No Lie

Chapter 22

Chapter 22

I dreaded waking up the next morning. I didn't feel like answering a ton of questions about the past few weeks from my parents. I didn't really want to think about it at all.

Although I figured I should get up since it was getting pretty late. Probably almost noon.

I stumbled out of bed and set down the sweatshirt I had, still clutched in my hands.

I lazily got in the shower while yawning. The hot water felt amazing and I decided I would spend a while in it. After washing my hair for almost a half hour and taking another half hour to stall, I unwillingly got out of the shower and began to blow dry my hair. I figured it would help me continue my stalling.

I was beginning to consider not going down at all, and skipping breakfast- or lunch since it was that time- to avoid my parents, but changed my mind when I realized avoiding them would mean not leaving my room at all. For the next few months.

I guess I might as well get it over with. They won't give up until I give them some answers anyways.

I hesitated at the top of the stairs and slowly made my way down the steps.

"Well someone's finally up." My dad announced as he looked up from the TV in the living room.

"Hey." I said just as my stomach growled.

"Go get yourself something to eat." My mom grinned.

I poured some cereal and went to sit down at the table, but mom called me into the living room and said I needed to tell her how everything went.

I pushed myself to my mom and dad, screaming inside the whole way.

I guess this is the time to get good at lying, I thought frowning.

After what seemed like a thousand years later, I finally escaped from my parents' interrogating and ran back to my room.

I busied myself cleaning it up to take my mind off of the unthinkable.

After that I laid on my bed and tried to take a nap, but couldn't because of my twelve hours of sleep the night before. I tried getting out a book and reading. I tried turning on the TV. I even tried reading with my tv and music on, but I still couldn't stop my mind from wandering.

I wondered what Cole was doing right now. Was he in his office? I smiled. Was Ava busy cooking up some delicious lunch? And the one who I could not get out of my head. What about...him? What about Carter...?

I slapped myself internally for letting me get that far. I shook my head, trying to clear my mind.

I glanced out my window to the woods below me and decided to go take a walk. I needed some fresh air.

I took Maggie along with me as we walked deeper into the woods. Her tail was wagging nonstop and she was sniffing the ground wherever she went.

"I missed you Mags." I smiled as she ran over to me at the sound of her name.

I stared at my boots as a chilly breeze blew my hair in my face. Summer was almost over and the leaves were starting to turn color on the trees. After all, it was nearly September and fall was coming soon.

I sighed looking back to the trees surrounding me.

I then involuntarily imagined a huge wolf walking out from behind one of the trees. His fur was pitch black and it shined from the sunlight that shone down above the trees. His bright blue eyes landed on me.

This wasn't a good idea. A warning voice took over my thoughts.

I took a step back, keeping an eye on the wolf, hoping it wouldn't disappear. But, as if on cue, it slipped back behind the tree and was out of sight.

A pang of sharpness cut through my chest as I ran back to my house. Away from my hallucinations.

Maggie bolted along side of me until we reached the back door.

I stepped inside, suddenly wanting to curl up in a ball. Disappointment flooded through me and I clutched my stomach as I shut the door.

I again hung out in my room until my parents called me down for dinner.

I wasn't feeling hungry at all but I forced myself down and acted like my normal self, which was always hungry.

I sat quietly as my parents talked about nothing in particular.

"-Hayden?....Hayden!"

I glanced up at my mom confused. "Hmm?"

"You've hardly touched your food, are you feeling okay?"

I had been moving my food around my plate hoping it looked like it was slowly disappearing. Apparently it hadn't worked.

"Yeah, I'm just not that hungry." I said looking back down at my food.

"Really?" My mom said, probably not believing me.

"I'm just really tired. I'll probably go to bed." I stood up and tried walking at a normal pace to the kitchen.

"Are you sure everything is okay?" I sensed the worry in her voice.

"Yes mom I'm fine. Just tired..." I began exiting again. My mom let me go, but probably realized I had used the same excuse yesterday. Probably use it again tomorrow too.

When I got to my room I slipped on my pajamas and turned the TV on. I really wasn't paying any attention to it though. I tried to clear my mind from everything, but it was a lot harder than I thought it'd be.

I just wished I could forget about everything that happened with Carter. But why could I only think about him? I didn't spend that much time with him?

I looked down and realized I was clutching my chest again. I looked around, until I saw the sweatshirt I had from last night and I hugged it against my chest breathing in the faint smell of Washington.

I then turned the lights out and prayed I wouldn't dream about Carter again, even though I secretly wanted to.

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Sorry about the slow update. I'm supposed to update every week and will continue to, especially since this is getting to an exciting part! ...can't say anything else though. (:

Thank you to the fans who read and vote every chapter! I love you all!

Updates soon!!!!<3