Gianna took a shower after she had returned to her room, the bath washing away the exhaustion for the day. She now laid on her bed, going through her messages to see if her best friend had reached out yet. So far nothing. She sighed. Wherever that girl had gone, she prayed she was at least safe. She went through her contact list, and a wide smile spread on her face as she stared at Xavier's contact. She let out a squeal and realizing how loud it sounded, buried her face in her pillow to muffle the scream.
Today had been the most fun she had had in years. Even though it was nothing extravagant, it still brought warmth to her heart at the thought of it. Gianna contemplated on whether to text him and she bit her lip at her indecisiveness. Deciding to be brave again, like how she was when she just up and went to his office on a whim, she finally sent him the text, asking if he had gotten home safely. It only ticked once, indicating he wasn't online and she pouted, a little disappointed. She heard a knock on her door, interrupting her line of thought.
"Young miss, food is ready. Would you like to come down to eat or should we bring it to your room?" The head maid asked, her high pitched voice filtering through the door.
"I'm not hungry at the moment Aunt Lou. You can keep the food in the fridge. I'll heat and eat it later when I am. Thank you," she told the older woman. "Okay, young miss."
And she head her receding footsteps. She turned to her side and her inner child grieved at having no one by her side to even talk with over dinner. Her parents were busy securing deals for their business all around the world. She didn't even think they had thought of her the entire day. A tear slipped from her eye and she quickly wiped it away.
"Oh miss Tiana, you're here," Aunty Lou, who had just descended the stairs from the young miss's room noticed her best friend enter the house and she was glad. "Hello Aunt Lou," the young woman greeted the older woman, a familiarity between them as she came to visit very often.
When Tiana saw the many missed calls from her best friend she knew a simple thing, such as a phone call wouldn't pacify Gianna and so she had decided to come to her house instead. Her phone has been on DND but she should have known Gia would try to reach her if she didn't see her at school.
Also she kind of had an inkling that Gianna mostly wanted to talk to her about the pictures the mall posted.
"It's good you're here. She refused to eat. Would you be kind enough to send the food to her room. Maybe she'll have an appetite now that you're here," Aunt Lou's eyes gleamed in delight at the prospect. She knew how lonely the young miss was, especially with her parents always out on some business trip.
For two people who were parents to their own biological child, they seemed so detached from her, it sometimes made her question if they had wanted children at all. They weren't very involved in their child's life and someone like Aunt Lou who believed family was everything, her heart ached for the young girl.
Tiana smiled.
"Don't worry Aunt Lou, I'll make sure she eats something." The older woman beamed and she hurried to serve the food. "You guys will eat together, no?" She asked, wanting to add Tiana's serving. "Yes." Tiana knew refusing would only tank the woman's mood and besides she hadn't eaten any proper food since morning so she might as well.
Gianna now laid on her back, her phone up in the air as she stared at the message she had sent earlier. He still hadn't seen it and she debated on whether to delete it or not. Maybe she shouldn't have sent anything in the first place. She was still busy mulling over it, when a knock came through.
She sighed. "I already told you I'm not hungry Aunt Lou," she said, hoping the older woman wouldn't bother her anymore. "Wow! What a very strong rejection to food you have there," Tiana teased, entering the room and she left the door open for Aunt Lou who carried in the served food on the tray.
Gianna got up almost immediately after hearing the familiar voice in the room and she marched to her best friend in long strides, pulling her into a gripping hug. "Well, yes I missed you too," Tiana chuckled and her arms wrapped around her. Gianna was very mad at her best friend for not contacting her the whole day but her anger had dispelled the minute she saw her. She was very happy she had come. They pulled away from the hug and Gianna opened her mouth to complain—Now before you go all mother on me, why don't we let Aunt Lou set down the food first. I'm famished." And she sidestepped her to help the older woman set up the table she was placing the tray on.
Gianna's eyes narrowed at the girl who tried to dodge her boiling anger. She folded her arms as she watched the two women put the food on the now cleared desk. Aunt Lou who had finished her work in the room, left the two young girls to themselves, knowing that the girl's presence meant a lot to the young miss. With a smile, she closed the door after her and went to continue her work.
"I know you want to scold me so bad it's making your heart rage but I'd recommend eating first. It'll give you the needed energy to rant however you like," the girl had the audacity to say that to her and Gianna who had been glaring at her reeled it in. She was right. The smell of the food had started wafting in the air and she felt her stomach rumble. She went to sit with Tiana who had already started digging into the food.
After they were done eating, one of the maids came for the dishes and Gianna couldn't be more glad that was out of the way. She crossed her legs and folded her arms, giving Tiana a look. "What?" The oblivious girl had the nerve to ask.
"Better start explaining yourself young lady," she gave her a pointed look, leaning in her seat to convey the needed dominance, enough for the unbothered girl to know she was being serious. "Okay, okay fine. I'm going to tell you everything," she yielded, raising both her hands. Just promise me you won't freak out."
"Tiana?! What did you do?" Gianna knew whatever this girl had done wasn't going to be good but for the time being she decided to let her speak. Tiana started from the very start, telling Gianna about the man she had met. From seeing him and becoming intrigued to following closely behind his car. Even spying on him when he went to the coffee shop and the conversation that had transpired between them.
Gianna had her mouth agape the whole time her best friend was narrating what had happened. "WHAT. THE. ACTUAL. HELL. TIANA!" Her voice boomed across the room and if it was possible the walls shook a little.
"He could be a bad guy and you just blindly followed him? What if he did something to you?" Gianna was livid. "Y'all might be twins because he said the same thing," she joked.
"You think now's the time to be funny?" She glared at the girl who wasn't taking anything seriously. "You don't have to be worry. Nothing happened and I'm fine. Besides he didn't seem like a bad guy, maybe a little bit psycho but I think that's exactly the kind of crazy I need in my life," she assured but Gianna wasn't convinced, nonetheless she was glad she had come back unscathed.
"Enough about me let's talk about you. How was your day," she brushed the topic about her stalking a man aside wanting to hear what her best friend had been up to too.
"The pictures I took are all over the school walls. I'm sure everyone at school knows me by now. I should have probably let Xavier take down the ones at school. It's kind of weird to see your face plastered all over an educational institu—
"What?!"
"That's the reaction to the pictures all over school," she clarified. And Xavier?, who the fuck is that!" Gianna realized she hadn't let Tiana in on anything that had taken place in her life in recent times and she bit her lower lip. "You're doing that thing where you're deciding whether to let me know or not," Tiana noticed her little habit and she arched a questioning eyebrow at her.
Gianna knew there was no point in keeping things away from her anymore so she started telling her about the arranged marriage to Xavier dropping her earlier that day. "GET. OUT!" Tiana said, expressing her shock at the interesting things that had been happening in her best friend's life.
"You're freaking engaged to Xavier freaking Castillo," she got up from the bed, as if she couldn't exactly contain what she was feeling if she continued to sit. Gianna chuckled, a half reaction to Tiana's own reaction and the other to the word she had used. "Engaged is a bit of a stretch but yeah I guess if you really want to give it a name, that's exactly how you would call it, I don't know," she shrugged, not quite understanding their dynamic herself.
Tiana observed the twinkle in her eye the whole time she was talking about the man and she instantly knew Gianna liked him. A lot. She was so happy for her and tears almost glistened in her eyes. Knowing herself, she knew she would have followed her into breaking the alliance if she told her earlier but she was glad things had unfolded quietly differently.
"I think after only reading about these things in books, it's time for our own whirlwind romance. Oh I'm so happy!" Tiana squealed loudly, and Gianna chuckled, knowing she was talking about the man she had no information about whatsoever. Not even his name. She shook her head.