Thantophobia, Chris Schistad

Chapter 7

I groaned, rolled over and curled into a ball. All was well, all was quiet, all was peaceful. Then my eyes opened as the memories from last night flooded the fore front of my brain. I groaned again, this time in despair. I remembered Chris and Eva, I remembered Chris and I, I remembered Chris and Iben......good lord a lot of things happened with Chris, then I remembered my host parents.

I had walked through my front door only to find my host parents, who weren't meant to be back until tomorrow, standing in the dining room, glaring at me. I had to suffer through two hours of them lecturing me.

 It didn't help when Anton walked in and was yelled at because he wasn't taking care of me. Anton was supposed to live with me while my parents were away, I mean he was here so much that he basically lived here. But the fact that he had let me go to a party was beyond my host parents.

I got up out of bed and pulled on a pair of sweats and a hoodie. I walked downstairs to the kitchen, where I found Anton making a bowl of cereal. "Why do we make cereal? I mean it's not like we cook the cereal ourselves" I said, pulling a bowl out of the cupboard "good morning to you too" he greeted me.

 His hair blonde hair was a mess and his green eyes looked tired, as though he hadn't slept. "You look ravishing" I raised an eyebrow, adding Rice Krispies and milk to the bowl "right back at ya!" he grinned softly "I look like a panda don't I?" he just nodded and I shrugged.

My host mom stuck her head in the kitchen door "dining room! Now!" her head disappeared. "You couldn't sleep could you?" I gestured to Anton's appearance as I grabbed a spoon out of the drawer.

 "I hate this house" he muttered, walking out to the dining room, I followed close behind him. My host parents were sitting next to each other on one side of the large dining room table. Anton and I sat opposite them, next to each other.

"Now, about last night" my dad started "we are disappointed in you both, Madeleine I expected more of you" my mom looked at me disapprovingly "high expectations" Anton muttered under his breath "and you Anton, I...well I expected this from you, but I am shocked, shocked I tell you. To leave a sixteen year old girl go to a party with strange people in a strange country, I am appalled that you don't even live here with her and take care of her." I didn't know what to say, so I just sat there and avoided eye contact with my host parents.

Anton looked his mother dead in the eye "she's been here for three months, she's known those people for three months, she spends almost every waking minute talking to them in some way, shape or form, she is more than capable of taking care of herself, she is more than able to make decisions for herself, she knows the difference between right and wrong but it is up to her to chose which one she want to be a part of, just because I haven't been here 24/7 doesn't mean I haven't been taking care of her, it means I trust her, and allowing her to go to a party isn't the end of the world, she needs to experience these things and make mistakes it's how she grows." 

Anton didn't raise his voice once nor did he ever look away from his mom, I didn't realise I was crying, I left the tears fall and dry on my face. I hadn't expected him to stand up for me "and her Norwegian is so good that I keep thinking that she's a native speaker." Anton continued, looking defiantly at our parents.

Mom took a deep breathe and appeared to be counting to ten. I placed a hand on Anton's arm, he looked at me, 'thank you' I mouthed through a watery smile.

 "I have decided what I shall do" Anton and I looked at her "Anton, you may leave, but if I hear of you putting even one foot out of line I will drag you back here and you'll never leave. Madison  as for you, you are hereby grounded, no more parties you must ask permission if you want any friends over, I must know who all your friends are and if you want to leave this house you must ask permission."

 I gaped, maybe I should have spoken up for myself but before I could say anything my host parents stood and walked to the front door, "we're going shopping, be back soon"

I slumped in my chair and groaned "same" Anton agreed, stretching "I should probably gather all my shit" he stood up "my cereal is soggy" I complained, he looked down at me "you just got grounded and you're upset about soggy cereal" he shook his head in exasperation "I have ways around being grounded, I have no way around soggy cereal" he looked down at me, grinning "just don't get caught" "I don't plan on it."