Haven (gxg)

Chapter 8: She's Pain

The lockdown has finally reached its end. The three of us are currently sitting in a diner not far from the cafe.

"I'm really sorry that I left early yesterday." I pushed the bucket of fries as a peace offering.

Their eyes went big at the sight of freshly cooked fries and exchanged looks with each other.

"Oh, Lane. We're not angry." Mavy exaggeratingly said with her eyes still on the fries.

I pulled the basket back from me again and heard 'Awe' from the two.

"Diane, I'm sorry for what happened to your sister-"

"Oh no, she wasn't really that hurt, unlike Kevdin. You should have seen all the bruises and cuts on her face, man." Diane laughed.

"Actually, I talked to her yesterday, at the parking lot."

Mavy dropped her milkshake at the table and Diane gasped. I both stared at them with no emotion since I know that our last conversation will be probably from yesterday.

"You, talked to the girl who did that to you?" Mavy pointed at the stitch that starts being a mark.

"Don't worry, I'm sure we won't cross paths ever again." I smiled and drummed my fingers to the table.

They both looked at it then back to the fries.

"God, fine." I pushed the basket back to them and watched as they ate it rapidly.

"Oh shit," Mavy mumbled with her mouth full of fries. Her eyes stayed glued on the entrance door and something in my gut tells me that it is the person I think it is.

"Oh shit, she's here," Diane said after drinking a couple of water.

"Who?" I innocently asked.

They both looked at me with panicked eyes and they suddenly sit upright and acted normal. Yet, Mavy's eyes kept on looking back and forth to me and someone...behind me?

I swiftly turned my body and gasped as I was met by the same green eyes.

"I told you to stay away from me."

She laughed and mindlessly sat beside me.

My eyes got big at her action and suddenly get sweaty as she was very, very near me.

"Hey, squad." She smiled widely and snatched a handful of fries from the bucket and shoved it directly to her mouth.

I remained still and silent as she munched the fries.

"Oh hey, you're the sister of that girl, right? Gianna, right?" Kevdin held her hand out for Diane to shook but she remained on studying the girl who took back her hand smoothly comb her hair with it.

"What's with the silent treatment?" She chuckled and turned her body completely to me.

"Hey, Lane." Did she say, not in her usual tone but a...husky tone?

I avoided eye contact and stared straight at the old man sitting across our table who only gave me a thumbs up.

I slowly turned my eyes to the side and find her staring back at me. Her eyes went to my forehead and a pained look washed all over my face.

I kept on staring at her and the look on her face was suddenly gone and was replaced with a wink.

"Looks like no one's gonna talk today, another day then. Bye, Lane." She leaned closer to me on her way from standing up.

She grabbed a bag from the waitress and waved her hand to us for the last time before leaving the diner.

"Phew." Mavy breathed out like she was holding her breathe the whole time.

"What's wrong with that girl?" Diane shooked her head and ate the fries with a thoughtful look.

"How the hell did she end up here? Isn't her school like two buses from here?"

I curiously wondered about Mavy's question and stared outside the window.

"Girl, I think she's the one stalking you now." Diane realized and made a shocked face.

"That makes sense!" Mavy gasped and held Diane's arm.

"Oh come on, she probably just have a friend who lives here." I rolled my eyes at the two and went back on my phone.

"If you say so."

•••

"Not like that, Gab. You do it like this." I demonstrated how to tie his shoelace because we will be going out tomorrow.

"Why is it so hard?" He groaned and lay completely on the floor.

"Just wait until you're in college." I chuckled.

"Huh?"

"You'll know soon, buddy. But for now, let's learn to tie your shoelace." I lifted his tiny arms from the floor and undid his shoelaces again for his turn.

"Honey, let Gab sleep now, please."

Right, we were having lessons at night.

I sighed and picked up Gab from the floor and placed him on the bed.

"But- But I was still learning! How will I get to cool age now?" He huffed and crossed his arms cutely.

"It's college, buddy. Tomorrow we will learn again, okay? Goodnight for now." I kissed his forehead and stood up.

"Night." He yawned and went to sleep.

I closed his door and went to search for mom.

"Mom?"

"Right here, sweety." She said loudly and I found her in the kitchen washing the remaining dishes.

"What is it?"

I cleared my throat and composed myself.

"You said that you lived in this town since you were born, right?"

She suspiciously looked at me but nodded.

"So, you must know every family... names?"

"Sure, yeah." She nodded and wiped her hands with a cloth.

We both sat in the chair and she waited patiently for me to talk.

"Um, any chance of hearing the name, Lowe?" I silently crossed my fingers.

"Lowe...yeah there's a lot of Lowe from this neighborhood before. Why?" She looked at me with a teasing and interesting look in her eyes.

"Do you know someone named... Kevdin Lowe?"

"Oh, that Lowe." Her posture suddenly became alert with a shocked look on her face.

"What's wrong, Mom?"

"It's just the stories that I heard, dear." She shook her hands and stood up from the chair. She went back to washing the dishes.

"From the looks of it, they weren't so good, huh?"

I heard mom let out a deep sigh and turn to look at me.

"Those Lowes you were talking about was the one who moved here before when you were like in grade school. Then after eight months, their house was already for sale."

"The rumors?" I crossed my arms as I was about to discover something.

"That the family has been connected with crimes going on around here. Remember the fire that happened a few blocks away? They said that the father himself did it." She lowered her voice.

"You mean, the house that dad went-"

"Yes. Now go to sleep, we're leaving early tomorrow." She smiled although I can see pain through her eyes as I mentioned what happened with dad and that house.