Sometimes You Need To Let Down Your Hair

Chapter 7

       I started to plan where everything would go. My mind worked faster than the computer I had used once at the library, and it distracted me from being upset. As soon as I decided where things would go and how they would look when they were grown, I started planting the flower bulbs.

       I decided to plant the tulips by the bench, and put the Rosebush by the bird bath. After I got going, I didn't stop. I worked so tiredly that I didn't even notice the alligator tears that ran down my face. After the rosebush was planted I sat back and put my head in my hands.

       I didn't even care that my hands were covered in dirt. I just sat in the short grass in my nice clothes, and sobbed. For awhile I was unaware of everything around me. My mind was blank, and all I was focused on was my insecurities and fears. 

       In the back of my mind I knew that my pity party needed to stop because everything would be OK, but I didn't listen to that part of my brain. 

       All a sudden I felt an arm slip around my shoulders. Instead of tensing up, I let my head rest against their chest. The person whispered in my ear that I was alright, and they were here now. 

       The hand not resting on my shoulder playfully twirled the hair that flew around my face, and ,despite my crying, I laughed. Within a few minutes I looked up and saw that it was Lucas. Instead of blushing and acting embarrassed, I said thank you.

       "Is everything ok," he asked. His voice was full of concern, and that made me feel better. Did he somehow actually care about me? 

       I gave him a small smile and said, "it is now."

       "What happened?" 

       I looked down at the ground and contemplated telling him why I was upset. Would mother be mad if she ever found out? Well, she would be mad I was friends with Lucas anyway, so I guess it didn't matter. I blinked slowly, and took a deep breath. "Well, my mother was out last night drinking and this morning she -" 

       "Willow," I heard mother yell from inside, "Where are you!? I'm hungry, and will come downstairs to find you!" I gulped, and tore myself away from Lucas. 

       I wiped the tears off of my eyes, and waved goodbye to Lucas before running inside. In the kitchen, I looked out the glass doors and saw Lucas just sitting there looking kinda confused. Then he got up. I looked down at the kitchen floor and had a whisper of a dangerous thought. I wish he could stay.

       I shook that out of my head and bruised myself with getting mother's lunch ready. All the while she was yelling at me to hurry up. When everything was ready I balanced it in my hands and turned to go upstairs. 

       Lucas was sitting at the island in the kitchen. My eyes went wide for a moment and I almost dropped everything. He rushed to help me out, and said "I'm sorry that I startled you." 

       He grabbed the plate of food from my hands and gestured for me to lead the way. Without saying anything I led him to mother's door. I gestured for him to step out of sight, and I grabbed the plate from his hands. He opened the door a little for me so that I could push it open with my foot.

       Then in walked  in mother's cavernous bedroom. It was dark, so I waited for my eyes to adjust before locating where mother was. She did not sit in her bed like I expected, but was at her desk looking longfully at a picture of a little kid. I assumed it was me, but at the glance I stole the baby didn't look like I thought I would. I pushed that thought away and cleared my throat to get mother's attention. 

       She quickly pulled the picture from my view and acknowledged my presence with a wave of her hand. I sat down the food and drink on her desk, careful not to spill anything. Once finished, o stepped back and waited to hear thank you. However the only thing that escaped mother's lips was a mumbled comment about the quality of her food. 

       I balled my hands into fists at my sides, and bit my tongue. Then I walked out of the room. Just as I stepped out, Lucas sneezed. My eyes widened, and mother sarcastically said "bless you." 

       I murmured my thanks and hoped that she thought that I was the one that had sneezed. When there was no further reaction from anyone, I stepped through the door and silently shut it behind me. Then I let loose a breath I didn't realize I'd been holding. 

       Lucas stepped into view and raised his eyebrow, as if asking how everything went. I shrugged. He nodded then pulled me further away from mother's door. He pit his face next to mine and whispered "can you show me around?" He moved back and I had to cover my mouth so I wouldn't chuckle. I rolled my eyes at him and nodded my head.

       He silently cheered by fist pumping the air. Then I gestured for him to follow me. I showed him the second floor first. Silently we looked at the makeshift library mother and I had thrown together in a guest room, and then I showed him where the bathroom was, and the small living room upstairs. We also had another bedroom, and few closets on this floor, but they weren't that interesting. I gestured for him to follow me downstairs, but he pointed at the one door I hadn't pulled him through.

       My room. He nodded to the door with a smile on his face. And I rolled my eyes. I pulled open my door, and we walked up the stairs to my room. At the top he looked around and drank everything in. "Is this your room?"

      I said yes, and then he walked over to my book shelves. He trailed his fingers along the spines of the books and stopped on the "Grimm's fairy tales" book. I crossed my arms and watched the mischievous smile spread across his face as he plucked the book off the shelf.

       He flipped through the book and stopped on a story. Then he brought the book to me and pointed at it. "Rapunzel?" I asked. That was what he called me the first day that I met him.

       "Does she look familiar?" He asked as he pointed to a drawing of a girl with long blonde hair. I nodded and rolled my eyes. Then he laughed and put the book back on my shelf. We walked back downstairs, and ,after I showed him around, went outside. 

       He glanced at the seeds that I had abandoned, and said "Well, do you want to plant the rest of your garden?" I nodded my answer, and we started to make a little garden by the fence. We planted some lettuce and tomatoes. Then a few potatoes. I hoped that they would grow, but doubted it.

       The whole time we planted the seeds we were silent. It wasn't an awkward silence though. It was a nice comfortable silence that settled around your shoulders like a warm blanket on a chilly day. Not once did he ask about what had happened earlier today,  and for that I was grateful. 

       When we were done my stomach rumbled, and Lucas gave me a sideways glance. "Are you hungrey?" 

       I replied by saying, "no. A bear just happened to be snoring in my house." My voice dripped with light-hearted sarcasm. 

       Lucas laughed and replied in the same tone, "that's too bad. I was going to ask you if you wanted some lunch, but I guess not."  I chuckled and shrugged my shoulders. Then he said, "well do you want me to order pizza?"

       I thought about it for a second. Then I glanced up at my house. Settling my gaze back at Lucas, I said "No. Let's go to that diner you were talking about the other day."

       He was surprised and said "are you sure? I don't want you to get in trouble." I nodded and put a determined look on my face. He shrugged his shoulders and said "Well alright then." 

       We walked to the front of the house and left through the gate. My heart was beating faster than it ever had before as I walked away from my home, and my carefully secluded life.