Late's better than never right?

I still own nothing.

Chapter 2

Candace's POV

"Stacy, when do you think they'll be getting back?"

"I have no real idea, Candace." She admitted. "They never said a specific time or anything?"

I shook my head. "Nothing, Stacey."

"Hmm," she muttered. "Well I guess we'll just have to wait and see then."

She stacked up a round of plates and handed them off to the dishwasher. The kitchen was in full swing preparing for the mid-day meal [I must have slept in longer than I thought]. I shuffled out of the way of the anxious cook. As usual she was short tempered and willing to swing her knife at anyone who got in her way.

I tried to stay out of her path as often as possible.

"I'm sorry, Candace I have to get ready for the buffet you know. Go get some rest okay?"

I wanted to tell her that I slept in that morning. I didn't need any more rest. What I needed was some sort of boredom relief.

"Sure Stace I'll talk to you later," I lied.

I rushed as fast as I could out of the kitchens. I know that my friends needed to work in order to get money- that I didn't need any more- but still it didn't stop myself from feeling miserable at the thought of being completely alone.

I sighed and started walking towards the library once again. Perhaps books would console me now.

"Mom, I'm I being a burden?" I asked later on that day.

We were sitting in our small sitting room in two large hooped armchairs facing the fire. Mom poked it with the fire poker to regain the flame. She studied me with a curious glance.

"Candace, why would you ever think that?"

She dropped the poker back into its holder.

"Well, no one's really talking to me right now and if they are they are criticizing me. I spoke with one of the servers today and she asked me why I didn't just take the…herbs that would- that would. Take my baby away from me. I told her I could never do that…"

She smiled. "Candace, you are not being a burden. Of course not! We all love you so much, sweetheart and we're all just a little worried that's all. You've been awfully quiet since the whole-"

She paused.

"Incident and we're just worried."

"Mom, what did you expect me to do? After all this to be the exact same as before…I've grown up since then…I was a child back when I used to gossip! I didn't know how it felt."

I whispered the last line.

"Oh, Candace…come here."

She opened her arms for me and I climbed in careful to not sit directly on her lap. She undid my knot and started playing with my hair.

"We all just want the best for you, sweetie. These people are our family and they just have different opinions...and some of them just can't help but voice them. It doesn't matter as long as you don't let it get to you."

I nodded leaning my head against her shoulder.

"Thanks mom," I yawned.

"No problem sweetie. It's my job you know."

I nearly nodded off on her shoulder when the door burst open. My father walked through, his smile large enough to break his face in two.

"They're back Linda! They just pulled in."

She grinned." I was wondering when those two love birds would show up again."

I moved off her lap reluctantly. She stood up and turned to me.

"You coming? I'm sure they will want to see you."

I nodded.

"Good then! Shall we ladies?" Lawrence said taking my mother's arm and offering the other to me. I smiled and accepted. We made our way down the hall and towards the grand staircase.

We saw the pair down in the front foyer before they saw us. We unhooked arms and waved frantically to them before running down the stairs.

Mother claimed the two for a hug first.

"Oh, I'm so happy you're back!" She exclaimed into their necks.

"Same here mama," Phineas assured her.

Isabella giggled once Linda had released them.

I rushed forward to hug my little brother.

"You have no idea how boring it is around here without you and Ferb to bug me."

He laughed. "Well we'll have to see if we can visit Ferb sometime then."

Linda butted in. "I know, I really miss him- odd how he just ran off like that isn't it?"

"He told me he got married." I added.

"Well that's peachy but he never thought that his- well not birth parents but close enough- would have liked to be there?"

Phineas shrugged. "He just needed to get away I guess."

Phineas was a terrible liar and it showed. Thankfully mom saw through the façade for once.

Isabella yawned.

"Wow, it's late we should all get to sleep soon." Phineas said, faking a yawn.

"Yeah it was a long trip." Isabella added. "It was great to see you all again."

She gave us all a hug in turn before taking Phineas's hand. We all said our goodnights and the two love birds retreated to their nest.

But before I could do the same a familiar voice stopped me.

"Hello, Miss Flynn!" A certain blonde called out.

"Hello Jeremy. Have a good trip then?"

He nodded. "Yeah snow was pretty bad up there though. We'll be getting that down here soon."

I nodded. "Yeah, interesting I got to get to sleep now. So, goodnight."

"Candace!"

"Yes?"

"I have to ask what exactly is wrong. You are always running off whenever I try to talk to you-"

"Have you ever gotten the idea that I might not want to talk to you?" I asked sweetly.

He blinked. "Your insults sting, you know."

"That is the point of insults, you know."

"But I want to be your friend, Candace and I would like to figure out why you're always so cold to me."

I yawned. "Well it is freezing outside, that might be a reason and also I'm exhausted."

From doing what exactly? You sat around all day reading…why would you be exhausted?

[Shut it mental voice.]

"Candace…"he began.

"Goodnight Jeremy." I spun on my heel and headed back to the stairs. My parents had already gone up and were most likely back at our apartments by now. They must have assumed that I would want to talk to Jeremy alone. Gosh when would they understand that I was better off alone now. I am an independent woman who doesn't need a man to help her off her feet…and I'll never need that.

"Can I see you tomorrow then?" He called after me.

I didn't respond.