Part of the Plan (Book 2 in the 'part of' series)

Chapter 29 settling down for the night

Chapter 29 Settling down for the night

"I want you to stay with me." Aiden told me calmly. "We don't know what's going to happen." My brother and I had went outside for a little bit of fresh air. The silence was slowly suffocating us. It was tense and there was a lot on oru minds.

"Would you really want me to?" I questioned with a raised eyebrow. "I'd have to go to school obviously." He scrunched his eyes shut and sighed. "I'm not opposed to the idea. I just don't want to intrude." I looked straight forward as I could hear people approaching us.

"You wouldn't be intruding." Ralph spoke slowly. "I'm sure there'll be a lot of excitement with another guest." That sounded strange to me, the way he worded things was incredibly odd. I could tell he wanted to talk to Aiden alone, it was as clear as day.

"I would have to sneak you into my house." Karim begrudgingly added onto the argument. "Emi would be overjoyed, though if you're caught I'd fear for your life." There was a disturbing lack of joking in his tone. I gave a sigh and turned around, leaning on the railing.

"So I guess that answers that." I mumbled slightly. "Did you message Emi?" I asked Karim, I'm surprised I hadn't heard from her yet. I thought that she would be following us on our date to see what happened. This turned out to be a very good contender for 'worst date ever'. "How'd she react?"

"She's very much in shock. Sending lots of love." He shrugged lightly. "I wouldn't remove your phone's do not disturb setting...ever"I snorted slightly and nodded. That was probably the best idea.

"I'll look forward to that." I didn't really have the heart to put all the emotion into my sarcasm. Karim walked closer and sat upon the railing next to me. The awkwardness was there but it was slightly comforting. "I guess we're coming back tomorrow?"

Aiden nodded immediately. "We've also got to check on the house." He looked towards Ralph, who then looked towards Karim. "We can't really go alone." The thought alone made me tense up. "Harlow also has to get a few things."

"I'll drive you." Karim stated coldly. "We're coming in though." I looked towards Aiden with a raised eyebrow. He just shrugged lightly. It wasn't an odd request, it was the tone that he used which put me off.

"Good idea." Ralph nodded in approval. "Are you going to tell your father?" Aiden stepped forward and turned around to look at Karim and I.

"I'll go tell him." He mumbled. "Not sure he'll like the idea." Before I could reply, he had turned around and started walking towards the doors of the hospital.

"Good luck." I huffed slightly. I hope that father wasn't too grouchy. He was probably too distracted at the moment. "We should probably get the car." I trailed off. Karim simply nodded and hopped off the railing.

"Stay with Ralph, I'll bring it round." I wondered when they got to know each other. It must have been when I was talking to Aiden at Ralph's house. I looked towards Ralph slightly nervously as Karim left.

"I-" Ralph started to say but then stopped himself. He gave a sigh and shook his head. "I don't really want to make it much more awkward than it is." We shared a chuckle. "There's a lot of people back at the house. It might be a bit of a tight squeeze." That didn't sound too fun. I was rather claustrophobic. If I had to, I'd stay in the kitchen all night.

"As long as i'm not intruding." I repeated myself from earlier. "I don't want to be any kind of a bother." He gave another laugh and shook his head.

"You won't be, trust me." He patted me on the shoulder. "I'm sure the children would like to interrogate you. The other adults might take a little while to warm up to you." He then paused for a moment. "Apart from Hollis and my brother, Randall." I looked at him interested.

"You have a brother?" He nodded. He was about to say something else but a car pulling up behind us got our attention. I got up off the railing and moved towards the car. I got in the front this time. I didn't want to seem rude but I feel like Aiden and I would both feel a little more comfortable.

Karim gave me a glance but otherwise kept looking forward. His fingers tapped on the steering wheel. Ralph only got into the back when he saw Aiden approaching, opening the door for him and then getting inside himself. "Sme place I assume?" Ralph nodded and we were off.

We went to my house first, with a few directions from myself and Aiden. I was very tense the entire way. I was scared of what we would see. "Let us go in first." Ralph said to us. I felt a little bit insulted by now, it felt as though he and Karim felt like we couldn't look after ourselves. Granted, they seemed a lot stronger then us.

I didn't know what was said but I could hear a few grumbles coming from them. I had the door to the car open. I wanted to see as mucha s I could. There wasn't really anything out of the usual. The door wasn't locked and a few things seemed to be knocked over in the living room. Ralph came back to the door after a few minutes and waved us in.

No words were spoken between us as I went upstairs and grabbed some of my stuff. Nothing was touched upstairs. Karim had come up with me but I was a little bit preoccupied with packing and my thoughts. I avoided looking at the living room and the next thing I knew, we were back in the car.

The streets were practically deserted at this point. There might have been the odd car or two but it really was not a usual time for people to be out. The woods were even more terrifying at night. I didn't know how I would be able to sleep wherever we were going. Doubt filled my bones that I would get any rest tonight. Though, I probably wouldn't get any rest if I were asleep in my own house.

"It's Sunday tomorrow right?" I whispered as we walked through the woods. I was pretty sure of the fact, but the day felt like it seemed to go on forever.

"All day." Karim said sarcastically. "I'll keep my phone on tonight." I nodded. That was the most reassurance I think I was going to get. We waved goodbye to Karim when we reached the house. I gulped slightly.

"The kids will be asleep by now." Ralph frowned in thought. "I'm not sure if Randall would be awake, probably not." He trailed off and sighed slightly. "What do you want to do?" He looked towards Aiden.

"I'm cool with the couch if Harlow doesn't mind?" I nodded, it would probably be the most comfortable. Ralph seemed hesitant, I hadn't actually seen their living room. I would take the floor if it meant that I didn't have to invade someone's personal space.

The living room didn't look too bad. The furniture was very mismatched but I didn't think much of it as we got settled there. I could've sworn that I heard talking outside the door but I couldn't understand what was being said. I got settled on a settee and just stayed there. There were too many thoughts in my head to get any rest.