Saving Layneigh

I'm Back!

"Charlie, would you get the door please." I heard my mother's faint voice yell out to my brother.

I heard soft footsteps coming from what I'm assuming to be the stairs, as they were right in the center of view when you stepped inside the house.

"Hi, who is it," Charlie said as the door flew open. He didn't even glance up until I softly cleared my throat. "De-Delayneigh?" He stuttered, as if he were unsure that it were really me standing there.

"Hi Charlie," I greeted him with a smile on my face, holding my arms out waiting for him to hug me.

"Oh my goodness, you're back!" He almost knocked me down as he hugged me and picked me up off the ground. "But wait, mom said you weren't supposed to be back for another year. What are you doing here?" As he stepped forward helping me with my things.

"Well, I uh, talked to dad and he said he thought I should go ahead and come home." As far as I knew, Charlie was told that my mom had arranged for me to go stay in New York with our dad for 2 years to.. get closer with him.

"Layneigh, I know the truth. You don't have to use the whole dad cover story, we both know that mom has no contact with dad whatsoever." There was a slight frown starting to form on his face as he said this. It made me a little sad knowing that he cared so much.

"I'm sorry Char, I wish I could've told you the real reason, but she took me to the airport while you were in school," as I was saying all of this Charlie was bringing me inside our home, and closing the door behind me. "I wish I could've told you goodbye one last time before I left."

He put his hands on my shoulders lightly as he says "But you're here now, and that's all that matters!" He gave me another big hug then yelled for our mother.

"Mom! Come look who's here!"

My mother walks into the entrance way of the house and looks at me in disbelief. "Delayneigh? What are you-"

I cut her off by giving her an evil smile and crossing my arms over my chest, "Did you miss me, mother." I have not many words to say to her after all she's done to me.

"You were supposed to be with your father for another year, why are you back so soon?" Looking at Charlie, giving him a crooked smile. Clearly she doesn't know that no one is believing her whole going to visit dad gig anymore.

"Oh cut it out mom! Charlie knows I wasn't gone to dads. I still can't believe you lied to him! I mean your own son? Come on, aren't you better than that?" She was completely transparent with the solemn uneasy look on her face, knowing exactly what she had done.

"Look Delayneigh, I was foolish to have sent you there. Not having you here has made me realize I-I have two wonderful children."

Does she really think I'm going to believe that? My whole life, she's kept me isolated from the whole world. I come back after one year and she's changed the way she looks at me completely? Not a chance.

"Then you won't have a problem sending me to a real school, letting me play hockey with Charlie and his friends, going out and having fun like a 15 year old girl should be doing. Hm?" I look at her with my arms still crossed, my head slightly tilted to the side now.

"Well, I suppose if you'd like to do so," her voice trails off, as if she expects me to run up and hug her or something.

"Great! I'll go unpack my things and we can go enroll me in school tomorrow morning."

It's July 27th so the new school year hasn't started yet, and Charlie and I will be going into high school this year. Our birthday is July 23rd, so we happen to be some of the oldest in our class.

As I start up the stairs my mother calls my name again. As I turn to look at her, Charlie gives us both a confused look.

"Layneigh honey, your room is beside mine. Where are you going?" With full confidence she looks at me, motioning to my old room.

"Actually, mom, I think I'll take the bedroom across from Charlie's. Wouldn't want to wake you at night." I give her a very sarcastic smile and head up to the top of the stairs. She really thinks she was going to keep me in the closet she turned into a bedroom? Definitely not. Especially when there's a full bedroom across from Charlie's that's never been used.

My mothers room is downstairs in the back of the house. Right next to her room is a smaller closet, that she put a bed, and small dresser in and called it my room. She always made me stay in there when her or Charlie had company over because, no one was aloud in her room. Therefore knocking out any chance of someone finding out I were even in existence. Well, not anymore. When I finally go to school, I'll be known as a person. Delayneigh Conway. 15 year old, twin sister to Charlie Conway. I'll finally join the hockey team! Which I got pretty good at since Charlie would always practice with me in the backyard. He says I'm a natural and if I joined the team, I'd be one of the best they had.

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I finally have all of my things unpacked and put away in my new room when I hear a knock at the door. "Come in," knowing it's Charlie I just continue organizing my things.

"Hey Layneigh, I just wanted to say again that I'm so happy you're back. And I'm excited we finally get to go to school together, Eden Hall is going to be great with you. And you finally get to meet all my friends."My brother seemed very excited for this, almost as much as I was.

"Charlie, do you think I'll be able to join the hockey team? I mean I know I can still join it's just. Well I haven't really been able to practice so I don't know if I'm good enough," I look at him with slight concern and sadness on my face and I know he can tell.

"Of course you're good enough! But if it would make you feel better we can practice later in the yard," he forms a smile on his face and comes in to hug me.

"I'd love that, Charlie, thank you!" I hug him, and then he leaves and closes the door behind him.

I'd better get to sleep if I'm going to go with my mom to enroll me in school tomorrow. Could this really be the start of a new beginning?