CHAPTER 2: EDEN -- Ten Years Ago

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"Just quit fussing over her, Maria," My Father hissed backwards at us from the drivers seat. 

"Elias," My Mother countered, her hands still pulling at my hair as she shot daggers at him with her eyes in the rearview. "She needs to look beautiful, did you forget where we're going?" 

"No, I didn't," He sighed. "But she's not your doll for Christ's sake, she's our daughter." 

She snorted, shifting her attention back down towards me, her eyes narrowing as she took in my appearance for herself. 

She had to be happy with how I looked, right? 

She was the one who dressed me tonight after all. 

Even if I did look a bit more like a ballerina than I'd like to admit; the sequinned white dress she had chosen had incorporated tulle at the bottom that jutted out similarly to that of a tutu -- appearing as if we were going to a recital, to spite my inability to dance. 

"Dad?" I squeaked out after a moment, still holding her persecuting gaze. 

"Yes, sweetheart?" 

"Where are we going?" I frowned, finally pawing away my Mothers hands from my hair. 

No one had actually told me yet where we were headed, other than saying something about some fancy party. 

Maybe a birthday party?

That would be nice. We'd only been living here now for about a month, and I hadn't had the opportunity to really explore much or make friends, seeing as though school didn't start for another month or so. 

Summer in Wallace was nice though, so I didn't mind not being in school. There was lots to explore still, and the warmth of the summer air made being outside much more appealing, even in a place where I was unfamiliar with my surroundings. 

"We're going to meet the De Muro's, honey," He said after a moment, stealing a glance at me in the rearview. 

De Muro's? 

"Who?" I asked, turning my head to look out the window. We weren't anywhere near a residential area by the looks of it -- trees surrounded both sides of us, and the road although paved, was littered with tiny stones and cracks in the asphalt. 

"The De Muro's," He repeated again. "Enzo De Muro is Chief of the Police here, and I was fortunate enough to escape a speeding ticket from him yesterday." 

I laughed. Of course he did. 

"Elias!" My Mother barked from beside me, having fully shifted herself to face forward. 

I stilled, glancing over at her. It was like she couldn't even look at me when I wasn't dressed to the nines. 

But why? 

Even in the backseat of our car today, on the way to meet whoever, she wouldn't stop fussing with my outfit and hair -- like I wasn't good enough for her. 

"What?" My Father retorted, a smile playing at his full lips. "Don't act like you don't have a heavy foot, too." 

I smiled back up at him in the rearview, having lost my train of thought. 

"Well," My Mother opened her mouth to argue, but quickly shut it, a tight smile working its way across her face. 

"Gotcha there," He laughed. "But besides all that, we're about to pull up. Remember, Eden, be polite please." 

"When am I not?" I replied, cocking a brow and crossing my arms over my chest. 

My Mother huffed from beside me, while my Father couldn't help but smile at me in the mirror. 

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