"I swear she's fine. I already healed the cut on her nose and there was no bad internal injury. Hey, I swore already Will!" The voice was hazy and I had no clue whether I was imagining it or not. For all I knew, a light would come on, illuminate this darkness and I would see I was back in Amsterdam or something. At least I remembered I was no longer home… Right? I was in America… Yep. I was. I was hearing American accents. And the sounds of a car engine under me, the car bumping slightly as it drove.
Will muttered something under his breath. His voice was a lovely warm tone and while I hadn't heard what he'd said, it stirred enough in me for me to blink open my eyes. I ended up looking up into Will's anxious eyes, eyes that told conveyed a thousand unspoken worries. "Oh thank God" Will said, running a hand through his hair.
"See, fine" Xavier said. The two of them were on either side of me in the third row of seats in the car. I started to straighten up from the awkward lying position I was in only to get a nice case of head rush. I moaned and began to lie down again but Xavier half propped me up, in an effort to make me comfortable. Will grimaced, the skin around his eyes creasing in worry. He probably noticed how the overwhelming scent of food affected the little in my stomach, tossing it. I could feel the slightly prickly feeling in my face, which I knew meant my face was going to be turning green.
"Oh fuck" I groaned as I nearly doubled over my legs.
As though reading my mind, Will yelled "Pull over Yves! Now!" I more felt the car pulling over than saw it as that sudden jolt really helped the war going on in my stomach. As soon as the car stopped, Will pushed forward the seat and let me out. The somewhat fresh air and the grass on the side of the road instantly improved my stomach. I sat down in the grass and took big gulping breaths, determined not to throw up in front of these practical strangers. That would be a great first impression. Oh yeah, she spewed her guts on the side of the road the first time we met. I think it was lingering smell of Phee's double cheeseburger that set her off.
Tulip came out smiling funnily at me. "Willow, are you still up to the drive? Because when you were conked out and whatnot we pulled into some furniture place and I got us a standing bookshelf and two desks and chairs."
"What does that have to do with anything?" I replied weakly getting to my feet. The ground spun and I nearly grabbed onto Will for balance.
"Well, it is flat packed. Even the chairs. And, well, you are probably the only one here who could put that crap together."
"I was out that long?" I said raising my eyebrows. No one would look me in the eye.
"Hey if you are feeling better I saved you a burger. You can take out the gherkins and onions if you want." Phoenix said as she joined us outside with the foulest smelling burger ever. I could imagine the meat sweating, mixing with the noxious sauces and…. Gherkins.
That was when I threw up.
"Ok, Will and I will be upstairs helping Xav and Crystal un-pack." Phoenix said, casting me a nervous glance. She leaned against the doorframe to our new apartment and bit her lip.
"Go on. Everything is fine." Yves murmured to her and gave her a quick kiss. I was being treated like I was on the verge of a mental breakdown around Phoenix. I protested that I did not blame her for my up-chucking even though it was pretty obvious that thing she called food caused all the junk I ate on the plane to make a re-appearance. It was probably better to not have all that processed crap sitting in my stomach anyway I told her at one point in the car journey. Then I remembered all the McDonalds sitting in everyone else's stomachs. I just gave up after that.
I sighed and twisted in the final screw to make the new bookshelf. With the way everyone eyed the mini manual for it with its complicated looking pictures, you would swear it was a manual on how to build a nuclear reactor. I simply flicked through the book and set to work. I could hear Tulip swearing as she tried to get her desk together in the end room. I had the room just off the kitchen/ living room while Tulips was further down the hall nearer the bathroom we would share.
"Yves, can you help me move this over there?" I said gesturing to a spot a few feet from the front door. He had been flicking through a book on sustainable energy I had brought. Blushing slightly, he nodded and helped me drag/ pull the bookshelf over.
"You know." He said, shifting to adjust his glasses. "It might have been better to build this over there. Who knew a seventy dollar book shelf would be so hard to move?"
I just bit my lip. Do not get angry, do not get angry, it is a valid point, it is, really I said internally. "Yeah." I said to the floor just as my phone began to ring. "Oops. Got to get that." I said letting go of the book shelf. Hastily Yves moved to get a better grip to stop it falling. I smiled a selfish smile and answered.
"Hello Willow."
"Dad." I said too sharply. Yves turned his head to me in question. I silently cursed using the word dad when he was only by blood. Blood mattered little to me now. "What are you doing calling?"
"I called Marianna, your "mother", not so long ago and she said you were going to America until Christmas! Why outside of Europe? You know no one there."
"You can choose to study abroad for a few months for college." I said to the floor as I picked at the edge of the small round dinner table that came with the apartment. "And I know a girl here. Crystal and her boyfriend Xavier and some of his family. And mom," I said with emphasis. "Met Crystal before and Tulip is here too."
"You know these names mean nothing to me." He said, a hint of annoyance lacing into his words. "Crystal could be a stripper for all I know. And this Xavier her-"
"Crystal Brook and Xavier Benedict are very respectable people." I snapped, walking into my room. No point in Yves hearing the turn this conversation was taking. "Not that that is any of your concern."
My dad, or Colin who I should refer to him as, exhaled sharply. Then there was silence for a few seconds. "Benedict? The crime fighting American savant family?"
"Yeah?" I replied confused as to where this was going. "Brought down some big crime guys a while ago but I am not really up to date on savant news."
"Ah, yes, I have heard of their work." He said tonelessly. "Good to know them."
"Okay" I dragged out slowly. "Well, is there a reason for this call?"
"Ah, I was just surprised to hear you were in America. I was going to be visiting some associates a hundred or so kilometres from your town and I thought I would come for a visit. Drop off an early Christmas present."
Latching onto anything to make this sound more like a father-daughter call I practically squealed "Ooh! What did ya get me?"
He gave me a dry half laugh. "All in good time. Can you give me your address? I might send you a few things from my travels."
Knowing I would get no information on what these "travels" entailed I told him it and after a few pleasantries, I hung up. I sat down on the mattress in my bare room, pardon for some suitcases and basic furniture, and sighed, only realising then all the tension in my body and how tired I was. I rolled my shoulders and interlaced my fingers as I stretched out my arms. My father and I had last spoken at the very start of the summer and it looked like my body had forgotten again the inexplicable tension talking to father brought on from time to time. Since I could not hear the bookcase being moved in the main living area, I went out to check on Yves' progress. As soon as I came out, I saw him hastily start to flick through a book that had been already open on the breakfast counter. I raised an eyebrow as he looked up and gave me a small guilty smile.
I let out a loud breath trying to fill the heavy silence, yawning as I did. Yves began to open his mouth just as Tulip strolled in with her mobile in one hand. "Crystal called saying Xav and Will found some things that might be handy in their attic. And the attic seems to be sectioned off so it is not like we are stealing from other residents. Who wants to go up and grab us some goodies?"
"I will." I blurted. Yves mouthed "sorry" as Tulip turned to leave.
"Great. If there is wine or liquor up there, keep it for us. Ugh, I wish I could have brought some of mom's collection." Tulip sighed dramatically over her shoulder.
Yves began his apology properly but barely got a word out before Tulip screamed from the end of the hall "Clark Kent. Turn into superman and kill this fucking spider for me ASAP!"
The author person here!
Not a terribly exciting chapter, I know, but it picks up soon. I do actually have a story in mind (it might change, Who knows?) so this is not just me aimlessly writing chapters (I think/hope/pray). I have actually just finished writing chapter 8. Have a plan for 9. I really cannot wait to get to ten (!).
While I am not expecting a dozen new reviews/follows/favourites or anything every time I check "Winning Willow", it would be nice to get a few!
Next three reviewers get reviews on a piece of theirs? I seriously just want to know are all you silent readers liking this! Thanks for reading :)