Need 'n' Know: Forgot to say but, yeah, this is the last part. Read it slowly, please. Savor the moment. Thx.

A Daisy's Fortune

Part VII: Confessions

Tomorrow is Saturday…. He said he would see her tomorrow, which is today….

But he couldn't remember overhearing more than that when he was sitting behind the two of them. Louise had been worried over his mild injuries, and Andy had been smiling the whole time, that user.

Ethan locked himself in his room for the whole morning. He didn't want to go downstairs and meet Louise. After their argument yesterday, the atmosphere had become awkward.

"Forget it," he said.

He got dressed. Going to the garage, he stood at the door, contemplating.

Louise wasn't at home, so where could she be?

—

Sipping her lemonade to-go cup through a non-transparent, white plastic straw, she sighed. She sat down on the bench. It was the place where she had dropped the scoop of ice cream on Ethan's head. She put her to-go cup next to her and held her head up to Andy.

He smiled, joining her. "Thanks for coming," he said.

She looked at him. "You rarely ask me anywhere, Andy. What is it?"

"Well, today…."

Louise saw that he was hesitating greatly and decided to say, "We're friends… good friends. I don't want you to… lose your trust in me…."

"Yeah, good friends," he agreed, nodding. "I want to know… I want to make it clear…." He paused and made eye contact with her. "About yesterday…."

Yesterday… she repeated. I was so mad at Ethan, I didn't make anything last night or this morning…. Had he eaten yet?

"Louise…?"

"Huh?" she said, immediately. She reached for her cup to pretend to have something to look at, but it wasn't there. She cursed herself for not taking her purse with her.

Andy took her hand, his touch gentle, and looked at it. Louise didn't retrieve her hand, afraid she might hurt him. She stared off into the distance, watching the patterns on the floor and the pairs of shoes passing by. Having a notion of what he was going to say, she dreaded it, since either answer would hurt her or him.

"Louise, I—"

She was trying to prepare for it, but she wasn't, not in the least. He broke off as he followed her gaze.

"E—Ethan," she faltered.

Ethan was coming up here after the cup had fallen in front of him, and he was going to give the people responsible for an almost accident a lesson. With her to-go cup in his hands, he saw them, and his heart skipped a beat. What were they talking about? What was Andy going to say? Why didn't Louise meet Andy at his (Ethan's) home?

These questions were left to linger in the air because he was the third person today.

Standing quite a way from them, Ethan leaned on the banister, his fingers entwined over the edge. Louise and Andy were talking in private. He caught what they were doing, their motions, their actions. He read their lips partly, but in broken pieces, so it was hard to connect. Finally, Louise hugged him, and Andy returned it.

What the hell is that? his mind said in panic. Have they accepted each other? They'd better not, because someone is going to get hurt—!

Louise was approaching him.

"You're finished?" Ethan said.

"Yeah," she nodded. She tilted her head next to him. "Why are you here? You wouldn't have known I would be here…." Her expression was hopeful, as if something about this event made her happy.

"Other business," he replied, bluntly, dismissively. "Meeting you was a coincidence. Don't think much of it."

"Oh…." Her face dropped, and he wanted to take that disappointment away. He didn't mean to do that.

Andy was absent. Ethan was curious, but he didn't want to ask.

"I'm done here," Louise said. "I'll be at home."

She smiled at him and turned around to leave.

It was a dreary Saturday.

She sighed. Her elbows were on her knees, and her chin on her palms. The November air chilled her, and she sat deeper into the shelter. The rumbling sky foreshadowed rain. She groaned; she had no umbrella. The dropoff would be a long way from Ethan's house.

"Don't rain," she hoped. "Or rain ten minutes and stop…." She sighed and dropped her head.

"Then be prepared…."

She looked up. The voice matched the owner's, and Ethan stood there empty-handed.

"I thought you drove here," Louise said.

He didn't answer but sat to her left.

She stared at him from the corner of her eyes. "Are you still… mad at me?"

Ethan breathed in. He blinked, looking at her. "Nobody's mad at you," he said. "Happy?"

She smiled, but it was gone as soon as she saw another face. Her eyes were following the person in a navy-blue car yielding at a red light. They locked eyes, and he was equally shocked. When the light turned green, without blinking or a second glance, he drove ahead. Ethan could guess it was Rex. If memory served him well, he had encountered Rex one day—the first day he took the bus with Louise (with her oblivious). He wondered if it was bad or good: if Rex hadn't seen him, he wouldn't have cheated on Louise and broken up her.

Louise turned away. She swallowed, her hair concealing her face. She didn't cry as they got on the bus. Sitting on Ethan's right, her eyes were watching the raindrops and its trails on the window.

The storm didn't pass or lift when they got off. Ethan sat with Louise at the bus shelter, neither talking nor touching.

"We should go home," he said, at last. "It's getting dark."

She nodded. "Let's go," she replied, in a quiet voice.

He took off his jacket and put it over her head.

"Ethan—"

"No one wants to catch a cold," he interrupted.

He had one arm on her shoulder and the other one to keep the jacket up on his side. Smiling without her knowledge, he pulled her closer. The rain sounded on the outside of the jacket like it would an umbrella, only closer to their ears. They were turning a corner when a bluish car drove next to the curb and splashed rainwater on them. It was like watching a waterfall, because nothing and nobody were spared.

"If I saw correctly who it was," Ethan said, "that was your boyfriend out for revenge."

She snorted. "It was a mistake to go out with him. Who knew he'd be such a loser…."

"So don't cry about him," he mentioned. He looked ahead and forced her to walk.

Louise hardly had a word to say about it. "Why are you still holding up the jacket?" she said. "We're wet…. It's useless."

He let it down so that they were walking in the rain. He glanced at Louise, but it was difficult to tell if she was crying or if it was the rain.

They ran to the front porch, the sound of raindrops fresh in their ears. Louise squeezed her hair, murmuring something about stupid long hair and an early shower. Ethan was working on his jacket. He opened the door, but she slipped inside before him.

"My pants… my shirt…" Louise muttered. "My shoes…."

"My jacket," Ethan said. "I should've taken the car…."

She didn't hear him, because she had dropped to the ground in the hall and was hugging her legs. She couldn't hold it in anymore. She was miserable and wet and mad at her ex-boyfriend. He had betrayed her. He had cheated on her. He had cheated on her! And what was more, he had dared to dump her! Not only that, but he had also taken revenge on her and Ethan!

She hated him for it. She hated herself for hating him. She hated it all.

Louise sniffed. She was crying so hard she was hyperventilating, and she barely felt Ethan placing a towel on her shoulders.

"Get changed," he whispered. "It's not good to be wet and cold at the same time."

"It hurts to be betrayed, Ethan," she said. "It hurts…."

He softened. "I know."

Sitting beside her, he laid an arm on her shoulder. Louise freed her legs. She leaned on him, crying into his embrace and holding on tight.

Ethan sucked in his teeth as he neared Andy. He knew Andy was intimidated, but he didn't have time to waste. They were standing twenty feet away from the bus stop so nobody could listen to their conversation.

"I'm going to mark a line," Ethan said. "It's not literal, so don't look around."

Andy nodded.

"Okay." He held up his index finger. "One: on the bus, keep a distance between you and Louise; if she takes the bus and I'm not there, take care of her."

He nodded again, following the finger so he wouldn't have to look into someone's black eyes.

He raised two fingers. "Two—"

"I thought you were going to mark a line," the blue-eyed boy said, astonished.

At times like these, Ethan had wondered what Louise had seen in this boy.

"It's a figure of speech," he replied, tiredly, rolling his eyes, wondering how such a mind could have survived high school, let alone the world. "Anyway—two: if Louise is sad, don't take advantage of her or mislead her. If you do, I'll personally hunt you down and confront you." Which was a nice way of saying something else. And three: if she's in trouble, protect her, and don't whine over a little cut. Got it, Andy?"

"Yeah…."

"Good." Ethan patted his back.

The deliveries stopped, she thought.

No one came to the front door and rang the door bell, and Louise was in the kitchen. The roses had died and the vase was gone. She didn't know the mystery person who was sending her these things since he didn't include a letter in any of the bouquets or the packages. The packages weren't accessories but sweets, and she didn't mind. Plus, they all had her name on it. And there were no hint or anything as to whom had placed the orders. It was, in a way, wrong to worship yourself, but at least she knew that someone out there cared.

The kitchen phone rang. Louise jumped to get it, half afraid it might be the scary voice.

"Louise Khoden?"

"Y—yes, it is she. How may I help you…? Hello? Hello…."

She hung up, her eyes moving left and right anxiously. Seeing nothing and nobody, she took the rolling pin and flour to flatten the dough.

"Why are you so jumpy?" Ethan said, coming from the stairs.

She shook her head. "Nothing…."

She didn't know how she was able to sleep it off, but she succeeded in doing so, and woke up the following morning optimistically.

Louise laughed with Andy at the front. Often, she would look to the back at Ethan and smile. Ethan rarely curved his lips, but she smiled nonetheless. At their stop, Louise and Andy got off together, and Ethan advanced towards them with a thought on his mind and a box in his hands. Andy excused himself.

"You're going to be late," Louise said.

He was used to her telling him that. But this time, they didn't need to rush. He produced a small, five-by-five-by-five black box and presented it to her. It had a white-and-red striped bow and her name on it.

"W—what—?" She looked at him. "This is… for me… for real?" There was that glowing light in her again, ever brightening at any insignificant thing.

He growled, thrusting it into her hands. "If someone gives you a present, don't ask."

She finally smiled. "Thank you, Ethan."

"Now, go to class," he told her. He smiled as she turned her back and then straightened his face.

He had been preparing for this day.

In class, he wondered what Louise's expression would be when she saw what was in that box. Thinking about it, he thought he should had given it to her at home instead. But wouldn't she overreact? Not that he wouldn't like that….

He sighed, his eyes closed, until his mind clicked.

Something was wrong.

Someone was missing today.

It was Sotto's last week of suspension… last week. He should be back in school today, but Ethan hadn't seen him all morning. It was calmer and more unwinding not to see Sotto, but it was curious at the same time. He might have skipped.

Ethan had doubts of him skipping. After that ambush weeks ago, he wondered what Sotto was up to. Speaking of the trap, Sotto had ceased stalking Louise on the bus as well.

Something was seriously wrong.

While he dwelt on the subject, the receiver of his present was carrying along blissfully.

It was before eleven o'clock that Louise was making her way home.

She was giggling. The present was perfect in every way. It surprised her that the box was square on all sides and not flat. She guessed either it was a big bracelet or something weird before she had opened it, but it was just perfect. And there was a cute note that said:

Don't expect me to top it next time….
Since you accepted this gift, would you like to go out with me?
- Ethan.

She laughed, unable to hold it in. She could hear him asking her that and trying to be cool saying it. Would she tease him when he'd come home and make him confess? No, that wouldn't be too nice…. He could turn it against her. But she could use it to her advantage and pout about it.

She happily got on the sidewalk. The gift was safely tucked in the corner of her handbag. It was cushioned so the item wouldn't break and so she knew it was there.

Sighing, she felt contentment. She touched her fingertips anxiously. A bigger smile appeared on her face. When she looked up into white eyes, however, she gasped.

"Hello, Louise."

—

Ethan heard his heart beat.

What time is it…? It's only noon….

The day dragged on.

He saw Andy on the bus, but since their only connection was Louise, they did no more than acknowledge each other. Ethan faded out his surroundings, trying to forget about Sotto's odd disappearance, and imagined Louise's smile this morning.

The bus halted at his stop. He got off, walking without a second thought. He didn't think anything would happen. Sotto wouldn't doing anything. Would he? He turned the corner and felt something crush under his feet. Looking down, he saw… a black box and a handbag.

In mere minutes, Ethan was racing to his house and ripping the front door apart. The box was in his hands. The white-and-red ribbon was torn, the frozen red rose inside broken. It had been dropped by somebody, and that person wouldn't have been Louise.

"She's not here," he found himself saying.

The house was bleak, cold, and empty. Panting, he dropped the box and the handbag onto the kitchen island. His mind was a whirlwind, his thoughts unconnected and random. He was thinking of the many possibilities: Where could she had gone? Who would had taken her? His answers came when the kitchen phone rang. Warily, he picked it up.

"Imbruglia," a voice said.

Ethan remained quiet.

"If you want the girl, speak up," Sotto warned.

"Where are you?" he asked, in a leveled tone.

The white-haired boy crackled. "I would tell you… but are you itching to know what I've done to Louise Khoden?"

Ethan swallowed. His knuckles cracked, but his tone didn't change. "Don't hurt her."

His laughter didn't die out, and Sotto said, "Of course…. Want to know how she's doing?"

Static came through the phone, someone whined on the other line. Her mouth was taped close, but he could hear her distinct voice as they ripped off the tape.

He was breathless. "Louise?"

"Ethan, don't—" she cried.

"Don't fret, Louise," Sotto said, shutting her up.

"Don't fucking hurt her," Ethan hissed.

His evil laugh rang out from the phone. "Are you dying to know when she'll be safe?"

"What kind of sick game are you playing, Powell?" he shot back. His tone hadn't changed, but he knew Sotto's motives would be the same regardless.

"Don't worry," he said. "I've done nothing but kidnap her…. Where's the fun when no one sees it? Dear, dear Louise…."

"Stop touching her," Ethan growled, hearing Louise's distress in the background.

Sotto laughed.

"Have you forgotten the beating I gave you last time?" he reminded. "You want me, not her. Show your face, you coward."

The white-haired freak licked his lips and said, "This time, you're getting the beating."

"Oh, yeah? Tell me where you are."

"I'm not falling for that trick, Imbruglia," Sotto told him. "Remember when I said I'd find your weakness…? I've found it, and I'm keeping it…. My, my, and what a weakness it is…."

Ethan let out a breath. He was sweating and scared for he. It was like standing in water, because he was unbalanced and couldn't find a flat rock to step on. And sooner or later, he would sink to the bottom and suffocate.

Loosening his shirt collar, Ethan said, "I'll come to you. Don't hurt her, and I'll do whatever you want."

"I don't swing that way, Imbruglia, but if you offered… why would I reject?"

—

Day had become night, and Ethan was alone on the road. He turned off his cell phone. Sotto's "pals" had given him directions to their location, in exchange that he rode the bus. Somehow, they had found a quiet, undisturbed neighborhood to play their twisted game. It was a nightmare to have to listen to them, to obey them as if he was mere scum.

He made a few turns until the dim light shined on Sotto.

Sotto and his three dogs were sitting, leaning, or standing at the dead end. Louise was sitting on a crate, her mouth taped and her hands bounded behind her; two people guarded her on either sides. Sotto smirked and woke up Louise, who was tired from the waiting and the worrying. Louise's white outfit was stained with dirt and black marks. Her lips were pale from being in the cold for too long, and the ropes were leaving imprints on her wrists.

"I'm here," Ethan said. He threw his blazer to the side and rolled up his sleeves. He never liked the tie, so it wasn't with him.

Louise whined in her throat, but they kept her on the crate.

"Too busy to change even?" Sotto noticed. He turned to Louise and fingered her face, overlooking her glare.

"Let her go," Ethan said.

"But she'll tell you… things," he replied, watching Louise as he would a troublesome child.

He scoffed and spat on the ground.

"Plus, I never made that promise," Sotto added. He looked up, hands in his pockets. "I'll let her go… on one condition."

Ethan raised an eyebrow. "What?"

Louise squirmed, a single tear running down her cheeks. She turned to Sotto and begged him with her eyes, but he simply laughed it off and caressed her face.

"Dear Louise… so close, yet so far…." He returned to Ethan, holding a dagger and a gun he had revealed from behind the crate. Giving the gun to the guard on Louise's right, he kept the dagger and unsheathed it.

Ethan swallowed, perspiration rolling down the side of his head. Louise made eye contact with him. She was desperately asking for him to run, to get away from here. As if he'd abandon her.

"Here," Sotto resumed. He had unbounded Louise, holding her left hand while her right was twisted behind her by the one with the gun. The fourth one in the group held a second dagger. They were standing, wired for action.

Ethan didn't know what they were planning, but he didn't like the looks of it.

"A fair trade… by my standards," the white-eyed boy said, smirking maliciously. "Open your hand, Louise," he ordered.

Louise shook her head. She squealed and pulled back her arm, but he didn't release her.

"Open your hand!"

When she still didn't, the one with the gun pointed it at Ethan. Louise cried. She closed her eyes, anticipating what Sotto would do to her.

Wet, fresh blood dripped from the tip of the dagger onto the pavement.

"What are you doing?!" Ethan said. "Let her go!"

"Don't come closer," he warned. With the sharp edge of the blade, he pressed it into her skin. Louise grimaced, her fingers folding slightly but not all the way.

"Stop hurting her!"

Sotto smirked. "Not yet… but it's a start."

"Let her go! Stop it!" he said through clenched teeth.

"A life for a life, Imbruglia…" he said.

"You want me to bleed to death?"

"Precisely…. Slow and painful… you or her…. Your choice…."

Louise whimpered, but she didn't have the energy to break free from two people. Sotto hadn't cut deep into her hand, but the dagger hung dangerously in the air in her palm. It stung, like what she knew Ethan would have to do to save her.

"Let her go!" he said, furiously, baring his teeth. "I'll do it…."

Sotto took the small sword away and sheathed it. The second dagger slid towards Ethan. He gaped at it, looking at Louise. She shook her head, her wet tears trickling down her cheeks and neck, dampening her shirt.

The blade flashed in the light. Ethan held the hilt with his right hand and lied it on the center of his palm, from between his index finger and thumb and to the other end of his palm. Louise whined louder, struggling in their hold.

Ethan folded his fingers over the dagger and let it sink into his flesh without another second. His blood spilt out like hers, only there was more of it. Louise shrieked and elbowed her prisoners, but the gun pointed at her forehead.

"Don't move, Louise," Ethan said.

She shook her head weakly at him.

"I'll be fine…" he told her, with a reassuring nod.

"What makes you so sure?" Sotto spat, his eyes narrowed.

It seemed hopeless. She was being held hostage and he had no backup. Their hands were bleeding, and someone's arm would go numb in a matter of minutes. Sotto wasn't going to let them go. He would shoot from the slightest conspiracy.

Louise wondered, if she wasn't here right now, if Ethan would be stuck in such a situation, at a dead end and with nowhere to hide, nowhere to run to. She wondered why he was doing this for her. What could she give back to him, how could she repay him?

But Ethan kept his dark eyes on her. She had cried for him; no one had cried for him like that before. And the more she was hurting, the more he wanted to take it away.

"Freeze! This is the police!"

Lights aimed at them, causing them to blink, blinding all of them. The gun clicked, but there were twenty others in the perimeter.

"You…" Sotto said, glaring at Ethan.

"Freeze!" the officer said.

It was what he had been waiting for.

"You want twenty bullet holes in you, boy? Drop it!"

—

People, everywhere. The flashlights shone on where Louise and Sotto were. They went in as Sotto and his pals dropped their firearms. The kidnappers were handcuffed, nobody complaining. Ethan removed the dagger and threw it to the side. Louise freed herself. She tore off the tape and ran through the crowd, tears of joy falling from her eyes. Her lips quivered as she embraced Ethan, her cries muffled in his arms. He hugged her back with his dry hand, letting it run down her hair.

"Are you okay?" he whispered, looking down at her.

She nodded. "Ethan, your hand—"

"It's as bad as yours," he interjected. "You didn't smear blood on my back, did you?" he said, twisting his neck around.

She smiled, but couldn't find it in herself to laugh. "Why did you do that if the police were coming?" She stared up at him with gleaming eyes, holding his left hand.

"I had to play along," he answered. He was focused on nothing and nobody but her.

She sniffed, turning around to find the paramedics. "Excuse me!" she said. "Is there a first-aid kit here? We need some."

—

They were treated and interviewed by the police. It was a long hour, because they had to give statements on what Sotto did. After that, they turned down the offer to get a ride home from the police and took the bus instead.

The streetlights were what gave them an image of each other on the bus. Louise was wearing Ethan's blazer and keeping her hands to herself. She was tired, but she wasn't shivering anymore.

Based on the interviews, Louise's bag was searched, and the black box was planted there for Ethan. Louise was blindfolded and taken to a car, so she had no idea where they were taking her. Sotto told her what they would do, and that was why she had opposed to Ethan coming. Finally, the authorities were informed of the event by an inside person, one of Sotto's pals, and Ethan.

The silent ride was what he needed. It was long and provided time for him to think. Louise was safely beside him, and nothing more would happen to them. He looked at her; she was closing her eyes.

"It's time to go," he said, in a low voice.

She nodded and walked home with him. Louise stood close to him. She wasn't afraid of being kidnapped or the dark, but she wanted him right there.

He opened the door for her. He got to her room and said, in a gentle voice, "I'll be down in a minute."

She nodded. "Wait," she remembered. "Your blazer." She gave it to him. He looked at her, but he didn't say anything.

Louise breathed softly in her room. Back where it was safe, she felt her heart, listening to its calm, relaxed rhythm. She took a shower. Changing her clothes, she touched her left palm, the one Sotto had damaged. She didn't think it was worth it that Ethan had done the same to "play along."

In the kitchen, she saw the box and her handbag, everything in ruins. The rose broke when Sotto had intentionally let it hit the ground. She tried to hit him, or place a deal, and he thought it was ridiculous how much value she had placed in an item.

"It's not good to reminisce," Ethan said. He was in clean clothes, his dark hair a little on the wet side.

She looked at him. "Why not?"

"You were thinking bad things," he finished.

Louise eyed the gift. In all the panic, she had forgotten what Ethan had written to her. He seemed to have read her mind because he shook his head.

"You don't have an answer, do you?" he said, leaning back on the island, his arms crossed.

"W… what?"

"Fine…. I'll ask it personally this time." He stared at the wall, not saying anything for a moment. "Would you like to go out with me?"

She blinked. Oh, my God! Oh, my God! her mind squeaked.

He could sort of guess what Louise's answer would be, but he didn't like it to be vague. He didn't want to be misunderstood, and he didn't want her to be confused. "If it's a no, I want you to be clear on it."

She blushed. She wasn't going to ruin this moment! She licked her lips nervously and stood on her toes. It was easier to reach him with him leaning back like this. It was a quick peck, short 'n' sweet, she would say. Bowing her head, she smiled at the kitchen table.

He raised an eyebrow at her. It was unexpected. He thought she would say it, not act on it. But since when had she acted as he expected? Turning around, he stood behind her, and put his chin on her shoulder, sliding his arms around her waist. They stood like that for a while, Ethan breathing down her neck, Louise growing self-conscious of her surroundings.

"Sorry about everything I've done," he whispered. "From splashing you, to yelling at you…."

Louise smiled. She stood straight, facing him, and said in a soft voice, "But you never hit me… or cheated on me…."

He touched her hair, lifting her face a bit, and brought her closer. She inched towards him. Her eyelids fell slightly as she felt his breath and closed the gap. They kissed briefly, Louise pulling back first. Leaning on his chest, she took in his fresh shower smell and smiled.

—

"How did you send me those flowers?"

"I placed the order before we were in that shop together… same for the bakery."

Louise smiled.

"Go to sleep," he said.

Ethan was laying on his back, his left hand placed where she could see it because she was complaining about the wound. Louise laid her left palm on top, and his fingers closed over it. They were upstairs.

"Where did you get the idea for the glass rose?"

"It was frozen," he corrected, not tired of these queries at all. "It fitted the theme… the rose bouquets? That's why…."

"And you made it seem like you didn't send them." Biting her lower lip, she changed subjects. "Why did you break up with Christi?"

"Because I wanted to."

She frowned. Ethan peaked at her from the silence and sighed. Only positive answers could keep this girl satisfied.

"It's because of you… okay?"

She grinned. A while later, she had more questions in mind. "When Christi hit you that day, did it hurt?"

He shrugged. "What do you think?"

"You said that that day, too…." She pouted.

"And what was wrong with Andy? He wasn't the only one bleeding…" he grumbled.

Louise giggled. "He was bleeding, of course…. He's hemophilic." She widened her eyes excitedly. "Were you jealous? Was that why you were so grumpy?"

He ignored the last comments. "Hemophilia is when you can't stop bleeding, right?"

"Yep…. It was nothing more… I just didn't want it to become serious." She paused, choosing her next words carefully. "Why did you go out with Christi?" she asked, tactfully.

Ethan had an answer before she could even bring it up. "She approached me…."

"How many girlfriends have you had?"

"A lot."

"Oh…."

He felt her sadness and opened his eyes to look at her. "But I'll choose you over any of them…." Seeing her smile, he added, "Go to sleep."

"But I'm not done," Louise whined.

He sighed and chose that it was his turn. "You should be finished," he told her. "Now, my questions. What were you and Andy doing at the mall?"

She laughed. "Oh, that…. He came to confess to me."

"Confess what?" Ethan said with narrowed eyes.

She smiled, liking this undivided attention and jealousy from him. "You know… that he likes me."

"Don't fib."

"I am not, and you know it! As a matter of fact, I would have accepted if it were not for—" She blinked, coming to a dead stop.

"If it were not for…?" he pursued.

"Never mind. Go to sleep, Ethan." She blushed and tried to retrieve her hand and hide under the sheet.

Ethan chuckled. Sure, why not? There would be more time to talk it out tomorrow.

Morning came.

"Oh, no—Ethan, wake up! Please! Wake up, Ethan!"

"What?" he murmured. He was having some random dream, a good dream. To be awakened right when he was enjoying it—!

"Your parents are home!"

"So?"

"Well, wake up! I'm going to see them downstairs—wake up, Ethan!"

Louise used the exit next to the bathroom door and opened it. She slowly closed the door, but found that she wasn't alone.

"Oh, good morning, Louise!" Mrs. Imbruglia said. "Quite a surprise to find you… up here…. Why were you in Ethan's room?"

"Oh, nothing!" she replied. "Good morning to you, too, Mrs. Imbruglia…. I… uh… was up here to wake him up—yes, that's it! I was here to tell Ethan that you're home! Haha—I think he's tired, though. I'll be downstairs to help you unpack."

"That's really thoughtful of you, sweetie."

She shrugged, smiling nervously, and ran to the ground floor. The woman just waved it off, why she didn't see Louise run up and why Louise didn't use the door across from the stairs instead.

The morning passed.

"Hey—"

"Ethan—" she said. Covering it up, Louise hissed, "What are you doing? Go help your parents—"

He breathed beside her face as she was washing some vegetables. Raising an eyebrow, he said, "Are you afraid my parents might find out about us?"

"Just—just go help them."

"Why are you afraid?"

In that second, his mother walked in to get a brown box that she had left on the table, and Louise shook him off. Mrs. Imbruglia had heard what Ethan said and was about to investigate, but her son beat her to it.

"I thought you would be back in December," he noted.

"No, we returned for a week off." She flipped through the contents in the box and said, "Ethan, I need you to go out and get something for me."

"Right now?"

She gave him a stern look.

"Fine," he sighed.

"I'll go ask your father if he needs anything, too," Mrs. Imbruglia stated, leaving with the box. "Thank you for making lunch, Louise," she said faintly.

"You're welcome, Mrs. Imbruglia," she called, turning her head. Much to her surprise, Ethan stole a kiss from her lips with a smile.

"I'll be back," he whispered huskily, winking at her.

It wasn't the right time to say that, but it made her blush anyway.

While he was out, Mr. and Mrs. Imbruglia joined her in the kitchen, both of them doing some quarreling.

"No, that can't be right," Mr. Imbruglia was saying as he wrote on a notepad.

"You've repeated that for half an hour," his wife said. She was standing, and he was sitting on a stool at the kitchen table. "Ah, Louise, let me help."

"I—I can do it, ma'am." She was pouring noodles out from a pot and tilting it. "You're gonna hurt yourself, Mrs. Imbruglia."

She smiled. "Silly girl. I've been cooking half my life. You're younger than Ethan, so I've cooked longer than you've lived."

"Sani, let her be." Her husband added in a low voice, "Don't make yourself sound ancient."

She heard this, because she stomped over to him, her hands on her hip. Mr. Imbruglia was saved from a lecture when the front bell rang. Mrs. Imbruglia went to get it and came back.

"Louise, there's someone at the front door for you," she said, eyebrow raised. "He says his name is Rex Holmes."

The handles slipped from her, but Louise caught herself. She nodded, thanked her, and wiped her hands to answer her visitor. Her mind was blank as she went to see Rex. Why was he visiting her? What more did he want? They had broken up, and there was no point in being friends for he had hit her. Plus, she had Ethan now. She didn't want him to ruin her life.

Rex smiled at her when he saw her. His green eyes sparkled, his hand ruffling his blond hair. "Nice to see you again, Louise," he said.

She nodded, but didn't return it.

"Sit down?" He gestured to the swinging chair on the porch. He sat on the edge closer to the door and let her have the outside end. "Louise, I…."

She sighed. What had he planned on saying? He didn't need to hesitate. She smoothed out her apron and remembered how she had showed it off in front of Ethan. She smiled, and Rex took it as a smile meant for him.

"Louise, I'm sorry," he said, gathering courage. "I shouldn't have cheated on you… or hit you…." He waited for her to accept it.

"It's in the past, Rex," she replied. She was staring at the scenery. "At least you apologized…."

"Do you… forgive me?" he went on. After a long minute, Rex said, "I want you back, Louise."

She was shocked. She turned to him. Was he for real?!

"I don't know if it was your fault or if it was that guy's fault that caused you to cheat on me—but I'll forgive you for that if you return to me."

Louise gaped. "You still think I cheated on you?" she scoffed.

"Okay, okay, you didn't," he gave in. He took her hand and looked at her, coming towards her. "Please, Louise, come back to me. You know I love you."

"No, Rex—please—" She pushed him off and sat in her seat uncomfortably.

Rex sighed, running his hand through his hair. He looked at her, then at the floor. Attempting a second time, he forced himself on her, only to have a third person interrupt.

"Excuse me," someone spat. "Take your hands off of my girlfriend." He was standing at the porch steps with a glare on his face. In the driveway was his car, and if he needed to jump over the hood, he would've.

"Ethan," Louise said, taking his outstretched left hand and raising to his side.

Rex scoffed, a disgusted smile on his face. "So, you two are together, after all."

Ethan laughed at this. "You idiot…. I'll correct you on that horrible mistake…. The truth is, it happened after you two broke up."

"After I had dumped her—" He was grabbed by his shirt collar, pulled to his feet.

"You never dumped her! Do you hear me?!" Ethan snarled.

"Ethan," Louise said, tugging at his arm with her left one.

Rex dropped onto his feet and adjusted his shirt. He noticed their identical bandaged hands. "You two even tried to share the same pain?" he said, as if it was a joke.

Ethan narrowed his eyes. "You came crawling back, didn't you? Where's your girlfriend?" He had the last laugh because the blond glared at him and Louise.

"Let's hope this is the last time we see each other," he said, eying Louise. With that, he stomped off.

Ethan felt Louise's hands desert his, but he took it back before looking at the front door.

"Ethan…? Louise…?" Mrs. Imbruglia started, a hand on her chest. "What's the meaning of this?"

Louise dropped her head, but Ethan put an arm around her shoulder. His parents stared at him.

It was unusual that such a thing was accepted, but it was.

"We'll mark a line…" said a deep voice. His fingers intertwined on the table and he sat up. "No one can get pregnant until she's married."

"Dad—" Ethan began.

"What?" he asked, raising both hands up in defense.

He sighed, a hand on his face, while Louise blushed.

"You'll still get paid, Louise," Mrs. Imbruglia informed.

"Oh, no, that's not necessary, Mrs. Imbruglia," she retorted, shaking her head.

"How are you going to buy anything if you don't have money, dear?" she said. "Oh, Ethan will…" the woman concluded.

"Mom—"

"Geez, you try to say nice things and your son snaps at you," Mrs. Imbruglia pointed out.

"I am not—"

His father said, "Let's eat dinner now."

—

Someone giggled. It was dark out, and dinner was finished. The table was cleared, so there was nothing left to do but sleep… and, ahem….

"You have a big—" And he smiled at her blush.

"Then don't touch," she said, sliding his hands up to her waist.

He was looking over her shoulder, saying suggestively, but in an ironically professional way, "You should pull up your jeans sometimes."

She sat straight. "Then don't look," she told him, sticking out her tongue. Her arms encircled his neck.

Ethan chuckled. "But I don't mind."

"Yeah, right." She nuzzled against his nose, giggling, and let their lips touch for a mere second until someone walked in on them.

"Oh, dear God!" Mrs. Imbruglia said, turning her head. "You two—go do it somewhere else, not on my kitchen table," she told them firmly, one hand on her hip and the other hand pointing to the hall. After dinner, Ethan and Louise had stayed behind to clean the table and wash the dishes.

Louise blushed a deep red and jumped off the table. Ethan laughed quietly and followed her when he saw his father. Both father and son said in unison, "Women," and shook their head sadly.

The quiet exchange made the "women" curious. It was while they were trying to sleep that the question was asked.

"What was that supposed to mean?" Louise said.

"You're too secretive," he simply replied. "You don't see my father or me fussing over P.D.A."

"What's 'P.D.A.'?"

Ethan chuckled. "Public display of affections," he answered.

"That's what it means?" she said, thoughtfully. She raised an eyebrow at him. "They always say that in the hallways of the school…."

He blinked. Louise humphed and withdrew her arms, flipping to lay on her left side on the sleeping bag.

"Are you upset? You can't be upset."

"Why can't I?" she returned childishly.

"I should be upset."

"Hmph!"

"If my parents didn't know about us, we'd always have to do it behind their backs."

"I'm your baby-sitter. They would have found it weird," she pointed out.

"But they didn't…. And you are not my baby-sitter." Ethan sighed. Having to spoil her was hard. "Also, about school…."

She shifted. "What about school?"

"You confessed."

"Confessed what?" she shot back.

"My name…?"

"I confessed nothing. The first time I yelled out your name, I was mad. The second time, I was worried."

"Are you still mad? What are you mad about?"

"P.D.A." She was implying that he had "publicly deplayed" his "affections" at school a lot. A lot.

"Oh…. But, you know, you can't be mad."

"Why not?" she shot back. Her voice was cold towards him since she had turned, but he knew she was grumpy until something good came along.

"Because…" Ethan said, wrapping his arms around her waist and kissing her face. "Remember the flowers you used to test your theory on at the mall? The person I chose… was you… but you don't love me."

She blinked and looked at him. "That's not true…. I was confused. If you hadn't distracted me, it might have turned out differently."

He was quiet, and Louise turned to hug him, digging her head into his neck. She smiled as he kissed her again.

"Well, want to know who I chose?"

He ran his hand through her hair and said, "Who?"

"You…."

Ethan stared down at her.

"And it said you loved me…."

He smiled. "Not 'loved,'" he corrected. "I love you."

This struck her for a while. Louise stared at him, seemingly the longest reverie in her life, which was approximately five seconds, and then she smiled. Tucking her face close to his neck, she whispered something back.

Need ’n’ Know:

Yeah, yeah, he confessed. Get over it, darlings. Actually, my favorite part was the note that Ethan used to ask her out. I don't know, but I was laughing and giddy the whole time I wrote that part. I said "giddy," lol. Okay, about "P.D.A.," I think it's either that or "P.S.A." (public show of affections…). And FYI, they didn't do anything questionable when Ethan's parents weren't at home!

I'm finished. I had great inspirations for this story. I don't know if it went too fast or too slow (doubtful), but for me, seeing as I had to write it, it went slow. But if I reread it in, like, half a year or so, I'll probably be reading it more from a reader's perspective.

Don't wonder about Ethan's and Louise's friends, okay? Geez….

Thank you for your R&Rs.

By the way, at the part where EE (Ethan/Louise) were at the mall, some people passing by would be the couples from my other original stories. Yes, I'm obsessive and crazy… whatever.

Thanks again!

P.S. EE are from Soul Hunter.

I also have some sequels. It'll be about the conflict between Ethan and Sotto, and more about Louise's past, but I didn't think this type of story should have those type of epic storylines, lol. So, whoops, this is the final of A Daisy's Fortune. Or is it? I've been having reviews concerning Louise house-sitting, the Sotto-kidnapping-Louise being too short, yeps... as I'd thought. So maybe I'll put up the sequel(s). Yes, there are two. Sad. Have fun, happy Thanksgiving and Merry Christmas and happy New Year's!! Saying New Year's because if I put up the sequel, it'd be towards the end of January. To keep up with the timeline of the story. Yes, that's why there are dates at the end of each part. Then I'd have to change "part" to "chapter." Man....

(November 11, 2008)