Vita

Chapter Twenty

I sneak back into my house around midnight, shutting the door quietly so Aunt Gracelyn wouldn't hear, but she was already standing in the foyer. Her arms crossed and her long dirty blonde hair pulled up in a high ponytail. Her freckles danced across her nose, and her dark brown eyes glared at me.

"You had me worried sick, Eleanor."

"I'm sorry, I should've called," I mumble.

"Yes, you should've, and therefore I am grounding you for a month. You may not leave this house unless for school or if I give you special permission. And don't think I'll let my guard down. I'm an angel you know," she scowls.

"I'm sorry," I repeat, "there just has been a lot going on and-" I pause not knowing how to approach the topic of Levi and Isaiah.

"And?" she asks, her position relaxing.

"And Levi might be ending things with me because of a stupid mistake I made, and," I break down crying, "I just don't know what I'm supposed to do when I'm in love with two different people, auntie."

"Oh, Eleanor," she comes over to me and hugs me, "I've never been good at this parenting stuff, but I do know where you're coming from. Being in love with two different people is a hard thing, but in the end it will be alright and you'll know. It might take a day, a month, or even years before you know, but I promise you, you'll know."

"And if Levi does break up with me?" I mumble into her shoulder.

"If he breaks up with you then you might know. It depends, but don't worry about that. I just want you to go to school, and have fun with your friends, okay?"

"Okay, but that's the other problem- my best friend is in love with one of the boys I love, and I don't want her to get hurt because of me. I never wanted anyone to get hurt," I whisper.

"I never wanted anyone hurt either, Eleanor," she whispers under her breath. I assume she means losing her sister and her brother-in-law, and now she's worried I'm hurt too.