See You at the Library

Chapter 3

The room was silent. Caelee stood frozen as she watched her mother walk closer to the door. Her mother strained her neck to look through the small hole. Caelee took a slow deep breath. Her mother stared for a minute without a sound then gently began to laugh. She looked back at Caelee, who by this time was completely confused, smiled and shook her head slightly. She turned back to the door and opened it without hesitation. Caelee peered to look outside and standing there was Phillip. Hands in the back pockets of his khaki shorts. His light blue polo wrinkled and looked to have just been grabbed in a rush. His medium length brown hair wasn't in its usual overdone style. He had clearly left without caring about his appearance at all.

"Phil? What are you doing here?" Caelee asked almost in anger.

"I was worried about you...." Phil replied almost in tears "You totally cut me out...and I—I was scared. I had to make sure you were okay."

Caelee noticed her mother staring at her and made eye contact with her. When she did she could read her face loud and clearly. "He did nothing wrong" Caelee took a deep breath and walked over to Phil, invited him in, and started telling him what had happened. He sat on the small, green and blue plaid chair in the corner of the room beside Caelee, who sat on top of the air conditioner under the large window next to the door. The twins were back to fussing together over the TV and their mother was in the "Kitchen" when she asked "Phil would you like something to drink?" "No thank you, Mrs. Diller." "Phillip...How many times do I have to ask you to call me Alice?" she responded with a slight aggravation. "I'm sorry...That's what happens when you're raised in the south, Mrs. Alice." "Just Alice, please...You make me feel so old. I'm still only thirty." Every-time Caelee thought about her mom's age she would imagine herself as her mom at fourteen. Terrified that her life was over. Just starting high school and already being forced into a marriage she never wanted and having the stress of becoming a mom so extremely young. She watched her mom as she did some finishing touches of cleaning around the room that Caelee had missed. Then turned to Phil "We probably have to call her soon and not to be mean but..." Phil spoke before Caelee could even finish "I should head out...later twerps" he said smiling at the twins on the floor as they both stuck out their tongues at him. "See you soon Mrs. Dill...Alice" he corrected. "Thanks for checking on me Phil...means a lot." She told him as her eyes started to get a bit misty. He pulled her in for a hug and whispered into her ear "I'm always going to check on you Caelee. That's what best friends are for okay?" Caelee shook her head into his shoulder as to say yes. He took a step back holding her shoulders and smiling the warmest smile. Then turned and walked towards his mom's small blue mini parked right outside. Caelee watched as he drove off then stepped back inside turning to her mom who was now sitting on the bed holding her face in the palms of her hands. Caelee walked over and sat beside her rapping her arms around her mother and whispered so sweetly "It will be okay."

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Three down no idea how many to go! But I'm going to keep them coming! Hope you're still enjoying SYATL! Like always comment and vote to let me know you are reading!