Falling from the Top

Chapter 10

I woke up the next morning, feeling... nothing. Since I'd left the field yesterday, my head was light and oddly enough Etienne was nowhere to be thought of. I just had to bury my feelings long enough for them to disappear.

I got out of bed and slipped on my pink fluffy slippers. I walked downstairs and found the nasty surprise of my mother making coffee. What was she still doing here?  She turned around and smiled. My mother was me but older. Her hair was shoulder length and blond, obviously. Her blue eyes had weathered away in time but they still had the determination, that shined in mine. She wore her usual peach lipstick and wedding ring. Her plastic surgeon was so good, she looked like she could be my older sister. 

"Hey sweetie." She greeted me. Oh please! I'm not your sweetie anymore. At least since you abandoned me for your "friends".

"Hi mom. What are you still doing here?" I asked. To be clear: my mom and I might look like clones, I felt nothing but the love I was forced upon as her. Nothing less, nothing more.

"Your dad had a free day so we decided to have a day in." She giggle like a teenager. Ew! 

I took a plain yogurt from the fridge and made myself a granola. She poured herself a cup of coffee and handed me one. 

"No thanks. I'm on a caffeine free diet." I stated.

"Oh... Well then, could you bring it to your dad. He's in his office making sure everything is under control and that he doesn't get disturb during for our day." I nodded and took the cup out of her hand.

"Are you guys planning on staying here or you're going to go out?" I asked suddenly remembering I had a French lesson. Thinking about Etienne made my heart jump but I repressed it with all my might.

"Yes. Why?" She popped a cake - that appeared out of nowhere - into the oven.

"I have a French lesson. I told you about it like three times. I texted it to you." I rolled my eyeballs.

"You can go some place else to study. I'm sure she will understand." She said while watching her cake. 

"It's a he." I looked a her blankly as she turned to me with a suspicious look. "And no, I do not sleep with him." I reached the doorframe and yelled looking at her behind my shoulder. "While we are at it, I'm going to Paris with school in two weeks. Him included!"

I heard her gasp as I walked upstairs. I quickly typed a message telling Etienne that we had our session at the library today.

I reached my dad's office, the door was left half-opened. I slowed down and I walk slyly, with the intention of surprising him. Unlike my mother, my dad was my hero. We looked nothing alike but our personalities were a perfect match. One day, I hoped to be as successful as him. I loved him, not because I had to, but because I had this idealized picture of him. 

I reached the door and I could make out his silhouette sitting on his chair. As far as I could see, he wore black trouser and black shiny shoes. I knew his salt-and-pepper hair were slicked back and his black eyes were blank. I stopped as  I heard him on the phone. I would wait for him to be finished and then I'll scare the hell out of him.

I guess I was the one who got the surprise. He wasn't just on the phone, he was dirty-talking on the phone. And it wasn't pleasant to hear. Who ever he was flirting with, sure as hell wasn't my mom. My body tremble as a chuckled escaped from the room. 

"Yeah. I'll see you later. Bye honey... Me too." He paused, listening to what the other woman was saying. "Gosh, I can't wait. No worries something will come up. Ok. Bye." And just like that he hung up.