Hi, so here is the long-awaited next chapter. Sorry for it being so long since I last updated. Hopefully, I will be able to update more often. Anyway, enjoy!
Claire continued down the winding corridor and out into the open space of the university campus. The clouds twisted and contorted above her signifying an approaching storm. She grimaced at this as it acted as a worrying metaphor of the storm that awaited her. For, her mother was like a hurricane. At first she appears calm and sympathetic but then erupts into a frightening force that destroys everything in its path; leaving nothing untouched. Claire sighed and walked across the expansive green before her. The grass was soft beneath her feet and as the blades of grass grazed her ankles they coated them in the fresh morning dew. An icy wind stroked her cheek which caused her to shiver and pull her cardigan further over her shoulders.
After a few more minutes of nervously scurrying through the university she came to the university café: the place she had agreed to meet her mother. Cautiously she pushed the door open with her hand. It seemed unusually heavy, perhaps a warning of the approaching storm. Like a rabbit peeking from the burrow she poked her head around the door and scanned the many rows of silver tables and chairs. Suddenly, her eyes were met with a familiar and disgruntled looking face. She gulped nervously and made away through the maze of tables and towards the one furthest to the back.
"Claire," they muttered, raising an eyebrow.
"Father," she sighed, slightly relieved that the face she had been met with had not been her mothers.
"Please sit," he said, gesturing to the chair in front if him. Claire cautiously pulled out the chair from under the table and perched herself upon it, never allowing her gaze to leave her father's face.
"So," he began, leaning forward "What is this predicament your mother tells me of?"
Claire remained silent for a moment. She couldn't contemplate how her father was feeling; he was keeping a completely neutral demeanour.
"Um…it would appear that Hershel and I are in a bit of trouble," she whispered, her heart beating like a thousand drums.
"Trouble, eh?" he said in a rather sly tone "Is it serious?"
Claire was beginning to feel intimidated and no longer wanted to be part of this conversation. Claire stood up.
"Look, I really think I…" but before she could leave her father grabbed her wrist.
"Where do you think you are going?" he said staring at her "Don't you want to tell your father all about it?"
There was a glint of rage in his eye and his lips curled slightly. She immediately knew that she was going nowhere and sat down slowly.
"No?" he whispered "Well, let me enlighten you. You are pregnant with the bastard child of a man who is barely a passing acquaintance. You are prepared to throw away your entire life after a few brief moments of pure stupidity. You…"
"Stop!" she exclaimed, raising her voice slightly, although not enough to raise attention. Her father smirked and leant back, placing his hands in his lap.
"What? Do you deny such allegations?" he questioned "Do you deny that you are carrying said child?"
Frustrated tears filled her eyes and she shakily shook her head. At the sight of his daughter so upset his demeanour softened slightly.
"Look, I'm sorry it's just your mother…" Claire scoffed.
"I might have known she would have put you up to this!" Now, she could no longer hide the tears that softly fell from her cheeks.
Her father sighed. "Well…she's worried about you"
"Really?" Claire said sarcastically "So worried she had to send her skivvy to dish the dirt for her?"
He frowned, but still placed his hand on hers.
Now, barely whispering he said "Claire darling, all we want is what's best for, surely you know that?" Claire smiled feebly "So, what do you plan to do?"
"Well, we have decided to keep it," Her father's eyes blazed with mixed emotions but his face remained neutral.
"Your mother is not going to like that," he mumbled more talking to himself than to her.
"Well, I don't care!" she proclaimed. There was a short pause. She continued to stare to him but it was not him that could bear to meet his daughter's gaze. He had never seen her be so defiant.
"Very well," he muttered. He then stood up, looked at his watch and headed towards the door.
Claire remained until her father had gone and the slumped her head into her hands. She sighed worriedly. There was definitely going to be a storm coming.
So? What do you think? I hope it was ok as I haven't been able to work on this story for a while. Still, let me know what you thought and it hopefully won't be too long before an update. See ya!
