Chapter 4

Elia and Jazmin entered quietly, Cecilia had left a while before them and had certainly put Mariah to bed and they were anxious not to wake her. Their friend was sat in the front room, the tv on low and turn to smile at them, returning her smile Jazmin crashed down next to her.

“So,” Cecilia asked. “Did I miss anything?” Elia snorted

“Well, Carlos is infatuated with Jaz!”

“I know that much.” Cecilia smirked. She turned to Jazmin.

“You like him, yes?” She asked. Jazmin smiled bashfully and nodded.

“And he definitely liked her too.” Elia added as she put away the leftover food they’d brought back with them.

“What did you think of him?” Cecilia asked Jazmin. Elia paused and looked over, eager to hear her reply.

“I thought he was really nice.” She answered with a coy smile.

“He’s certainly an improvement on the previous one!” Elia quipped. The three girls giggled.

“He has such a bright and happy demeanour.” Jazmin continued. “I like that, he’s sweet, thoughtful and, well he’s just really good company.”

Elia smiled at the happiness she could see simmering inside her sister. Jazmin was never the time to let her emotions show that much but she knew her well enough now and she could tell that deep inside she was delighted with the pleasant young man.

“And you?” Cecilia asked turning towards Elia. “What happened with you and Alexandre?”

“Eh?” Elia threw her friend a puzzled look causing her to laugh.

“He was watching you! When you started dancing.”

“He was.” Agreed Jazmin. “I saw it too”

Elia regarded the both of them with a mixture of bewilderment and confusion

“You’re havin a laugh right?”

“No!” Giggled Cecilia. “I saw.”

“Yea, you left early, and Jaz you were busy fixating on Carlos.”

“Elie” Jazmin began. “Really, he was watching you almost the whole time you were dancing.”

“Ay ay ay” Elia sighed. “Well, he was likely shooting daggers outta his eyes.”

“Why?!” Cecilia demanded.

“He was as sociable as a great white shark!” She exclaimed. The pair laughed, trying to keep quiet at the same time.

“Seriously though!” She continued. “He clearly didn’t wanna be there. He made no effort to be civil to anyone. He came across as an arrogant - too good for all this - type.”

“Maybe he felt overwhelmed?” Suggested Jazmin. Elia rolled her eyes

“Please!” Elia scoffed. “THAT was not overwhelmed! I actually felt a little sorry for him when he said Catherine was his mother, looks like he’s just like her though.”

“I’m just saying maybe give him a bit more of a chance.”

Elia sat down opposite them and shook her head, smiling at her sister.

“You are too nice for your own good, you know that?”

Alexandre raised his eyes towards the door as Carlos let himself in.

“Did you not get my message?” He queried.

“Yes.” Carlos responded. “But we got a lift back so it was fine, Noah dropped Billy off with his family. Why did you leave like that?” Alexandre shrugged.

“Sorry! But I wasn’t enjoying myself.” He admitted. “And I felt extremely uncomfortable.”

“Why?” Perhaps it would have helped if you’d talked to more people?”

“You were already talking to the only amicable person there.”

“That’s nonsense!” Carlos exclaimed. “Everyone there was welcoming and hospitable!”

“And a bunch of gold diggers it seemed.” Alexandre continued. “And while you were busy enjoying Jazmin’s company her parents were busy throwing the other daughters at me.”

“How were they?!”

“Well, the youngest one started first, right under the nose of her mother who did nothing to try to stop her. She even appeared to encourage it, and she seemed just too young! A teenager I suspect. Can’t be any older than eighteen which would make her 10 years younger than me.”

“I think the younger one is Lydia, she’s seventeen.”

“That’s even worse.” Alexandre blasted. “She’s not even legally an adult!”

“I’m sure she didn’t mean any harm.”

“It was obscene, and I thought both she and the mother were acting shamelessly! After this, though her dad tries to throw an older one at me.”

“Who?” Carlos asked.

“The one with red streaks in her hair, Elia”

“Oh, The dancer.”

“Yes. After having to fight off the child, Noah gets her to try and keep me entertained!”

“Maybe you misinterpreted?”

I’m not sure that I did.” Alexandre told him with a shrug. “I was already tired of it by then. Then the mother tried again, trying to push her on me under the guise of dance lessons.”

“With Elia?”

“Yes.”

“Well you were staring it her” Carlos pointed out. “Do you find her attractive?”

“Attraction is shallow” Alexandre refuted. “I need more than that, a lot more.”

“That’s not what I asked.”

“It’s the only answer you’re getting.”

“Alex, why are you always so stubborn?”

“It was interesting when she found out I was Catherine’s son. Did you see her face?”

“I don’t recall.” Carlos admitted.

“I definitely do!” Alexandre informed him. “Her eyes became as large as saucers You could almost see the money signs in them.”

Carlos sighed.

“They are good people! Why is it you need to be so suspicious and assume the worst of everyone?”