Constant Teasing

[Lise]

Poor Aden!

That would be uncomfortable, indeed.

I wonder what "drama" you've got in mind, adelle! Can't wait to find out.

[HAA Girl 08]

That was really good! ^Wondering about the drama... Can't wait!

[Taniya_K]

Such a great light chapter, then you go and add that at the end!

Hope you update once more!

xoxo

[Deborah]

That was a good chapter, loved the bit with scarves, awww

Wonder what the drama will be!!

[adelle fan.]

Ooooh!

can't wait for an update.

[mk1diva]

ooo great chapter

Loved how you added the bit with he scarves and how Aden notices was really sweet

Uh Oh drama hope its not too bad...

[H&A_diehard]

OK, where's the drama then, I'm waiting.

Hope you update soon, you just had to make us all curious didn't you?

Can't wait for the next chappie.

Great fluff again btw.

[adelle]

lol I have written the next chapter but it is really terrible! I'm sorry I know I said I would do 2 updates today, but now I'm too tired to re-write it now and I still have some homework to do

I could post the first half of the next chapter, but the only thing is that it doesn't include 'the drama' so you would have to wait till the next chapter for it...you guys can decide if you want it now or not

[Taniya_K]

Firstly, I doubt it's terrible!

Secondly... uh do you even have to ask!? UPDATE! I can wait for the drama if it means reading more of this fic!

xoxo

[adelle]

lol okay then, this is especially for you Taniya

It's kinda of a little filler chapter, so I hope its not too boring! The 'drama' will be revealed in the next chapter, promise

Chapter 58.

“The place looks amazing Amanda!” Belle said as she followed her mother into the kitchen, Aden trailing behind her.

“Nothing to do with me, that is all Drew’s handiwork” Amanda replied as she poured them both drinks.

“Drew?” Belle asked, “I didn’t know he was into interior decorating” she said, slightly bemused. Aden tried to suppress a laugh but ended up sounding like a half sneeze half cough. Belle shot him a dirty look, but couldn’t help finding the idea of Drew painting, making flower arrangements and decorating houses ridiculous.

“Oh, well it’s not decorating exactly, he’s doing this summer course on building, painting, design and all the other trades, it’s a bit of everything and he’s used the house as his canvas, finally found something he is good at, but it’s just a summer workshop, so if he wants to get serious about it he will have to pick up an apprenticeship” Amanda continued as she rummaged around in the fridge, pulling out a platter of sandwiches.

“Here let me help you, you shouldn’t be lifting things like this” Belle said as she went to help Amanda.

“No, no you sit down, Drew can get lunch sorted, you two travelers need a bit of a rest. Drew!! DREW!” Amanda yelled in the hallway near the stair case.

“Yeah, yeah, alright I’m coming!!” Drew called back lazily.

Aden saw a mischievous grin creep across Belle’s face, but when she noticed him looking she gave him a forewarning look.

“Play nice” she hinted as she heard Drew coming down the stairs.

Belle turned back to her mother, “So where is Ryan?”

“Oh, yes he’s at a friend’s house at the moment, but he will be joining us for lunch, that reminds me I better called Peter and tell him to pick him up soon” she said as she picked up the phone and dialed it, wondering off into the hallway.

“Belle” said Drew who was standing behind them all at the entrance to the kitchen, “Aden” he said, nodding slightly in his direction. His disapproval of him was evident in his eyes but this didn’t bother Aden, he couldn’t care less whether Belle’s ex approved of him or not. Smirking slightly, Aden looked at Belle, now feeling more confident, it was clear Drew felt threaten by his presence.

“Drew, hey…how’s it going?” she asked as she gave him an awkward yet brief hug.

“Yeah, not to bad” he said grinning at her, “how are you? I uhh, heard about your father, I’m sorry you had to go through that” he added.

“I’m fine, really. Amanda tells us that you’re responsible for the interior designing, that’s really great” she said.

“Umm yeah, it’s just a workshop thing that Dad made me go to, just been mucking around trying a few things out” he said, slightly embarrassed.

“So uhh, Aden how did your HSC go?” Drew asked, trying to make conversation to make this weekend less painful.

“Yeah, there were pretty good, applied for a few courses, so yeah… You?” Aden asked.

“Nahh, not going to uni, haven’t decided exactly, but thinking of a trade to get into” he said, “so you guys hungry or what?”

“Starving!” Belle exclaimed.

…

Lunch was on the dining room table and Peter and Ryan had joined them. It obviously was pre-planned by Amanda as they didn’t usually have such formal meals on a Saturday afternoon. Belle was seated next to Aden on one side of the table and Drew and Ryan were directly across from them, with Amanda and Peter on the ends of the table.

“This looks great! You didn’t have to go to all this trouble though” Belle said to Amanda.

“Nonsense, it’s not every day my daughter spends the weekend here, it’s a celebration, you are part of this family, whether you want to be or not!” Amanda replied.

Belle smiled, she noticed that Aden looked uncomfortable and was exchanging unfriendly glances with Drew every few minutes. Maybe she overestimated their capacity to be civil with one another. To reassure Aden, she slipped her hand under the table and rubbed Aden’s leg gently, letting him know that she was on his side.

Aden was still looking at Drew, but now was sporting a victorious grin. Belle rolled her eyes as she withdrew her hand from Aden’s leg having achieved more than what she had set out to do. Drew must have realized what she had done and now just looked annoyed.

“Well, this isn’t awkward at all” Peter said, grinning at the two boys who were dueling silently with their eyes, “You boys want to fight it out here or shall we go outside?”

Belle and Ryan laughed, but Amanda however was not so impressed. “Drew! Would you stop being so rude! Your sister is here and we are trying to have a nice meal. Whatever problems you have with Aden are going to be left aside!” she said furiously.

“Belle’s my sister, not his!” Ryan piped in, trying to figure out the logic in his head.

“Well technically they are step brother and sister” Peter told him.

“But they used to go out!! That’s gross!!” Ryan exclaimed.

Aden laughed, “Yeah buddy I’m with you, that is gross!”

Belle smiled, shaking her head. “Ah, so when exactly is the baby coming?” she asked her mother, trying to change the subject from her past relationship with her now step brother.

“2-3 weeks, hopefully not for another 3 weeks, there is still so much I need to get done first! The nursery is a mess and I still have some work to finish off”

“Oh well we could help with the nursery if you want” Belle offered, nodding seriously towards Aden, ‘we’d love to help!”

“Yeah, sure” Aden agreed, “That is if Drew hasn’t called dibs on it, I know that’s his area of expertise” he said relatively nicely, but accompanied it with a trademark smirk.

“No, that’s fine, they baby stuff is all yours I’ve got nothing to do with it” Drew muttered as he fiddled with the food on his plate with his fork, “I have to head soon anyway, meeting up with some mates, going fishing”

“We have guests!!” Amanda exclaimed, not approving of his rudeness.

“I’m sure my company won’t be missed for an afternoon, and yes I will be home for dinner” he replied before Amanda could interrupt.

“Well I was planning on having a girls afternoon with Belle, and Ryan has football practice and your father is coaching, but we can hardly leave Aden here all by himself he will go bored out of his mind!” Amanda said as Peter began to clear the dishes.

“Well if he wants he could tag along to footy practice, I could always uses an assistant coach and from what Belle says you are something of a footy player” Peter added.

“Yeah sure, why not” Aden agreed, relieved he wouldn’t be required to join in whatever Amanda had planned for her ‘girls afternoon’.

After everything was cleaned up Belle and Aden headed up to the room that Amanda had set for them, having a few minutes by themselves until they parted ways.

“You sure you’re okay with this? Just say if you’re not and I can tell Amanda and she can call the ‘girls afternoon’ off” Belle said as she sat down on the bed.

Aden grinned, “Don’t use me as you’re excuse to get out of a ‘girls day out’! I know you hate all that girly stuff” he replied.

Belle smiled, shaking her head, “you know me too well…actually I would like to spend some time with mum, if that’s okay with you?”

“Yeah it’s fine, as long as you can handle it…look I know what it’s like to hang around a hormonal pregnant chick, so just don’t get too upset if she says something that offends you, cause chances are she doesn’t really mean it” Aden said.

“Yeah I know, just sometimes I take things a little too personally where Amanda is concerned” she replied with a grim smile.

“With good reason” Aden said as he sat down next to her on the bed, “I think you need to let go of that fantasy you have about having the perfect mother, because no parent is perfect, you need to accept her the way she is, and then maybe you might not be so disappointed all the time. And from what we’ve seen, she’s really trying to reach out to you”

“That’s some pretty solid advise, when did you get so smart?” Belle asked softly.

“Well in between counseling sessions and my own fair share of messed up families dramas, I’d say having a pretty amazing girlfriend has a lot to do with it” he replied.

Belle smiled, “Well have fun at footy training”

“I will, see you tonight” he said kissing her forehead. Belle pulled him back and kissed him on the lips gently.

“Bye” she whispered.