Chapter Eight
The next few days Bryce was busy with his new construction project. Ivory drove to her school in Bryce's car. Every day, Charlie Prescott and his friends sat in the school's parking lot and watched her. It felt creepy but she just ignored them.
One day, however, Charlie did not just watch, he approached her as she was about to leave the parking lot. "Hey, I'm Charlie Prescott, you're Ivory, right?" He asked with a smirk, extending his hand for a shake.
She just nodded, "Yeah," she said as she started to turn and go.
"Are you avoidin me babe?" He asked.
"No, nothing of the sort. I'm just late for my first class. Now if you'll excuse me," she said, not wanting to talk to someone who insulted her Bryce. She walked away to the school campus. Her Bryce? She grinned at the thought.
Everyday Charlie made it a point to seek her out and talk to Ivory much to her dislike. She hated his guts and wanted to punch his ever present smirk off his face.
One day, Bryce dropped her off in his GMC Sierra, but as fate would have it, there stood Charlie with his friends. As she got down, he approached her, "Hey, don't you like young and energetic guys like me? I could give you more than your old man. I could get you knocked up like your old man did a few years back, " he said as all his friends joined together in laughter.
Bryce got down with his hands formed into tight fists and his eyes blazing fire, his jaws tightly clenched. He punched Charlie on the face, giving him a telltale black eye and dragged him to the principal's office. Ivory was petrified, she had never seen Bryce so angry and violent. She followed him, pleading with him to leave Charlie but all her pleas fell to deaf ears.
She stood at the principal's office as Bryce made a complaint against Charlie and his harassments at the parking lot in front of the school. He called the sheriff and informed him about the type of harassment that Charlie Prescott was upto. The principal suspended him for a week and if it continued, he would be suspended for an indefinite period. Charlie was ashamed and insulted in front of Ivory and he didn't take it well.
The school ensured that there would be a tight security system even at the parking lot and no one would be allowed to loiter with outsiders. It was strictly for the staff from the school. Ivory came to know later that Bryce's family were one of the trustees of the school, no wonder his voice held so much power.
She wanted to know what Charlie meant when he said that Bryce had got someone pregnant few years back, but didn't have the courage to ask him. She realised that even though they slept with each other, she didn't really know the real him. She badly wanted to know the real him. She wanted to know why was he so lonely? Why was he so quiet before meeting her? Why couldn't he continue his education?
The next entire week Bryce dropped her as well as picked her up from school. They had installed all the security features that Bryce suggested. Thankfully Charlie didn't bother her for a week. Bryce however didn't listen and kept on escorting her to and from school in his GMC Sierra.
After a week, Charlie joined back. He avoided talking to her and she was grateful. Bryce however didn't stop escorting her to and from school, irrespective of his workload. She felt cherished, since no one ever protected her with such determination. Bryce didn't want anything in return, he was always so caring around her, just protective of her. Aunt Olivia was ecstatic at the changes in Bryce and invited her to a family dinner the coming weekend. She and grandma wanted to interact with her more, know her views about marriage and children. They wanted to get to know the girl who Bryce was obsessed about.
She was glad of the invitation as Briella was still recuperating from her broken ribs and needed rest. She knew no one and had nowhere else to go during weekends.
So, when Saturday night arrived, she wore a white off shoulder sheath dress paired with hoop earrings and left for the main house. She carried a creamy custard-based Southern buttermilk pie which she made in the morning just as her mom had taught her.
The door was open and she went inside. The whole family was gathered at the family room. The men were watching some football match on TV and cheering while aunt Olivia was sitting with two ladies, busy chatting. Aunt Daisy was in the kitchen and grandma was sitting with Bryce, talking.
The moment she came in, Bryce got up and kissed her forehead and taking the casserole full of pie, led her to his grandma. She sat down with her on the sofa while Bryce sat beside her, playing with her hand. "You're looking so lovely and fresh, dear," said grandma as she smiled.
"Thank you grandma," she said.
"I heard you're a very good cook," she said beaming at Bryce.
She smiled as her cheeks coloured a little, "I made some buttermilk pie for everyone," she said as Bryce opened the casserole to smell.
Grandma chuckled and Bronson came forward and took it from his hands and ran to the kitchen followed by Brody. "You better leave some for me, else no beer party tomorrow," he said as they grinned, showing him the middle finger.
Aunt Olivia and the two ladies came smiling towards Ivory. They sat down opposite her and Bryce.
"This is Ivory," said aunt Olivia, "Ivory, meet my sisters, Julia and Maria," she said introducing them.
"She's too young, Olivia," said aunt Julia. Ivory smiled at her.
"Don't you think she's too young for Bryce?" Said aunt Maria, who looked like a scowling witch. "She could be good enough for Blade or Brody, I think. Bryce needs someone his age. What's wrong with you Olivia?" She said, not approving of Ivory.
"Why do you live here? Don't you have a place of your own?" She asked as Bryce got up angrily and left, banging the front door.
Uncle Rob and grandpa looked up and came forward,"What's wrong? Why was Bryce so upset?" He yelled.
"Nothing, the truth hurts a little at first, but it's best to point out the wrong," said aunt Maria.
"You didn't say why you live here?" Asked aunt Julia.
Ivory sat still with tears streaming down her face. She didn't know what to say. "Because I asked her to stay. You have a problem with that? This is my house, my ranch, my rules," said grandpa sternly as aunt Olivia went inside sobbing.
"We can't have dinner here Olivia, if we aren't respected," said aunt Julia, getting up and stomping out followed by her sister.
Ivory got up and ran out of the house. Why can't people leave Bryce and her in peace?
