"Hey Cat, your coffee's here!" Catherine had seemed pretty off most of the journey; I can honestly pin-point it to when I spoke about Sara and the whole 'naked-shower-falling' incident. I could see it in both of their eyes, they definitely like the look of each other, I'm not sure if its love, but its not far off. I was pulled out of my musings when Catherine sat down opposite me and Sara. "Cat, your lip's bleeding." By the look on her face, I'm sure she already knew, I looked to Sara to see her sporting a concerned face.

"Hmm," She answered, tracing her tongue over the obvious bite mark.

"What happened?" Either Sara was in the wrong profession or she really wanted to tease Catherine.

"Um, I fell."

"On your lip?!"

"No," She answered, in a 'duh' tone. "When I fell, I bit my lip." She was obviously proud of how fast she thought up that lie.

"Yeah, sure Catherine." I said, drawing out my sentence. Her eyes widened in shock, she must have thought we'd believe her. Seriously, I've heard better lies from my mom, when she's totally doped up on some pill of the month!

"Elle?"

"Sara."

"How did you get in my house?"

"Wondered how long it'd take you to ask me. Um, picked the lock."

"What the-"

"Mom taught me, 'tricks of the trade' she'd call it."

"Ahh."

"Yep."

"Does Julie know you're here?"

"Don't know, and I'm sure she doesn't care. Probably glad I'm not "draining her resources". Jeez, my mom has a lot of quotes."

"She will care-"

"When she comes down and needs me to get her more gear? When she gets high and needs something to put her cigarettes out on?"

"I- Well-"

"Drop it, Sar. So Cath, what took you so long?"

"Um. Door got jammed."

"Ahh. So that would explain the heavy breathing from your side and the door being 'jammed' then." I mused aloud, noting how much I was getting to her.

"Uh huh…" I loved how she squirmed under my gaze. She knew I knew what she was up to. Even though I have no idea, she would've thought that way until Sara opened her big mouth.

"Ellie, you didn't go up to the bathrooms." I shot her a look that clearly said, 'thanks a lot, goofball.' Catherine's eyes narrowed, she opened her mouth to reply, but Sara interrupted her.

"Gotta go get some sugar for my coffee. Back in a sec."

"So Cath. What were you doing in there?"

"Nothing for child's ears." She cringed, realizing she'd let out more information that she wanted.

"Is that so? Maybe you should save it for Sara's ears."

"I- Wait, what?"

"You heard what I said, you keep thinking about what it means while I get to eat." Sara came back to the table as soon as I'd finished what I had to say. Catherine practically downed her coffee, and sat staring off into space while I started tucking into what was left of my breakfast. I only had my pancakes left; I'm not even sure when I actually ate the rest of it all. Sara had finished by the time I had, and we all got up to leave. Catherine and Sara got in some debate about who'd pay, so I offered them some advice in the form of 'Why don't you both just pay? You know, 50-50?' Jeez, adults can be so dense when it comes to the simplest things. When we got to Catherine's I was a bit dubious. I mean, I know Sara is staying there, and the house is gonna be squeezed with her, Cath and her kid, so where am I supposed to go? And I can't exactly stay at Sara's on my own. And I can't get Sara to stay at hers, 'cause I can't look after her. Shit, I'm just gonna have to go back home to mom. I was walking up to the door when a hand on my shoulder stopped me, I turned to see Sara.

"You okay, kiddo?"

"Uh huh."

"Ellie."

"Where am I supposed to stay?"

"In the spare room." Catherine interjected.

"I don't wanna impose, Cat."

"You're not. Listen Ellie, I know we've only met today but you're close with Sara, and I'm not splitting you two up, and there are more stories I need to hear!" I smiled, feeling wanted for the first time in, well I actually don't know, but it's been a long time. We all walked in to Catherine's beautifully decorated house. Sara was the first to comment on it.

"Wow Cath, your place is awesome." Way to put it, Sar. While I was embarrassed for Sara's lack of descriptive words, Catherine giggled. Actually giggled. Wow, these two are worse than the kids I have to go get an education with.

"Thanks. Um, the guest room is down the hall and second on your right." She pointed in the direction of a lot of doors. I wandered off towards the door she gestured to. I could still hear their conversation.

"Sorry Cath. She's a curious person, it's in her nature."

"Don't worry about it, she's a nice girl."

"Yeah, she is."

"So what's the deal?"

"Huh?"

"How do you know her?"

"She's one of my closest friends daughters." I stopped listening and dumped mine and Sara's bags on the double bed, I had no problem sharing with Sara, and I know she'd have no problem sharing with me either, so it seems I wasn't going to be rejected. I was thinking about what a mess my home life was when a blonde, who I actually thought was Catherine at first, asked me who I was. I could tell by her tone she didn't want, or expect, me here.

"I'm Ellie. Take it your Lindsay, huh?"

"Yep." She was roughly the same height as me, and I guessed about the same age. She really was Catherine's clone though. I got up to leave the room when she blocked the doorway. "Listen, Ellie. My mom is having Sara here to look after her, I have no idea why you are here, but my mom probably doesn't want you here. And neither do I. This isn't some orphanage, you know?" Her words shouldn't have got to me, but they did, who was she to judge me?

"Lindsay! Don't you speak to her like that! Go to your room, NOW!" Catherine and Sara had been there to witness Lindsay's welcome party. "Ellie, you okay?" I nodded, not trusting my voice to answer vocally. When Catherine left to go and scold her daughter, Sara grabbed my hand and walked me outside. We sat on the doorstep after I pulled a small box out of my pocket.

"You don't still do that, do you?"

"Yep." I said, taking a cigarette out of the box and lighting it.

"Lindsay didn't mean what she said, she probably just wasn't expecting you to be here, that's all."

"Thanks Sar. Make excuses for the kid."

"I'm not Elle. You know I'm not-"

"Whatever Sara." I say, getting up off the step and taking a long drag from the cigarette hanging from my mouth. "You kinda just proved what she said." I walk away towards the gate, needing to get away from the house.

"Ellie? Where are you going?"

"Don't act like you care. I'll be back later." I throw over my shoulder. I've been back a day and the amount of emotions I've felt has been seriously overwhelming. I needed to get away from all the crap at home; I didn't expect to be feeling like this when Sara was around. She promised she'd make it all better. But who was I kidding believing her? Everyone breaks their promises, especially towards me. Damn. How could I be so fucking stupid? I took another drag and walked at a faster pace, nearly breaking out in a run. When I was a good distance from the house, I spotted a bench and went to sit on it. I took another long drag, not noticing the blonde walking up to me.

"That's bad for you."

"Haha. Yeah, I know."

"I'm sorry for what I said."

"You should be."

"Don't make me feel guiltier, I said that because everyone takes advantage of my mom's generosity-"

"Ooh, I'm so sorry your mom cares for people."

"I'm trying to apologize here!"

"Don't bother; it's a bunch of fucking lies anyway!"

"Whatevs. Can I bum one of those?"

"Hmm, sure." I say, sensing this is going to be a truce whether I want it to be or not. I take two cigarettes out of the packet, one for her and a new one for me. We both light up and take a long drag. "Bit hypocritical telling me I shouldn't smoke, huh?"

"I never said you couldn't or shouldn't smoke, I just said it was bad for you."

"Smart ass."

"Yep. Are you coming back to the house?"

"Your mom lets people smoke in her house?"

"No."

"Well, no. I'm not going back yet. You?"

"When I'm done with this."

"Right. How old are you?" I ask.

"15 in a few weeks. You?"

"16 in a month." Our small talk was cut down by a distant screaming of Lindsay's name,

"Shit, she's seen me smoking. Fuck."

"Take it she doesn't know?"

"Yup."

"Pass it here."

"What?"

"Do you want her to catch you?"

"No."

"Well I've finished mine, pass it over." She passed me the cigarette and I passed her a chewing gum.

"Thanks, you're a life saver."

"LINDSAY WILLOWS! ARE YOU SMO-" An out of breath Catherine has finally arrived at the bench, she cuts her sentence short when she notices Lindsay isn't smoking.

"No Cath. I'm smoking." I say, gesturing to the offending object in my hand.

"But I just saw Lindsay holding it and-"

"She was holding it for me while I fixed my hair."

"Oh. Sorry Linds."

"It's 'kay mom."

"No smoking in the house though Ellie."

"That's why I'm not in your house, Cath."

"Hmm. You need to get back, Sara's worried sick."

"She can deal."

"Listen, I'm going back to the house. Cya."

"Yeah bye." Lindsay walks off and I'm left with Catherine. She sits beside me.

"What's going on?"

"Nothing."

"Come on, Ellie."

"Just Sara should know better than to do what she did. Can we drop it, please?"

"Sure. You shouldn't do this." She says, taking the cigarette away from me, and stamping it out on the floor. "It damages your lungs, and-"

"I've heard it all before, never put me off."

"I can see that, Elle." She takes my hand and stands up, "Come back to the house?" I nod and walk along with her. I feel immature, and stupid. Very stupid. I reacted like a complete baby. I don't even think I can face Sara now.

Okay. There is NO Eddie in this story. Lindsay is 15. I know it's not right, but to be perfectly honest, I don't care. MY STORY, MY RULES.

Enjoy

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