Stolen Kisses, Pretty Lies

~Chapter 22~

Shock was quickly replaced by anger as I stared at the woman before me. My mother got out of her seat and approached, despite my step backward. I looked down at the bracelet around my wrist, the one she'd given to me.

When she'd left I'd figured it would be the last time. And I was okay with that. I loved my dad, and it was her decision to leave the family anyway, so why should she deserve anything but frustration from me?

"Oh, Eighty, my darling girl," her arms wrapped around me. I pushed her away, a flicker of shock rising on her face.

"What are you doing here?" I demanded, looking at my dad questioningly.

"She's on a work trip, asked if she could pop back in to say hello," he smiled, getting up and standing next to the stranger in my house.

"Pop back in?" Disbelief dripped from my tone. "She lost her privileges to pop back in when she decided to leave us in the first place!" I blinked haze from my vision.

"I was in a bad place, darling, surely you can-"

"Just stop. I- I need to go," I backed away from the kitchen, before hurrying upstairs and slamming the door to my room.

Out of all the things I'd expected, this was the last. It had been 7 years since I had seen her last, and suddenly she was just here?

It was astounding to me that they thought I'd just accept it, after all this time.

I ripped the bracelet from my wrist and tossed it onto my dresser, wondering why I even kept it on for so long in the first place.

Charms bounced and I realised I'd broken the shitty metal clasp, it's worth showing now more than ever.

I stared at the broken bracelet, my chest rising and falling as I slowly registered everything that had happened.

A stab of remorse struck me. The memento had been of some importance to me, even if the person it was linked to wasn't someone I cared an awful lot about.

I'd predicted for this afternoon not to go well, I just didn't know it would be like this. I only wanted one person right now, and there was a very limited chance I'd be able to talk to her. Despite this, I needed to talk to someone. I needed it to be Midnights and I had to try.

I pulled my phone out of my pocket and kicked my shoes off, pulling my feet up to the edge of the bed and resting my chin between my knees. I sent Midnights a text, and then waited. I waited some more, staring at the phone screen and the little lone blue bubble that was my message. Eventually I gave up and tossed my phone behind me, laying down on my side with a huff.

I yawned. I was tired, very, actually. I'd been running on steam for the past week or so, and it was taking it's toll.

My eyes began to flutter shut. A nap did sound nice, now that I properly contemplated it.

Just as I began to succumb to overwhelming fatigue, something knocked my window with a loud thunk. I heaved myself up, brows furrowed with confusion.

Then I sighed as I recognised the further just outside my window. I tugged the window open and she clambered into my room, kicking off her chunky black boots and then settling herself on my bed.

"Sup."

"What are you doing, Rep?" I raised my eyebrow, secretly grateful for her spontaneous arrival.

"I dunno, I was bored," she shrugged.

I nodded slowly, giving her a sideways glance. "And Lover was unavailable?"

"Damn just say you hate me," Reputation grabbed a pair of old sunglasses off my desk and put them on, looking at me through them.

"I'm kinda like... in the middle of something? So..."

She looked around, "doesn't really look like it."

I sighed. "My mum is here."

Reputation's jaw dropped and she pulled the sunglasses off, "no way."

"Yeah! She just showed up!"

"Dude, that's like, so uncool."

"I know!" Yeah, I was glad Rep was here. "And my dad is like, supporting it too?"

"Really? Man I thought he was a real one."

I nodded and sat back. We exchanged a look for a moment.

"I'm assuming Moony already knows?" Reputation conjured a packet of chips from somewhere and opened it, pulling out a chip and crunching on it.

I shook my head. "No, it literally happened like half an hour ago and I can't contact her. And don't call her that. Can you stop eating those- you'll get crumbs everywhere."

"That's quite the honour, thank you," she ignored the last part and put another chip in her mouth, the crunch grinding my gears.

I stared at the packet, slightly disgusted.

"You want some?" she offered, mouth full.

"No... definitely not," I wrinkled my nose.

"Should've guessed," Reputation replied simply, crumpling the rubbish in her hands as she finished.

I frowned. "What?"

The girl shrugged. "I haven't seen you eat anything for like ten years and anybody who looks at you can see it."

My face flushed and throat tightened at her brutal, straightforward honesty. "I... eat."

"I mean, I don't believe that for a second, but sure," she tossed the packet into my bin, the wrapper landing inside. "Swish. I'm not stupid, Nine. You literally fainted the other day. I can recommend a therapist?"

"What? No!"

"I'm so serious man, it's easier when you can acknowledge that you've got a problem," Rep shrugged.

"I don't have a problem!" I replied shrilly, beginning to spiral. My control over this whole thing was unravelling faster than I could manage.

"Okay, chill. But if we're going to be fair, you were all over me when I was zebra cosplaying, so I should be allowed to mention this." She put the sunglasses back on, which wasn't helping.

Zebra cosplay? Jesus Christ. I rolled my eyes. "Why can't I have one conversation anymore that doesn't bring this up!"

"Oh, I know, so dramatic of everyone. Not like it's life threatening or something," she drawled sarcastically, picking at her nail polish.

I groaned. "Just stop."

"Fine, fine. I need to go now anyway. But I'm taking the sunnies," she slid the window open much easier than I had and stepped out, holding onto the windowsill as she found her footing on the roof tiles. "Been a nice catchup, Nine! I'll text you my old therapist's number."

I watched as she worked her way down to the ground before calling back up, "She's nice!" and then walking away.

I looked out the window for a moment. I felt like shit, to sum up the tidal waves of multiple emotions. A shadow caught my eye and I looked back down to see Rep, yet again.

"I forgot my shoes! Can you chuck 'em down?"

~~

Last update before school goes back nooooo omg lowercase o's look like olives

(Unedited)