lights are on, (but nobody's home.)

Chapter four: call me back again.

Over the next few days, I anxiously awaited a call from Julia. I didn't mean to worry, but I couldn't help it.
When I got home from school, I waited by that phone, I waited for her call.
But it never came.

I woke up on a cold Saturday morning. Again, awaiting a call from Julia. The fact that she hadn't called me back, gave me a sick feeling. Something was wrong, Very wrong.
I decided to call her. I couldn't wait much longer. It had been days, you can't blame me, can't you?
I went downstairs and picked up the phone, dialed her number, and let the phone ring. No answer. I dialed again, then again, and again. No answer. I began pacing back and forth. I then once more, picked up the phone and dialed her number. It rang and rang, until... "Hello?" my mother picked up the phone. "Hello, Mother. Where is Julia?" I asked her with a heavy amount of worry in my voice. "She's in bed." my mother's voice was rather flat. "Well, may I talk to her?" It was very strange. Julia should be up by now, It's 10:49 am. "No, you may not," she replied nonchalantly. "Why?" my eyebrows knitted together in worry. "Oh! Nobody, Julia! Look, I have to go now. Goodbye." then the line went dead.
I placed the phone back on the hook and I felt warm tears fall freely from my eyes. Something was very wrong.
"Dorothy! I'm home!" my aunt announced as she walked through the front door. She left to go to a church ladies' meeting at the church, to put up the Christmas decorations.
I quickly wiped the tears from my eyes and went to go and greet her. "Hello, Auntie! How was the meeting?" I took off her coat for her. "It was horrible! Ms. Smith told me that I was putting up the Christmas decorations all wrong and forced to take them down." she sighed as she sat down in her respective seat at the breakfast table. "Can't imagine what that feels like." I scoffed. "Don't use that tone with me, young lady." she snapped, picking up the newspaper that sat patiently on the table. "Sorry, ma'am." I tied my fingers into a knot. "Go and Make some tea." her black eyes scanned the print. "Yes, ma'am"

I walked back into the kitchen and put the kettle on the boil. I grabbed two tea bags and put them into the pot. I then grabbed my aunt's favorite teacup and placed it on the counter.
The teapot began to whistle, so I quickly took it off the boil and brought the teacup and the pot into the breakfast room where my aunt was sitting. "Here you go, madam." I placed everything down in front of her. "Aren't you forgetting something?" She coughed. "No, I don't believe- oh! Sorry." I walked back into the kitchen and grabbed the sugar and the milk and I walked back into the breakfast room. "Here you go." I put them in front of her. "Thank you. You may go now." She shooed me off. "Yes, ma'am." I walked back upstairs.
"Might as well take a nap," I mumbled as I flopped onto my bed.

•two sleep-filled hours later•

"Dorothy! Get down here!!!" My aunt shouted up the stairway. I sighed and got up. Fixed my hair and walked out my door. "What is it?" I rubbed my hands together, attempting to warm them up. my "bedroom" has no heating, y'know.
So that's fun.
"You need to help me spiffy up the house for our guests." She said while frantically sweeping the dark wooden floors. "Guest's?" I raised an eyebrow while she forced a bucket of cleaning products into my hands. "Yes, Ms. Smith just called. She said that she and her nephew are coming for dinner tomorrow." She said whilst adjusting a vase on the dining table. "The house is fine as it is." I insisted as I leaned on the kitchen counter. "No, it isn't! It has to be perfect for Ms. Smith. She is the director of the church ladies group. So I have to make a good impression." She then began vigorously sweeping again.
"Will I be joining this affair?" I inquired. "Yes, you will be our waitress." She said while scrubbing the counters. "Great. I'm invited to a dinner a can't attend." I mumbled. "What's that?" "Nothing, nothing..."

•some hours later•

After a good 4 hours of nonstop cleaning. My aunt gave me a five-minute break before dinner. She truly has a heart of gold.

I decided to try and call Julia again. I ran upstairs and when I reached my bedroom door, a sudden feeling of impending doom washed over me. I brushed it off, not thinking much of it. I then opened my bedroom door and walked in.
Once inside my bedroom, I called home again. I dialed the number, waited, waited, and waited some more, until..." hello?" my mother's voice rang clear. "Hello, may I speak to Julia please?" my voice was a bit shaky for some reason. "No, you may not. She is not allowed to speak to anyone." my mother's voice was tone less, sorrowful even. "Says who?" my eyebrows knitted together in worry. "The doctor," she said nonchalantly. "What? What doctor? What's wrong with Julia?" I felt pangs of fear and sadness cloud my thoughts. "She has pneumonia." her voice wasn't worried at all like it wasn't her problem. Like it wasn't her daughter.
"Well, is she gonna be okay?" I felt warm tears run from my eyes. "I don't know." She muttered. "How could you not know?" My voice was stern. I was growing angrier and angrier by the second. "I don't know, alright?" Her tone got colder, more emotionless. "Well, what do you know-" "JULIA!!!!" My mother dropped the phone. "Mother? Mother?? MOTHER!-"

••••••

Hope you liked the chapter. I'm sorry it took so long to get out. My family and I are going through some shit right now.
Anyhow, I'm writing another book right now. It's supposed to give off Tim Burton vibes. Y'know, like Corpse Bride vibes.

Anyway, I love you, make good choices and I'll see you in the next chapter!!!
- Claire💕💕💕