the tension sitting on it? What song even? What if she embarrassed Mr. Benson? Would he fire her just because of that?

Lara, you're tripping, her mind told her.

"But, Mr. Benson," Lara heard someone say and turned around.

It was Katy, and she was walking towards Lara.

She held Lara's arm, "How can Lara sing with the sore throat she has? It happened right this morning. That's why you didn't see her before you left. She has been sick all morning. It's only getting better now. She really can't strain her voice right now."

Lara turned to Mr. Benson. Yeah, what she said, she felt like voicing out.

"Aw, Lara, you should have told me. Are you taking medicine? Do you have enough money to get some?"

"Yes, I am, and yes I do, thanks, Mr. Benson."

"You should rest." He allowed her to withdraw her hand, and she smiled, gestured a nod to the Italian men, and left the dining room.

She went to her room and couldn't stop thinking about what Katy had done for her. She was so so grateful to Katy, and also regretful that she had said those things to her at the sleepover.

She hopped in bed in a black cotton pullover with pink shorts and black socks.

She grabbed her phone, and the first thing that came to her mind was Jayden.

Lara couldn't understand why he hadn't picked up her calls or even bothered to return them. And he had barely said a word to her when he came. Heck no word!

Could it be that he had lost interest in her? Or he just hadn't felt the need to call?

But, if he had lost interest in her, why had he been glancing at her with every chance he gotten?

Lara needed answers, and she made up her mind to get them, no later than tonight.

She stayed up, studying on her laptop. She noticed when her roommate, Rachel, entered the room, had said a couple of nice things, and had gotten some shut-eye.

Lara made sure that Rachel was fast asleep before she took out her phone and speed-dialed Jayden.

It rang for a couple of seconds, and ended up not being answered.

Lara was shocked. He hadn't picked up her call. Was he probably asleep.

She shut her laptop and silently got off her bed.

She checked the time on her phone.

2:07 am.

"Definitely getting me some eye bags." She murmured to herself and left her room silently.

She walked towards the stairs and climbed it, her socks barely making any sound with the ground, and reached Jayden's room in a minute.

She hesitated for a couple of seconds, before gently knocking on his door.

Lara waited.

Waited for a full minute before knocking once more, slightly louder.

She waited again, slightly losing hope.

Maybe he was asleep. Maybe he was really tired. Maybe he needed to rest. Maybe-

"Lara?" She heard him ask.

Her heart started beating twice faster.

He was awake, and a part of her wanted to return to her room and forget this happened. But she was already at his door and had gotten his attention, which meant that she could get some answers.

"Yes," Lara responded, masking her nervousness.

The door knob caught her gaze as it slowly moved to the left side, and she braced herself.

(Jayden)