Unlikely Conditions

Chapter 10

"You look fine!" Heidi insisted as she sat on the edge of Meadow's bed. She had one leg crossed over the other with her arms folded tightly across her chest. Meadow sighed heavily as she turned from side to side in her bedroom mirror. She knew if her outfit wasn't perfect for the BBQ her mom would spend the rest of her day picking every inch of it apart or comparing her to her friend's daughters. The girls that made her high school life a living hell. Heidi got to her feet, creeping up behind Meadow as she tightened the spaghetti straps of her dress. Meadow was dressed in a long flowy forest green  Boho dress that was printed with leaves. She had a black belt tied around her waist to give it a better fitting around her figure.

"You know what my mom's like, if it's not up to her standard I might as well be dead.." Meadow sighed as she tried to flatten her ginger curls. Heidi chuckled as she helped brush her curls so they lay flat for her.

"It's gunna be fine, just take small breaths." Heidi suggested as she placed the hairbrush down on Meadow's desk. Meadow exhaled as she knelt down to adjust the straps on her wedged sandals. She almost lost her balance as the sound of a car horn outside surprised her. She groaned a little. She knew exactly who it was.

"Ugh.."

"I'll go load your stuff into his car." Heidi suggested as she picked her duffle bag up off the bed before carrying it outside to the car. Meadow glanced at herself one last time in the mirror before making her way outside. She stood in silence as she watched Heidi load her duffle bag into the trunk of the car. She suddenly met her brother's gaze as he turned to look at her. She rolled her eyes, shaking her head at him as she turned away slightly.

"Come on moody meadow! Lighten up!" He teased with a chuckle. Meadow gritted her teeth, shaking her head at her him repeatedly.

"I'm not 6 anymore! Stop calling me that!" She snapped back at him. He threw his hands up in defeat, waving them at her slightly as he chuckled quietly to himself.

"Alright! Alright!" He chuckled before climbing into the driving seat of his car. Riley took the empty slot at their dad's company firm. The job was never offered to Meadow. She wasn't even made aware of it till Riley announced it 3 months down the line at yet another campaign dinner with family. Meadow turned to hug Heidi goodbye, holding her tightly against her for comfort before finally letting go and climbing into the backseat of his car. Meadow waved goodbye at her through the window as they began to drive away. She shifted around in her seat for a few minutes before finally getting comfortable, she stared quietly out the window as they drove towards Declan's house. Riley adjusted his rear view mirror to be able to see Meadow in his sight.

"So-"

"You don't have to make conversation, let's just get there." Meadow interrupted as she continued to stare out the window. Riley sighed quietly to himself as he kept his focus on the road ahead. Meadow took a glance over at him in the drivers seat before getting a slight glimpse at Tonya sitting in the seat beside him fixated on her phone screen. Riley met her at a company party when he first joined the job. She was a plus one to one of his colleagues, she works at a famous wedding planning company. Just like every other girl in that branch she was completely fixated on looks over everything else. As far as she can remember her and Meadow have never really had a full conversation. There's no bad blood between the two, they're both just two different people. Meadow exhaled deeply as they pulled up outside Declan's house. The two hadn't spoken since the date. Date is a strong word for what that night was. It was just sex. That's all their relationship has been for a long while. Riley climbed out the car to help Declan with his bags. Meadow avoided looking at him as he walked past, she stared down silently at his lap. Tonya looked up from her screen the first time the entire ride, taking a glance in the rear view mirror to see Meadow staring down at her lap.

"If you aren't happy there's no point sitting in silence. It's gunna hurt you both." She announced, Meadow slowly lifted her head to see her reflection in the mirror. She was perfect. Like a model almost.

"I- It's not- We're fine.." She lied before avoiding her gaze again. She knew her lie wasn't convincing anyone but she didn't have the energy to fight it right now. Getting this BBQ and meal over with was all that mattered. Tonya simply sighed, looking back towards her phone, swiftly ending the only interaction the two will only have this weekend. Declan climbed into the seat beside her, Meadow couldn't look at him. Riley climbed back into the drivers, starting up the car before driving away. Declan slowly reached out his hand, resting it gently on Meadow's knee. It doesn't feel the same as it used to. Meadow turned her head to smile at him weakly before reluctantly placing her hand on top of his.

The car pulled up into the driveway, there were already cars parked outside the house. Expensive cars. The type of cars someone like Jeffrey Besos would own 10 of. Meadow waited for everyone else to exit the car before she climbed out and followed everyone to the trunk of the car to grab their bags. Meadow pulled her duffle bag from the trunk, adjusting the mini backpack sitting on her back as she stood in silence staring up at the house. A cape cod mansion. Her childhood home. Declan crept up behind her, his duffle bag flung over his left shoulder as he took her hand in his. Meadow took a quick deep breath as she entwined her fingers with his. Meadow felt her body tense up as she watched the huge double doors fly open, her mom stood in a tight black dress that hugged her figure along with a white blazer to match, her expensive high heels making her look taller. It was clear she'd had her make up done professionally just for this occasion. Her long black hair was tied up neatly in a tight bun at the back of her head. She threw her arms out towards Riley as he approached her.

"Hey mom!" He said with a smile as he accepted the embrace. Riley was good at putting on a brave face. He'd been doing it his whole life. She hugged him close but not close, she was still keeping it professional in front of her family. Meadow shook her head at them as she finally let go of him, turning her focus over towards Meadow. Meadow noticed her mom look her up and down repeatedly for a moment before making eye contact with her. Her mom put on her usual fake smile, clearing her throat for a moment.

"Meadow." She said in a flat tone of voice.

"Mom." Meadow replied in the same tone of voice.

"Your dress is very....you." She commented with a fake smile on her face. Meadow exhaled deeply through her nose at her. She watched her welcome everyone inside as she quietly followed behind, leading the way upstairs to her bedroom. She threw her duffle bag onto her bed, glancing round at the bare emptiness of everything. There was a pile of cardboard boxes piled up in the corner, only very few photos left hanging on the wall as well as some sitting on her dresser. Her bed had been freshly made before she even arrived. She rolled her eyes in frustration as Declan came up behind her, resting his hand on her lower back as he tossed his bags onto the bed. He spun her round to face him, Meadow gazed into his eyes as she rested her hands on his shoulders.

"It's gunna be okay babe." He said with a smile. Meadow shook her head at him, stepping away to sit on the edge of her bed.

"I already wanna go home.." She complained with a heavy sigh, resting her head in her hands. Declan rolled his eyes in response.

"I haven't eaten yet so I'm gunna grab food while it's good. Come join me when you're ready." He announced before disappearing out her room and downstairs to the garden. Meadow shook her head as she rubbed her temple in frustration.

"This is gunna be a long fucking weekend." She said out loud to herself as she threw herself back onto her bed, staring up at the ceiling above her.