Bionic Chaos [Leo Dooley]

Chapter Nine

I stare up at the empty house, a wooden broom in my hands. The excess leaves and grass trimmings are now shoved into the grass yard instead of laying on the sidewalk. All the branches that had fallen during the raging storm last night are on the burn pile in the backyard, looking as tidy as little old me could get it. Unfortunately, no one here helped me; my parents were too busy doing something earlier to help, and my brother hasn't been home in a day or so. It's just been me.

My house keys jingle in my pocket as I walk toward the cream colored garage. Without any cars in the garage, it looks much bigger than it normally is. The shelved walls are scattered with different machines and gadgets that Dad picked up over the years at various garage sales. I don't really come out here much, though, so I hurriedly shove the broom back into it's place next to the side door where I just walked through. Pressing the button on the key in my pocket, I head inside, closing the door to the sound of the garage door shutting behind me.

Mom and Dad are usually home on a beautiful Saturday like this, but today, they aren't. It has something to do with Kian, especially since he left a day ago and hasn't been answering his phone or anything. I'm sure he's just partying it up somewhere in Los Angeles, but they just had to go chasing after him instead of being here for me. It's whatever, though. I'm used to being alone in this huge house, but today, it feels sort of lonely. I'm glad that Leo is coming so that we can finish up editing our spooky video. That way, I won't be alone for a little bit.

I check the time on the grandfather clock in the corner of the mudroom, sighing. It's almost time for Leo to get here. Hopefully he isn't late. I don't know how long my parents are going to be gone, so I hope he gets here soon. It would be awkward to explain to my parents why there's a boy in the house without them knowing about it. I doubt they would get home that quickly, though, especially if they're going to Los Angeles. I have nothing to worry about.

Just as I am thinking about Leo, the front doorbell rings, echoing through the house. I hurry toward the front door and throw it open, revealing Leo. There's a woman standing at his shoulder, presumably his mother. I didn't get to meet her or Mr. Davenport when I was at their house the other day.

"You can leave now, Mom," Leo says, giving her a look. "I made it safely inside. See?" Leo steps into my house and faces his mother. She just grins at the two of us. "I love you."

"I love you, too, Leo," she says, making my heart constrict in my chest slightly. My parents rarely ever say that to me. "I'm Tasha Davenport," she says, turning to me. "I've heard a lot about you, Maggie."

"Oh?" I raise my eyebrows at Leo before looking back at his mother. "I hope it's been good things."

"It --"

"Okay, you can leave!" Leo says, more desperately this time. "Bye, Mom!"

Before she can says anything else to us, Leo shuts the door in her face. I turn to look at him, my mouth dropping open. "Did you just shut the door in your mother's face?" I ask him.

"She was about to embarrass me. I just know it."

"Wow."

"Your house is so nice," he says, totally ignoring my incredulous look. He steps farther into my house, taking in everything around us. 

"It's not as nice as yours."

"That's not true."

"Yeah, it is."

Leo steps into my living room, and I follow him slowly. I don't want to waste time with him looking at every little thing in my house. We need to work on our film to get it done because it's due tomorrow.