Seeking Hope

Seeking Hope: Chapter 3

Chapter 3

As I opened the door and walked out while it made that bell-ringing noise, again. I almost ran into a couple of kids down who were running in front of me. A small smile appeared on my face as I looked at them running. I also wondered where the car was until I realized it was in front of me the whole time. I took a few steps and opened the door. Well, tried. The door was lock but the window was open. I ducked down and put the food and drinks in the passengers seat while I folded my arms on the car door, leaning my head on the shoulder. “Hey mom, think you can let me in now?” I asked in a jokingly way. She was on her cellphone texting in the drivers seat and looked back and fourth quickly, laughing a bit. “Sorry son. Hop in.” She unlocked the door and I keeled back up and sat down in it, passing my mom’s coffee to her. “Here” She turned on the engine and buckled up her seatbelt and took her coffee from me, facing the road. “Thank you dear.” Mom also took a quick sip from it and made a refreshing noise after she swallowed. “Mmm now that’s some good coffee. How’s your muffin?”

I removed my muffin from the bag and took a large bite out of it… no words could explain what it tasted like. All I knew was is that this was probably the best muffin I have ever tasted. Ever. I didn’t answer her, but instead I kept taking more bites and making noises to show how well it tasted. She just laughed. “Ok we get it, you like. Put on your seat belt now.” I took another quick bite and turned a little to reach out for the buckle of the belt and as I turned, I saw inside of the café, just right in front of the window was Claire. She was looking at me with no smile on her face; her expression was just blank and kind of annoyed. She was holding a white broom on her left side. I did a small wave to her considering I couldn’t speak with the food in my mouth, but all she did in return was roll her eyes and turn around, continuing to sweep. I just shake the thought of her out of mind and at the rest of my muffin as we started driving to our new house.

The last part of our road trip was silent for a while. We didn’t really speak at all for some reason. Maybe because we had a long drive? Mom was just focusing driving, having sips from her coffee from time to time. I already finished my muffin and was just looking outside the window. I always like to entertain myself when ever it’s awkward or when ever I’m bored. So I just started making a beat by taping on the door handle with my fingers and making some cool noises from my mouth. Mom might of not liked the idea of it when she just suddenly spoken up. “So, did you make friends in there?” She asks. I stopped what I was doing and shifted in my seat, facing the road as well. “Not really. Just got coffee and a muffin.” Her eyebrows rose with a confused look. “Oh, you sure?” I didn’t face her, but judging by my emotion, the look on my face must have been mischievous. “Yeah… why? Did you make friends?” She shrugged. “Maybe… I’m not quite sure. I hope so. I talked to an employee down at the petrol station. He’s a nice guy. But no, that’s not what I asked. You talked to that girl at the café didn’t you?” I chuckled. Knowing what my mum could have been implying. “She’s an employee there mom. She came late so that’s why it took a while to get what you wanted.” I defended. She just had a smirk on her face. “I’m sure… and does this girl have a name?” I licked my lips again; I do this occasionally considering it’s a habit of mine. “Claire.” Mom laughed out a little bit again. “Claire? Really? Judging by her looks I thought her name would be some kind of… mysterious you know? Or even dark too! Like maybe Blaze? Misery-“ I rolled my eyes and cut her off. “You shouldn’t judge a look by its cover. Besides, I think she’s just confused with the amount of attitude she has in her.” This time she let out a harsh laugh and I shifted my head to look at her this time. “Attitude? Mike did you see the amount of dark make-up she was wearing? That’s horrific!” I just shrugged. “It doesn’t matter. I probably won’t see her again anyway if we don’t go back there.” Mom sighed. “What ever you say. If that’s how you feel then let’s not go back there. Make sure you also avoid talking to her if you see her next time?” I sighed and leaned back into my seat, my annoyed tone had awakened. “Mom…” She was still looking at the road, but with one hand she made a waving sign at me. “No seriously. Claire looks like she’s trouble. And you have way to much to lose and your not risking it, do I make myself clear?” Her voice rose as she snapped and she turned to look at me. I raised my arms in a surrender position. “Fine, what ever you say.” We both sighed at the same time. “It’s a shame. They had some good coffee and muffins there.” She stated. “I know!” I exaggerated.

Our road trip had finally come to an end as we pulled up onto the driveway of our new house… our 2-story house. As the car pulled to a stop, I quickly unbuckled my belt and exited the car, looking around the house. “Whoa! This place is sick!” This was kind of a shock to me considering I lived in an apartment throughout a city most of my life. But this? To others, this would just be a regular 2-story house. To look at the bush as a view in one of the rooms, a staircase and even hopefully a pool! Since I entered the car back at the café, the weather turned from a windy, cold blowing, morning-sunrise morning into a cold, windy, grey sky. I still kept looking at the whole thing amaze. Lucky we didn’t have neighbors near us; otherwise they could of saw my goofy face. I heard my mom close her door and lock the car. “Honey. It’s a house.” She states. She just stands there at the front of the steps with her arms folded. I gave her a crazy look. “Just a house!?” She just rolled her eyes and walked onto the steps and opened the front door. “Teenagers…” she mumbles.

As I still looked astonished from it, I took a deep breath and excitedly jogged into the house and closed the door. “Whoa…” The place wasn’t as what I thought it is. Fancy lamps, furniture, light, portraits, vases, paint color or chandeliers. Nope. It was just old fashion? Like what normal, American families would have in TV shows. “I could get use to this…” I whispered out loud. The furniture was already inside the house. I wondered it around little more and went to the backyard… we had a pool! Luxury. I couldn’t help but not smile from this change. This didn’t feel snobbish at all. “Take that Claire.” I whispered out loud again. As I was looking down at pool, folding my arms and smiling, I heard mom shout out my name. “Mike!! MIKE!!!” I stopped smiling and turned to look at the kitchen area through the window. She only used that tone when she was mad at me. She then let out a loud squeal; I also saw her hop onto the kitchen bench. “MOM!” I ran to the sliding door as fast as I can and grabbed the broomstick outside and saw her crawled up into a little ball on the counter with the most freaked out expression ever. “MIKE!” My guard was up as I was going to defend my self with a broomstick. Looking badass and all – freaking out inside. “Mom! What is it? Is someone in the house?” I looked around with my head but heard her squeal. “No! Just get that thing out of here!” I turn to look at her again and my guard dropped. “What?” I asked annoyed. She closed her eyes; trying to lean back even further and she pointed the floor. “That thing!” I gave her a look and saw where she pointed. I looked down at the kitchen floor and saw a big, dark grey, fat, foul, dead rat on the floor. I threw my broomstick to the floor. “Are you serious mom? It’s a rat. A freaking dead rat. I’m going upstairs…” I rolled my eyes and look away, walking upstairs for the first time. I heard her call out “Wait! Don’t leave me!” But ignored it.

I could hear her complain a little, as I was upstairs, wondering around the area. There was my game area, the bathroom, the other bathroom, the guestroom, and the master bedroom and then this one. The one with certificated around one side of the room, trophies that I won (academically, sport, music, charity work etc.), college brochures and my guitar. The other side was what I call “the real side” It showed interest that I was into like music, cars, sport. My guitar was in it’s case leaning on the wall, some posters of my favorite bands and artist and my favorite. A small basketball hoop hanging on the wall. I look around for a basketball to see where I can shoot it, until I noticed on the bed. I jogged around while pushing it up and down from the ground and shoot softly into the hoop. I chanted poorly and chuckled at myself for being an idiot. I look around an in close wardrobe and a door, leading to the huge balcony and view…. Outside. This was my room. “No way…” I whispered out loud. “Way.” My mom said coming from the door. I turn around quickly and put the basketball on my bed. “And for the record, I had to wash my hands 8 times because of that filthy rat!” I laughed a little and she walked in giving me a side hug. “Other than that, this is your room. Enjoy it while it last. Were only here for a while. Speaking of which, you need to get organize for tomorrow.” She walked inside my closet and checked out a few clothes from racket to racket. “Why? What’s tomorrow?” I headed to my bed and started jumping on it, waiting for an answer. “Oh, I must of forgot… Oops… You start school tomorrow. So make sure you get plenty of rest tonight.” I stopped bouncing and land on my butt and sat up properly in the middle of the bed, giving my mom a confused look. “What? I don’t even have the school uniform yet!” I got frustrated. First thing to do was go to school… on a Monday. Ugh. She made a weird noise as her lips tightened. “Well you see… there is no uniform. It’s a public school. So you’re just going to have to wear what you got. See yah!” Mom said cheerfully, closing the door on the way out.

I roll my eyes and groaned as soon as she left, falling back onto my bed.