Rita Hall

I woke up at 7 in the morning in Ben's arms. He was still sleeping and I could see the TV in screensaver mode. So I slowly came out of his hold, switched off the TV, and went out to see dad and uncle coming from their morning walk.

"Hey, guys! Good morning", I said.

"Hey, Rita", they said.

"How are you, honey?", dad asked.

"I'm fine. Why?", I asked.

"No reason", uncle replied.

"OK... anyways I'm gonna go freshen up", I said

"Wait, Rita. We also wanted to ask you something else", uncle said.

"Yeah?" I said.

"What were you doing in the theater room with Ben?", uncle asked.

"Oh! We were watching a movie due to jet lag and fell asleep after some time", I answered.

"Oh, that's it?" dad teased.

"You guys can tease me all you want. I don't care cause I have to go get ready for the office. Bye", I said and made my way out of there.

I heard them calling me but I ignored them and went up to my room, well mine and Ben's room. But I still didn't understand why everyone was acting so weird all of a so sudden. So I checked my calendar once to know what today was.

"That's today?" I shouted a bit loudly in the room.

Ben Matthews

Last night was awesome. Spending it with Rita was even better. I got up at 8:30 AM and saw Rita was already awake. I went to the kitchen to wish my parents and uncle Aaran 'good morning'.

"Hey, guys. Good morning", I said.

"Good morning Ben", they said.

"Where's Rita?", I asked.

"She's getting ready", uncle said.

"Oh OK. What's for...?", I was saying when I heard a scream upstairs.

"What's that?", mom asked worriedly.

"I think it was Rita. Let me go check", I said and rushed upstairs.

When I opened the door of our room, I saw Rita pacing around the room.

"Hey, Ri. Are you OK?", I asked worriedly. She got startled hearing my voice suddenly.

"Don't get startled. It's just me. Sorry", I apologized.

"It's OK. I'm fine. Just saw something creepy, that's all", she answered.

"You know you're really bad at lying", I said.

"I'm not lying. OK? I'm fine", she assured me.

"OK fine. Get ready and come down. Mom has made your favorite blueberry pancakes", I said.

"How do you know that's one of my favorites?", she asked in a surprised tone.

"I've heard you say it is", I answered.

Oh OK. Sure, I'm going down now, she said and went out.

OK, I said and went to get ready after thinking as to why Ri was lying. After getting ready, I went down to see everyone eating their breakfast. I went and joined them.

"That never happened. Did it?", Rita was saying.

"What are you all talking about? ", I asked.

"Oh, about Anna and her rare clumsiness", she answered.

"Oh OK. Why suddenly about Anna though?", I asked.

"Simply", she said.

"OK", I said and ate my breakfast.

"Thank you aunty for the breakfast. It was really good", Ri said as she kept her plate in the sink.

"Yeah, it was really good mom", I said.

"No problem both of you", mom said smiling.

"OK. let's go?", I asked Rita.

"Ben, I'll come a bit late today", she answered.

"Why? What's wrong?", I asked worriedly.

"Nothing. It's just...", she was saying when mom cut her off.

"I have some plans with her Ben. You all go ahead", mom said.

"OK sure. See you soon", I told her.

"You too", she said smiling.

I was worried about Rita. She was acting very differently today. I couldn't think about her too much because I was busy with work all day. I went to her cabin to see if she had come but she hadn't so I got worried and went to dad's cabin.

"Hey, dad. Where's Rita?", I asked.

"Hey, Ben. Rita is taking off today. She has some other plans with your mom", dad answered.

"But mom has volunteering now at that old orphanage", I said.

"Oh, she canceled it", he said.

"But she never does", I said. Mom has always had a helping nature. She never cancels such things.

"BEN! Enough! Now go do your work. How many questions will you ask me? Since childhood, you have been like this. Asking one after one questions", he shouted at me. So I went near him and hugged him.

"Who else will I ask other than the world's greatest dad?" I said hugging.

"OK now go and do your work", he said laughing.

"Okay", I said and was going out. Just then, mom came inside.

"Mom? Why are you here? And where's Rita?", I asked. Why were they lying to me?