Mission I'm Possible

Chapter Six

I pull up onto my drive way, and notice a stranger's car parked here, as well. Once again, curiosity bubbled inside of me as I opened the front door and stepped inside.

"Paige?" I call out. I hear laughter from her then her answer.

"We're in the kitchen, Claire!" We? Who's we? I walk through the living room and make my way to the kitchen. Paige is sitting with someone at the island..is that.. Daniel? "Claire, why didn't you tell me kids here had such a good sense if humor?"

After my shock wore off, I finally answered. "When'd you get here?"

"Went to go grab some food. Paige was there, found out she was your mom, told her we had a project, and she brought me here." He answered smoothly.

I didn't bother correcting him that Paige wasn't my mom. "Well, since you're here, and you met Paige, I guess I can't get rid of you." I say jokingly. Paige looks at me in horror, but Daniel laughs, so Paige lets it go. "We can work at the library, okay? It's just a bit messy." I suggest.

"That sound perfect. Thanks for the coffee Paige." He politely says to my stepmom and walks a bit in front of me. I turn to Paige, give her a look which says 'we're not done here'. She laughs and shakes her at me before turning around.

I lead Daniel to the library and set my stuff done on the floor, he follows my example. Daniel whistles in astonishment.

"What?" I ask.

He lifts his hands up in surrender. "Nothing, I'm just impressed on how many book you have." He explains. I just shrug. "You own all of these?" He asks.

"Yeah," I answer. "My dad inherited all to me. Anything we need would most likely be in one of these boxes, I doubt we'll need the Internet." I looked at him to see if the mention of my father affected him. Maybe he'll see me with pity and won't talk to me anymore.

I looked up, only to see him smiling. "You dad sounds like he was a smart man." Shocked, I just nodded, and started ruffling though boxes looking for books on anatomy. I motion Daniel to help, and he does.

After a couple if minutes, we find three boxes full of books on anatomy. "Umm..Daniel?" I interrupt the peaceful silence.

"Yes?" He replies without taking his eyesight away from the book he was currently reading.

"I'm hungry, I'm going to go make a snack. Any suggestions?" I ask.

"Nope," he says, popping the 'P'. "As long as I get a coke." He smirks.

I nod and head back towards our kitchen. Paige is still in the kitchen. "Paige, what are you still doing in the kitchen?"

She stops mixing whatever she had in a bowl and tosses it aside. "My job doesn't take as much of my time, and I found your mom's recipes in a box. I thought I could try to make some." I can tell she's stressing out about this. "But it's just not coming out right!" She places her elbows on the counter, and her head in her hands.

I head over to her, and place my hand on her back comfortingly. "It'll be fine, Paige. We can try to make some of my mom's recipes sometime later." I encourage. "Together." I add.

She smiles, "Okay, but for the mean time, how does pizza sound?"

I laugh, "Delicious, of course!" I say. I grab a water bottle and a coke and head back towards the library to Daniel. "Hey, Paige is going to order us some pizza in a--- what are you doing?!" I ask outraged.

Standing in the corner of the room is Daniel, holding my father's letter to me. "I-I'm sorry. I didn't know...wow, I can't believe-" He tries to apologize.

"What?" I dare him to continue. Making my way towards him, and ripping the letter from his hands. "That I'm an orphan?"

His eyes widen in shock. "No! It's just that the letter..your dad, he's asking you to-" He tries to explain.

"Just leave, Daniel." I say, my anger boiling. "I'll do the project. I'll even put your name right beside it so you get credit. Just leave."

"Claire, you don't understand." He insists. He grabs my shoulders, but I shrug him off which only causes him to hold on tighter to me. "My family is Lane."

"I know," I say though gritted teeth.

"I'm suppose to help you, and teach you, so nothing happens.." He suddenly stops talking, lets go of me taking a step back, and runs his fingers through his black hair. His blue eyes look wild, like everything is clicking in at once. "You need to come home with me." He demands.

He reaches for my hand, but I step away from him. "Are you crazy? I'm not going anywhere with you." I exclaim.

"It's your dad's will." He points out. And now, at this point, I don't know whether to go with him because he has a point, or throw him out once again because he's now guilt tripping me.

Already knowing my answer, I cross my arms and sigh. "Why?"

Daniel shifts uncomfortably. "Because I have a feeling my parents can explain everything to you. And whatever you don't understand I'll try to explain, okay?" He asks. I don't reply, his words still repeating over and over in my mind.

I felt him lead me towards a chair an sets me down. In the back of my mind I can hear Daniel call Paige, and explain everything to her. But all I'm still listening to is Daniel saying he's going to help me and teach me. But teach me what? Help me with what?

Next thing I know, Daniel has swung his coat over my shoulders to somewhat protect me from the now pouring rain outside. He opens the passenger door, and makes me sit. Once he's in the drivers seat he places the keys in the ignition, and looks at me asking if I'm okay. I just nod my head, but the sound of the ignition going off makes me realize I'm not, and there is lots of information I'm about to find out.