Anaphase

Phase XII

Lilith's Perspective

My stomach felt bloated and uneven in multiple places. I couldn't suck in my stomach and desperately wanted to unbutton these stupid tight jeans. A clear indication of Mrs Griffins scrumptious cooking and hot chocolate. Was this woman heaven-sent or what.

Everyone had left the table save Mrs Griffin, Demetri and I.
Evelyn had fled to the toilet and it looked as if she got lost from the stretch of her absence.

Hurry up Evelyn! I was no marvel at table conversation.

I started to feel very insecure and began pinching my thigh constantly. I didn't do well with people I wasn't closely associated with.

"Lilith love," addressed Elouise.
"Yes?"
"Our family will be leaving later tonight for um- business reasons," she confessed with a fruitful voice.
"Oh! Um," I tried to brainstorm quickly on the spot.
Either I escape to Evelyn's...I can't Intrude after what's happened. They share a one bedroom apartment for crying out loud too, she'd never let me leave back home.
Or I go back... back to him.

Subconsciously, my fists clenched under the concealment of the grand oak table, no hope of any air passing through.
My hands shook slightly under the table and I could have sworn the room was going fuzzy.
Swallowing loudly, I stammered a jumbled sentence out.
"Um, I'm sure I can get home uh. Right after breakfast, we'll re-test Evelyn's car it should be working just right by now!" 

Elouise' and Demetri's utensils dropped to the table simultaneously.
They both shared the same shocked look, I'd never seen them look so alike. It almost made me snicker.

"You will not!" Snapped Mrs Griffin, her authoritative tone strange coming from her petite frame.
"You will stay right here where you are safe!"
I began to protest before she cut me off, a more gentle tone in her voice.
"You are welcome here Lilith. Don't you fuss one bit, you are being no inconvenience. If anything it's nice to have someone else other than these same old faces for once. Do stay," she almost pleaded. "We'll be back again I just thought I'd let you know. You need not go anywhere, especially not back to that wretched m-"

She paused mid-sentence, cleared her throat and smiled over at me encouragingly. 

I couldn't do anything else but smile. Her words, no matter how casual, still struck a heartstring. I wasn't used to being welcome, and in such a wondrous place such as their home felt like a priveledge. Her kindness was starting to seem so unusual I thought someone would pop out with a camera bellowing 'prank'.

How people spoke so harshly about the Griffin's I couldn't fathom. I quickly decided upon jealousy as the only explanation.

"Thank you," I breathed.

Demetri relaxed in his chair.
"As long as you need love," is all she said.

My insides warmed.

                                                                                                 ~

Finding my bedroom was much easier this time...considering Demetri was directing me. Evelyn seemed to have decided to be a rabbit in a hat and disappear to Wonderland for all I knew, leaving me to force conversation.

"Your house is colossal, the deceiving size from outside doesn't do the interior justice at all," I complimented, meaning every word. 

"Yes, well, we could house many here. Yet, there's only six of us," Demetri answered rather disappointedly. 

Demetri, Mrs Griffin, Mr Griffin, Patrima and Maverick. Did he say six? 

I was about to ask who the sixth was when we'd arrived outside our doors.