Challenger

I Found (pt.2)

*Elle*

The car comes crawling to a stop in front of my parents' house.
It's a tense moment, the moment before I break the news. The entire world goes quiet, the birds have stopped singing and the sun is hiding behind a layer of clouds.

I only brought Dallon with me to act as a buffer. You know when you have friends over and your parents don't yell at you as much because they don't want to look crazy in front of them, that's the logic behind this decision.

Climbing out I give Dallon a look of what can only be described as pure terror. I don't know why I'm so worried, or why having Dallon here made me feel better. But this is happening, and it's time to deal with it.

My parents are stopped in front of the doorway, their backs to us as they take in their house. It was clear that they were in shock, it's not like the house was completely bare, but it was obvious a few things were missing, namely the few things that I had taken with me when I moved.

"Don't be alarmed, I took the stuff" The words pour out of my mouth before I can stop them. I'm behind them, still on the gravel of the driveway though.

"So, we haven't been robbed?" My dad asks slowly turning as he drops his suitcase on the ground. He doesn't even look at me, his eyes glued on one thing, Dallon.

"Not technically" Dallon mutters, sending me a weird look, as if to say 'why is your father glaring at me'.

"Mum, Dad, this is my friend Dallon. He's been helping me move all of my stuff out" I wave over to him, and he smiles, not sure how to act. His hands find their way into his pockets and he stands deadly still.

"Move it out?" My mother looks at me confused, as if she couldn't understand the situation. Her eyes wide as she looks between Dallon and I, obviously already coming to her own conclusion.

"I live in the city now, it's easier for Uni" I explain. We all stand still in the hallway, my parents trying to comprehend what's happening, Dallon not understanding what's happening at all, and me; I'm not sure if they're glad or disappointed.

"If it makes things easier for you, then I guess it's okay" My dad says with a small smile. He breaks ranks beside mum, giving Dallon's hand a solid shake introducing himself "Peter"

He then looks at me, a large smile on his face. He was always the one to be excited to come home and see me.

Wrapping me in a hug, I smile a little. "If this is what you want to do, then I guess it's okay" he sighs. The soft material of his suit jacket presses against my face as I smile.

I can definitely say that I'm taken aback by their reaction. I would've thought they would be demanding that I move back into their house.

"We should have lunch in the city sometime this week" Mum looks between us all, her face betraying a small smile.

I look at Dallon and he nods encouragingly "But don't you..." I stop mid-sentence because I don't know what he actually does during the week.

"I'll be free" He looks at my parents, a small smile on his face.

"We'll see you then" My mother nods. I take this as our queue to leave. Shooting a small smile to my father I turn around, walking back the way we came, Dallon following closely.

The wind shoots through the trees now, meaning a storm is coming. The heavy clouds roll in as we get into the car.

"Do you think we'll make it back before it starts?" I ask Dallon. He shrugs, looking at the sky.