LOVE BEYOND LESSONS (A Teacher and Student Romance)

XXII - BI. SURPRISES OF ALL SORT

"Eli!" Someone called my name, we all looked at the direction of that voice. I turned around and saw Daisy looking at me and waving, she have shopping bags on her hands
"Who is that?" Ash asked me as Daisy approached us
"Hello Eli, it's nice to see you again" I stand up to shake her hands but she pulled me into a hug
"Hello Mrs. Bailey" I answered
"I told you it's Daisy" she laughed and titled her head, then she got it
"These are my friends, we are all students of Mr. Bailey" I told her, she nods and looked at them again
"Hello girls I'm Mrs. Daisy Bailey the mother of Robert Bailey" she said
"I'm Missy" Missy held her hands and Daisy take it
"I'm Ash" she held her hands as well
"Are you alone Mrs. Bailey?" I looked behind her hoping she's really alone the last thing I wanted right now is my friends observing us, most especially Missy 
"Unfortunately yes darling" she sighed
"You can join us!" Ash suddenly blurted out, Missy nudged her
"Uhm sorry Mrs. Bailey" Ash hushed
"Oh it's nothing, I would love to join you girls! So that I can feel young again!" We both sat down she called the waiter and told her order, Missy and Ash are looking at her.
"So what you've been doing?" She turned to look at us
"We went shopping for dresses for the Christmas Ball" Ash replied, I looked at her why can she talk to Daisy so fine and normal but she can't when it comes to Rob
"Oh, so Rob is telling the truth then, what kind of ball is this one" she shrugged her shoulders
"It is the annual Christmas Ball that our friend's parents held for the community, it's their way to give back for all the blessings they received, it's been their family tradition I think" Missy calmly answered
"Alright then I need to accept that Rob will not be celebrating Christmas with us, well ball or without ball I know he wouldn't with his girlfriend.." I froze as Daisy stopped
"Forget I told that, he is a very private person" she chuckled
"So he really have a girlfriend?" Ash said, her mouth opened, Missy nudged her again
"Sorry Mrs. Bailey if our friend is nosy" Missy looked at her apologetically
"No worries, I got that all the time, I remember when he is in high school, girls come to our house to check on him, it irritated him" Daisy laughed at the memory
"Girls at school will be heartbroken" Ash muttered
"Why are you planning to tell the whole school?" Daisy asked her
"No Mrs. Bailey of course not!"Ash answered quickly, I can see the reaction of Missy if she can disown a friend she will definitely disown Ash right now
"So what brings you here Mrs. Bailey?" Missy asked
"Well you know I wanted Rob, your teacher to spend Christmas with us so I tried to persuade him but he told me about this ball and all, at first I thought that was all just an alibi" she looked at Missy and smile
"You know he can be stubborn sometimes" Daisy turned and nudged at me, I just smile 

Our order arrived and Daisy started to asked us what are plans after high school, she was impressed at Missy going to Harvard, she mentioned that was her dream school but she was not accepted, so she went to study at NYU, which where Missy's brother is studying. Ash was a chatter, she would joke at Daisy and share some stories as well 
"And you know what Mrs. Bailey there this one time Mr. Bailey was recorded and all of the girls fell in love with him" she chuckled
"Really?! I hope I was able to saw that video" she waved her hands
"Hold on I think I still have it" Ash pulled her cellphone and show it to Daisy, she gave her phone to Daisy as she watched the video, I don't need to look at the video because I know it is the video during Benjamin's presentation, I can hear Rob's voice in it
"That was something" she turned to looked at me but I avoided her gaze, she then returned Ash's phone, they continued talking and I was just smiling at them, clearly it's so hard to act normal if you are with your boyfriend's mother with your friends who are completely unaware
"It was so nice meeting you girls!" Daisy said to all of us
"It was nice meeting you too Mrs. Bailey" Missy kissed her cheeks
"The pleasure is mine Mrs. Bailey" Ash do the same as well
"Take care Mrs. Bailey" I said, she then pulled me and give me a hug 
"You take care too Eli, Merry Christmas" she said then she released me
"Eli, how did you and Mrs. Bailey meet?" Ash said once Daisy was out of earshot, we are walking towards Missy's car
"There is one time during my detention, His mother came at school, that's how" I lied, I know that they are going to ask about it and I already rehearsed this alibi
"She's a lovely lady" Missy commented
"She sure does" Ash said as we climbed inside Missy's car
"And that's lead to you" Missy looked at Ash as she starts her car
"What about me?" She asked
"You were so talkative with her" Missy laughed
"I can't help it Missy, because I feel like if I talked to his mother, then I can get to know Mr. Bailey even more" she pouted
"But you can't talk straight english with him" Missy teased
"Thanks for reminding" Ash rolled her eyes
"Well you heard her he has a girlfriend" Missy stared at me at the rear view mirror, I gave her a weak smile
"I know, I know but still you can't help it. Mr. Bailey is drop dead gorgeous" then Ash turned to me
"You've been silent the whole time" she asked
"I'm just not feeling well, all these shopping exhaust me" I joked leaning my back on the seat
"I know right and they say that shopping is a therapy" Missy laughed
We dropped our things at Alice house, since we are going to prepare there. Alice's style changed drastically since she dated Tyler, and it suits her well. The joy her family felt when Alice introduced Tyler as her boyfriend was amazing. We stayed a little while just admiring how big their house it, their house have a huge lawn, perfect for hosting a big party. The entrance of their home is elegant, Alice's family is well known to be rich in the community but they are one of the most humble family I had ever known.
"So we decided we are not going to show each other dresses until the ball" Ash winked at Alice
"Okay, promise these bags are safe" she laughed.
"Sorry Eli, I can't come tonight" she said
"It's alright Alice, I know you guys need to do what you need to do" I hugged her
"Okay we have to go, the two boys are already at Eli's house" Missy said
"Bye Alice!" Ash waved