Wolfsbane

8. Luca and I bond over mutual despair

Was my dad serious about me being grounded, probably. I wasn't sticking around to find out. I walked back into the living room, Luca sat in the same position as he was when I left. His eyes told me that he was bored. I couldn't argue with him on that one. As nice as it was to be home I needed a slight scenery change.

"Let's go" I said

He didn't ask questions like I expected him too. He didn't even protest at me ordering him to follow. He just looked at me. That's when I looked around the room, we were surrounded by pictures. Pictures of my mother and I. Pictures of all of us.

Luca knew. Or maybe he didn't, maybe he just thought she wasn't home, maybe he thought my parents were divorced.

"You want to go talk to her?" He said

I shake my head. He doesn't know. He doesn't know that I can never speak to her again.

"No" I say, summoning whatever courage is left within me. "I'm going to visit her grave"

My voice broke slightly at the end of my sentence.Luca noticed this, and for a second his face softened and there was something in his eyes as well. Sadness. It was gone almost as soon as I had noticed it.

"I just need some alone time" I said

Luca looked like he wanted to let me go. He looked like he wanted to give me the space I needed.

"I'm coming, I can't let you go alone. After the attack last night it's too dangerous" he says. His voice is soft.

"I know" I said softly.

I walk to the door and Luca follows. Making sure to leave me space. Soon we are out on the cold porch of the house. Our lawn is littered with red and gold leaves, a symbol of the fall. The street was quaint. Across the road the Neilson kids were playing on the lawn. The Neilson's were a pretty young couple, in their early 30's. They were the perfect example of the modern perfect family. Brielle, the matriarch of the family was a 32 year old accountant who worked in the city. She walked about in lulu lemon leggings and soccer mom gear. Her husband, Josh was a big Tech guy at apple or something, hence the two's numerous amounts of apple products throughout their house. They were just so normal. They had two sons, Miles and Brett. The Nielsen boys were playing in the dead leaves. They were probably supposed to be raking them, but that wasn't going to happen.
The best thing about the Nielsens' was that they loved my mother. Loved her to bits, when she died Brielle had came over with a casserole. Dad was at the hospital and it was just me and Mitch. Brielle had stayed with us until Dad came home. She'd talked to us like we were normal.

Slowly I trudged my way across the street to the Neilson house. It was very organized. Unlike our house it was extremely modern with big glass windows and oak wood paneling.
I walked over to the two boys.

"Hey Melody!" Brett, the older of the two was the first to respond. His mop of blonde curls were secured underneath a maroon beanie.

I smiled.

Miles ran forward and gave me something like a hug. This consisted of him wrapping himself around my leg. I bent down and ruffled his hair.
"Hey kid" I said

Brett pried the boy off my leg, causing his coat to shift slightly, revealing a white plaster over his forearm. Weird.

"Brett" I said "what's that"