Chapter Seventeen: Promises

When she reaches me, she doesn't say anything.

She's wearing her pyjamas, singlet and flannel pants, but she doesn't look cold. Tension is in every part of her body, her hands fisted at her sides. Her eyes accuse me, and though I can't see them in the dark, I know they are flinty hard. Angry.

I take a shaky inhalation, trying to steady myself.

"You promised."

You did. You promised.

She made you promise. Is that really a promise?

"I don't know where you were going, but anything that starts this late at night is bad news!" She says, her voice rising, headless of the silence she's shattering.

"How do you know? And why would you care? You're not my mother!" I shoot back, not planning to stand here and take it. Why is it her business where I go anyway?

"I'm not an idiot, but you'd have to be to not know a bad idea when you see it! How were you even planning on getting back in anyway? You can't climb up that downpipe again!" She said, switching seamlessly from anger to contempt with her arms crossed over her chest.

"I can do whatever I want, and don't pretend you care about that! You don't have to be a control freak. It's my life." I yell, just wanting to go back inside and away from…from this.

"Fine. Who cares about the frigging drainpipe! Why didn't you tell me you were breaking curfew? If you're so naïve as to think I wouldn't-" She begins, voice rising before sharply cutting off as she finally seemed to consider the time of night, "Let's talk about this inside."

"Why? It's not like there's anything to talk about." I say sharply, just wanting her to leave me alone.

She pauses, staring at me incomprehensibly for a good long moment.

"I don't suppose there is then." She says flatly, and then she leaves, stalking back inside and closing the door behind her.

I didn't think it could get worse.

I'm not even sure it did. I just feel this burning emptiness that I don't know what to do with. I've heard alcohol burns as it goes down your throat, and I wondered if it would help. Probably not.

And better not to even think about it, or else you might end up like Da did after Mum left.

I shiver in the cold and wrap my jacket closer around me.

I consider finding another way to the meeting but discard that idea when my leg gives a painful twinge. I guess going down the drainpipe really had been a bad idea. That was probably also how Cara caught me.

Naïve

Idiot

I threw myself down on the cold concrete footpath with a thump. It was freezing and a little damp, but I didn't move.

Argh! Why can't she leave me alone and mind her own stupid business?

I was going to find out what The Pack was up to, which might've been really important! But NO, she just had to butt in and scare Jinn away and now she's going to tell Aunty Lin and it's all her fault! If she had just left me be, everything would've been fine! Nothing was going to happen!

I am NOT naïve, or an idiot!

I kick at the curb with my sneakers, letting out a grunt of frustration. Then I stand up and slip inside. It was an effort not to slam the door, but I don't want to get myself into any more trouble than I was already in.

I went back to bed, but I couldn't sleep.

My anger and frustration just kept running and running through my head like a freight train on a collision course. I tossed and turned, but eventually just ended up playing Big Belly Bust until the moon had set and the sky was fading to lighter shades. Anything to take my mind off everything.

I must've drifted off, because when I open my eyes, the sun is blazing through my open window, and I'm shivering.

Stupid window. I think, and stumble across my messy room to close it.

I grab some clothes and take a shower, wanting to avoid Cara. If I know her, she always sleeps in, and it takes an awful lot to wake her up. If I get up early and leave, I'll be able to avoid her until dinner.

Throwing on a t-shirt, jeans and a hoodie, I snatch my phone from my bed and head towards the door.

Darn it.

Cara is having a sleepy breakfast at the kitchen table. She hasn't noticed me yet, too absorbed in her phone, but she looks up now, and I look away.

I was going to eat toast, but that would take too long, so I grab a banana out of the fruit bowel and spin around, heading for the door.

"Jay?"

I ignored her, opening the front door.

"Jay, I really think we need to talk-" I cut her off with a slam of the front door.

I begin to walk away from the house, heading for the train platform.

I refuse to talk to her.

She was only going to tell Aunty what I almost did, and then I was going to be in big trouble. What was there to talk about?

I get on the first train to pull up and sit down on an empty seat, ignoring everyone. I wish I had brought my earbuds, but they were sitting back at home like my wallet and handbag.

If you hadn't been so quick to leave… A voice starts to say, and I shut it down. It's not like she gave me much of a chance to explain myself last night, why should I give her the chance to yell at me again?

I remember sitting on a train all those days ago next to Cara, who came and got me home safe from the party.

She just cares about- the voice tries again, and I scowl, wishing for those earphones even harder. Cares about being the boss. It's not her job to know everything I do.

"Now entering the CBD," an electronic female voice begins, "First stop: Charleston Street Station."

I stand up quickly, hopping off the train and walking away from the annoying reminder that my anger might not be justified.

I walk out into the overcast morning and yawn. I really should've gotten more sleep.

A few stray leaves blow past in a strong gust of wind and my black hair is blown into my eyes. I swipe it away angrily, letting out a growl of frustration.

My phone buzzes from my pocket.

Aunty Lin.

My blood ran cold for a second and I held my breath.

"Hey Juliet, Cara said you went out this morning, do you think you could pick up a loaf of bread before you come home?"

I released the breath.

Maybe she hasn't told her yet? Or maybe she has, and Aunty wants to make sure I come home soon so she can scold me in person?

I snorted, doesn't matter anyway since I don't have my wallet. I couldn't bring home bread if I wanted to.

I don't reply, not wanting to start a conversation or tell Aunty I can't get the bread, because then she might come up with a more irrefutable reason to get me back home.

Then a silent calendar notification caught my eye. 'Jitters with Caitlin'.

Huh. Was it time for that again already? Well, it wasn't like I had anything better to do.

My steps become more purposeful and I turn in the direction of Jitters.

Author's Note:

Ha! I did it again! Maybe I'm finally getting on top of my work load?

Anyway, please review as it means the world to me and is way more motivational that me just telling myself to write something. Please?

Trix