Plainless flame

“Mom, Mom, I won the trophy!” I bang on the door. “Good day, sir. Good day, Mom.” I walk straight to my room, feeling embarrassed.

“Chelsea, come down. I am done with the visitor.” I jump out of bed and run down the stairs. “Sit down. My dear, there is something important I want to tell you.” I nod.

She continued, “I don’t know how you are going to feel or adapt to the change.” She paused to catch a breath, and my heart started to beat fast. “We are moving to NY.”

I jump on my feet. “No way, Mom, I am not leaving this house. This is the remaining memory I have of Dad. I grew up here with Mom, together with Dad.”

She steps close to me. “We have to, you can visit anytime you feel like.”

I push her, “I am not going anywhere. You want to take Dad’s memory from me? You are just a bad fucking bitc...” A slap lands on my right cheek.

“Get this straight, we are leaving for NY tomorrow morning, so get ready. Also, the university has accepted your transfer, so get up and be a good girl, or you'll see the other side of me.”

I enter my room with tears rolling down my cheeks, and I start putting my clothes in the suitcase. I decide to go and apologize to my mom. I push the door gently, and my mom is sitting on the edge of the bed with Dad’s picture, tears streaming down her cheeks.

“Mom, I am sorry. I promise to listen to every instruction you give me.” I kneel with my hands fisted together.

“Ok, go to your room, we are leaving by 7 am.” I stand and go to my room

My alarm woke me at 6:00 a.m. I rushed to take my bath, dress, and drag my suitcase down the stairs. I sat at the dining table, and my mom came out of the kitchen.

“Good morning, Mom,” I greet. “Morning, my Dear,” she smiled

We finish breakfast in silence and set out for the journey. Finally, after the long flight, we landed in NY, and we entered a car waiting for us outside the airport.

“How are you? My friend,” the female stranger in the driver’s seat asked my mom. “I am fine, what about you and your family?”

“Good day, ma,” I greet. “Meet my childhood friend, Mrs.Brown.”

“Nice to meet you,” I fake a smile. “Nice to meet you, u too, Chelsea.”

Finally, she decided to start driving and continue the conversation, and I put my headphones on. The car suddenly stopped. They opened the door, and I followed suit.” The house is very big,” I murmur to myself

“Chelsea, you can take a tour inside the house,” my mom said

I begin to walk lazily. “There is a basketball court,” my mom shouted. It and I ran to check the big court, and I was beginning to love the house except for the country.

After lunch, my mom and I drove to my new university to complete the formalities. We entered the office. And I signed some documents. “Mom is waiting outside.”

I stroll through the university, and I see a basketball court. I rush to it. Some girls and boys are playing. I decide to watch a girl hit the ball out of the court, and I bend to pick up the ball.

“Losers don’t touch my ball,” a girl with brunette hair said while all the rest laughed.

“Molly, why don’t you get her into the field?” a girl wearing a white skirt said.

“Hardin, get her the clothes.” I follow Hardin to the changing room.

The referee blows the whistle, I stand and allow them for 5 minutes, they were able to score 3 goals before I dribble past the girls and dunk 8 in 6 minutes.

“Chelsea, take it easy on them. I will be waiting in the car,” my mom said.

“Okay, Mom, I’m coming,” I replied.

I walked toward Hardin. “What is your address?”

“55 Hicks St. #42, Brooklyn,” he replied.

“I will bring the clothes there,” I said as I walked away.

I turned and looked at the girls. “Basketball is not for short and arrogant girls. Go and find something that suits you better.” Chelsea, take it easy on them. I will be waiting in the car,” my mom said.

HARDINS POV

She is cute, my subconscious mind said. I have been thinking about this girl since I met her. I didn’t know why I was unable to be rude to her, and how I gave her my address without thinking twice. I was knocked out of my thoughts by a knock on the door. My mom opened the door.

“Good day, ma, please do Hardin lives here,” a voice asks. I guess is Chelsea.

“Yes, come in, my dear,” my mom answered

She walks towards me and hands me a bag. “Here are the clothes.”

“Why take all the trouble you could return it in school?” I ask

“Don’t worry about it, I live nearby and am bored, my mom and I moved to NY yesterday.” I smile.

“You can join us at the field, both of you,” my mom said. “No, Mom,” I answered. She ignores me, “Please, my dear,” she said to Chelsea.

“Okay, ma,” Chelsea nods. “Call me Chalet.” My mom and Chelsea walk to the field, and I have no choice but to follow them

“Hi, everyone,” my mom waved at my dad and my 2 sisters. “Who is she?” my curious sisters ask.

“She is Chelsea, Hardi..”

“She is a transferred student from London; they moved here yesterday,” I interrupt my mom before she says something wrong.

“She is from London. Am Kate, and she is Elodie,” she introduced

Everyone started to take their positions and start

“Why don’t you join us, Chelsea?” Kate asked

“No, I'm okay watching,” she answers

My mom enters “Everyone here is some ice cream.”

My dad took two cups, same goes with my mom. They started feeding Kate and Elodie. I decided to pass on to Chelsea, “Here you go. Smile. Her eyes were just on them with a smile on her face, maybe she likes my perfect family. All of a sudden, her eyes began glistening, and tears dropped from her eyes.

“Mrs Chalet, I will take your leave,” she said as she tried to avoid eye contact.

“You can come whenever you want,” Kate smiles.

I stand to see her off, but she is walking very fast. I don’t know what is wrong with her. “Why are there tears in your eyes?” I decide to ask.

“Me, no, you’re mistaken,” she lied.

“I saw it. Just tell me if someone said something.” Tears rolled out of her eyes, she ran to the parking lot, and I chased after her. She drove out, and I followed her. She stopped. I guess she stays here.

“Hardin, stop following me,” she shouts and closes the door

I open the door, “I'm not going anywhere until you tell me the reason you are crying.” I carry her and put her on my shoulder

“Put me down, what are you doing?” she keeps hitting me, I drive back to my house

“Hardin, please put me down,” she cries out. I drop her on the couch. “What happened?” my mom asks. Everyone's eyes are on me, waiting for an answer

“You can ask her the reason why she is crying,” I report

My mom put Chelsea’s face between her hands. “What happened, my dear?” she asked, very worried. “It’s nothing,” she wiped her tears

“Mom, she is lying. I saw her, and when she saw Dad feeding ice cream to Elodie, she started crying,” I pause, “Or she is jealous of our perfect family. I deadpan

“No, Mrs chalet, I'm not jealous when Mr Tristin was feeding her. It reminded me of my dad. I got emotional, but I promise I'm not jealous of them.” She falls to the ground, crying

“What sin did I commit that God took my dad away from me?” she continued, crying, feeling guilty for blaming her for not knowing the poor girl had lost her dad

“No, you haven’t committed any sin,” my mom is trying to make her stop crying

“My girl, you can come to this house whenever you feel like, not as Hardin’s friend but as my daughter,” my dad is pacifying her