A Neighbouring Romance

30 - car rides

i missed u my loves! how are youuuu?

sorry for the delay, life has been a little hectic - my hamster died, i was kidnapped by the mafia (it is NOT like 365 i can tell u fo sho), anyways and then I got eaten by a whale and it was just so inconvenient. 

ugh anyways, i'm back <3

chapter 30

School comes and goes quickly, day by day passes without a single glance from Noah and with too many cutting remarks by Kara. Cami and Aaliyah bite back for the most part, but I just don't have it in me to argue with her.

I should never have kissed Noah that day.

Things feel topsy turvy, and I can't even stay excited for Christmas break, with the impending trip to the cabin looming over my head. The days go by so quickly and before I know it, we've packed and loaded up the car with a week's worth of luggage.

Mom is thrilled, and the color seems to have returned back to her skin a little and I stopped protesting days ago when she asked me to do this one thing for her.

How can I refuse my own mother?

"Before we leave-" I gasp out, having just rushed down the stairs after remembering. "I have to do something."

Mental images of the tree and all my pages of writing fill my mind. I kept forgetting about them, insistent on the fact that it didn't matter.

I can't risk it anymore, anyone could find them.

Mom tilts her head at me in curiosity before checking the time on her phone.

"Darling, we don't have time-"

"I'll be back in thirty- I promise! It's really important." I plead. "Aaliyah really needs me for something, and since we're not back until next week-" The lie rolls off my tongue with ease.

She raises her arms and tells me to hurry, and I practically run out of the doors to get outside.

I lied about Aaliyah. Truth is, I kept forgetting about all my pages of writing hidden away in the tree, and I should hide them away somewhere before it's too late. With the chance of Noah somehow deciding to visit – nostalgic or not – I couldn't risk it.

I take my eyes around the hollow tree, grasping sheets of paper and journals stacked on the makeshift shelves inside.

My phone buzzes in my pocket but I ignore it, knowing that they're waiting for me to get home. A few minutes pass in silence as I read the passages scribbled down over the years, eyes brimming in shock as I catch words that would tear a hole through any heart.

I finally shake away the feelings within and answer the phone.

"Hope, come home!" My dad's exasperated voice fills the line. "We've been waiting for so long."

I check the time and my eyes widen as I apologize, scrambling to leave the space. I tuck away the pages into my small bag, certain that I'll be able to hide them away as soon as I get home.

But when I arrive at home, everyone is outside, cars running and an impatient foot tapping on the ground as my dad eyes me warily.

"Sorry! Aaliyah needed me... anyways, just give me a few minutes and-"

"Hope, we're leaving now." He says, shaking his head as he opens the door for me to sit.

"Oh I just need my-"

"You have everything. Your mom checked."

"Just one second I need to go inside."

"No." He says firmly, checking the time on his watch. "You've kept everyone waiting, sweetheart." He adds, tilting his head to the blue car outside our house. Noah and Amanda are stood outside, closing the trunk with a loud thwack.