Author's Note
Once again, I apologise for not uploading in forever (also for how short this chapter is), but I lost the inspiration for this story. It's back though, so we'll see how this goes ;)
Thanks for all the favourites and follows as well! Please leave a review letting me know what you think/what you'd like to see happen :3
A short while later I was standing in Tate's kitchen, the surprisingly cold air in the house making me rub my arms for warmth as I looked around.
"Sorry about Addie." Tate apologised as he slumped against the marble-topped island that stood proudly in the centre of the large space. I just nodded non-committedly, placing myself in one of the stools at the island. "She just gets…nervous…around new people." Tate further explained.
"It's fine. I get it. She still seems like a nice girl," I shrugged, then grinned, "Even if she did tell me that the dead people want to talk to me before running away."
Tate ducked his head, smiling. "Yeah, she thinks there are ghosts everywhere in this house. I keep telling her it's nonsense, but…" Tate trailed off here and shrugged, as if that was all there was to know. But there was something about me that Tate didn't know, that would now further this discussion. And so I leant forward slightly, and spoke low.
"You don't believe in them?" I whispered seriously, glancing from side to side as if I was afraid someone would overhear us.
Tate blinked a couple times, seemingly unsure how to reply. "You do?" He asked slowly.
Grinning, I leaned back, but still nodded. "It'd be foolish to think otherwise. I don't think they're out to get us or anything like that, but sure it's certainly possible that they exist."
Tate seemed to consider for a moment, but then slowly nodded. "I suppose that makes sense."
"So…" The word trailed off as a slightly awkward silence settled over us. That issue was soon resolved however, as the front door opened and a loud voice suddenly seemed to fill the entire house.
"Tate, honey! I'm back, what's this about a-" the female's southern accent suddenly matched a face as a women walked around the corner into the kitchen. She had blonde hair that seemed purposefully styled to look effortlessly big and curled. As her brown eyes scanned the kitchen, and rested on me, her thin eyebrows raised slightly. "So, I'm guessing you're the runaway the woman outside is screeching about?" She asked.
I nodded silently.
"CALYPSO RENEE DEVINS YOU GET OUT HERE THIS MINUTE OR I'LL-" My mother's voice boomed through the house, making all three of us flinch. She had an impressive vocal range, that was for sure.
"OR WHAT?" I yelled back, but slid off the chair anyway, not wanting to disturb Tate and his family with her nonsense. "I'll see you later, Tate. Nice meeting you, Mrs Langdon." I waved goodbye as I left the kitchen and made my way to the open front door. My mother stood there, her face full of fury, hands on her hips. "Really, mother? You had to make a scene?" I asked calmly as I crossed the threshold and shut the front door behind me.
Without a word, my mother grabbed me by the arm and dragged me across the front lawn and into our house. As soon as our front door was closed, she let me go and then turned on me.
"How dare you?" She spoke calmly, quietly, but her voice shook slightly with anger. Oh no way in hell was she going to pin this back on me.
"I don't know what you're talking about." I replied equally as calm.
"How could you embarrass me in front of our neighbours like that? What must they think of us if our own daughter runs away?" My mother seemed horrified at the thought.
"For one, who cares what they think? As well, I didn't run away mother, I went to a friends' house to chat. Also, it's your fault I left in the first place. If you just talked to me like, I don't know, I was a normal human being then maybe I wouldn't have to walk away." My mother flinched at the words, but they seemed to sober her up a bit, and she took a step back, her face no longer creased with anger.
Instead a weary sadness seemed to make her shoulders droop a little.
"Look, Caly, sweetie. I just want you and Pete to get along. I'm trying really hard to make this work for good this time, and I just, I don't know what to do when you distance yourself so much."
My defences dropped a little at her sincerity, and for once, I thought about what my mother was going through.
"Look," I sighed, leaning against the door, "I'll try and get to know Pete a little better, if you back off a bit, okay?" I offered. My mother looked up at me, a small smile creasing her mouth. She nodded. "But, I want my easel back." I added, to which the smile fell.
"Calypso, you know how I feel-"
"Give it back to her, Georgia." Pete spoke up from the living room, and I suddenly realised he had overheard all of what we'd just said.
I looked past my mother at the dark-haired bearded man and made eye contact. I nodded stiffly in thanks. Pete dipped his head in return.
My mother sighed loudly. "Fine." She snapped, and then walked away. "You'll have it by tomorrow." She called over her shoulder, going to sit with Pete on the couch. After a second's hesitation, I joined them. Normally I would have gone up to my room, but tonight, I didn't, deciding to honour the deal I'd made with my mother.
"What are we watching?" I enquired as I tucked my feet up underneath me, sinking into the squishy cushions of the couch.