GOOD-BAD THINGS

"Now what are you saying, Mom?" Michael snapped angrily, stepping in front of Mandy to block her from his mother's view.

Tears were starting to pool in Mandy's eyes but she wouldn't allow them to fall. Instead, she kept herself busy by clasping her dress in her free hand tightly.

Louisa raised her eyes toward her son and gave him a blank stare that spoke volumes but Michael stood his ground, glaring back at his mother.

"Move away now before I lose it, Michael," she cautioned in a grim voice.

"What has gotten into you, Louisa? Leave these children alone!" Desmond butt in, moving closer, and grabbed Louisa's arm.

He was also mad at this point as he could by no means understand why his wife was bent on horning into the children's affairs when she could clearly see that they were not comfortable talking about it.

Joshua and Scott were also fuming steam by now as they fixed their heated eyes on a remorseful Nathan.

"I'm asking you again, Mandy. Are you the reason Michael drew blood from Nathan's mouth?"

"No, she's not!"

The words hadn't gotten out of Louisa's mouth completely when the four boys said in unison and a look passed between them immediately.

"See? Did you hear that? Now let's go, Louisa. Your guests are waiting for you," Demond exhorted, trying to pull Louisa to walk away but the woman was being obstinate.

"Louisa!"

"Mom!"

Both father and son chorused when Louisa unexpectedly freed her hand from her husband's grip and went to haul Mandy and then began to stride away very fast.

"What are you doing, Mom? Have you lost it?" Michael yelled with a mix of impatience and fury, running after his mother.

And without turning to spare her son a look, Louisa responded in a raised voice, "Don't worry, son. I'm not going to kill her,"

With tears blurring Mandy's eyes, she looked back at the helpless Michael while she allowed herself to be pulled around like a soulless puppy by Louisa.

Michael hadn't evacuated where he was still standing when he felt a soft pat on his shoulder, followed by his father's soft voice. "Your mom will never harm anyone, son,"

The words seemed to make him relax a bit. He turned to his father and gave him a light smile.

"I'm going back to the party and I want to believe you'll bring the girl to meet me personally later," Desmond said with a broad wink and a huge smile took over Michael's features directly while he nodded his head.

Desmond also nodded his head with a smile of his own as he tilted his back in the direction of other men and soon noticed the feverish argument that was about to ensue between the guys.

"You might need to talk to your friend," he began, looking back at his son's face.

Michael was nodding his head jerkily when Desmond added, "And please no more fighting,"

He took a deep breath and nodded in understanding.

"Thanks, Dad,"

They both shared a parting hug after that and Michael went back to meet his friends.

"Why in the devil's name are you here, Nathan? Can you see the mess you've caused, huh?!" Michael barked, piercing Nathan with his cold eyes.

Actually, he would have sent another flying punch to Nathan's jaw already if his father hadn't begged him just now.

"I didn't mean to create a mess, Michael. I'm very sorry about that once again," Nathan apologized openly which left the guys surprised for the second time.

Nathan has always been a rude person and they've all come to terms with his attitude. But just this night alone, he's apologized twice. Nathan is a real jerk and never apologizes for his wrongdoings.

"Nathan, you're being weird tonight. Are you okay?" Joshua spoke up first worriedly, moving closer to him and examined him as if looking for a visible wound on him.

Chuckling, Nathan held Joshua's hand that was holding him and nodded his head positively.

"Of course, I'm alright. I just came to announce my leave to you guys. I'm leaving for the UK for good guys, to manage my Dad's electronic company and of course to also learn well-mannered behavior,"

As Nathan pronounced his words, he was smiling all through but his friends could only stare at him blankly as if he was uttering rubbish.

He didn't take too long before he noticed their 'we-don't believe-you' expression and then he added with a profound look, "I'm serious guys. I'm leaving in two days,"

"You're really leaving?" Michael asked in disbelief, his anger fading away, replaced by a hint of disappointment flashing across his eyes.

With Nathan's lips puckered, he nodded his head in response and said softly, "I'm sorry, guys,"

And like that, all of them stayed silent, only looking at Nathan with a look that spoke of heartbreak.

It's true that he's the only jackass among them but it doesn't change the fact that they've been best friends since elementary school and grown up to this level together.

*******

Morning light filtered through the closed curtains, casting a line of brightness across the bed where Daniella lay.

Liam walked into the room with a tray of covered dishes in his hands and then carefully dropped it on the cabinet.

A feeling of warmth spread over his chest as he stood there watching Daniella's beautiful face smoothened out in sleep. She looks younger now, almost childlike.

Even in sleep, she was still the most gorgeous female he has ever seen in his life and just by watching her alone, he'd gone hard.

Just then, Daniella stirred. Her long, thin eyelashes trembled a few times before she was able to slowly open them.

Using her elbows to support, she raised herself slightly, peering up at her father through half-closed eyes.

And meeting his gaze and the exquisite sight of him. He was looking fresh and well-dressed in a pair of blue shorts that revealed his long legs and a white tee.

Seemingly, the bandage around his forehead has been replaced, and some strands of his raven hair could be seen peeking beneath the White bandage.

He looked crazily handsome and consciously, Daniella started recalling all the sensations he'd evoked in her throughout the night.

The kind of sensation that was so overwhelming that she'd cried so hard, brimming with the effect mixed of pleasure, pain, and a compelling splendor she couldn't put a name to.

Thinking back to all the good-bad things her father had put her through the night, her face flushed incredibly and she instinctively tried to lift one of her legs under the bed cover but could not.

However, before she could get her words across to her father- Liam had irresistibly moved closer to her on the bed like there was a magnetic pull between them.

He found himself bending to the waist, his desire unmistakable. He pressed his lips to hers but the kiss ended as soon as it began.

"Good morning, little temptress," he teased, a playful glint in his eyes as he lowered himself onto the bed very close to her.

Daniella's belly fluttered, her heartbeat quickened and her nipples hardened, and then she responded, "Good morning_"

She didn't allow the words out of her mouth to finish before she slapped her hand over her mouth while Liam busted into hysterical laughter, throwing his head up.

"Why… why did you just sound like that, sweetie?" Liam blinked furiously as he fought his laughter.

"Good morning…" he mimicked Daniella's hoarse voice just now. "God! You sounded just like a Batman, baby," he busted up, unable to hold back the laughter.

"Dad!" Daniella scowled hard at him, "Not only did you make me cripple but I've also lost my voice," she angrily glared up her pretty nose at her father who in turn snickered deeply.

"Nah, Ella, you haven't lost your voice yet. It's just that your current voice sounds very much unlike you. More like a toad's voice, I must confess," Liam choked on the laughter that ripped from his throat.

"Dad!" Daniella yelled out but her voice didn't come out as stern as she'd attempted to.

Slowly, Liam crawled into the bed, watching Daniella with a mischievous smirk tugging his thin lips.

"Come on, let's see your cripple legs,"

Daniella shrank in like a wilted flower, her hands tightening around the bed cover in her body.

"No, Dad. Don't see it," she said with disregard. Meanwhile, it did nothing to help the desire that had begun to beat through her system.

"You can't run away from Daddy, baby," Liam's voice came out in a tone barely above a whisper as he reached out to grab the cover from Daniella's body.

"No, no, no, Dad. I can barely feel my legs. I can't do this, please," Daniella cried out in her cracked voice even though it did nothing to help how hard her nipples budded for him and how wet she was for him already.

"I can't get enough of you, honey," he ran his fingers down her arm, his head coming closer to her face. "I want you too much,"

The hot air from his words sprayed over Daniella's face, tingling and itching.

Grinning and locking eyes with him, she raised her hands and laid her fingers to rest on his soft hair.

Right then, the shilling sound of her phone disrupted the moment.

However, Liam remained unfazed and even attempted to take Daniella's lips but Daniella dodged her head away in time, laughing.

"Let me answer it, please," she pleaded and was pleased when Liam nodded obediently and directly let go of her and got out of bed to fetch the phone on the dressing table.

"It's Mandy calling," Liam notified, raising his head from the phone to look back at his daughter's face.

Daniella even grinned wider as she eagerly beckoned to Liam to bring her cell phone. "She must have gotten a pile of gist for me from the party,"

"And how do you intend to talk to her with this croak voice of yours?"

Liam quickly bit his lower lip as soon as he let those words out, looking everywhere but Daniella's voice.