Everyone should own a Gun

Chapter 7

Okay Harry, maybe I won't call the cops but I can and will block you -A

That fact that you replied in the first place tells me you won't do that either -H

Any halfway sane person would block him straight away, so why hadn't I? I must be insane, or slowly losing my mind after everything that'd happened. I tossed my phone onto the bed slightly harder than I'd meant to and stalked out of the room, deciding it was best to just ignore the problem and hope it went away. Perhaps he'd lose whatever sick interest he had in taunting me and leave me alone. Alright, maybe it wasn't the best plan ever, but clearly I wasn't able to think rationally thanks to my friendly neighbour psychopath.

"Lia? Honey, I'm home." At last. Mum was home. I stomped down the stairs, pulling myself together before I faced her. No way did I want her to worry any more than she already does about me.

She smiled when I came into view. "Hi darling, how was Elle?"

"She's okay, had to run off to see Austin so it was quite a short chat. Ended up just drinking coffee by myself." I quickly covered my lie with a small smile and a disinterested shrug, and hoisted myself up onto the kitchen island.

"You wait, soon she'll have no time for you if it doesn't include this boy of hers. They'll turn into 'we' people, no independence and no mind of their own."

"Mum!" I gave her a stern look with just a hint of amusement. Every so often, her resentment towards my father shows itself.

She grinned, confirming what she'd said was a joke. Well mostly, anyway.

"You're going to put the poor girl off ever getting into a relationship saying things like that." Grandma came into the kitchen and to my side and put her arm gently around my shoulder.

Mum shook her head resignedly and turned to the fridge. "Well I don't know about you two, but I'm going to go sit down, I have to go out again in a couple of hours." I swear the woman never gets any time to fully relax.

"Never a quiet moment in a hospital." Grandma murmured as though she'd just read my mind. She followed my Mum into the lounge.

I joined them and sat in my favourite armchair. I could sense my Mum's eyes on me and suddenly my fingernails become fascinating. I started fiddling with them, pretending to check the polish for chips, but that had never worked on Mum before and sure enough it didn't now.

"What're you thinking about, sweetheart?" Her voice had that false casual tone that meant she thought she knew it was bad.

I shrugged. "Just stuff." Cue therapy session.

"Is it anything to do with what happened? You know it's best to talk about it if it's on your mind."

"It's not about that. Well, not specifically." Looking up, I saw them both watching me and waiting for me to continue. "It's just... I don't know, with everything that's happened, I think...ugh... I don't know, part of me just wants to leave for a couple days." I paused, and couldn't help sighing. "I feel like a change of scene might help."

"You know you're more than welcome to come back with me and stay for as long as you want." Gran patted my knee. Mum nodded.

"I obviously want you to stay here with me, but I agree, it might be in your best interest to take a break for a little."

I didn't want to leave Mum either, but I needed to go for a while. I needed to feel safe, and that meant being somewhere no one - or rather, one particular person - knew nothing about.