I Know What You're Thinking

Chapter 3

As soon as the day is over, I rush off the bus and into my house. My neighbours have no kids and work late and my parents aren't home either. 

Yay! Silence and serenity. 

You know, I don't think people who can't read minds actually appreciate silence as much as they should. What I wouldn't give just to not be able to read minds.

You're probably asking if it has its positives.

Not really. The only one I can think of is control.

No not mind control. I cannot do that.

I mean control over my life. I hate not being in control. Since I know what everyone is thinking, I can predict what they are going to do. There is no suspense. There is no surprise.

You might be thinking that my life sounds dull.

Truthfully, it's the only thing keeping me together.

I curl up into a ball on the couch and sit in the silence of my lounge room. A lone tear rolls down my face. People really don't appreciate silence as much as they should. 

I don't know why i'm crying. Maybe it's relief. Maybe it's fear. Maybe my parents are right and I truly am depressed. Thats a possibility with a very high chance of proving true. I don't know what I want to do, but I know it isn't sit here. I should do my homework, but I don't want to do that either. 

I end up lying on the floor with my cat Ollie sitting on my stomach. 

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I don't know when I fell asleep, but I must have because I woke up to my mother yelling in my face. "CORDELIA! WAKE UP! ARE YOU DEAD? CORDELIA WAKE UP!" She shook my shoulder multiple times before yelling again. "CORDELI- Oh you're awake. You must have just been asleep. Get up." She announces before walking away again.

No 'How was your day?'. No 'Are you ok?' No 'We better get you checked just in case you fainted and hit your head.'

Just a smidge of concern that vanished the second I opened my eyes.

I sit up and rub my eyes. Ollie rolls off of my stomach and onto the floor, yowling at me when he lands. "Sorry kitty." I say and he nudges my arm, before running off. I stand to my feet and wander up the stairs to my room. I check the time. It's 5:00. My father still isn't home, which is weird. I scan my mum's thoughts to see if there is anything going on.

Of course I have to cook dinner tonight. That lump isn't home yet. 
Well that's not all that helpful. I already know he's not home.

Oh a text message.
This could be helpful?

THAT STUPID IDIOT!
Yep that message was certainly from my father.

Hmm what should I reply? How about 'IF YOU NEED SPACE THEN MOVE OUT. I DON'T WANT TO DEAL WITH YOUR STUFF BEING HERE IF YOU'RE NOT. EITHER GET BACK HERE NOW OR DON'T STEP FOOT IN MY HOUSE AGAIN!
Oh dear.

It seems that Dad is not coming home tonight. 

Well he might due to mum's threats.

What do you think?

Who do you think is right?

I barely even know what they started fighting over in the first place.

Whatever it is, I think it is the reason we moved here.

Ooh another interesting thought from my mum.

It's all his fault we're here. I loved it where we used to live. All of my friends were there. If he's going to drag me into this mess he made, he should clean it up himself. Not my fault he got into trouble with the bloody cops.

This is news. I didn't know Dad got into trouble with the police. I wonder what he did.

What do you think?

Do you think he'll go to jail?

I won't go to jail will I?

I don't even know what he did. I need to calm down. I also need to figure out what he did. I'll ask mum. 

I tiptoe down the stairs, before almost running into my mum. "Cordelia. I need to talk to you." She smiles and pats my hair.

"I need to talk to you too." I reply, confused and she continues to play with my hair. She hasn't done that since I was little.

"Goodie." She waves for me to follow her as she strolls into the kitchen. What is she doing? Why is she acting like this?

"What do you need to talk to me about?" I ask and Mum's face darkens.

"You're father."

"What about him?"

"Well Cordi. This will probably be hard for you to hear. The truth is, you're dad and I have been having lots of arguments, but don't worry none of them are about you." She speaks softly. She hasn't spoken to me like this in ages.

"I know you've been arguing." I say, matter of factly.

"Sorry about that darling. Well, your dad isn't going to be coming back her tonight. He says he wants some space." She continues to smile pitifully. She is acting very weird.

"Where is he?"

"I don't know. At some co-workers house. Well, it seems that me and your father might be splitting up." She says, her voice cracking as she speaks. 

"Oh." Is all I can utter.

"I know it's hard darling, I know it means that we'll probably move into different houses but you will have both of our support with whatever you choose to do." She wraps me in a hug. "Ok?"

"Ok." I whisper, then turn and sprint up the stairs.

A/N

What do you think Cordi's dad did?

Thank you so much for reading!

Have a great day!

- blue_budgie52