Details not unleashed to the public? Mega came out from under the bed and curled up in my lap. I pet him lovingly as I watched Erik sit down at the piano. I felt bad. I just wanted to hug him and hold him. But I didn't; I merely watched him run his hands over the keys. I frowned as his elegant hands slid from the keys and slid the cover down over them in a sad longing fashion.
"Do you have a taste for anything tonight?" Erik asked, looking over his shoulder. My attention snapped.
"Uh, no I don't think so." I replied. Erik stood from the bench and went into the kitchen. The clang of pots and pans echoed through the house.
"You said you were American, right?" He asked. I stood putting Mega down and going into the kitchen.
"Uh, yeah. But I've been all over." I told him. Erik gave a faint smile.
"The stories I could tell you from my travels around the world." He told me, I sat down at the table, watching him in an absent sort of way. He continued on with his task. The black form of Bociflus jumped up onto the counter. Erik looked at the cat.
"And who do you think you are?" He asked the cat. The feline merely meowed at him and pawed at the air.
"Christine do you mind getting the cat off the counter for me?" He asked. He was cutting bell pepper so he more than likely didn't want to do it himself. I nodded and walked over to the counter and grabbed the cat. I set him down on the floor in the living room and went back into the kitchen and watched Erik expertly cut the pepper.
"You know I've never really been to America. I think I did when I was very young; but I hardly remember it. Your accent is what made me remember." He told me. He had suddenly switched to English.
"I can tell you sometimes struggle with your French. I've taught myself English. That was one of the hardest languages I ever saw. Are you aware of this?" Erik asked. His voice was hinted with a pleasantly light French accent. I smiled and hung my head.
"I am. I remember one day I was looking at a sheet of paper I had filled up. And I was bored so I was legitimately studying the words. I thought 'English is so flat out WEIRD!'" I told him. Erik smiled; it was oh so charming. It was also the first time he had smiled for about a week.
"Wait… how long have I been here?" I asked, looking to meet Erik's eyes. He stopped, looking down at the cutting board. His eyes going everywhere but my own.
"A month and a half." He said simply a bit of guilt in his voice. I looked down, my mother. Was she worried? Did she even care? Was she happy that I was gone? I didn't know what to do. I told myself I would forget. That I wouldn't care. No matter what.
"Is there like a television or recent newspaper I can look at? I at least want to be up to date with the outside world." I told him.
"I think James has a television in his home. If you like I can take you there to watch the news." Erik told me. I nodded.
"Thanks." I told him. Erik didn't respond.
We came up to the old house. An elderly gentleman was sitting on the porch swing, gently swaying back and forth in the mid-winter evening. I titled my head slightly at the man. Erik went up the stairs and walked over to the elder. He knelt and spoke softly to him. James nodded and stood with the help of Erik and a weathered cane.
"Come on in, I'll get the news on." He told me. I walked up the steps after Erik who disappeared inside. The small house had the same charm as that of an older gentleman. Like the one who owned it. The television was on and commercials were playing. I sat down beside Erik on the couch a few feet away. He watched me from the corner of his eye. I ignored it and looked to the floor. I then shifted my gaze to the window. I stared at the old abandoned road. Hard to imagine I was tearing down it only a month and a half ago.
"Here it is." I heard Erik say. I looked to the television. They spoke of the weather. A snow front was coming. My eyes caught the small banner thing that always ran at the bottom of the television screen when the news was on. I didn't recognize anything. But then my name rolled across the screen.
17 ans fille Christine Darenz toujours portées disparues. It rolled across the screen and vanished my French wasn't broad enough for me to see what it meant. I looked to Erik. He seemed casual enough.
"Erik did you catch what was being said on the bottom of the screen?" I asked him. He looked to me.
"Oh, no. Why?" He asked. I looked to the ground.
"I saw my name." I told him. He immediately became forlorn.
"I'll watch it, it'll come back around and I'll translate for you." He told me. I sighed through my nose, closing my eyes. What if my mother was looking for me? What if she reported me missing? What would I do? I couldn't just leave Erik. But I couldn't just abandon my mother. Damnit why was this hard?! She acts like she doesn't want me and then when I go missing I suddenly mean the world to her! Tears pricked my closed eyes. I fought back giving an angry growl. My heart hurt but I seethed with anger. I heard Erik give a bit of a painful sound.
"Seventeen year old Christine Darenz still missing. I believe your mother is actually… looking for you." He told me. I looked up with a snarl. I only stood and stormed out of the house and tore down the path leading to Erik's home. I stopped in the middle of the path and just snarled again.
"What the hell is her problem?! What I disappear and suddenly I'm her little Angel?! GAH! The heartless bitch! How can she do that to me! I can't believe this!" I screamed and fell to the ground. Why was everything always so complicated! Can't I just lead a normal life where stupid soap opera drama stays in the soap operas?! Evidently not! I growled and stood back up. I didn't even know where to go. Back to James' home or to Erik's cabin. Or home? I turned. Erik stood there.
"Come with me." I told him and started off towards the abandoned opera house.
"Where are you going?" Erik asked.
"We are going to go see my mother." I told him. I could tell Erik stopped.
"To do what exactly?" He asked.
"I don't know." I told him, turning to look at him. He looked worried.
"But… Christine I can't let you do that." He told me. I gave him a bewildered look.
"Why?" I asked.
"Because you'll stay if you go back and I can't stand being abandoned again. James coming closer to death's door every minute that's passing. I'll be alone if you leave. Do you think I can handle that?" He asked. I rolled my eyes.
"Erik, I promise you I won't abandon you. I'm not her." I said and turned continuing on. I heard Erik follow after me. I came up to my Mustang and got in. I grabbed the keys from my pocket and started the car. Erik gave me an uncomfortable glance as I started the car and pulled out onto the road.