Chapter 3 Not Again

"I'm sorry Nova for ruining our day out." I apologised.

After I walked out of the restaurant Nova came after me and I told her that I wanted to leave, she didn't say anything she just nodded and we got into the car after which she drove to her house. I felt bad but at that moment I just wanted to be away from that guy.

"Come on now, you've apologised enough. But you still haven't told me the reason why you and Gannon acted the way you guys did towards each other."

"You know the guy I told you about, the one that made me lose my job, well he is none other than your jerk of a friend Gannon."

"I'm sorry, I had no idea that Gannon was the one who got you fired. Don't take this as me supporting him but it's surprising Gannon did something like that, I know him to be a nice person."

I scoffed in disagreement. Even in a thousand years, I could never believe Gannon was a nice person not after what he did.

" Maybe you don't really know him or maybe he is nice to just you. Please can we not talk about him, just hearing his name makes me feel sick."

Nova sighed nodding her head."Okay, I won't talk about him. I've offered you a job at the company but you refused, you decided to take up the job of a waitress."

"You know I can't help but wonder how you chose that arrogant guy as a friend."

Nova laughed gazing at me. "First he met the looks requirements, that guy is hot, he has got the charms and he is also wealthy."

"That doesn't give him the right to treat people like trash, I dislike him so much."

"But we both agree he is good looking right?" Nova winked.

"Good looking my foot, he is just average." I crinkled my nose in disgust as I pictured my first encounter with him. Just the thought of him was enough to spoil my mood.

"Average, you say? But we both know that isn't true. He's a nice person, he might just seem arrogant but he is kind." Nova smiled.

I glared at her and she kept a serious face.

"Whose side are you on? I thought you were on my side."

"Come on, I am on your side, I'm just trying to say that you should consider forgiving him since he has apologised to you."

"Apologised, I don't need his apology. I want nothing to do with him. I would appreciate it if you say nothing about him to me and please do not mention his name" Eleanor mumbled.

"I didn't, you were the one who brought his name up again. Makes me feel like the relationship between you guys is a love-hate one," Nova teased and I shot her a glare.

"Eww, never."

Nova chuckled," As you say. But my job offer still stands whenever you are ready."

"I'm considering it, I want to be free from Peyton's nuisance. She's making life unbearable for me."

"Just let me teach her a lesson then. I can't forget how her face looked when she fell so hard after a little push." Nova laughed.

"I might get scolded for that, you know how my aunt is. I better get going now." I sighed standing up to my feet and she nodded giving me a pitiful look.

"Let's go, I'll drop you off," Nova told me getting off the couch and reaching for her car keys.

"Are you sure you would be fine? Or should I come in with you?" Nova asked as the car came to a halt when we got to the house.

"I'll be fine, I can handle them. Drive safe." I smiled at her, I opened the car's door about to step down when Nova stopped me.

"Since you and Gannon ruined our day out, why don't we reschedule?"

"I said not to mention his name," I groaned.

"Sorry," Nova coughed trying to hide her glee as she studied my expression.

"We can just spend some time watching movies at your place tomorrow, that would be better. Who knows that jerk might show up again if we decided to go to another restaurant." I suggested.

"Great idea, but I would only accept it if I get to pick the movie we would watch." Nova grinned nodding her head in approval.

"Fine, but no werewolf movie," Eleanor muttered.

Nova tapped her nose with her finger, a smile formed on her lips, "That's for me to decide."

"Whatever, take care of yourself." I smiled getting out of the car.

"Bye, if you need backup to put Peyton in her place, just give me a call." Nova hollered after me and I chuckled taking a halt before veering to face her.

" I sure will, you should go now," I told Nova who was now out of the car.

"I will once I see you get into the house," Nova replied.

I shook her head and grumbled loud enough for her to hear," There you go again acting as my bodyguard, I'm not a kid."

Nova was like that, most of the time she was treating me like I was a child who needed protection from harm.

"You are welcome," Nova smiled taking my hand in hers and pulling me along with her till we got to the porch.

"I never said thank you," I rolled my eyes at her but then embraced her afterwards. She chortled wriggling her head as she looked at me. After saying goodbye to her I reached for the door handle pulled it open and ambled into the room.

"Where are you coming from?" My aunt's voice stopped me in my tracks just as I shut the door behind me.

"Good evening aunt, I was out with Nova,"

Her icy glare descended on me and she gave me a dirty look. "That ill-mannered friend of yours whom you've refused to cut off from, don't tell me you've started to follow guys around warming their bed," my Aunt asked glaring at me. I knew my aunt just wanted to pick up a fight so I refrained from speaking.

"I'm talking to you Eleanora and all you can do is glare at me like a crazy person," She snarled.

"Aunt none of these accusations are true, Nova is a good person," I stated. I didn't like it when my Aunt said bad things about Nova but then I was used to receiving such remarks from her.

"I can see you've grown some wings, you now talk back at me. How cute!" My aunt barked, her eyes crinkled with disgust not putting an effort to hide the hate she had for me.

Classic Aunt of mine, she complained about me keeping quiet and when I say something she gets upset.

"I'm sorry." I apologised gazing downwards. I was tired all I wanted to do at this moment was go get some sleep.

"You should be, why didn't you do Peyton's laundry?" Just then Peyton walked into the living room with a big smile on her face. I needed no one to tell me she must have planned something or filled my Aunt's ears with lies against me just to get me into trouble.

"Welcome back sis, I see you are back early. Did the guys reject someone as classless as you?" She taunted.

I clenched her fist my eyes shot towards the ceiling, I was trying to keep calm, "Watch what you say, Peyton!" I warned.

"And if I don't?" She chuckled rolling her eyes at me, her upper lips curling up in contempt.

I was about to say something when my aunt cut me off. "Be silent, I had asked you a question, why didn't you do Peyton's laundry and then you beat her up." She asked.

I chortled, what a great lie Peyton came up with and as usual my gullible Aunt believed her or rather she chose to believe her even though she was well aware that her daughter was the chaotic one.

" Peyton is old enough to do her laundry herself and I didn't beat her up, if I did she wouldn't be in such a good condition."

"I see you've got the guts to say that in front of me, you know what? Since you've become so grown up it's high time you leave my house." My Aunt raged staring daggers at me.

"I'm sorry aunt, where would I go to?" I pleaded.

My aunt smiled, "You should have thought about that before you spoke, I would have sent you out that night but I don't want to be the evil aunt here. So I give you till tomorrow to leave my house." My Aunt stated with finality in her tone before sauntering away.

"See Eleanor, I told you I would get rid of you. It wasn't that hard was it." Peyton snickered going after her mom.

The Next Day ..

"Eleanor, you are here. I thought I was going to come pick you up. Come in, you brought your luggage along?" Nova smiled hugging me. After we broke the hug, she took my luggage and stepped aside so I could walk in.

"My aunt sent me packing." I sighed sitting on the couch, even though most of the time I acted like I didn't care how my aunt and cousin treated me, it bothered me. They were the only family I had. This morning when I woke up my stuff was already outside the house and I was woken up by a bowl of cold water emptied on me while I was asleep.

"Yay! That's good." Nova grinned throwing her hands up in the air and jumping as she took her seat beside me, my eyes bulged out in response to what Nova had just said.

"Are you for real? How is it good?" I questioned with creased brows. That wasn't the reaction I was expecting to get from her.

"You get to be free from your aunt's and Peyton's troubles, isn't that a good thing?" Nova smiled.

I heaved a breath giving her words a thought, "It is, I didn't see it in that light."

"See that's why you have me as a best friend, to make you see things as clearly as possible." Nova bragged.

"So pompous," I chuckled. "Can I stay here for some time?"

"You don't need to ask, you can stay for as long as you want. I've always asked you to move in with me but you refused to every single time, I'm glad you are here now." Nova smiled.

"Thank you."

"It's fine, I just want you to be happy and have fun." Nova winked.

I knew better than to go along with Nova's definition of fun, she is another level of crazy.

"Uhmm depending on what kind of fun, we are talking about." I mouthed and she laughed.

"I'll take your stuff upstairs and get you settled in," She mumbled.

........

After taking a bath and having breakfast which Nova prepared, we sat in front of the TV with a large bowl of popcorn by our sides ready to watch a movie and just like I thought Nova would, she picked a werewolf movie for us to watch. Even though I tried to talk her into changing it, she didn't agree so I just had to give in and follow her choice, which was necessary since I ruined our evening yesterday. Just as the movie was about to start the doorbell rang and Nova was about to stand up to her feet but I beat her to it.

"I'll go get the door."

"Don't worry I'll do it myself." Nova objected but I shook my head in disagreement.

"Fine, hurry so we can start watching the movie. I can't wait you know." Nova smiled and paused the movie.

"Ok, ma'am." I nodded bowing slightly making Nova laugh.

I sauntered to the door and pulled it open but when I beheld the sight in front of me, my stomach sunk and my jaw clenched immediately.

"You!"