Mystery Girl

Chapter 11

Chapter 11

*Alana's POV*

Uggh. My wretched mother again. Of course she didn't really care, she just didn't want people to think that. She wanted to show that she was a loving, kind, caring mother. The women was the complete opposite. She had no regard for me, or my wellbeing. Usualyy I tried to act completely normal about my mother, but River already knew everything, so what was the point?

"Alana? Are you ok?" River asked, snapping me out of my thoughts. I flashed the best smile I could manage, nodding. "I'm fine, it's just…you know…me and my mum…we're not exactly on good terms." I looked down at my fingers tweedling my thumbs, it was a habit I had formed, whenever I was nervous, or embarassed or scared, I would look down and tweedling my thumbs. As if watching their "conflict" would make me feel any better. Obviously River wasn't buying my I'm fine act, because he gave me an uneasy stare, like I had an eye on my forehead or something. I mechanically reached for my coffee and started sipping it, trying to get rid of the blanket of tension that had set. After a few sips, River copied. Sipping at his coffee.

Neither of us spoke, we just sat and drank coffee, looking in opposite directions. I wonder what he was thinking? I really wanted to know what it was that made River do the job he does. I wondered how hard it was for him to watch people suffer. I shook the thoughts, knowing that I was causing him some sort of trouble. Some sort of unease. I knew that he was worried.

As if on cue, my mother walked through the door. She first glared at me, then at River. Only then did I notice our proximity. Our hands, so close, yet not touching. I jerked up straight, River seemed to notice the movement and snapped his head up to me, then moving to see my mother. He immediately scrambbled to his feet, he rushed to my mother and held out his hand, "Uhhh…Mrs Wells…I'll leave you and Alana alone…I-I'll see you later then." When my mother didn't take his hand, he retrieved it, looking somewhat worried. He nodded at my mum, "Mrs Wells.", then at me, "Alana." He gave me a sad little smile. I smiled and nodded at him in return, before he turned to the door and disappeared down the hallway.

When River was gone, my mother slowly started to approach me. She didn't look remorseful, or worried, or even happy. She just looked…cold. Instead of sitting on the edge of the bed, like River did, she pulled up a chair, sat and crossed her legs. No one spoke for several moments. We just glared at eachother. I was about to say something when she started, "Alana," she said my name unaffectionately, "What happened?" She asked as if it were out of curtesy rather than curiosity.

Without smiling, or hand motions, I recounted what had happened, adding in what River told me had happened.The entire time, she stayed emotionless, unreadable, just plain…proffessional. You'd think that, even if it was out of curtesy, she'd treat her daughter with some respect. She snorted and turned her nose up at me, "Pathetic," I heard her whisper. Before I could get up and connect my fist with her face, she continued, "You are a disgrace to our family, and a disgrace to yourself." She slowly stood up. She really was pure evil. I sat up a little straighter, biting back tears and keeping myself from exploding. I nodded and simply said, "Just leave." She snorted again, and started to the door. Clack. Clack. Clack. I absolutely despise that sound of heels on the ground. She twisted the handle, pulled the door, come on hurry up and leave, I thought. She took one step, then another. When she was in the doorframe, she twisted around and whispered, Disgrace." Then stalked out of the room. The door slowly clicked shut again. When I saw she was gone, I started sobbing. What a horrible excuse for a human being. The tears kept running down my cheeks. I tried several times to stop my tears, but they just kept coming. So eventually I just stopped trying and let them come as they will.

I heard the door knob turn. I looked up to see who it was, but my eyes were still blurry with tears. The figure moved quickly to me and sat beside me. I felt an arm around my shoulders. The gentle breathing of the person. I turned and cried into his chest. I heard his voice whisper into my ear, "It will be ok Alana. Shhhh. Stop crying. It's ok."

After about 5 minutes my started running dry. I wiped the remaining moisture from my eyes and pulled back from River's embrace. He looked at me with sadness and question evident in his eyes. I swallowed hard and spoke up, "I'm ok. It-it's just that…well my mum…she…uhhh." I started trailing off. Not knowing what to say. River shushed me and just wrapped his arms around me again, tighter. I closed my eyes and breathed in. I never noticed before, but his smell was comforting…sweet. I'm pretty sure that sounded really creepy, but it's true. It was like a mix of cinnamon and peppermint. I pulled away again and tried to pull my thoughts together to form sentences. I looked out the window, then back into River's eyes. His blue eyes were so clear today. Like the sky.

Snap out of it Alana. I blinked a few times to clear my head. River cocked his head to the side, furrowing his eyebrows and looking at me with confusion written on his face, "Alana? Are you ok?"

I blinked a few more times then straightened up and stammered, "Uhh-uhhh, yeah I'm fine." I gave my head a slight shake and started tweedling my thumbs again.

"Alana, why do you do that?" I looked up at him in confusion, "D-do what?"

He furrowed his eyebrows again, gee was that cute. No Alana. Shut up. Snap out of it. "The-the finger thing. You know, you look down, join your hands and play with your thumbs. Why is that?"

I started panicing, should I tell him that it was because I was nervous? No of course not Alana. Don't be stupid. Make something smart up. "Ohhh-idk…I guess it's just a habit." I unjoined my hands. River still looked unconvinced. Real smooth Alana. Real smooth.

*River's POV*

Why does she do that? Play with her thumbs. Am I making her nervous? Does she think that I'm being snoopy? I shook the thought from my head. Don't worry about it River. everyone has habits. "A-anyway, what just happened? Between you and your mum? " I stammered. Even though I knew their meeting would not be pleasant, I did not think it would be so short either. Mrs Wells was pretty much in, then out. What had happened? Was she ready to talk? Regardless I needed to know.

She looked very cautious, about what she was about to say, "Uhh-nothing. She just said that she loved me and that stuff." She looked down at her thumbs again, then, as if she remembered something, she placed her hands back down and threw herself back so she was lying on the bed. I got up and pulled a chair over to her bedside. I spoke up, "Why do I not believe you Alana? why don't you trust me? I'm not the police? I'm not a doctor." She closed her eyes, "Look River, its complicated," a single tear rolled down her cheek, "I just…I just need time to think." She opened her eyes and looked at me. Her hazel eyes seemed empty. Like she was in another place. I nodded and stood up from my chair and walked over to the window. Staring at everything outside.

"Have I ever told you about my little brother Alana?" What are you doing River? I'd never talked about Elliot to anyone outside of my family before. What was getting in to me? I twisted my head slightly, just enough to see a slight shake of head, on Alana's part. "Well, he…he committed suicide a couple of years ago." I looked down at the window pane, I leaned my hands on them. Trying to steady myself. I shut my eyes, but it was too late, the memories came flooding back. He was so young. Tears started streaming down my face. 

I heard Alana's feet connect with the floor, then her quiet footsteps coming toward me, getting louder and louder. I heard her pull up a chair and sit. I didn't open my eyes, I just couldn't. "Do you want to tell me about him?" Alana's quiet voice came. 

I swallowed hard, to get rid of the lump that had formed in my throat. "He was only about your age. He was so funny, full of life. He was popular, and he was smart, good a t sport. I really don't understand why he did it. After all these years, I'm stil pondering," I opened my eyes and turned to Alana, "I'm telling you this, because I don't want you to end your life Alana. I understand that this hard for you right now, but it will get better. I'm telling you this because, Elliot, still had so much ahead of him. He had so much going for him, and yet he still did it. Alana, you are just like him. You have so much potential, and a writing career coming your way," A small smile appeared on her face, "and Alana, think of how much you'll affect your family. Elliot, I want you to learn from him." She slowly stood up and came my way, "Thank you for telling me about Elliot." She said, she wrapped her arms around my torso, burying her face in my chest. I wrapped my arms around her shoulders and whispered, "I don't want to lose you."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Little bit of a short chapter, but yeah, just an update for the people who want it. (lol i'm probably talking about my imaginary readers) So yeah, please VOTE, COMMENT AND FAN. Pretty please. Ok till next time,

-mickey