if by chance | ✓

24 | gravitating

[ 24 ]

C O R A

✦

At about half past ten in the morning, I scurry down the staircase with my shoelaces untied and threatening to make me trip and fall every other second. I had a bad history with punctuality. And although I had mentally scolded myself several times last night to get dressed and reach the London Eye on time (which is before ten thirty) ─ I was still certain I was going to be late.

"Are you sure you're going on a date?" My mother asks, braiding her flaming red hair with skillful fingers. Dad, who sat next to her on the couch with his laptop, snickers loudly.

"Yeah what's wrong about it mom?" I groan, smoothing out the red polka dot skirt I was wearing paired with a lace white top. I wasn't one to wear dresses and stereotypically feminine clothes on usual occasions, so when I say I was totally losing my cool over the possibilities of making a fuss, just trust me!

"Vanessa, can you believe it? Your niece is going on an actual date" Mom shifts her gaze to smirk at Aunt Vanessa, who tilts her head back and laughs. She had returned to the city a day ago and decided to visit us this morning with Uncle Ian, who at the moment, chooses to take a long sip of his coffee and avoid the contagious laughter in the living room. I figured it was partly some inside joke because Aunt Vanessa, in her days, was infamous for a no-dating policy and partly because I, myself, freak out everytime someone asks me on a date because let's admit it, I am not really great at the whole cute and fancy thing. But today it was different. It was Rhys Crawford and as much as I knew, he's no pro at the dating stuff either.

"Come on mum, give her a break" Noah hugs me from behind, immediately coming to my rescue. As much as we bickered like typical five year olds, we always had each other's back in situations like these. And when not annoying, my twin could be a real weetheart and I'll give him that.

"Thanks Noah bean" I grin before sticking my tongue out at the rest of my family members. I also loved how easily I could be playful with all of them without being judged for it. Amber sometimes says she is envious of it because the only interactions she ever has with her family is either regarding public appearances or formal talks on 'how's school?'.

"Hurry, you'll be late" He says, giving me a gentle push. Uncle Ian makes a thumbs up in my direction. I bend down to tie my shoelaces, wondering if Vivianne was at school because we were still not on speaking terms and I had made no effort to break the ice this time. I understood that she was still mad at me but if she was purposely avoiding coming to our house altogether, it would be a very shitty thing to do.

"Gotta go" I wave before walking over to the garage and I hear Aunt Vanessa demanding to know every detail once I'm back home.

On my way out the front door, I run into the same old man who looked like Noah (or vice versa), Mr. Cleveland if I remembered correctly, and he gives me a warm smile. What was he doing here again? I thought, picking up the passport sized photograph that had slipped from his wallet when I knocked into him.