𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐍𝐨 𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐞 ~ 𝐇𝐚𝐲𝐛𝐞𝐤𝐚𝐡

13. Seeming Sanctuary

AS Hayley entered the dinning room, she saw Chloe had taken the end seat, leaving open both the right and left side.

Going to pull out the chair on the right, Hayley was stopped by Rebekah who slid right down in the seat.

She boasted with sarcasm, "Aw, Hayley, you didn't have to get my seat ready for me!"

Annoyed, Hayley huffed and meandered about as Lainey took the seat on the left side, leaving a chair open for her husband. This left Hayley with no choice but to take the seat next to Rebekah.

As she sat, she noticed the blonde girl smirking whilst shaking her head. In response, Hayley tutted and rolled her eyes.

Lainey prepared her utensils, "I'm wondering if we should've ordered dinner. I hope this is okay for you girls."

"It's perfect!" Rebekah enthused, "Actually, rather convenient, I don't think I could handle another order of ramen."

Hayley snorted, "Well maybe if you hadn't of eaten enough for a family of five."

Rebekah side eyed the girl. Lainey glanced over at her daughter.

"Chloe, could you not be on your phone while we're eating together, please?"

Chloe kept her head down, having not heard what was just said to her. Rebekah placed a hand on her shoulder, "Chloe."

She was startled slightly, looking at Rebekah, who tilted her head to the side, "Your mum was talking to you."

"Yes?"

"I was only asking that you refrain from being on your phone while we eat."

"Oh! Yeah, no, not a problem. I had a text from someone at school asking about a project." Chloe slid the phone in her back pocket.

Just as Chloe was putting away her device, her father had come back from upstairs, "Pardon my delay, lads! Those emails will soon be the death of me."

"You're right on time," Lainey started, "Come dig in while the food's hot!"

"And partially burnt." Chloe added under her breath.

As Mr. Delanoy joined the rest of the girls at the table, he took notice of Hayley.

"My God, Hayley, I didn't see you when you came in! How have you been doing?" He extended his hand to shake hers.

"Oh no worries about it, Tom...Thomas!" Hayley shook his hand, "I've been hanging in there, I guess, mostly just sleep deprived." She laughed it off.

Thomas smiled, "College life, right? Tell me about it, you know you're doing it right when grabbing coffee becomes more important than arriving on time!"

This earned a smile from Hayley, "Every day, it's my daily dose of medicine."

Thomas cut into his slice of lasagna, "And how are you all doing on your studies? Anything exciting in particular going on at campus?"

Chloe opened her mouth to speak but quickly recognized that Rebekah was all too eager to answer as well. Chuckling, Chloe let Rebekah take the floor.

"I'm sorry, Cheugy." Rebekah consoled.

"It's okay!" Chloe laughed out.

"Well," Rebekah began, perfecting her posture, "It's going swimmingly. This semester, I've been enhancing my knowledge on speaking German! It was quite difficult at first, however I stayed the course and I've moved up to the B2 category!"

"Impressive!" Lainey applauded.

"That takes massive talent and extreme amounts of patience as well as focus, Thomas added, "Keep doing what you're doing and you'll become fluent sooner than you'd believe!"