Dark 2

16 : Determined

We had a sweet ride back home. Three range rovers, just for us. All thanks to Canis. Me, Niall and mom in one car, Mrs. Payne, Liam and Zayn in one, and Harry, Lisa and Louis in another.

"Hey Audrey, now that you can communicate with your dad, maybe you should take his help. You know, ask him." Niall said.

"But, won't I pass out again? I mean, when I try to, I feel like something unearthly takes over me." I said. "Maybe there's some other possibility?"

"I don't see any other possibility dear. I don't think you guys can't meet that Singing Ghost until your program gets over." Mom said.

"But I'm scared mom." I said. "You can't force me to do something I'm afraid of."

"You're afraid of your dad?" He asked.

"Not him. I'm scared of what, never mind. You guys just don't understand." I said. "It's just that I'm, never mind. How can someone understand me? I'm too confusing, right?"

"Hey knock it off guys." Canis turned around and said. "Niall, are you getting down at the Lucado's?"

"No, I'll get down at my place. It seems like I've not seen her for years." He said, while he was busy on his phone.

"What will you tell her?" Mom asked.

"That you dropped me off because I wanted to get some books? Will that do?" He asked. "I cannot believe I'm gonna lie to her. This is a really bad one, but I have to."

"Hey Aunt Rachel, when will Niall and the others be converted to a werewolf?" He asked.

"Soon, well not so soon. Somewhere next month. I hope you guys are ready for it." She said, looking at Niall.

"Is there like something I need to do before all this?" He asked.

"No, nothing." Canis said.

"I just wish I could tell my mom. But she'd better be alive after I told her that. She'd get the shock of her life if I told her that." He said, looking at his phone.

"Were you texting her?" I asked, peeping into his phone. He had messaged her 'Yea mom. I just woke up. Audrey's in the shower. :) '

"Oh, and Mrs. Lucado, Liam's mom said she'll get Abel when she goes to drop Liam later this morning. She told you to be there as soon as possible. She wanted to tell you something important." Niall said.

"When did she tell you this?" She asked.

"She just texted me, a few minutes ago. She sent me because your phone's switched off, right?"

"Yea, had to. I just switched it on for a couple of seconds, and found seventy two missed calls from that officer. I switched it off immediately." She said.

"He seems desperate." Canis said. "Do you want us to scare him off? Just a little?"

"Um, no thanks Canis. I think I'll do something about this. I'll figure it out myself. I'll head over to his place today after I drop off Audrey."

"He'll probably have a million questions." I said.

"Yea, and I'll have a million lies to that." She said.

                                                                                             ***

We reached home at half past seven. I was almost dead when I landed on the couch, so was mom. She fell asleep instantly.

"We'll have breakfast on the way from Slushies." She said, from the floor. She didn't take the couch. She didn't seem to have the energy to get up on the couch.

"Mom, you alright?" I asked from above. I was stroking her hair, just like she does when I lie of her lap.

"Yea, I'm fine honey." She said. I leaned downwards, and kissed her on her forehead. "Love you."

She seemed to have turned on her phone after we reached, and put it on airplane mode, so no one could call. She turned on her phone alarm, and set it to eight.

And sure enough, both of us didn't hear the alarm. We over slept. She just kept snoozing her alarm, while I didn't even bother to wake up.

"Audrey! Wake up...it's eight thirty." I heard mom, ash she was shaking me awake.

"Oh damn!" I said, jumping out of the couch immediately, rubbed my eyes vigorously, and ran up to my room. I jumped into the shower, took a quick shower, came out, didn't even wipe the water off my body, changed into a white t.shirt, blue denim jeans and grey cardigan. And my hair, still wet. I could see the water dripping from my hair on my shoulders, which made my cardigan wet. But did I mind? No.

I didn't have to take any books, since we won't be having classes today. So I just put on my black sneakers immediately, and rushed downstairs. Mom was already there, also with completely wet hair.

We both headed to Slushies, had a sandwich each, egg scrambles, and orange juice to finish it off. It was already nine when we left Slushies. Mom didn't seem to panic though. She kept calm.

"You suppose she has something to tell you about Abel?" I asked.

"I don't think so." She said. "I mean, I don't think he'd caused any sort of trouble. He's not of that sort."

"How do you know? He's only been with you for hardly a week." I said, wiping off the water from my forehead, that was still dripping from my hair.

"Let's see. We're already here." She said, parking our vehicle at the parking lot outside our campus.

"Oh, and please come early after you meet that officer." I said, and was about to walk away. But that's when Liam, Mrs. Payne, Abel and Zayn came walking towards us.

"Sister!" Abel yelled, and almost ran into me as he hugged me.

"You have the second key to our house right? If I'm late, I'll let Niall know. You both head home. Don't wait for me." She said, walking towards Mrs. Payne. "What is it Linda?"

"Um, I don't know how to put this." She started.

"What is it regarding?" Mom asked. "Something about Abel?"

"No, nothing of that sort." She said. "You see, I was about to adopt Zayn, as my own son. I was going ahead with the formalities since last week. But,...."

"But what? Any help?" Mom asked.

"My family, and also my husband's family doesn't like that idea. They find that, I don't wanna say that. They just don't want Zayn with us." She said, looking at him. "You tell me now. What should I do? Can you help me?"

"I'll take him. As my own son." Mom said, looking at him.

"But, won't that be difficult for you Rachel? No, don't. I know how much you're struggling to pay off Audrey's fees. And now Abel also came along. Come on. I need a second opinion." She said. Zayn just looked confused, so did me and Liam. Abel had no idea what was going on.

"I mean it Linda." She said. "I mean, according to James' family, we've already shamed them. This is nothing. My parents are not heartless. They'll accept Zayn. And James' family? I don't give a damn."

"But mom, won't grandm-..." I was about to say won't grandma get angry, but she cut me short and said.

"She's not gonna raise him. I am. Is she gonna pay me for that? No. I will raise him up in my own expenses." She said.

"But Rachel, how can-..." Mrs. Payne started to say, but mom cut her sort and said.

"Let me see who's gonna stop me from doing this." She said, looking determined. " , tell me what are the formalities to get this done."

"But, Mrs. Lucado, won't-..." Zayn started to say. Again, mom cut him short and said this. I was taken aback when she said, this.

"You can call me mom."