My brother was home just in time for dinner. It was really weird since he used to be the most popular/hottest guy in school/bad boy that didn't care about anyone but himself. He was always going out with some girl or his guy friends and was never home for dinner and always getting home late and all. He really has changed. I wonder if the army has changed Matt too. My dad was also home early from work today and just in time for dinner.
"How's Matt holding up?" I asked my brother as he walked into my room. I put my phone down and ignored Carter's text. The smell of fried fish filled the air and I could feel my stomach grumble.
"I just came here to talk to you about that." He said with a serious look on his face. He sat at the feet of my bed.
"Is he ok?" I asked.
"Yeah, he's fine." He pressed his lips together. "It's Miranda." I sat up as soon as I heard her name.
"What about her?"
"It's just that I was talking to Matt today about his little sister and he told me she's been recuperating quickly." He was talking too slow so I became impatient.
"And?" I asked.
"It's just that she hasn't fully recovered and she's always saying your name." I was shocked at his words. I kept having this image in my head of Miranda staring blankly into space saying my name. Or maybe while she's trying to sleep she just chants my name over and over. But why? Why would she just be saying my name? Maybe she wants to tell me something.
"I wish I could just be there with her." I said sadly looking down. Whenever I think about Miranda and what happened I feel numb. I've missed her so much. I wanted to know how she felt. I wanted her to know that she was not alone.
"I'm so sorry I just thought you should know." He said pressing his lips together again. "Dinner's almost ready. I'll see you downstairs." He left me alone to process what he had just told me. Why did he have to tell me this now? Right before dinner. My phone vibrated from another text. It was Carter telling me that he just got called from his employer at the pool and that he got the job. I replied to the text congratulating him and told him that I'd speak to him later.
I didn't go downstairs right away even though the food smelled so good and I was really hungry. I wanted to isolate myself again but I didn't want it to effect my parents so I waited a couple of minutes and headed down for dinner. The dining table in the dining room was set and I took a seat next to my father. He smiled at me and I shot a smile back.
"I'm so hungry right now I could eat a whale." Edwin said trying to end the awkward silence. I giggled. It was so corny that I just had to laugh.
"What happened to all your good jokes?" I asked Edwin while I served myself some fries.
"That hurts." He replied pretending to be sad and making an almost crying face.
"Elizabeth, I talked to Detective Mcfinney." My mother said smiling. Why was she smiling? Suddenly, the doorbell rang. It seemed to have rang louder than usual.
"I'll get it." My father said.
I wasn't near halfway done with my food yet when I heard Mr. Mcfinney's voice at the door. What did he want now? I asked myself. I was mad at Miranda's dad but I didn't know why. Maybe because he had me on house arrest and probably thought for a second that I could've killed someone.
"Elizabeth, I need you to come here for a second." My father said at the dining room entrance. I followed my dad to the living room. Mr. Mcfinney was sitting on the couch.
"Hello, Elizabeth." He said sounding as sophisticated as always and he smiled at me. Miranda's dad was a very serious guy. He jokes around sometimes. RARELY. I didn't reply to his hello. My father went back to resume eating his dinner. "I have good news for you young lady." He was still smiling. I just stared at him with a neutral expression on my face. I don't know how he expects me to react. "The crime weapon was found and you are no longer on house arrest." He said with a serious look on his face now. "Unfortunately, we could not catch the murderer but there were finger prints on the crime weapon. You're lucky they're not yours."
