Once Upon A Dream

Twelve

Chapter Twelve: Lonesome
-Cordelia-

As soon as I got to my dad's house I found that he'd gone away for the weekend. My step-mom Gayle greeted me warmly but of course resorted to her usual clipped questions to feign interest.

"How's school?"
"Ready for summer?"
"I forget, are you graduating this year?"
"Any plans for college?"

I answered all of her questions politely before she kindly excused herself to take a call.

I took the opportunity myself to take my bag up to my bedroom and put my stuff away.

A light knock on the open door made me turn, Gayle stood in the doorway smiling at me, "that was your dad, I let him know you were staying the weekend...he told me last you visited you had shown an interest in holistics."

"Oh." I smiled, "just wanted to try out oils, I needed a little help sleeping...p-probably due to stress of graduation coming up."

She nodded understandingly, "well I was heading into the city anyways, why don't you come with me and we can stop at this shop I frequent at for alternative treatments and medicines."

I don't know what I signed myself up for but I agreed and soon we were in her car driving to the city.

"I'm just going to stop off at work, I have to pick up some files and then we'll head to the mall."

I have never been one of those girls who just hangs out at malls...mostly because I've never really had the time to just hang out at a mall, but the prospect was enticing. I waited patiently as we pulled up to Gayle's office and she got out to retrieve whatever she needed. She was back in no time and soon we made our way to the mall.

Of course it was filled with people. It was loud and crowded but I got excited when I found a couple of stores I actually liked.

"We can go in if you want." Gayle sounded kindly as she noticed my enthusiasm as we passed a novelty store that sold various kinds of "nerd" memorabilia.

I purchased a couple of things and then followed her up the escalator to a shop that was actually quite interesting.

She showed me around and told me about this and that. "Each essential oil has multiple purposes." She filled me in knowledgeably. "Here I'm getting you these as well as this diffuser, some will help with calm and tranquility, others offer energy, and of course you can never have too much lavender oil." She laughed lightly.

After that we grabbed dinner in the food court and talked a little more about college.

"I remember you father saying you were showing an interest in an Ivy League school." She sounded.

It seems she actually does acknowledge my existence when I'm not around.

I nodded, "yeah, but I don't want to get my hopes up."

She waved my words away, "which school?"

I don't know why I felt so much more comfortable talking to Gayle all of a sudden but I actually admitted to her the school of my dreams.

"Princeton." I finally voiced out loud, "it's just, I've wanted this for so long and I've worked my ass off to get there and...what if I don't get accepted."