Can't Outrun The Past {Book 3}

Chapter 12: Too Old For Playdates

*Connor's POV*

"Okay we probably should start small." Mom sighed. "Jerica," She motioned to the redhead beside her. "This is Connor and Noah." She pointed at both of us. "Connor, Noah, this is your aunt Jerica. My twin sister." Mom introduced us.
"You have a twin?" The words seemed fall out of my mouth.
Mom nodded as Jerica hugged me and then moved to hug Noah who quickly stepped away and almost on top of me.
I wrapped my arms around her involuntarily. "It's okay, N, I doubt she's going to hurt you." I said with a slight laugh.
Jerica frowned. "I won't hurt you. I guess I'm just excited to meet you, is all." Jerica got it after a second and stepped away from Noah. Who in return let go of me.
"I need you to do me a favour." Mom began. "You have a cousin named Deanna who is your age, and I need you to hang out with her until we're finished talking about something."
Secrets and more secret. I was beginning to think that was all this family was. Just a bunch of secrets and lies.
"So you want us to babysit?" Noah laughed. "While you discuss adult things?" She crossed her arms over her chect.
"Noah!" Mom tried to reason with her as always. One day you'd think she would get the message and stop, but today was not that day. "I just thought it'd be nice to play with your cousin."
"I'm too old for play dates, Mummy." Noah stated with a smile.
"Well then, it's a good thing I am your mother," Mom said calmly. "Now go downstairs and put your trainers on." She ordered.
Noah opened her mouth to protest, but I quickly beat her to it. "Come on, Noah, let's do as she says."
Placing both hands on her shoulders, I turned her around and headed for the stairs.
Once we were down and getting shoes on, Noah spoke. "I don't want to take that girl with us." She pouted.
My sister was a big cry baby at times, folks, but one thing she knew for certain was that I couldn't stand it.
"So," I sighed. "We ditch her."
"What?" Noah looked up, shocked at my comment. "Con, are you feeling alright?"
"You want to go see the train station, do you not?" I asked, completely ignoring her last comment. She nodded rapidly.
"Simple Magnus gave us the directions, and it's not a far walk from here." I stood and offered a hand up to her. "Plus it'll be dark soon. So we take Deanna with us and loose her along the way."
Noah took my hand and stood, an evil smirk plastered on her face. "You surprise me sometimes, Connor." She kissed my cheek and ran upstairs, leaving me to follow.
When I got upstairs Nancy was waiting by the door, and Noah was talking to our mother.
"Good," Mom smiled at her daughter proudly. "Have fun at the park."
Did Mom seriously think snapping at Noah caused this change of heart? Yelling and loud noises only make things worse with her. Was Mom oblivious to the smaller girl in front of her? To the fake smiles and tired eyes, the clever mind and kind heart? I would never understand how Mom couldn't see through Noah like I could. After the accident, Mom threw herself into taking care of Ellis and had left a broken Noah behind. Sure-
"Con!" Noah snapped her fingers in my head. "Earth to Connor."
"Sorry," I shook my head. "Just got lost a minute."
"It's fine." Noah shrugged. "Now come on, let's go." She said with a childish grin.

***

"I thought we were going to the park?" Deanna questioned, looking around at the woods in a confused matter.
"Rule one," Noah held up a finger. "Never assume anything. Rule two" She held up two finger. "Parents don't always understand so saying we're going to the park is the easiest way out." She held up three finger this time as a small smile began to form. "Just be quiet and know when you're not wanted around." With that she shrugged innocently and started walking again. "Are we almost there, Con?" She added as an after thought.
"What's her damage?" Deanna asked quietly to Nancy who only laughed in reply.
"Hey, N, what's your damage?" Nancy giggled.
"I don't know," Noah swung around, walking backwards, and laughed. "Heather what is my damage. Oh that's right your dead, guess you can't answer that."
"Noah!" I said sternly, causing her eyes to lock with mine. "Stop it now. You've done enough. Maybe you should at least give Deanna a try." I shook my head in dissapointment, to which Deanna smiled gratefully.
"Connor-"
I cut her off. "We're here." I gestured up at the suspended railroad station bridge. An old rusted ladder that looked ready to fall apart, hung loosely to its side. "I'll go first make sure it's safe." I suggested.
"Be careful, Con." Noah advised.
"Will do, sis." I seized the third bar up and began to climb, the rugs creaking with every step.
As nervous as I was, I refused to look down, that is until I felt the ladder shake.
Noah had stepped up on it and was now climbing as well.
Pulling myself unto the tracts, I turned to help them up. Noah came second, then Nancy, and lastly Deanna.
By the time Deanna was safely up, Noah and Nancy had reached the station door.
The station was small, dusty, and worn with age. It looked like it hadn't been used since the fifties. A large booth, cover with dust, sat in the corner with a door behind it leading more then likely to the back room. There were seats scattered around the room for waiting on trains that'd never come. Random things lie on the floor. A couple books, papers and drawings clutter one corner.
The sound of Noah's boots clicking on the hard floor brought me back to reality.
She was standing at the back wall, staring at it.
I walked closer trying to get a better look at what she was staring out.
It looked like old graffiti.
"Here this might help." Nancy switched on a torch, and flashed it against the wall.
Written in blue spray paint were seven names. Each a different style and text. Ellie, Rafe, Jack, Mack, Jer, Magnus, Alex. A star was neatly drawn under the names.
Noah touched our mother's name, running her hand along it.
"Um, guys look." Deanna sat on the floor holding some pages in her hands. "It's our parents."
She was right. There were sketches of all our parents. They were young almost unrecognizable.
"Connor, look." Nancy hit my shoulder with the hand holding the light. Her other one pointed at the bottom left corner of the page. EB <3 was scribbled at the bottom of all of them.
"Mom did these." Noah gasped.
"I didn't know she could draw." I whispered in amazement, joining Deanna on the ground
"There's a lot you don't know about her, Con." Noah took a seat next to me, lying her head on my shoulder.
"Yeah, why don't you tell me then?" I questioned, pushing her hair away from her face.
Nancy sat quickly and we all gathered round to listen as Noah began a to tell the story.

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Filler. Dedicated to Nilli because she read 11 chapters in one night. - Izzy