Definitely, Maybe

Chapter 2 - The Box of Reminisciences

"Have you heard?"

"I know, I can't believe it!"

"Apparently he's really rich now!"

"I heard he owns, like, five companies!"

The mindless, unnecessary chatter spread around the lecture hall like wildfire. I didn't know what they were talking about, nor did I want to. I rolled my eyes at the immaturity of my fellow university students as I walked in and sat down by myself, desperate to distance myself from gossipers.

As I waited for the lecture to start, I smoothed back my hair, which was, as usual, in a tight, neat ponytail. My face was free of makeup, and my clothes were sensible and unprovocative; no wild colours, of course, only beige. Nobody really cared how we dressed, but Mother and Father insisted.

I smiled as my best and only friend waltzed flawlessly into the class, with her bouncy curls flowing behind her. Anne was always very happy; I admired her for always seeing the bright side of things when I couldn't do it myself. She sat down next to me, with the usual big smile on her face which always managed to brighten my day. Tossing her long, blonde curls over her shoulder, she turned to me.

"What is the rumour flying around today, then?" She asked me, gesturing to the gossip with a smirk on her face.

I simply shrugged, letting her know I wasn't interested in the daily rumours of our lecture hall. She nodded and looked to the gossipers curiously, who were starting to get on my nerves.

Just before I blocked them out with my earphones, a few words that I had managed to grasp from their chatter made me freeze. I could feel all the blood drain from my face, as my stomach twisted into an uncomfortable knot, making me feel as if my breakfast would come up. I didn't know how to react to those words. I didn't know if it was just a rumour, or if the gossip coming from my lecture hall actually had an element of truth to it. Either way it brought up fragile memories that made me want to both laugh and cry. I couldn't comprehend those words, as much as I wanted to. For the rest of that lecture, those same words flew around in my head helplessly.

"Alex Hunt is back."

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"So, Eleanor, how was your lecture?"

My father asked me later that same day. I looked up at him briefly, only to see an unreadable expression on his face. Father never asked me how my lectures went.

"Fine." I lied.

I couldn't concentrate knowing there was a slight possibility that he was back in town. I knew I wasn't a good liar, so I kept my head down, refusing to meet my father's intuitive eyes.

"Did you see Christian today?" He asked, calmly.

It was unusually calm, almost too calm for my Father. I wanted to roll my eyes at my father's question, but I managed to refrain.

"No, he's been working." I said before cutting up a piece of chicken and putting it into my mouth.

I looked towards my mother, who looked slightly nervous. I was confused; why were they acting this way? I ignored it and carried on eating, but not without feeling a weird atmosphere around me. After a few minutes of eating, with the only sounds of knives and forks hitting the plates, my father put his cutlery on his plate, showing that he had finished his food. He pushed his plate forward, and put his elbows on the table, intertwining his hands together in front of him.

"Eleanor," My dad started to speak before taking a sideways glance at my mother, who looked back at him in the same way.

So many things were running through my mind as to why my parents were acting so aloof, and the only logical explanation was the one I didn't want to believe. Were my parents splitting up? I couldn't believe this. Why would they split up? Was it because of me? Who would I live with? Before any more questions could make their way into my mind, my father interrupted my thoughts. "