Chapter 2

I slammed his head down and drove my elbow right into him.

He screeched and howled like crazy.

I landed the hits and just walked off.

I stormed off, and he grabbed his things and chased after me.

He said, "Arianna, what's wrong? Why are you mad at me? Did you hurt your hand?"

Xzavier's always been this way, easygoing and the quiet type.

I thought I'd struck gold with such an honest guy.

Turns out he was just a mama's boy.

He looked innocent enough, but he was pure poison.

When I ignored him, he massaged his bruised head, all eager, and whipped out his phone to show me.

Xzavier said, all smiles, "Arianna, are you worried my mom won't approve of the two of us? Relax! I showed her your photo yesterday, and she said she absolutely adores you."

I shot his phone a glance and sneered.

Then it hit me.

Around this time in my last life, we'd just told our parents we were seeing each other.

My dad just frowned and stayed silent.

My mom only asked me one question. "Do you really like him?"

I was still pretty naive back then, trying to figure out what it really meant to like someone.

I hesitated and told my mom. "Well, I just think he's easygoing, looks good, and I want to hang out with him every day, talk to him, and watch him smile."

My mom grinned.

She said, "That's what it means to like someone!"

Then she gave my dad, who was eavesdropping nearby, a playful smack.

He said, "Alright, stop worrying. Our girl's all grown up. Now she's got someone else to spoil her!

"Who cares if he's easygoing or not? Next time I see him, I'll rough him up a bit and let's see how easygoing he really is!"

On Xzavier's side, after Paisley found out we were together, she had him bombard me with all sorts of questions.

"Arianna, where do your parents teach?"

"Do you know how much their pension is?"

"You're an only child, aren't you?"

"Are you planning to stay here, or would you come back to my hometown with me?"

Seeing I was getting a little annoyed, Xzavier hurried to smooth things over.

"Arianna, don't be mad, okay? My mom's the one making me ask all this stuff. You know how it is. She raised me on her own, so she's always worried I'm not good enough for you."

It was totally normal for her to ask about my family. I got it.

I looked Xzavier straight in the eye and told him, "I like you for who you are. None of that other stuff matters to me."

Honestly, I just couldn't bring myself to leave my parents behind. They loved me way too much.

Plus, my folks had already put away money so they could get me a place of my own in this city.

It was a practical issue, and Paisley had always been pretty lukewarm toward me.

I figured after I said all that, Xzavier and I would have to face a real test.

But instead, Paisley did a complete 180 on me.

First, she added me on WhatsApp and started calling me all the time. Whenever the weather changed or it got cold, she'd check in about my meals. She was fussing over me more than my own mom ever did.

Then she even made a special trip from her hometown, grabbed my hand, and told me she'd treat me like her own daughter.

Just like that, I fell right into the pit Paisley had dug for me with her own hands, one step at a time.

Now that I'd got a second shot at life, there was no way I was falling into that trap again.

I glanced at Xzavier's phone screen.

Right now, Paisley had probably just heard that my parents were buying me a place.

Paisley said: [Oh, this girl looks so lucky! She's got blessings written all over her face.]

[Son, we're not the kind of people who forget kindness. You've got to do right by this girl. Stay in the city and build a good life together.]

[When you two get married, I'll move over from my hometown and help take care of you both and spoil the grandkids.]

I snorted with laughter.

I said, "Xzavier, your mom's already planning our wedding and grandkids. She's really jumping the gun.

"Oh, and I forgot to tell you. I told my parents about us too. They grilled me about you, but turns out, they're not really cool with it. So, looks like I have to break up with you."

Xzavier froze, looking totally lost.

"Wait, Arianna, you said you liked me! So just because your parents don't approve, you're really dumping me?" he said.

I shook my head, pretending to be all conflicted.

I said, "I don't really know, but..."

Seeing Xzavier looking at me all hopeful, I took my time and said, "I just do whatever my parents say!"

I ignored Xzavier, who looked totally choked up and lost for words, and walked away without a second thought.

I hadn't gone far when my phone rang. It was my dad.

"Arianna, your mom and I are out looking at apartments for you! There's a cute little two-bedroom right by your school. Once it's all fixed up, you'll be able to move in just in time for graduation!"

Hearing my dad's voice, I just couldn't hold back the tears anymore.

"Dad, Mom, I don't want a house. I just want us all to stay together, just like this," I said.