It's Jaelena

Chapter Four

I was worried; I thought Mom would toss me out onto the streets.

But she didn't.

Instead, Mom stared at me for a few seconds. When she spoke, her voice was soft. "Paige, you're my daughter," she began, and I sensed a sentimental moment coming on. I wanted to retch, but I knew I had to keep quiet and endure it. If I didn't, Mom might change her mind and dump me on the street corner. "I will always love you. And when you need something--anything, whether it be money, a home, or a shoulder to cry on--do not be afraid to ask me."

Well, as far as sentimental moments went, that wasn't the worst I'd ever heard. "Thanks, Mom," I said.

Mom held her hand up. "Paige," she said in a brisker voice, "let me continue. You're my daughter, I love you, and you will always have a place to stay with me. But you can't rely on me for the rest of your life. I won't be around forever. Soon you'll need to go to college, get a degree, find a job, make money, buy your own house, and start a family."

I cringed. I never wanted to start my own family; I wasn't good with children. But I decided not to say that out loud. "Thanks," I told Mom. "I'll stay with you, but I'll apply to other colleges." I bit my lip. "But...what if I don't get accepted into any of them?"

"You will, honey, don't worry," Mom said. "Any college would be lucky to have you. You used to get good grades, didn't you?"

Yeah, until high school, I thought. And high school grades are the ones that count the most. But I didn't say anything. I knew I had to be on my best behavior, or risk being evicted by Mom.

"Thanks again for letting me stay, Mom," I said. "Can I come in now? I want to see my old room."

Mom turned a little red. "Oh, Paige, hon, I'm so sorry...your room isn't yours anymore."

"What do you mean?" I demanded.

"Well--" began Mom, just as a girl shouted, "Mom! What's for dinner? I'm hungry!" The voice was familiar somehow; I couldn't quite place it, but I shivered.

"It's Madison," finished Mom. "Madison has moved into your room."

It took me a second to recover from the shock that Mom had actually given my room away to someone else. "Who the hell is Madison?" I exclaimed.

Suddenly a girl who looked only a little younger than me appeared behind Mom. She froze when she saw me. "You're Paige Houston, right?" she said at last. For some reason, she sounded sad.

I blinked. "I'm Paige. But who are you and what are you doing here?"

The girl smiled a wide, dimpled smile. Now it was my turn to freeze. That smile. It's her smile, I thought. But no, it can't be her. "I'm Madison," the girl said. "Madison Wright. Your long-lost cousin. Nice to meet you, too."

As it turned out, Mom got the house expanded just a short while ago. There was now a parlor and a family room. With some help from Mom, I set up an airbed in the parlor.

"This will do until I find you a better bed," Mom decided, stepping back and brushing her hands together. "Okay, now, why don't you go hang out with Madison?"

I swallowed hard. Hang out with Madison? It seemed like the worst idea ever, but I felt the need to keep Mom happy. I was not going to risk being kicked out. I was willing to suffer through anything to keep myself off the streets, including hanging out with Madison. But being with Madison meant being with that smile that resembled Lena's so much...

Don't think like that, I told myself. Anyone can smile like that.

"Fine." I forced a smile onto my face. "I'll hang out with Madison."

"Good," said Mom. "Keep her busy for the rest of the day, okay? I just know that you two are going to be great friends." She smiled at me, but the smile didn't quite make its way to her eyes. "She's probably in the kitchen. You two should go outside and have some fun. Maybe go to the park...the library...I don't know. It's your choice. But keep her out of my hair until dinner."

I sighed and nodded. Just what, I wondered as I headed for the kitchen, have I gotten myself into?