Unlikely Conditions

Chapter 13

"Mrs. Ainsley, how do you intend on improving things in this town?" One of the reporters asked. Meadow watched quietly from the bench in the far end of the garden. Her mom pondered for a moment before looking back at them with her usual fake professional smile.

"I would start by knocking down eyesores of this town such as the broken down apartment complex on the East Side. The entire East Side of town needs refurbishments." She announced, Meadow narrowed her brows in a frown as she listened to her. That was the same apartment complex Keegan lives in. She rolled her eyes at her response as Iris quietly sat down beside her with a cigarette between her fingers.

"She's once again make false promises to get her way. She's done that same tactic since she was a kid." Iris commented as she put the cigarette between her lips, she inhaled for a moment before taking it from between her lips to allow the smoke to escape. Meadow sighed to herself for a moment.

"I have a...friend that lives in those apartments she wants to knock down.." She added, Iris turned to look at her with concern. She wanted to pry further but she knew it wasn't her place to do so.

"There's no guarantee she's gunna go through with her promise, besides she has to be successfully elected first. I don't keep up with the polls but I heard her complaining about the numbers earlier." Iris reassured her. Meadow took a quick glance over at her mom before turning her head towards Iris. Iris smiled back at her before putting out her cigarette in the ashtray on the arm of the bench.

"Are you staying for the meal tomorrow?" She asked to change the subject. Iris exhaled deeply as she nodded in response.

"Sadly for me yes, she wanted me to invite a date but I haven't been in a relationship with anyone in 2 years. Too much hassle." She chuckled back at her as Meadow nervously chuckled in response. Iris caught a glimpse of her sister glaring over at her briefly.

"That's my sign to go, catch you later sunflower."

"Bye.." Meadow called back at her as she watched her walk away.

"What do you plan to do about the rise in gang attacks?" One of the reporters asked. Meadow felt her heart sink for a moment, clutching her dress tightly in her hands as she watched them quietly.

"As you're aware there has been eye witnesses to the lead perpetrators of these crimes. I trust our police system to hunt them down and put an end to these horrendous crimes. For the future of this town I will have police cars constantly on stand by in more...rural areas such as the East Side." She announced. Meadow gritted her teeth for a moment before looking back at them. She made eye contact with her mom for a moment before she turned her focus back towards the reporters. She got to her feet as she made her way past her to enter the kitchen, making her way towards the living room, taking a seat on the sofa to pull out her phone and read through her texts between her and Keegan. She felt a smile creep onto her face as her eyes danced across the screen.

"Who you texting?" Tonya asked as she entered the room. Meadow quickly pressed her phone against her chest as Tonya stood in front of her. She let out a small sigh of relief as she pulled her phone away.

"Just..a friend.." Meadow stuttered as Tonya sat beside her, leaning back with her arms folded across her chest. Meadow turned over her phone, laying it face down on her lap with a sigh. Tonya looked her up and down for a second before turning to look at the family photos scattered across the walls.

"Just a friend?" She pried as Meadow sat in silence for a moment before nodding slowly in response. Tonya turned to look back at Meadow with curiosity.

"She's just a friend. My mom wants to knock down her apartment complex.." Meadow added with a sigh. Tonya let out a minor chuckle.