Intertwining Stories

Chapter 3

I waited a few minutes until I heard a car pull up, right in front of the stairs. My dad lowered the window.

"Come on, Rose, hop in !"

That was the least discreet thing ever, but honestly, I did not care, it was just how he was. A bit extra on his good days. I still loved him.

" Did you find what you were looking for ?
- Yes ! I got the books I wanted."

I held them up to show him what I got.

"These again ?
- Yeah, they are my favorite, you know it !
- You know that one day you will have to read something else. I bet you already know all the lines by heart.
- Almost but it's not my fault the story is so good, I cannot help but read them over and over again.
- Did you even look for any other book that could please you ?
- No... I didn't."

He sighed. I always read the same things and, to be honest, it did not bother me. I looked out the window, the landscape getting blurry as my father sped up. I closed my eyes, thinking about what had happened in the library. All I could see was her eyes, those gorgeous hazel eyes. Who was she ? I never saw her before. She didn't seem as if she was older than me, maybe a year or two, that's all. I did not catch her name, but, for some reason, I was curious, I wanted to know her. How was I going to do that ? I am way too shy when it comes to people I don't know and I know nothing about her. That won't be an easy task. Why was I so... attracted ? Something was drawing me to her ealier. Something made me want to talk to her, despite my shyness. I was supposed to go back there soon to bring back the books. I will probably devour the books during the week, I should have enough time since I do not have many homeworks to do. So I'll bring the books back this weekend, I think. Maybe I will see her again.

When we got back home, my sister was already back from school and a surprise was waiting for me. My older sister, Emma, was here.

"Hello, stranger !
- Emma, oh my God, what are you doing here ?
- Damn, if you didn't want me here just say so."

I laughed and ran to her, arms wide open and pulling her into a tight hug.

"You know I didn't mean it like that. I am so happy to see you, it has been a while.
- Yeah well, maybe you could try sending me more texts, she smiles.
- I will ! I missed you so much.
- I missed you too, you dummy !"

Emma lived with her roommate in their appartment near Emma's university. She was studying psychology and wanted to become a psychologist. Helping others deal with their problems, trying to find what was "wrong" with people and help them deal with it has always been something she loved. She would always be here for everyone. Whenever I did not feel well, I knew that I could count on her to listen to me and give me advice. When she left home, around two years ago, I was really sad because her and I have always been really close and not having her here anymore, well, it just saddened me. But I got over it and she tried to visit us every once in a while so it is OK. I also tried to call her or she called me from time to time.

"What took you so long ? When I got here you weren't home and Anna told me dad left to get you from God knows where. Not to mention the fact that mom is at work, which, honestly, does not surprise me."

She rolled her eyes. Our mom was not really often at home, she worked a lot, not because she had to, but for some reason she wanted to. We all got used to not seeing her much. She became more distant over the years, we had no idea why. Emma shook her head, clapping her hands together.

"Anyway, nice to see nothing has changed, she said, making allusion to our mother's absence. So, what were you doing ?
- Oh, nothing much, I was just at the library to borrow one or two books.
- What books did you take ?"