𝐍𝐚𝐢𝐯𝐞 | 𝐃.𝐌, 𝐓.𝐍

018 - Cᴏʀᴀʟ, Cᴏʀᴀ

(thank you so much for 800 reads ily all so so so much...a lot of getting to know cora's parents in this chapter)

𝐂𝐨𝐫𝐚 𝐁𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐥𝐞𝐲

—

Why can't parents just pretend?

—

I opened my eyes to the sun blinding me. I sat up on the leather couch in the living room, squinting my eyes and looking around.

My mum was sitting at the island, reading the Daily Prophet with a mug of tea in her hand. "Good morning." She spoke, not even looking at me.

I looked down at my uniform, narrowing my eyebrows at why I was still in it. Why hadn't I changed? "What time is it, mum?"

"8:15." She said while taking a sip of her tea.

"In the morning?"

"Yes, Cora."

"What happened yesterday?" The last thing I remember is us apparating from the train station platform. "You passed out as soon as we got home. You've been sleeping ever since. I let you sleep, because I figured you've been stressed about schoolwork; but then, you slept for the entire day, and night." She spoke, getting off of the barstool she was sitting at and coming over to me. "So, I'd like you to take all of these."

She pulled out three packages from her jumper pocket. A pregnancy test, an alcohol breathalyzer, and a drug test. I scrunch my eyebrows, laughing nervously. "Mum, why do you want me to take these?"

"I just want to be completely sure my daughter is acting how I raised her to act. Now, go take them." She gave me a sarcastic smile, pushing them into my lap.

My heartbeat was starting to speed up as I stood and went to the guest bathroom on the first floor. My mother followed me the entire way. I closed the door, taking a deep breath and opening the packages.

I could see my mum's feet under the crack of the door, so I decided to take the pregnancy test first. Obviously there's no way I'm pregnant, I'm a virgin. I mean yes, I have done stuff but I would never let anyone get that close.

I set the test on the counter and opened the drug test, staring at it. I contemplated what to do. I could just stick it in the toilet water and that could deactivate it, but I feel like my mum would be able to tell. Praying that I had just slept off all of the drugs in my system, I took the test.

Standing up, I flushed and started washing my hands, then opened the door and handed them to my mum. She looked very unimpressed, and annoyed for some reason. She reached past me and grabbed the breathalyzer, motioning for me to follow her back to the kitchen.

"Take this." She handed me the breathalyzer, giving it to me to take. Once I was finished, and it came up clear, she set it aside and went to look at the other tests. I kept repeating the three words in my head that I wished so bad would come true.

Please be negative.
Please be negative.
Please be negative.

My mum sighed as she looked at the tests. "Alright, you're fine. Though judging by how nervous you look, and the energy radiating off of you, you just got lucky. I'm watching you Cora. Now, go shower." She shooed me off.

I rushed upstairs to take a shower, thankful I got off the hook.

—

I flipped the page of my book, thunder booming through the walls. It's 2:30am, but I can't sleep.

It's Christmas Eve, the day of the Ball. I should be sleeping, or perhaps retrying on my dress that my mum had ordered for me. But instead, I'm in the library, sitting in the windowsill, with a throw blanket over my bare legs.

My head turned when I heard the doors open, small feet shuffling on the hardwood floor. "Cora? What are you doing up?"

I put my book mark into the page of my book, closing it softly. "Um- I couldn't sleep. Why are you up?"

She tightened her robe around her waist, sitting next to me in the bay of the window. "Your father just got home." She sighed, rubbing her forehead. "What are you reading?"

"Romeo and Juliet...again." I smiled sheepishly. It's always been my favorite book, and theatrical show of all time.

She sighed and mumbled something under her breath just as another crack of thunder hit. "What?"

"Oh, I was just— it's crazy how that's always been your favorite book, when I know for a fact that your father and I were never like that when you were growing up."

I looked back down at my book, tracing the indents of the cover. What my mother said was true. Her and dad rarely ever showed that they were in love with each other. At all.

I let out a low hum. "Maybe I just learned to seek that love from somewhere else, when I knew I wasn't going to get it from anyone in my life."

She looked hurt. And honestly I feel like she should be. I never got the love and affection I craved when I was a child.

"Right. I didn't come here to argue with you. Something came to my head while getting ready for bed tonight. I thought I would tell you." She said softly.

I sat my book on the windowsill and readjusted my position. "I'm listening."

"Your father and I did love each other before you were born." She started, and immediately knew I wasn't going to have a good time during this story. "Actually, our time expressing it to each other was on our honeymoon, after our parents arranged the marriage. It was at the beach."

I didn't know where she was going with this story, "Okay,"

"We had our honeymoon in the Caribbean, on a private little island. That's where we really fell in love. On the fourth day though, we had gone snorkeling, and I had cut my ankle on a little piece of coral, and your father was right by my side to take care of me." She sniffed, her eye watering a little.

I shook my head, getting impatient. "Mum, where is this story going?"

She lightly rolled her eyes. "Have you ever wondered why I named you Cora?"

I let the wheels turn in my head, but I was having trouble connecting the dots to what she was trying to explain to me. I furrowed my eyebrows and she sighed. "I wanted to name you after something that would remind
your father that he still loved you and I. 'Coral,' 'Cora?'"

My face fell of realization, but she continued on.

"He grew so distant and never wanted anything to do with you once he found out you were a girl. I thought that by naming you after such a special memory, he would come to his senses. Obviously, my efforts failed." She looking down at her fingers, and to the ring that resided on her left ring finger, fiddling with it. "It's funny, Cissy actually helped me with picking out your name." She sniffled again as a tear fell onto her robe.

I stammered, "Mum—"

"—Anyway, I just wanted to finally tell you that. I'll let you continue reading." She started as she stood up. "Just don't stay up too late. We have to prep for the ball tomorrow."

And just like that, she was up and out of the library, leaving me to my thoughts.