Losing Him

Seeing Red

Chapter Ten

Seeing Red

It was Monday morning and Savannah was feeling nervous about seeing Leon at school after ignoring his phone calls all weekend.

She was doing her best to ignore the mere thought of him in an effort to prove that she had no romantic feelings towards him, which was surprisingly easy. She kept herself busy studying, looking after her plant and reading underneath the ash tree in the backyard.

Savannah was eating breakfast with a very dull Ben.

"Benj, what's the matter?" asked Savannah after realising that Ben was too quiet for her liking, "It's Monday," he answered groggily.

Savannah was wondering if his lack of drumming had anything to do with his behaviour. The only times she would see Ben this sombre was when he was sick.

Ben was always energetic and full of life, Savannah wondered what sucked it out of him and made him this way. Before Savannah interrogate Ben, in walked in her loved-up parents, arm in arm.

"Good morning son and daughter," said Anthony in such an overjoyed tone, it was almost sarcastic, as Savannah and Ben stared back in confusion.

"It's your father and I's 21-year anniversary!" exclaimed Anita excitedly, Savannah tried to pretend that she hadn't forgotten, since her mother mentioned it everyday last week.

"Savannah dear, we'll be gone for the week, I've prepacked your lunches and there are easy-make meals in the pantry and in the fridge," spoke Anita as her husband grabbed their luggage's.

Savannah smiled and nodded, "Ben, you'll be staying with the Jefferson's, don't you and your friend Charlie drive his parents up the wall," spoke Anita firmly as Ben's face lit up for the first time that morning.

"I'm counting on you to be on your best behaviour Benjamin," she spoke assertively to Ben as he nodded. She moved around to Savannah and began, "it'll just be you and Michael home, I trust that you two will keep the peace."

The thought of being home alone with Michael for a week made Savannah want to cry in frustration, but she made a conscious decision to keep to herself around her brother.

"Anita honey, we'll miss our flight, we best say our goodbyes," said Anthony as he took the last of the luggage outside into the car. Anita approached the front door as Savannah and Ben trailed after her.

"You be good Ben," she said as she kissed her son on the forehead, "take care Savannah," she said as she kissed Savannah on the cheeks.

"I've arranged with Grace for Leon to pick you up and drop you off to and from school, he should be here any minute," she said as she wrapped her scarf around her neck and got into the car.

'Crap!' thought Savannah, she was going to see Leon sooner than she expected. She couldn't work out if she was nervous because she had ignored him all weekend or if she feared what might happen if she saw him.

She felt relieved that her mother had asked Leon's mother to get Leon to drive her around than to ask Mike.

"Goodbye my offspring!" chanted Anthony, ruffling Ben's hair and kissing him on the head then kissing Savannah on the forehead.

Savannah and Ben waved goodbye as their parents drove away down the street and out of sight.

"Alright Benj, got all your things?" asked Savannah, grabbing Ben by he shoulder,

"honey, I've been packing since April," said Ben in the enthusiastic tone that Savannah had missed so much.

At a quarter past eight, Leon pulled up and honked, signalling Ben and Savannah out the door.