"What's wrong with her?" David immediately spoke out of concern.
The boys were just staring at us - Baron and I - as he ascended down the rest of the stairs with me still in his arms, suddenly feeling uncomfortable, I tried to free myself out of his arms but he was having none of it. In fact, he held on tighter, refusing to drop me until he got to my seat by the table before he gently placed me on it as though I was some delicate thing that could break if mishandled.
I was beyond embarrassed at the show Baron was putting on this morning. This was not how I'd envisioned this morning to be, and it was still early. I stared intently at the arrays of breakfast mom had made, it was like a buffet party where people are invited for the sole reason of eating. Mom was really outdoing herself here. She was trying to make all of us one big family that enjoyed each other's company. I sighed, if only she knew.
"Darling, your father's talking to you." Mom's voice made me raise my head. I ignored the part where she called David my father.
I looked at David. "Good morning David." I greeted softly.
"How are you Katherina?" He asked with a smile on his face.
"I'm fine." I smiled back.
It took all of my willpower not to look in any of the boys' direction. Baron's hands rested comfortably on my shoulders.
"What happened to you?"
"She sprained her ankle." Baron replied before I could say a word in reply. I kept mute and let him speak for me, I wasn't in the mood for any discussion anyways.
"He wasn't talking to you Baron." Aaron cut in. I did not have to look at his face to understand the rage in his voice.
"And when were you invited into the discussion?" Baron shot back.
David and mom sighed. Mom's eyes held wariness while David was just trying to pull himself out of whatever mini war the boys might start in the dining.
I pitied them. And it was for their sake that I placed a hand on Baron, he turned to me with a smile. "You need anything?"
"Let's just have breakfast so I can go to school." I told him, my eyes pleading with him not to start any fight.
He sighed, gave Aaron one last venomous look and sat close to me. David smiled his gratitude at me, I had just saved him from having to deal with his two sons who hated each other and one blamed him for it. Mom too seemed to be impressed with how I'd settled the dust.
"So how did you sprain your ankle, Kathy?" David asked again, digging into his breakfast. My heart lurched a little, I turned to Baron and back to David.
I wonder what Baron was thinking when he came up with this stupid lie. I noticed the boys were also eager to hear what my story was, they knew I was lying. "Well, I had…I was…"
"She and Baron were playing rough in her room yesterday and I don't really know how it happened but she ended up spraining her ankle." Mom provided. She did not look too happy doing it but I guess she was trying to avoid what Baron had said last night.
"Yes, which is why I'm the one carrying her down the stairs, I feel responsible for her injury."
"You? Feel responsible? That's new." I heard Aaron mutter. What was his problem? He didn't want to have anything to do with me so why was he butting into my matter?
Baron was about to reply but I shook my head. He controlled his anger and sat back down.
"Maybe you shouldn't go to school today." David suggested. "Or what do you think? We can't have her walking around on sprained ankles all day. Maybe she should stay back and let the pack doctor come take a look at it."
The pack doctor? Oh my goodness! Whoever this pack doctor is, they'll know I'm fine, and that nothing's wrong with my ankle. Mom looked at me and Baron, but she didn't show any sign of being nervous. "I don't think it's that serious. She'll be fine. I know Katherina, she can be a drama queen sometimes. Making big things out of small things. She'll be fine, don't worry David."
Jeez! Thanks mom. For making me sound like an over-pampered princess who whines a lot. But at least, it did the job. David chuckled, seemed to consider mom's words and left it at that.
"Eat up boys and girl, or you'll be late for school." Mom told us.
"How will you be able to survive today's academic activities?" Baron asked me.
I quirked my brows, not getting where he was going with that question. I stared at him trying to understand what he was up to. I might have known him for a short time but I know him enough to know he was a very mischievous and crazy guy.
"Of course I'll survive." I smiled awkwardly.
"I know you will. I'm asking how." He chewed eggs, looking at me expectantly. His expression was so innocent but I knew better. Baron was anything but. He had something up his sleeve but I couldn't tell what.
"I'll manage. I'll probably seat most of the day in class." I replied him. I just wished he'd stop. This was very awkward and embarrassing. It was just the two of us talking, our voices floating over and around the breakfast table. And others were listening in, I knew that, which made it all more the awkward.
"What if you need to pee or go to the cafeteria to eat? What will you do then?" He went on.
Really? The nerve of this guy! I felt like slapping that stupid smug smile off his face. He was doing this on purpose and the fact that it made me feel embarrassed was more fun for him. Crazy dude!
"I'll manage." I said through gritted teeth, masking it with a forced smile.
"It's settled then. And I'm sure my dad and step mother both agree with me."
"That what?" David asked, him and mom looking at him.
"That she needs a helper."
Oh no! He won't. Never. Not in this lifetime.