Chapter Two

I walked in the kitchen, where Tom told me to go in the dining room. I sat next to Emma, and mom started serving us food. "So baby, you think you'll be liking living here again?" My mother asked me as she sat back and we all started eating.

"Yeah," I replied with a bright smile on my face. "I was missing here, and you people." I continued and a smile appeared on everyone's faces as the words came out of my mouth.

"We missed you too." Tom replied in a loving dad tone. Sometimes I wished that my father talked like this with me. I was glad that my mother married Tom. I smiled warmly at him and we continued eating.

"Tomorrow you'll be going to school," my mother said cautiously. "Or do you want to rest?" my mother asked. She was acting as if she was afraid of my reaction. I looked at her questioningly and she simply smiled.

"Yeah, of course I'll be going," I replied. The way she was acting was annoying me. She isn't acting like she used to. "Mom, what's the matter?" the words escaped my mouth before I could even process them.

"What?" she asked. This was annoying me more. She knew that I was getting irritated, and I‘m the type of girl who can get angry real quick. She finally gave up and looked at me. "Can we talk about it later?" she asked eyeing the food. Then I knew that it will be about something that will really upset me. I simply nodded and ate my food really fast.

After dinner, Shane, my mother, and I were in the kitchen. Shane and I were washing the dishes while my mother was watching us. I was growing impatient, so I decided to ask again. "Can you tell me now?" I asked dropping a plate in the sink. Shane managed to catch it before it broke. I washed my hands and turned to my mother, leaving Shane to wash the dishes alone.

"Thanks for the help," Shane mumbled sarcastically, earning a shove from me. I tried to keep myself cool, as I didn't want to spoil my first day here. My mother gestured to the seat next to her, which I took.

"Your father actually mentioned that you had drinking problem and you were usually getting in fights." My mother said as she shook her head in disappointment. Shane's head rose up and he looked at me waiting for an explanation. Shane has always been the protective brother for me. Even before our parents got married.

"You know that Dad always exaggerates things." I said exasperated. My dad knows nothing about me.

"But he would never make up something like this about you," she said with a pointed look, asking for explanation.

"Alright, I went to a party one night and my friends got me drunk, only one time." I lied to her. But I don't have drinking problem. I’ve been drunk a few times. "And I was engaged in only one fight, and I wasn't the one who started it." I replied. This one was the truth. The other girl was the one who called me a bitch.

"Just promise me that it won't happen here," my mother said putting on a loving face.

"Mom, I can't promise you these things," I said truthfully. "You know me, I won't stay quiet if someone starts a fight with me." I mumbled and she looked at me. She laughed and grabbed my hands.

"I know princess. And you know that if someone starts a fight with you, I'll be helping you fight." My mother said. I chuckled knowing my mother, I knew that she would surely stick up for me. "But I don't want you drunk," my mother said. I nodded and hugged my mother.

"I won't mom," I replied as I kissed her cheek. I pulled away and saw Shane coming towards us. He put his arm around my shoulder.

"Don't worry, I'll be looking after her," Shane said as he kissed my forehead.

"Jerk." I said teasingly. My mother laughed at us and we walked to the living room where Emma and Tom were watching a horror movie. We took seat next to them, and we spent the rest of the night talking and joking, trying to get back all the two years that we missed together.

After that, everyone went to bed. I walked into my room, and my eyes automatically darted to the window. I saw the lights on in the mysterious guy’s room. I turned my lights on and sat on the bed. I called my best friend Sarah to tell her that I was home safe and sound. Unfortunately, she didn't pick up the phone. I sighed in fatigue and let my body fall backwards. I felt all the tiredness leaving my body, and I smiled. I took off my jeans and put on my shorts so that I could sleep comfortably. As soon as my head hit the pillow, I found myself shifting to dreamland.