This was not our plan.

Ch 16: Eavesdropping

Unedited lol

Cleo's POV

"Just drop it please. You know part of my job requires me to keep the objects found on the scene, and god fucking forbid I wanted to make sure he didn't hurt Maddie!"

My words came out faster than I could think and before I could even retract them, I felt my mothers hand harshly land across my face.

My mother looked at me in offense. "Who do you think you're speaking to like this?" She said, her accent coming out strongly which let me know she was really angry.

The stinging on my face brought tears to my eyes.

I didnt even know what I was feeling right now. I can't blame her from slapping me like that, the way I spoke was uncalled for.

But she will never understand how I feel and have felt since Maddie died. My mother will never know what I've gone through for Maddie and this family.

And it's best to keep it that way.

After staring at me for a moment she threw her heads up and muttered some curses in Italian before turning away into the living room.

I took a breath to collect myself, and remembered that my girlfriend and Fiona were waiting in the living room and sighed.

If there were one thing keeping my world turning on its axis right now, it's Fallon.

Before I joined them however, I quickly needed some fresh air so I didn't kick start a panic attack I knew wouldn't stop.

Walking onto my parents porch, I leaned onto the ledge of the gate facing the road and hung my head. Hearing the the front door to the house open I jumped a little and turned to see Stefani.

Turning my head back towards the road, she stepped beside me and copied my stance.

"You okay?" Stef asked, her tone letting me know she most likely heard the argument or could tell something was off.

Stef I being dumb as rocks when it comes to crime scene stuff, I wasn't worried about her hearing anything. She wouldn't be able to piece things together.

"Yeah, yeah I'm good." I replied, genuinely trying to sound like I didn't just get my ass handed to me.

Stefani scoffed and laughed. "I love that you still think you can shut me out like that."

I turned to look at her, she was smiling empathetically and put her hand on my shoulder.

"Are you gonna talk about it or should I search some clubs at 1am tonight for a blacked out Cleo Atwood?" Stefani joked, causing me to roll my eyes.

"No.. I'm good. Plus, I don't do that stuff anymore." I replied.

"Right, right. You got little miss pretty face now. By the way, found her in the hallway earlier. Think she might've been eavesdropping." Stefani said casually, before hearing my dad call us in for dinner.

"What?" I said after a moment, but Stefani was already walking inside the house.

I took a shaky breath and followed after her.

When I got inside I saw Fiona happily sitting next to my dad who was talking her ear off, Stefani helped my mom bring whatever the hell she cooked to the table.

Fallon wasn't around.

"Where's Fallon?" I asked, prompted my mom to look at me. She barely made eye contact before returning her focus to the dish she held.

"She's out back. Said she'd come inside in a bit." Stefani replied when my mom wouldn't.

I sighed and walked out back and saw Fallon with her arms hugging each other, she was clearly chilly since it wasn't exactly warm outside.