Kiss of A Titan
Chapter 45

Later that same evening, I was usually too tired to help aunt make supper and aunt being left alone in the kitchen was completely preoccupied with preparing the food she had planned for everyone to eat before going to bed. Her two kids were busy playing in their rooms and didn't quite pay much attention to the fact that all three of us had left our aunt downstairs alone in the kitchen with less capable hands to hasten supper preparation. Hopefully, there was enough light in the house for everyone to tend to their affairs and sufficient electricity to keep her company and so far, she didn't need our help. Ever since her meeting with the Principal, we had barely spoken about my possible exit from the team and I had intently avoided chances of talking to her about the real reason why she was called to a meeting with the Principal barely into the third week of the new semester. Withdrawal from the athletic team was inevitably bound to happen if I were to tell her the truth behind what Lori did to me and I believe the Principal as well as Coach Robbins did a good job of telling her different story at the meeting.

So far, I have been doing great keeping quiet about the whole issue during my stay at home and we have been somewhat distant because of it. What had happened in school was a major setback for my stay in the team and possible withdrawal was staring hard on my face because of it. Knowing her pretty well, I had kept myself away from her and had refrained from discussing it even though I knew it wouldn't last long.

She knew I was going to be adamant about leaving the team and pretended as though she didn't notice that I was keeping my distance from her. Being reprimanded was something I loathe and my aunt knew this. Since her meeting with the Principal, we haven't talked much about it and my unusual absence from the kitchen in the evening of the same day Richard had paid me a visit, clearly showed that I wasn't ready to hear her opinion about the incident which mattered to everything I had been doing in Houston High.

Thirty minutes past seven, I was still in my room, getting dressed up for the night after spending half an hour in the bathroom. I was barely dressed up when I heard the door slightly push itself open and I didn't feel the need to conceal sensitive parts of my body that were a bit exposed.

"Rosalie....aunt told me.....", It was Tom's voice and I felt horrified at the thought of him almost catching a glimpse of my half naked body.

"Tom! What the heck! Don't you knock?!", I shouted at him trying hard to and we both yelled at each other. He quickly shut his eyes with his right palm and faced the open door which he had left ajar.

"I'm so sorry! I didn't know you were......", "Shut the hell up! Get out of my room, pervert!", I yelled at him and he scurried blindly out of my room. Then he climbed downstairs and went down to the sitting room. There he found aunt getting the plates ready at the dining table. At first glance, aunt noticed that something was wrong the minute she saw that Tom's countenance had gone pale but she didn't want to pry too much in order to conserve the strength she had left after preparing supper alone.

Tom quietly took a seat and sat down waiting for his own food to be served. To aunt, there was a sharp contrast between his first appearances when his prompt returned from running the errand. His countenance was too dark as though he had seen a ghost lurking in the rooms upstairs. Aunt noticed that he was acting way too quiet than his usual nocturnal attitude not to mention that he didn't say anything to her concerning the message she sent him to deliver. Even when she returned from bringing the food from the kitchen, she still found Tom the same way she had left him to go take the food on her own. Fed up with his silence, she felt the need to question his sudden dismal. "Come on, Tom, You're acting weird. Tell me what the problem is", Aunt demanded but Tom refused to speak. Nora came down from her room at that moment and found herself a seat as soon as she made it to the dining table. "Nora, did you see Rosalie on your way down here?", "No, Mom", Nora replied and went about settling down to eat, "What's wrong with him? Has he got a sore throat?", She asked when she noticed her older brother in his unusual manners. "Of course not, Tom, where's Rosalie?", "She's...in her room", "Did you tell her I wanted her downstairs, ASAP?", Aunt interrogated further with her hands akimbo.

"I did but-", "But what?", Aunt rejoined but Tom suddenly went silent.

"He saw a ghost", Nora intruded laughing wildly and Tom felt irritated by her words.

"Nora, there's no ghost in this house and you need to stop pestering your older brother", "Mom, I was only joking....", "Then stop making such upsetting jokes and wild ghost stories", Aunt replied and exhaled, feeling distraught by her two kids warring nature. She looked at Tom and saw that he still hadn't touched his food yet.

"Fine, if you don't want to tell me, I'll just have to wait until Rosalie gets here", She said taking off the gloves she had put on to protect her hands from the hot plates. I came down to join them at the dining table when she had settled to eat her own portion of the meal she prepared for all of us. It caught me greatly by surprise that her stare was the first thing that greeted me the moment I reached the dining table. Not only were her eyes accompanying me as I took my seat beside Nora at the dining table, but her entire face read total displeasure at the sight of me. Her gaze made me feel nervous and it took my mind off the fact that I was angry with Tom.

"Is there something wrong, aunt?", I asked to clear the air as I took one of the cutleries for me to start eating.

"As a matter of fact, yes, there's something wrong and you have to make amends", "Amends for what actually?", "I sent Tom to get your feet down here for you to help me out but he came back looking like that", Aunt explained and we both turned to look at Tom who wasn't picking up anything from his meal with the fork he was holding.

"Is that why he looks like he has seen a ghost?", I asked and Nora stifled laughter but aunt wasn't amused.

"I don't know that but he's hasn't been himself since he came back from the message I sent him", "Aunt, nothing happened, he's just a messed up pervert", "A Pervert?", "Yes, aunt, that's who he is", I said and laughed along with Nora. "No, I'm not", "Yes, you are and you can't deny that, right?", Nora commented and Tom glared at her. Before the brawl between them could get intense, aunt promptly intervened to stop the two kids from fighting.

"Both of you should shut it. Gosh, you're both grounded for the month", "But Mom-", They replied in unison but aunt's mind was already made up.

"No, buts, Rosalie, a word please", She said and got up from where she sat down. I got up to follow her and we both went upstairs. She took me to her room where it was quiet for her to reveal what she had in mind to tell me behind closed doors. No one had to tell me that she was about to do the inevitable and I was starting to feel that I would end up losing my chance with the athletic team if our discussion wasn't going to end well. Her bedroom was neater than mine but more spacious and broad that I could easily fit in.

She shut the door behind me and led me to the window near the bed. Her actions greatly implied what she had been waiting all week to say but I was ready to face her despite knowing that everything depends on her decision.

"It's about time we talk about you being an athlete", "Aunt, what's there to talk about? I mean, I'm really sorry so much had to happen but...", "There's no excuse for what that girl did to you and of course, there's the scandal you did right in front of everybody", Aunt retorted and I rudely withdrew away from her. I slumped myself on the bed like I did often whenever we had an argument not caring about the consequences but Aunt wasn't done yet. Then it occurred to me that this was one of the few times my aunt and I often have arguments behind closed doors without Tom and Nora ever finding out what happened between us.

She did so when she didn't want her kids to know we were fighting and for us, it would really turn out ugly but for them, they would think we were having a discussion meant only for adults.

"It wasn't my fault that had to happen at the games....", "And neither was he, right? For the short time, you have deluded yourself with this athletics thing, you almost ended up losing your life", "I know you may not sound impressed with my progress so far with the team but I really want to do this and I wish that you support me on this", "I can't give you total support on some childish games that will put your life at risk", "Being a swimmer isn't childish", "Says the girl who almost drowned twice", Aunt said and I became silent. Obviously, my aunt was winning the debate and I was clearly drowning in defeat. I couldn't remember when last I had won a fierce argument against her because she had that gift in stating the facts clearly which would eat into your head if you were head to head with her in a debate.

"You really didn't have to point that out", I mumbled looking upset and angry at being reminded about the two incidents that almost cost me my life though in fact, it had been three and I had been lucky to have survived all three incidents. "Of course, I do have to tell it to your face unless you want to keep on being stubborn", "I still want to do this", I relentlessly replied and looked away from her. The storm that had ignited between us seemed to have stopped at a standstill and ironically, aunt was the one calling for a truce despite the fact that she had complete control of the argument. She came to meet me where I sat down on her bed and drew closer to me.

"Rosalie, I'm not the bad guy here...I just want you to make the right decision", "I am making the right choice, it's you that ain't listening", "I am listening but athletics isn't worth you risking your life out there for some stupid medal and that boy....", "Aunt, he's not that boy, he's...", "He's what?", Aunt interrupted and looked me straight in the eye. Waiting for me to finish my statement but I was too lost in thought to even realize that I was going to something that would spark off another quarrel, "Who's he to you? Is he what I'm thinking?", "No, it's definitely nothing like that", "I don't believe that. He couldn't have done that in front everyone if there wasn't something between you two and your eyes says otherwise", "We aren't in a relationship. He's just a friend and a teammate", I replied in sharp denial but aunt remained undeterred and I didn't blame her for it. If Richard hadn't done what he did at the game, she wouldn't have been too convinced that we were much more than friends.

"There's more to that and his action at the game clearly proves it", "What you saw isn't the whole truth", I lied trying hard to sound more convincing in order to dissuade my aunt from the truth knowing the implication of acknowledging her speculations to be true which ultimately meant loss of her support and I didn't want Richard to get the blame for everything that had happened to me.

"Rosalie, you know it's difficult for anyone who watched the game to believe that, right?", "I know what Richard did was clearly outrageous but that's it, we are friends", "Richard? That's his name, right?", "Yes, that's his name and I don't know much about him except his name. Besides, he was only trying to help me from being traumatized", I explained coaxingly. Giving aunt a coaxial explanation has always been my own way of getting out of trouble and aunt has always fallen for it regardless if she was on the side of the truth.

"Traumatized? How....? Is there something I should know about?", "I've said all that I have to say about it. Can we just forget about it and move on?", I questioned evasively and pressed her hands on my thighs.

"We can only do that if you leave the team and find another club", "Please, aunt I promise I'll be done with this when I learned how to swim", Aunt became completely fed up with my sharp refusal to listen to her and turned away from me. She knew it was difficult to change my mind, not to mention that she now realized that she was fighting a lost battle that seemed to be ending in my favor and she was getting the feeling that I was being stubborn because of Richard. She exhaled twice to calm her temper as she pondered on what to decide regarding my future with the team. Her brief silence on the matter was by so far not encouraging and I was almost having doubts if she really would spare me enough time to stay on the team for as long as I wanted to. Then she brushed the ringlets of her hair and looked at the open window lost in thought. It was dark outside and the neighborhood had gotten quieter than it was before dusk but she had intently left the window open, for fresh air to seep into the room through the window.

"All I want is for you to have a better school year in this new town and so far, I don't see that happening with you playing athletics all summer", She said to herself after a prolonged silence and sank her fingers into her wavy fawn hair. I decided to listen to her and to remain quiet in order to hear her speak since it was clear that she was having a rethink about her decision which seemed to have lost its stand against my persuasive arguments. She turned to face me and embraced me. Her hair lay muddled on the left side of my shoulder as she

"Fine, if that's really what you want....I won't stop you but you have to promise me something", She said, still hugging me tightly.

"Anything, Aunt, I'll do anything as long as you don't stop me from doing athletics", "Don't end up losing your life pursuing this so call dream of yours",

"I won't aunt", I replied and she withdrew herself from my grasp.

"Now go apologize to Tom", "What? No, I can't do that", "It doesn't matter if he offended you or not but just do it to make him feel better", I looked at my aunt and wanted to refuse but a second thought about our agreement regarding my continued stay in the athletics team compelled me to have a change of heart. It wasn't the first time my aunt made me apologize to Tom for his own wrongdoing and I started to feel it was high time I stopped making compromises. "On a second thought, I'll do as you say even Tom is a pervert", I replied but she looked at me in surprise.

"For real?" you ain't upset about it, are you?"

"Not at all"

"That's a relief. I thought you would decline but I'm really pleased to hear you say that ", she said cuddling my cheek and got from the bed to leave when she became satisfied talking to me privately behind closed doors. I stood up as well and guided her to the door.

"Good to know you trust my words completely ", "Believe it or not, I have faith you'll be able win him over again",

***

We're just hanging out", I replied effortlessly, trying not to make a noise that would have interfered with the ongoing rehearsal at the school theater. I had kept quite enough distance from the gymnasium for the five days I resumed classes after the incident but not from Richard who kept getting close to me while everyone else including Chloe seemed to be on our tail for the frequent times they saw us talking together around the school vicinity.

Ironically, we were getting close to each other whilst, for obvious reasons, everyone in the team whom Richard knew seemed to get further away from him especially Clyde and the rest of his teammates who avoided him the most after the news about the National Olympics will likely come around after the main summer games that was to start in the midweek of August.

Chloe and Amanda weren't exempted from those who thought we were in some sort of a relationship after the few times they saw Richard and I together which somewhat confirms the rumors about the incident that happened during the pre- season summer games and it was primarily because of this reason the two ladies had intently took me to the theater under the pretext of watching the auditioning Maggie and the other judges were still yet to conclude for their eventful show for the school year.

"Come on, Rosalie, you two have been seen hanging around a lot after you got back and you're trying to tell us that you aren't dating behind our backs", "We aren't... Sort of", Chloe sighed disappointedly in her seat and glanced at the stage. Then back at Amanda.

"I give up, Amanda. She's not listening to a word I say", "You know what, girl. Whatever the reason is behind this whole acquaintance with Richard.....", Amanda said, emphasizing her opinion with a gesture of the two fingers from her two hands.

"You better be mindful of Lori. From what happened, that bitch sure is frightening when it comes to Richard", "Thanks for the heads up, I'll be watchful of her", I said with glee and smiled childishly. From afar, we saw Maggie beckoning at Amanda to join the next queue that was next to be auditioned. Amanda got up in response to her calling without being told that she was the one Maggie required to join them.

"Girls, I'm off. Wish me luck even though I don't need one", "Where are you going?", I asked not knowing what was going on.

"To get auditioned", "Did you....?", "Yes, I did and now, I'm about regretting that I got convinced to be on that stage", "Why am I the last to hear about this?", "Because while you were getting stuck up with athletics and handsome Richard....I figured at best if I try out something new as well...at least for this school year", Amanda replied and carefully walked through the narrow aisle in between the seats to join the people at the front.

Chloe and I were left alone to watch her performance at a close range near the front rows till the auditions were over. Later the same day, I decided to take some time to visit the school auditorium and there I found Coach Robbins giving a pep talk to the athletic team. Richard was present there as well as everybody whom the Coach wanted to have a chat with and it was from his brief address after I was given a warm welcome by the team that I learned that a summer camping to get everybody back in shape will be held at the bordering areas of Houston forest region that was bordered by the thick evergreen trees that was duly present in the forests which covered the rocky mountains situated around the eastern terrain of the town.

Preparations for the camp trip which was to last for briefly for two days had already been covered by the Coach who didn't have to say much about the how they were to survive in the woods during the summer since it was a tradition the team adopted to foster unified team spirit for the team members and fortunately, aunt didn't object about me going to camp out in the woods when I told her about the trip although she was a bit apprehensive and more concerned of my safety rather than the sole purpose of the trip.

The day for the trip soon arrived and we already prepared for it, particularly those in the team who were eagerly itching to experience forest life whilst enjoying the summer in the woods. We left the townscape, driving from the school, quite early the first day to the campsite thanks to Coach Robbins's mini bus he used for last year's camping which roughly ended remarkably well for those that partook in it including the first timers.

For the likes of Richard and Clyde as well as Linder, it was their fourth camping this year ever since the tradition was initiated by Coach Robbins who replaced the previous coach before the inception of the athletic camping. The first day at the camp went by smoothly for everybody with all the drills and routine exercises done properly at the scheduled interval designated by the coach. There was no complaint received by anyone nor were they any qualms experienced on the first day since all that was needed to make the camp an exciting fun trip for both boys and girls was well place for everyone to feel comfortable in spite of being surrounded by tall trees barks with broad leaves enough to act as natural fortress to us, the camp dwellers and to concealed the campsite from intruders.

I was fairly having a good time getting familiar with my campmates as well as the forest itself though there was kind of a bit of restriction put in place by the Coach between the boys and girls which to some extent, hindered me from getting too familiar with Richard though it was the best opportunity for us to mingle and I had thought that the second day would be much more hopeful than the first but to my dismay, the friendly atmosphere in the camp suddenly changed to bad following the arrival of Richard's ex-girlfriend in the evening of the first day, along with some invitees that were allowed to camp with the team before returning back to the city. Clyde's sister was also among the invitees that came to the camp as well as Laura, Lori's friend also came with her bags for the camp and all came in a minivan but Claire didn't show up like the rest of her friends. The vibes in the camp became different when they arrived but there was a bit of more fun for the boys the same evening before everyone went to bed the first night of the camp apart from the boys who were told to keep watch at the places they were stationed around the camp perimeter during the night. Their arrival had increased our numbers in camp and the females obviously had no choice than to share the three tents meant for the ladies with the newcomers. Unable to sleep, I left the tent where I was with the rest of the girls that were already fast asleep wanting to see if there was something I could use at the storage tent to help ease the discomfort I felt sleeping underneath a blanket in the midst of four other girls from the team. The silent night was a bit chilly when I came outside and it took me quite long enough to get what I wanted from the storage tent. As I was returning back to sleep after getting what I wanted, I suddenly came across two of the night watch men wearing cloaks in overalls beside the storage tent. It was clear that they were among the ones Coach ordered to keep watch at night on periodic night shifts.

I wanted to avoid them but the voice of the first man which I suspected was Richard's voice stopped me in my tracks and I hid near the entrance to hear what they were talking about. From the shadows where I hid, I could see that the first man was gripping his partner's shirt by the throat and what came out of his mouth made me realize what had been the cause of their fight.

"You shouldn't have done this", The voice of the first man, which I suspected belonged to Richard, spoke first.

"I did it because of you", "Clyde, you know that's not true and you also know the reason why we broke up", "So? Lori wanted nothing but to patch things up with you and you are proving stubborn", "But it's not your place to come between us", "I know you still have feelings for her even after what she did, don't you?", Richard didn't answer but still, he didn't let go of Clyde.

"I saw how you looked when she came to the camp and afterwards you became uneasy right in front of us", "She and I are done. There's nothing between us anymore", "I can't believe that because from what I saw earlier, it is clear that you haven't forgotten her", Richard was taken aback and slowly let go of Clyde who stared at him triumphantly. I didn't wait behind to hear the rest of the conversation because I was already sobbing softly by the time I returned back to the tent from whence I had come.