Temptation

Chapter 64

My mother clears her throat and wipes the corners of her mouth with the white silk napkin. "So Bethany, Jalissa is new to the town. Would you like to show her around sometime."

New to the town? How is she new to the town and already ha a group of friends that seem to be already very close to her?

"Oh, no that's alright. I wouldn't want to intrude." She says.

My silence probably gave her the wrong intention. "I don't mind," I smile at her.

"Are you sure?" She asks.

"Yes," I laugh. I'm trying to seem as friendly as possible and I'm praying that this will do the trick. "How about we go upstairs and pick out an outfit so we can go tomorrow?" I offer her. She looks at her father for permission and he nods in agreement.

Before I can leave the table my other puts her hand on mine. It's been a while since I have even had physical contact with her.

"Honey, you should eat first." The look in her face is demanding and the tone of her voice is fake. I pull my hand away from hers and smile back at her fake one.

"I had a late lunch, not that hungry. We will be back!" I tell them both, half lying as I leave the table.

Jalissa follows behind me up the steps.

We walk down the long hallway until we reach my door. This is my chance to explain to her that the pictures aren't real.

She shuts the door behind her and stands in front of it with her arms over he chest. "Thanks for pulling me out of there." She breaths out a laugh and begins to walk over to my bed and picks the magazine that sat on the nightstand.

"Those dinners are always boring." She continues to speak.

"Yeah, I guess so." I agree.

I walk over to my closet and open it up. "You can check these out if you want." I wave my hand towards the opened door and give her permission to look.

"Oh, thanks but I have some clothes already." She says as she flicks through another page.

"Oh."

"Most of that looks too proper looking. You aren't going to where any of that, are you?" She pulls a disgusted look and I shake my head quickly.

I point inside the closet and she looks over to see what I'm pointing at. "See those drawers over there?" I ask and she nods. "The two large ones at the bottom are filled with the things I actually like to wear." I say and shut the doors again.

"I'm taking it that you aren't what your mother wants you to be?" She guesses and I nod.

"You're right."

"Me neither. I'm sure you already know that though. I mean, earlier at the shop..I didn't quite look like this." She runs her hand over her pale dress.

"Your secret is safe with me." I assure her.

"Hey!" She gasps. "I just saw that bracelet." She points to my wrist before she frantically flips back through the pages she previously looked at. "Ah, here it is." She shows me and I look at the different colored bracelets. My eye catches the one that matches on my wrist.

"It says the purple one is love." She continues to read before looking back up at me. "If a guy gave you that then I am extremely beyond jealous." She grabs my wrist and examines it like it's an engagement ring or something.

I laugh quietly as she stares at the black heart stone, she slips it from side to side to make is sparkle. "Yeah,"

"Is your boyfriend the guy in the picture?" She mentions and I almost feel sick to my stomach.