Chapter sixteen: "What Approval?"
We walked back to the palace and Aunt Laborè was waiting for us by the bench near the shrub, she stood up with her back straight
"The issue has been resolved about the shop" she reported and Sophia clapped her hands once with delight in her eyes
"Thank you Laborè!, quick as usual"
Sophie held both of my hands and raised them to where my chest is
"I hope to see you again Penelope, it was wonderful meeting you" her voice was soft yet still in a chirpy tone
Such an elegant woman
She waved goodbye to me as she walked to a room in the palace, Aunt Laborè side hugged me and patted my shoulder
"She's a great boss to have" I complimented
"I was lucky enough to work with her" she answered before going into the room where Sophia entered
"Penelope where are you?" I heard Adeline's loud voice from far away, I sprinted to Adeline with wedges on and she saw me with her sapphire blue eyes and her blonde chest-length hair was now down because she was so energetic that her styled up hair is now ruined so she lets her hair down
"Everybody is looking for you, it's time to go home now" she tilted her head for us to go back to the entrance and meet up with everyone to say goodbye, the brothers watched us get ready to get in the cars
Benjamin although has different plans
"Benji, what are you doing?" Liam asked him as Benjamin was now inside one of the cars
"I am going with them, living with you guys is boring" he complained
"Benjamin Paul Marshall, you get out of the car right now," Noah told him, Benjamin still wouldn't listen
"If I call Dad," Mason pretended like it was a suggestion and Benjamin suddenly dashed out of the car quickly
"Is he scared of his Dad?" Ella asked as she turned her head to see Benjamin who is now hiding behind Oliver giving Mason a glare
"Dad is a walking blizzard it's just a bit scary to be around him" Dustin answered with a nervous look
I waved a little to all of them before I got in the car in the same order before we got here, the car door was about to close when suddenly Benjamin yelled "STOP!"
We all put our attention on him as walked up to me
"Since you are dating Cloud that means you can visit us right?" He asked me with his meadow green eyes just like Sophia's, Cloud's eyes are just a bit darker
"Yeah" I don't like to say it but it was necessary, the bodyguard closed the car door and we drive off. The ride was very long due to traffic so I was the last one to arrive home
As soon as the guard opens the car door for me so I can come out I could feel the neighbor's watchful eyes on me, again
"Sleepy!" I heard Alice's voice and I saw her and the rest sitting on our front lawn
Yara was reading another book to what I guess is another ero-romance novel, her head was lying on Jane's stomach. Jane was laying flat on the ground and admiring the sunset sky
Aiden was playing the guitar and Will was watching closely to learn from him, Peter, however, was playing with a small squirrel that he found hidden in some bush
Cloud was sitting there and gazing at me without any form of expression on his face
I will never get used to that
One moment he is a happy jerk who loves to annoy me the next he is an emotionless person whose only habit is gazing at me, I feel like he could see through me and I got uncomfortable for a bit. They all looked at me up and down
Aiden stood up along with the rest leaving only Cloud who is still sitting on the grass
"My God Penelope" Jane let out
I giggled a bit as I fix my dress, Jane would speak loudly when she is either surprised or shocked. Will lifted and twirled me around
"You look amazing!"
Alice joined in and rode on Will's back like a piggyback ride making all three of us fall at the same time, Aiden helped me up by giving me his hand
"Alice you were so heavy, I think I broke my back" he groaned as he put a hand right at the bottom of his back like an old man would do
Alice ruffled his hair
"I'm not heavy, you're just weak" she asserted as she looks down at him in the eyes, Will was laying on the ground and Alice was sitting up so she has to face down to look at him in the eye
"Alice, you do know he is a football player right?" Jane asked her that we all could hear
Aiden was looking at me intensely not like the way Cloud did because Cloud just blankly stares at me until now, Peter was showing Yara the squirrel so the two of them were distracted like the other 4 that they are helping Will
Leaving no one to see what is happening right now, Aiden blinked rapidly and looked the other way before he could understand what is going on
"You look pretty," he shyly complimented me
I smiled widely "Thanks Aiden"
I felt someone grab my arm and was pulled close to their body, I glance up to see Cloud glaring at Aiden. Cloud was acting hostile and it was a long time since I haven't seen him act like this since Preschool
"I got the approval" Cloud spoke suddenly leaving confused
"Approval?" I repeated a word that he just said as I try to use my small brain to understand what the heck is he talking about, my eyes widened once I finally realized what he meant
"You don't mean.."
"Yes that approval" he smirked down at me and my heart skipped a beat from what is going to happen next once I go in the front door, everyone would attack me again with many questions
"What approval?" Aiden asked him he squinted his eyes a bit to Cloud with suspicion, I have realized this from the moment they both met
Aiden is acting hostile to Cloud too and he is not planning to hide it
I was the only one who can feel the tension between them, I tugged Cloud's arm to get his attention. His piercing eyes are now dark because of the anger, he is strongly holding back and I don't want a fight to break out in the front yard of my home
I gave Aiden an apologetic face and he understood quickly my situation that I am trying my best to have them not fight, he gave out a frustrated sigh and walk-off
"Aiden!" I called out to him but my arm was caught by Cloud who doesn't want me to go after him, his grip was not tight but not loose either
I didn't force myself to go after him, l passed by Cloud's shoulder and I went into the house ignoring him. My parents were sitting on the sofa and my sisters seemed to be in their room asleep because the house is only quiet when all of them are asleep
"Penelope" Dad asked for me and I sat down across from them at the dining table, Mom's hands were intertwined together and Dad looks like he is hesitating to say something
"About you living with Cloud," Mom said quietly and she glanced at Dad which made him rub his hands together
"We...we will allow it" he spoke
He was having a hard time saying those words to me
"Really?" My eyes were very wide at the decision that my parents made, they stared at each other for the last time then nodded simultaneously, I ran around the table to give them a hug
"On one condition though" Mom stopped hugging me then kissed my forehead, I raised a brow at her in confusion
"2 things, always visit us to eat dinner every Saturday and Sunday"
"No grandchildren yet until after college" Dad finished off Mom's sentence, I chuckled as I hit Dad lightly at the shoulder
"I'm not don't worry"
I just need to pack my bags but I hope my sisters won't freak out about it, they can over exaggerate their reactions when they are hearing something shocking