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Odessa finally went home. She didn't want to leave her mom alone. But she was scared to be there in case he was there. She came out of her room and looked around the living room, but he weren't there. "He's not here, honey." Her mom voiced her thoughts. Odessa looked into the kitchen and saw her sitting at the kitchen table, smoking. "You don't have to worry."
She took small steps into the dining area. "I thought you gave up smoking." She mentioned.
Thalia took another quick puff. "I just needed a stress reliever, is all." She excused. "Are you hungry?"
Odessa shook her head.
"Come sit down, honey."
She sat at the table across from her. Since her dad arrived, Odessa wasn't sure what to say. She wanted to ask how her mom was feeling, and ask if she was okay, but she selfishly didn't want to talk about it at all. She felt as if it was better to keep how she was feeling bottled up.
"How are you—"
"Are you okay?" They asked at the same time. They laughed in unison. "You always have been my twin." Said Thalia with a small chuckle.
Odessa smiled sadly. "I didn't mean to disappear. I just needed to think." She said barely above a whisper.
"It's okay, baby. I understand." Her mother nodded. She put out the cigarette. "Do you want to see him?"
She immediately shook her head. "No."
"Dess—"
"I can't, mom. I-I don't want to."
Thalia quickly reached across the table and put her hand over hers. "It's okay, honey. Don't get upset. I won't make you do anything you don't want to do. But I want you to know that it's okay if you do—"
"I don't." Odessa said again, slightly harsh. She didn't mean to. "Hailey invited me over for a pool party. I gotta get going."
She stood from the table and her mom frowned. "He doesn't live far from here, y'know?"
It hurt to see her mom so upset. So lost. Because there was a long period of time where Odessa had to see her go completely off the rails. They only had each other. But, like she said, she selfishly felt like she was on her own. She just wanted to get away.
When Eli walked into Hailey's backyard, he gasped. "Whoa, her backyard's huge." He let out and looked around the area with a dropped jaw.
"Yeah, her mom works at a huge company in the hills." Odessa explained.
Seeing the couple arrive, Hailey sat up from the pool chair and waved her hand. "Hello, my second favorite couple!" She shouted from across the pool.
