What Lies In Me

Chapter 13

Officially halfway done! Following this chapter, the story should pick up quite nicely! Thanks to anyone who has read this far!

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Sadie and I are walking down the sidewalk together. Two days ago I never would have thought this would happen, but it is by far the most ordinary thing that has happened to me recently. Now if this was romantic in any way, that would be extraordinary, but neither of us are focused on that right now. I'd probably be incredibly nervous if this was romantic, so I guess this is good. There are bigger things to deal with at the moment.

"So, where are we going?" I ask. She hasn't mentioned it to me yet; she only told me to follow her.

"My mother's house," she replies with a faint smile. "I used to live around here before I moved to the school."

"Really?" I look around. I'd always thought of Sadie as pretty well-off, but this area is full of cheap apartment buildings and small, run-down houses.

"I got into boarding school on loans," Sadie says, clearly able to read what I am thinking. "My mother doesn't have that much money. It's a decent place to live, though."

"And your father?" I ask. "I mean, uh-" I immediately cringe and fumble for something else to say, but nothing comes out. If she specifically avoided mentioning him, I shouldn't have said anything. What am I thinking?

Sadie just smiles and shakes her head. "We don't know where he is. He left about twelve years ago."

We continue on in a much less comfortable silence. I'm an idiot. Why did I ask that?

"So, your family?" Sadie asks.

I look over at her. She smirks. "Hey, it's fair game now. Give me the details."

I sigh, and reluctantly comply. "Alright, my family is mostly normal. Both of my parents live on a farm, and I have a few siblings around my age, most of which have moved out."

"Oh, okay. One of those perfect families, huh?" Sadie replies sarcastically.

"Ah, not really." I quickly retort. "My parents were too overbearing and controlling, and I was pretty happy to head out of the house. We get along much better now, but I don't keep in touch with them that much."

We fall silent again, and keep walking. The breeze blows by, picking up a discarded receipt and skipping it across the sidewalk.

Sadie mutters something quietly.

"Huh?"

"I said 'you're lucky,'" Sadie glares at me for a moment, and then looks away. "Your parents care about you, and you have both of them. Have you even talked to them since... all this started?"

My silence is answer enough. I haven't. I didn't even think to.

"You should call them and let them know that you're okay. Don't take them for granted."

I look over at Sadie. She's looking at the ground in front of her, her hair obscuring most of her face.

"Are you okay?" I ask.

"I'm fine." She replies. She looks over at me and halfheartedly smiles. "I just get a little cranky when people take things that I will never have for granted. Sorry." Even as she apologizes, there is a slight amount of bitterness in her voice.

"No, you're right. I really should call them." I reply, while fumbling for my phone. My mother picks up on the third ring.

"Hello?"

"Hey Mom, how are things?" I ask.

"They're fine. Is everything alright?"

"Just fine, why?"