Here's the next chapter guys! Enjoy!
"Looks like you've made some friends," Pete said as we walked towards the car.
I shrugged, "Maybe. When are we going to get all my stuff from my dorm?"
"Well, you're only testing out of classes tomorrow, we can go after that if you want." Jinksy offered.
I nodded, tomorrow was Tuesday, my roommate only had one 8am class that she regularly skipped, "Why not," I replied shrugging, all my good clothes were at school, "Thanks Jinksy."
He gave me a smile, "No probs, Pete and Myka can go to the warehouse and you, Claudia and I will go get your stuff."
Pete shook his head, "Nuh-uh! Not fair! We'll all go, separate cars and have the Farnsworth in case something comes up."
I rolled my eyes, "Whatever Artie says tomorrow, Pete. I still have to take the tests tomorrow."
We rode back to the B&B, Pete and Jinksy going on about every even halfway decent play. When we arrived home I went up to my room, opening my door to see my dad sitting on my bed. I had half a mind just to ignore him, but I couldn't do that.
Shutting my door I sighed, "What do you want?"
"You're so grown up." He told me, staring at me up and down.
I rolled my eyes, "Yeah, that's what happens when the last time you saw me I was nine. What do you want?"
"Your mom said you would probably be pissed at me." He stated, completely unsurprised at my bluntness.
I sat down at my desk, "No shit, Sherlock."
"You're too young to understand," he tried telling me.
"Don't give me that bullshit! You left us! You left a five year old! It's your fault! It's all your fault!"
"I know," He replied quietly, "but I couldn't live without your mom."
"Your three kids wasn't a good enough reason to stay where everyone could see you?"
He didn't answer me, just looked at the floor. I was so upset; if he had been stronger, Claudia wouldn't have gone through what she did, I wouldn't have gone through what I had.
"Did you ever regret it? When I would see you and mom, when I was locked up? I know you two probably went and looked over Claudia after what happened with Joshua. Did you ever once think that maybe you shouldn't have done it? Or maybe told me, well, us the truth? That it wasn't a car accident?"
He glanced at me, "Of course I regret it, but I can't at the same time."
I ran a hand through my hair, "That's really shitty, you know that right?"
Dad nodded, "But there's nothing I can do about it now."
"That's bullshit also, something's keeping you and mom around."
"We spend our time watching you guys grow up, Joshua and his work, Claudia and the warehouse, you and going to college and we agree that probably wasn't the best for you."
"You don't care that Claudia does the same thing that killed both of you?" I asked, "Because I'm pretty sure parents should care about that sort of thing."
"Claudia's had an attachment to the warehouse since she was born. It would be ridiculous to fight it," he told me.
I raised my eyebrow, "So you're perfectly cool with her working at the place that killed both you and mom?"
"If I had a say, no. I wouldn't be, but we've learned not to fight the warehouse. The warehouse knows what and who it wants."
I rolled my eyes, "Great. So, Joshua was destined to be a genius, Claudia's destined for the warehouse, and I'm what? I get nothing."
"There's a plan for you, you just have to figure it out, and be patient. It'll come to you," Dad told me calmly.
A knock on the door pulled me away from my irritated state, "Who is it?"
"It's me," Claudia's voice came through the door.
"It's open," I called back glancing at Dad, waiting to see what he would do.
Claudia walked in and saw that I was sitting at my desk, "What's going on?"
"Dad and I are just having a much needed chat," I told her glancing at Dad, he was watching Claudia. She was a spitting image of Mom when she was younger.
Claudia glanced towards where I was looking, "He's here?"
I nodded, "You two are having some awkward form of a staring contest without you knowing it."
Claudia averted her eyes to look at the floor, "That's weird. What're you talking about?"
I glared at Dad, "How much of an idiot he is."
"That's not fair, Crissi," Dad reprimanded.
"In what universe?" I scoffed.
"What did he say?" Claudia asked.
I ran a hand through my bangs, "He said me calling him an idiot wasn't fair. I'm pretty sure it's completely fair."
"You're too young to understand–"
I cut him off, "Biggest bullshit that everyone likes to spew at me. Whenever someone knows I'm completely right, they turn it around and say I don't get it because I'm fourteen. Don't tell me I'm too young. It's simple. Mom got killed so you left your three children to fend for themselves while you went and offed yourself."
Claudia glanced between the space where Dad was and I, "What the hell is going on?"
I glanced over at Claudia, "Nothing," I turned around and stared at a few old college assignments littering my desk.
Claudia walked over to me; she wasn't as much of a hot head as she used to be from the stories I've heard. She's still as snarky as ever, "I know it's hard."
I knew she was right, she was in that place too, but she checked herself in. I got sent there, and for a lot longer than she was there for. I wanted to snap at her, but that wouldn't do anything for me. I sighed, "Why does everything fall apart?"
"Hey, not everything falls apart. I'm here, and I'm not going anywhere."
I rolled my eyes, "Until some artifact kills you too."
Claudia spun me around in my desk chair, putting her hands on my shoulders, "I'm not going anywhere." She moved my bangs out of my eyes and kissed my forehead, "Don't worry."
I glanced at her brown eyes, "I've never let myself get attached, then I found my family and–"
"None of us are going anywhere," Claudia cut me off.
"You can't promise that, Claud," I told her, "I'm pretty sure mom hadn't planned on going anywhere."
Claudia hugged me, "I promise that even though shit happens, I'm not going anywhere."
I rolled my eyes but returned the hug, her aura was confident and oozed worry at the same time. I glanced over her shoulder, dad was still here; he was crying but they were happy tears. I sighed. No my life wasn't exactly ideal for the last seven years or so, but it was pretty badass now.
"Ready for those tests tomorrow?" Claudia asked, releasing me and smiling.
I half-laughed, "Pshht, of course."
"What tests?" Dad asked.
I stared at what Claudia saw as an empty space, "I'm testing out of a couple classes tomorrow."
Dad scoffed, "And she tells me she's got nothing."
I shook my head, "I don't have anything. Claud's got the warehouse, Josh is at CERN. I've got high school."
Claudia ran her hands through my hairs, "Yes, you do, little Miss "I speak every language"."
I sighed, "Tell me, what can I do with that?"
"Lots of things, and little Miss "I see ghosts and auras"."
I groaned and stared at the ceiling, all telling people would get me is thrown back in the asylum. Claudia didn't believe me until Leena told her I was right, and it took her time to come around to it. I was glad she did though. I looked at Claudia, "Did you ever find out how he got out?"
Claudia nodded stiffly, "I'm not happy about it."
"What'd they do?" I asked her.
She ran a hand through her short hair, "There's this artifact, called the Janus Coin. It splits your personality from your body. They used it on him, gave him a new name and life. He has no memory of either of us."
"Why didn't they tell you that instead of saying he was bronzed?"
"The team isn't exactly fond of the Janus Coin. The Regents at one point had stuck HG on it; plus, the coin takes your memories and thoughts by thinking so all you really have to do is not think about something. That could be why it appeared that he recognized you." Claudia informed me.
"You're telling me he cheated an artifact?" I incredulously asked her.
She took a deep breath, "I don't know how, HG didn't even manage that. Though, if she wasn't trying then," she shrugged, "I don't know, but you're safe now."
I nodded, "And so are you."
Claudia rolled her eyes, "Yeah, me to. Now you need sleep, come on."
I rolled my eyes back at her and pulled pajamas out of my drawer, heading to the bathroom to change. I came out and walked back to my room in the perfect time to hear Claudia say, "Dad, if you're still here. You're the world's biggest jackass."
Dad was still there.
I walked into the room and Claudia started acting all motherly, tucking me in like I was five, "Okay, Claud? I'm not a baby." I tried to stop her.
She laughed, "You're my baby sister, though."
I half pouted and let her finish her babying. Claudia eventually finished and left the room, shutting off the light. I stared into the darkness for a few minutes before turning on my lamp. I watched the ceiling for a few minutes before I noticed Mom, standing in the corner of my room. She had a hard look on her face and I felt half-inclined to just turn onto my side and ignore her.
"Don't even think about it." She sternly told me.
I shrugged, "What are you going to do? Ground me?"
Mom pinched the bridge of her nose, "If I had a way to tell Artie you were grounded, yes."
I smirked, "I'm your only connection."
"You were extremely rude to your father," She explained.
I turned my head to the side, "Was I wrong though? Look me in the eyes and tell me that dad dying didn't change my fate. If that's true and you're saying he would have had me committed then-"
"Don't even think that," Mom reprimanded.
"You told me I was wrong, that's a logical conclusion," I retorted.
"Your behavior was wrong, what you said was wrong. You aren't the only one upset about what happened. You think I wanted you to grow up how you did?"
"You weren't there, how should I know?"
Mom sat on my bed and ran her fingers through my hair, or tried, "No parent wants their child to go through that."
"Doesn't mean it didn't happen," I muttered. A knock on the door interrupted us, "Come in."
The door opened to reveal Myka, "Hey, you okay?"
"I don't know," I answered honestly, thankful for the ability and reason to ignore the ghost in the room.
"Are you nervous about tomorrow?" She asked, coming in and shutting the door behind her.
"No," I told her shaking my head, "The tests will be easy, I just…I don't know."
Myka came over and sat on my bed, "You've had a lot thrown at you recently, give yourself time."
"I hated being in that place, but I didn't have to think about anything," I said quietly, playing with my blankets.
"Sweetie, that type of thinking isn't going to help you."
I stared at the bed, "I know."
"How long's it been since you ran away and found Claud?" She asked.
I thought back, "It was May of last year, after my fourteenth birthday."
Myka smiled, "You've come so far in nine months, it'll be okay."
I smiled back, looking over towards my bookshelf, "Myka? Will you read me a story?" I asked her timidly.
"Of course, what story do you want?" Myka answered to my relief, standing up and walking to my bookshelf.
I bit my lip; "I know I have The Bell Jar over there."
She glanced over to me, "I'm not sure that's a good idea, how about," She looked over the titled spines, "Bridge to Terabithia?" She pulled from the more childish side of my bookshelf.
I shrugged, "I haven't read that since I was a kid."
"You are a kid," She said coming back, sitting on the edge of my bed once again. I fell asleep to the sounds of Myka's voice, "Ba-room, ba-room, ba-room, baripity, baripity, baripity, baripity. Good. His dad had the pickup going. He could get up now. Jess slid out of bed and into his overalls."
