Arya's POV -

My heart continued to thump and thump faster the more I stared at her name.

I hadn't called her at all last night. To try and make up any excuse on to why I hadn't been home.

Looking at the time, I noticed that it was almost 12pm, making matters even worse.

With shaky hands, I tried to type out a text to satisfy her for right now.

Just until I could get home.

Me: I'm sorry mama! I'm going to be home soon and I'll explain everything.

It doesn't even take mama ten seconds to respond.

Mama: You're in so much trouble, Arya.

As I stared and stared, tears pricked my eyes.

I had never really gotten in trouble. Sure I've gotten small scolding's. But never this.

How could I have been so reckless?

I quickly find the bathroom attached to Rome's room and wash my face and fix my hair, trying to look more presentable for mama.

I still had on the same outfit from last night. The shirt had a few wrinkles but that was all.

As I finish washing my hands, I heard footsteps coming closer.

"Arya?" I hear,

However, I'm too focused on what was going to happen with mama?

She didn't know about the party, right?

I just needed to come up with a good excuse.

"I'm in the bathroom!" I called out, drying my hands with a towel and checking my appearance once more.

I used the hair tie around my wrist to quickly tie my hair into a low ponytail. At least this would calm my crazy curls somehow.

Rubbing my face once more in exhaustion, I exited the bathroom to see my favorite person sitting on the bed, looking towards me.

His pretty eyes immediately met mine, and he gave me a smile, which I tried to match.

However, being the smart man that he is, he immediately knows something is up. He frowns and stands up, walking towards me.

"What's wrong?" He questions, moving some of the baby hairs that fell out of my pony from my face.

"I just, I'm going to be in so much trouble." I muttered, about to cover my face but Rome grabs my hands before I can.

How does he always know what I'm going to do?

"Why? Because of the party?"

I nod sadly, "I hadn't even tried to tell mama an excuse on to why I was gone. And plus It's almost 12pm!" I say loudly.

I had no idea what was awaiting me at home. I'm sure mama has told papa by now.

"Hey hey, look at me." Rome cups my face and tilts my head to him.

"Don't worry, we'll come up with something you can say to her while I drive you home, okay?"

I can never stop looking at his eyes. They're just so pretty. A beautiful emerald green. I could never get over it.

I'm staring in complete awe, and I don't even realize how Rome's expressions change from worried, to confusion, then to high amusement.

Before I can even react, Rome's head leans down, and he places the smallest peck on my forehead.

I barely even felt it, but it was an act that caught me so off guard, my entire body felt like jelly at the small kiss. My legs almost gave out.

Kiss.

Kiss.

Kiss.

He just kissed me!

"Wh-Wha-" I stutter like I don't know how to speak properly, and Rome only chuckles down at me.

"Come on darling, let's get you home." He gives me a beautiful smirk, and turns to leave the room.

I only stand there, still stuck in a trance.

He just kissed me!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Currently sitting in Rome's car and freaking out, I had no idea what to expect when I reached home.

Rome and I had been trying to come up with what I can say to them, but we've gotten nothing.

But then I had realized, I'd be totally lying if I didn't tell them. If I said something else.

I had never lied to my parents before. I don't want to lie to them.

"Maybe I should just tell them the truth." I murmured as I slouched down farther into the leather seat.

Rome gave me a small glance before focusing back on the road.

"It's up to you, whatever you feel is best."

"I've never lied to them before," I start playing with my fingers. "I don't want to start now."

I see him nod in understanding before gripping the steering wheel tighter, "I get that baby, but you know there will be some sort of consequence, right? If you have never been to a party before?" He asks more like a question towards the end.

My heart clenches painfully, and I sigh before moving some hair out of my face, "I know I just...don't know what to expect. But I'd take the consequence over lying to my parents any day."

And it was true, I don't know why I thought about lying to them.

As I see the familiar neighborhood, a sudden thought comes to mind.

"Can you park a little before my house? I don't want mama and papa to see me."

He doesn't question it and does exactly that, and I smile at him gratefully.

He parks the car and I turn to him in my seat, "Thank you so much, you really have no idea how much you've helped me."

His eyes soften as he looks down at me, and his ringed hand reaches over to cup my face.

His thumb runs fondly over my cheek, "I'd do it again at any point and anytime sweetheart. Call me if you need anything, okay?"

I only nod, trying to relish the feeling of his hands on me. Rome rubs my cheek once more before pulling away, making me pout and him chuckle.

With a fiery red face, I step out of the car.

Rome gives me a reassuring smile and gestures towards the house. So taking a deep breath, I close the door and turn towards my home a few houses down.

I walk as slow as I possibly can but before I know it, I'm standing in front of my door.

Glancing back, I see that Rome is still parked in the same spot. Most likely waiting for me to go inside.

My hands clench together painfully as I look at the doorknob.

Blowing out a breath, I grip onto it and turn it slowly. It's unlocked so it opens easily.

Opening the door, I'm met with silence in the house.

Wait, not silence. Water running. From the kitchen.

Mama was in the kitchen.

My feet were stuck on the ground. I didn't want to move.

But then I found my small feet slowly shuffling towards the source of the noise.

Mama was cleaning dishes at the sink, washing them with a sponge.

My thumb comes to my mouth and I bite down on it painfully. What was I suppose to say?

I weakly called out, "Mama?"

She froze mid-washing, and slowly moved her hand to turn off the water tap.

I felt my whole body shaking in nervousness.

She kept her back faced towards me and reached for a towel to clean the bowl she had in her hand.

"Where exactly were you last night?" She asks after some silence.

Here came the moment of truth.

"I-I was..." I was literally at loss for words.

"I was at a party." I say so quietly, I didn't think she heard it.

She doesn't answer, and I'm about to speak again, but she beats me to it.

"A party?" She questions slowly, like she couldn't believe I had just said that word.

I bite my lip and nod my head, only to realize she still has her back to me.

"Y-Yes but I never meant to stay overnight! I was just going to go hang out, then come straight home!" I tried to ease the tension, but I knew my words did absolutely nothing to ease her mind.

Mama slowly put the towel to the side and placed the bowl in a cabinet, then proceeded to close it.

She turned to me with an expression on her face that I hadn't seen before.

Anger and disappointment.

"So instead of studying like you should of been on a weekend, you were out at a party? All night? No text, no call, nothing?" She questions with a small tilt of her head.

I didn't have anything to say. Nothing to get me out of this situation.

I brought this all on myself.

I felt tears approach my eyes, but I only nodded in shame. I had never seen her look at me like that.

She exhales deeply, I'm sure if there could be smoke coming out of her nose, there would be.

"I-I'm so sorry. I made a mistake." I mumble quietly, shifting on my feet.

Mama only shakes her head and then smiles slightly, "That's fine, if you want to give up your education and go party with alcohol and boys all night, be my guest."

I was speechless at her statement.

She walked towards me slowly, like she was the predator and I was the prey.

"If you don't wanna go to a top school and wanna be homeless on the streets, that's fine too."

"W-What, no! That's not what I want!" I say with wide eyes as she gets closer and closer.

"No? Well that's what it looks like. That's what I can assume. After paying for your education all these years you spend your time partying overnight!"

She's standing in front of me now, and I can't even react when the predator strikes the prey.

She slaps me, hard.