Hunter The Runaway

Chapter Three | Vivian

I never thought that it mattered to her. I was, quite frankly, fine with it, even satisfied. I thought she enjoyed her privacy. She was old enough to find her way to school and back, old enough to deal with her problems. She was old enough. She was older now. I thought that kids her age liked independence, but after what had just happened I was proven wrong.

I twisted the steering wheel to the left, swerving up Archwood avenue, tires screeching on the wet pavement. The rain that had started not too long ago died down to a dainty drizzle, literally drowning the silence between us.

My expression was calm although I felt uncomfortable. Hunter on the other hand, looked like she was going to explode, like a red, hot, blazing firework. I knew that she was deep in thought. Her mind must have been swimming in conflictive thoughts. I sighed as we pulled into the driveway and she flinched at the noise.

The automatic porch lights had been switched on; it was late evening. The sun was descending from the sky and settling below the hills as I opened the door quietly and stepped out of the car.

Hunter sat still as ever in the car's seat and I guessed that she wasn't going to get out. In contrast to how I opened the door, I slammed it closed loudly, exerting all of my confusion with the push. I strode briskly over to the other side of the vehicle and reached to open Jana's door but with one swift motion she locked it. My hand floated back to my side as I nodded in understanding and stalked off.

As I made my way to the entrance and opened the front door Hunter quickly unlocked the car door and bolted inside the house in the blink of an eye. I wasn't ready to handle this, I wasn't used to her being my concern. So far my biggest concern had been keeping up with bills at the end of the month, but after today it no longer was. It's hard to deal with children, and this was only the beginning.

Hunter wasn't going to cry. Honestly, I hadn't seen her cry since she was a toddler throwing a tantrum over not getting an icecream cone. Of the little I knew about her, I knew that she wasn't someone to get emotionally wrecked up over something that is changing.

Many people are afraid of change. Maybe they're just scared of the result of change. Maybe they don't want to leave their old life behind. But she understands that that's what life's about. People will keep changing and as time goes by and I guess we can't stop it.

Or at least that's what I was hoping. I was hoping that Hunter wasn't crying, that she knew that change is for the better, because what I was about to tell her was going to turn her life around and flip it upside down. I needed her to be brave, for me, because I had no clue what I was doing.

I stepped slowly to her bedroom door, pausing as I heard the floorboards creaking behind me. I turned around, surprised to see her presence so near me after an argument like that.

"Looking for me...?" She asked with a monotone voice. She had a bag of popcorn in her hand as she crunched thoughtfully. She probably just wasn't one to hold grudges.

"I know. This is new, and different, and I didn't mean for things to get emotional, but--"

I cut myself off, because I had expected her to interrupt me right about now, but she didn't. She continued chewing thoughtfully. She popped another kernel into her mouth.

I cleared my throat, "For things to get emotional, but... This is only the beginning. Listen, "I only picked you up because there's something your father and I need to tell you. Please don't get upset or angry, I only recently realized that you want me in your life and I'm new with dealing with emotions," I cringed. What was I saying, what kind of mother was I?

I was so confused. This was new and dangerous territory and I knew I needed to be careful with my choice of words from now on. She was nearly like a stranger to me. I never wanted to be a mother in the first place, and over the years as I grew further and further apart from her I had forgotten why. It had become regular to shut her out. But now I remember.

Nevertheless, I carried on and gave her the news. Her face grew from thoughtful to curious, to surprised, to furious, and then she looked like she was going to blow up but instead she sunk to the floor and covered her hands over her face with her shoulders shaking violently. Here was my daughter, sobbing on the floor on a Tuesday night. And I had absolutely no idea what in the world to do.

_________________________________________

Hey...! Hoping you are enjoying the story so far. If you do, give it a vote or comment? It really makes my day! It is my first published book that's actually going alright, so cut me some slack! I'm new at this whole writing a book thing, but I'm trying, and if you have any questions don't hesitate to ask 😊

- Zoei