An Inconvenient Attachment

Chapter 32

Cecilia pov
"You're behaving well these past few days." My mother's tone came out formally.

But something was wrong... When she gave me a genuine smile, I froze. I'm behaving well these past few days? More like why are you behaving warm these days.

Her smile continued, "I'm proud of you Cecilia."

I nodded in response.

My habits that I had back in the city unpaused. I was going to bed early. Not missing any meals of the day. And more importantly, I was reciting piano for the grand opening ceremony that my father signed me up for.

There were more frequent family dinners over the last few days and every time it had been somewhere in the town. We just... never went downtown. On some other days it would be outside of the town.

It felt like whatever happened the past few weeks was just some kind of long fever dream. But, every now and then Alec would pop up in my head. Whatever, none of my business. We left the restaurant and our family divided into two cars then drove home.

"See? What did I tell you hun? It's just the teenage angst coming out. She'll be back to her mature self again," father was reassuring mother from the driver's seat.

I rolled my eyes at that. Let's get one thing right. I wasn't 'not rebelling' because of them. I was not rebelling because, clearly, I'm upset! Once I get over this situation and my head is clear. I am so going back to what this town has taught me, with of course some minor tweaking. I'm not going all out.

Both of the family cars pulled up in the driveway. I got out and as usual some workers came by to take the cars back to the garage.

I heard Blake yell out, "Jess!" in a cheerful tone.

My ears quickly perk up, turning around to actually see them. Why were they here?

"Your acquaintances? Cecilia?" Father's tone came out a bit colder than usual.

I know they haven't said it out loud but I know for a fact in the back of my head that somehow, my parents think the friends I met here are a bad influence and downfall to my 'teenage angst.' Well, should I even be calling them my friends?

The cold shoulder they gave at the end made it kind of difficult to even call them friends but only my brain was on board with that. My heart raced in excitement to see them again.

Everyone else went ahead inside the house. Blake was disappointedly rejected by Jess as she looked like she had more important things to say to me.

"What are you guys doing here? What happened?" I asked. My eyes wandered around to not see any sight of Alec. How... disappointing.

"We're so sorry!" Jess immediately hugged me.

My eyes widened.

Jess and I have hung out. Yes. But we hadn't really gotten that close enough to hug. We shared banter but she felt like she was in her own world and I guess a bit of someone who you wouldn't just randomly go up and hug. Someone who needed a bit more time to feel comfortable doing intimate stuff like hugging.

I hugged her back. I always wondered what it would feel like to hug her. Pfft... A bit creepy on my part but she was just so petite looking. Wouldn't anyone be curious?

She pulled back, standing a few inches away and continued, "Well. Actually, I'm so sorry. I didn't really mean to say it wasn't any of your business. It's just– I thought Alec would be uncomfortable finding out that we told you about him behind his back rather than coming directly from him." Her eyebrows were furrowed upward, showing worry.