Dirty Little Secret

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Eleven:

As we reach my front door, I frown at the thought of Elliott having to walk home by himself.

“Thanks for walking me home.”

"It was no problem," he shrugs and stuffs his hands in his pockets.

“I'll see you Monday at school I guess.”

"Yeah, see you Monday..." A frown flicks across his face before he looks away.

“Elliott? We can do something tomorrow or Sunday if you want.”

"Sounds good," he smiles and opens his arms. "A hug before I go?" I giggle and hug him. He squeezes me close just as the front door opens. I don’t look at who opened the door.

"Lani, where the hell have you been?" My mother folds her arms over her chest and stares at me. "Oh, hello, Elliott."

“I um…”

"She was with me, Mrs. James. I'm sorry she's back late, we lost track of time when we were talking," Elliott frowns. "Don't blame her, Mrs. James."

“Its alright, just wish I would have known is all. next time tell us, if you're going to be out late Lani.

"Sorry, mum," I mutter. I look sideways at Elliott, who looks awkward. I feel bad that he has to walk home by himself.

“Can I take the car and drive him home? Its really cold out.”

"You want to drive him home after he walked you home?" My mum raised her eyebrow and smiles.

“Its freezing out mum.”

"Well, he could stay the night," she pursed her lips. "If your parents wouldn't mind, Elliott."

“They wont.”

"Okay then, come on in." I watch as my mum opens the door wider and ushers inside. "It's freezing, Lani," my mum mocks. "You better get inside." Elliott walks in and I walk in after.

"Well, I'm sure you can borrow something of my husband’s," she smiles. "Lani will show you where everything is. Go to sleep, you two."

“Night mom.”

"Night, Mrs. James!" Elliott calls after her then grins at me. We head upstairs.

"So.." Elliott drawled, looking around my bedroom.

“Yeah…”

"Nice room," he grins, again, and settles on my desk chair.

“Thanks.”

"You’re welcome," he gives me a soft smile as he looks at photo frames that contained pictures of me and Owen, or my family. Most of them are of me and Owen.

"You have a lot of you two," he comments, picking up a picture of me and Owen on my ninth birthday.

“Yeah..”

Once he places the photo down he looks at me. "Do you mind me staying here? I mean, I can go if you want me to."

“Its fine, really.”

"You don't sound fine with it," he comments.

“Its not that...there’s just so much of him in here.”

"Why do you keep it all out then?" He looks at all the pictures that contain Owen.

“Today was the big fight…” I start pulling off the sheets on my bed. He frowns and cocks his head to the side.

I put them in my hamper along with my comforter. “They smell like him.” I watch him as he blinks and looks away, obviously thinking what we had done on my bed. I get some new sheets, pillow cases, and my other comforter and start putting them on my bed.