Chapter 10 My Mum Knows

Emma

I snap my eyes open, my chest heaving, as short gasps of breath tore through my lungs.

My eyes darted around the familiar surrounding of my room, so it's a dream? But the wet, tingling sensation down there makes everything feel so real.

The continuous blare of the alarm wipes the grogginess from my eyes. I roll onto the other side of my bed, facing the nightstand.

In a quick motion, I stretched my arm, putting off the alarm. Silence fills the room and then I lay on my back, my eyes on the ceiling.

Still breathing hard, I ball my hands into tight fists, slamming them hard into the mattress. My feet thrash the tangled sheet in frustration.

I slap my temple which is covered in perspiration. And again, the cold, gentle breeze streaming into my room does nothing to cool the heat building up from within.

I groan and drag myself up to a sitting position, leaning on the headboard. The strands of my blonde hair are a mess, falling over my face, and sticking to my sweaty face.

I fling it off my face, a burst of rage raptures inside of me. Knox. As stubborn as a mule. He knows I want him.

Why is he acting like a saint? Most nights, I can't catch a decent sleep because of how loud my mother moans his name, while he rides her dry cunt.

I should be the one on his bed, not her! I feel a stab of jealousy. My mother keeps getting all the hot guys while I'm left with nerds like Zach.

Good thing I already broke up with him. That slowpoke can't even keep me filled with satisfaction.

I blew out air, my chest rising and falling. My gaze lands on the wall clock. It's just a few minutes past 10 p.m

I threw the bedcover aside, dragging myself out of my bed. My throat feels dry, I crave something different aside from cold water.

My craving, Knox, is out of my reach. Maybe I should just head over to the kitchen,grab a glass of water and then return to sleep. Unlike Knox, a glass of water won't reject me.

I slip out of my room quietly, careful not to make a sound. I hurry into the kitchen and flick the switch on. Light floods the kitchen, and darkness creeps out.

The humming of the refrigerator fills my ears.

I open the refrigerator and the pale light washes my face. Only a few apples, a bottle of juice, some biscuits in a crumbled pack, and a couple of bottles of water were in the refrigerator.

Grabbing a bottle, I take off the plastic cap, raise it to my mouth, and drink from it. I wipe my mouth with the back of my hand and then I drop the plastic bottle back into the refrigerator.

The red succulent apples drew my attention, and in that moment, my stomach growled in hunger.

Rather than making a trip to the restaurant for dinner, I chose the lingerie boutique instead. And now the pangs of hunger are hitting me hard.

I snatch an apple from the bowl, my jaw wide open to sink my teeth into it.

The front door clicks open and I stiffen. My eyes wide with surprise. The apple slips from grasp and falls onto the kitchen floor with a thud. I make no effort to pick it up as it rolls away.

I quickly close the refrigerator and walk out of the kitchen, curiosity slickers through me.

Just outside the kitchen, I could hear footsteps on the staircase. Is it Knox or my mother?

I still feel angry over our last encounter, I don't want to run into him. Seeing him will leave me craving for his touch, which he keeps denying me.

After some time, the sound of the footsteps stops. I take a deep sigh before closing the door. My stomach growls again but I match towards my room instead.

Just as I get to a corner leading to the hallway where my room is located, I bump into someone.

My senses scream at me and I catch myself in time.

A sharp voice, a very familiar one, broke the stillness of the night.

"Watch it Emma! You're not going blind," the cruel reprimand of my mother's voice makes me glare at her in disdain.

I place my hands on my hips. "No. You should be the one to watch your steps. But you chose to sneak around!" I fire back.

Quite frankly, I didn't see it coming. Like a flash of lightning in a dark cloud, my mother lifts her arm and strikes a hard slap across my face.

I stumble in shock, clutching my cheek as I feel a stinging sensation burning my cheek.

My eyes wide with disbelief. "You slapped me?" I ask in shock.

She draws closer to me. Her eyes gleaming with fury. " You should be grateful I let you stay with me. Don't you ever speak to me with disrespect. I am your mother!"

Tears glistens in my eyes, threatening to flow. The little love I have for her melts out from my heart.

I sniffed, my gaze hardened to a cold resolve. Since she wants to treat me like trash, I will get back at her.

Just as she was about to walk away, she paused for a moment and then whirl around, facing me.

Her gaze sweeps through me and her eyes narrow suspiciously. "What are you wearing?"

I drop my hand from my cheek, a faint mocking smile plays on my lips. "A nightie, obviously."

She stares too long at my nightie which leaves nothing to the imagination. Her judgemental gaze flickers across her face.

For a split second, insecurity glimmers in her eyes, and vanishes almost immediately.

As the cogs of several thoughts turned in her head, I leer at her.

She finally finds her voice. "Stop wearing such revealing clothes."

I fold my hands across my chest. " And if not?" I challenge her.

She studies me like I'm a problem to be solved. "Then I'll throw you out."