Firecracker

Chapter 7

The walk home from the boys flat was peaceful. It was still early and there was barely anyone around. I strolled along the footpath kicking stones and empty cans out of my way. The morning air was chilly but I had Ryes hoodie to keep me warm. It's funny how even just by having an item of his clothing on I felt safe and secure , he makes me feel more safe than anyone else. I'm glad I came home and reunited with him, seeing him , talking to him, feeling his touch, it all felt like breathing in a breath of fresh air when you've been deprived of it for so long.  Eventually I ended up at the porch of my house, I dig around for the key in flower pot and finally found it, getting my hand covered in dirt as I did. I skipped into the kitchen and checked the time while washing my hands. 8:00am. I kicked of my shoes and silently walked up the stairs. When I said that my dad wanted me home early in the letter I lied. He dosent even know that I left. I entered my mess of a room and picked all the pictures of Rye and I off the floor and placed them gently back where they belonged with a smile on my face. I looked at one of us where we were both laughing our heads off at something, I still remember the pain I had in my stomach from laughing so hard and the crinkles below his eyes as he smiled at me.
"Are you okay?" I spun around and saw my stepmother Bella standing in the doorway, she had her dressing gown wrapped around her and 2 cups of tea in her hand.
"Care to tell me where you were last night?" She said, although she didn't sound mad. That was one thing that I loved about Bella , she was more like a sister to me then a mother figure, before I left we used to stay up late after my dad went to bed and gossip about people and gush over boys, correction: she would listen to me talk about Rye while she sat there with this knowing look on her face. I never had to tell her about my feelings for him because she just knew. If I'm honest I think she new before I even did.
"I was with Rye and his band mates, I went to the park to clear my head and it starting lashing so he invited me back to their flat and wouldn't let me leave until the weather cleared up"I replied, playfully rolling my eyes.
"I had a feeling you were with him, that smile seems to always be reserved for that boy and anything associated with him"
She handed me a cup of tea and made herself comfortable on my bed.
"I also noticed that you're wearing his hoodie, I knew it was his from the amounts of times you came home wearing it before you went away"
A blush crept its way up to my cheeks as I laughed lightly "yeah aha, my clothes were wet from the rain"
"Come sit with me, tell me all about the trip" she said as she patted the spot next to her. I climbed onto the bed and sat cross legged in front of her sipping on my tea every now and then.
"There's not much to tell" I mumbled.
"What happened sky?" She questioned , noticing that something wasn't quiet right.
"She's not the same, my mom isn't. She's just changed I guess" I whispered.
"In what way exactly?" She asked.
It took me a minute to think up of an answer that didn't sound completely pathetic but in the end I just gave up, "she doesn't smell the same" is what I finally managed to say, even though I had so much more to say.
"Umm sky--" I cut her off before she could continue and call me crazy and stupid by explaining more.
"She doesn't talk the same, she doesn't act the same, she doesn't remember any of ou little traditions, she's engaged to an obese American who doesn't do anything all day but sit around on his ass complaining , and she also looks completely different!" I ended my rant and took a sip of tea in defeat as Bella looked at me with sympathy in her eyes.
'I know it must be hard for you but you know that you have me and your dad here for you, and we will never change. I know it's different and I know I'll never be able to replace your mom but I just want you to know that I care about you as if you were my own daughter, I really do love you Sky and I just want the best for you'
Tears welled up in both of our eyes, 'look at us two, sitting here on the verge of tears' she said laughing, 'what are we like'
I started laughing before pulling her into a hug, 'thanks for being there for me, I'll always appreciate it'

After she left I flopped onto my bed and started scrolling through Instagram, liking random pictures as I went until I got a text from a number I didn't recognise
Hey babe, the boys and I were planning on going to this trampoline place that opened down the street, I was wondering if you wanted to come with and maybe after you and me can go get nandos or something to catch up properly❤️
About 2 seconds after reading the message , another one popped up on my screen,
It's Rye btw aha❤️😆
I laughed to myself while saving his number to my phone, I decided to go with them, it'll be fun and it will give us all a chance to get to know eachother, and Rye and I, a chance at getting back the friendship that I've been longing for these last few months. I got ready, leaving on the jumper as I couldn't be bothered taking it off, I braided my hair into two French platts and put some mascara on. After I finally deemed myself acceptable to be seen by the public eye, I left the house and began my walk to the boys flat....again.