The Mating Games

Chapter 28: My Little Princess

"Hey mum," the phone crackled for a second, I waited with baited breath.

"Summer? Is that you?" I trapped my bottom lip between my teeth, holding back the tears that threatened to spill over.

"Yeah, it's me mum." She gasped, an excited squeal bubbling past her lips.

"Oh it's so good to hear from you darling, how have you been?" I could hear the relief in her voice and the guilt gnawed at my heart. It had been months since I had called her; I had put it down to being busy, to the fact I had uni work and a pack to look after but the truth was, I didn't know what to tell her. So much had happened at the games and then after, that I had lost the ability to tell my parents my problems but after recent events, I owed them.

"Well, I actually have something to tell you," I trailed off, do I catch up first? Should I dive in with my news, I have no idea how this all works.

"Are you okay darling? It is Theo? Did you have a fight?" She fired off question after question.

"No, it's not Theo."

"Is it the shadows? You need to tell me if they're back, I've been trying to get a hold of a witch I once knew but she's being allusive. We can work it out, we'll come up with something," she was beginning to ramble, her mind working overtime with possible scenarios.

"Mum! Just hold on a second," I cut her off, "I'm pregnant." The phone went silent. I waited for her to say something but all I got in return was the dial tone. I scoffed, she hung up on me! On her only daughter! How dare she, that's so rude! Well fine, if she doesn't want to talk to me than I won't talk to her.

I put the phone down and picked at the chipped case while relaxing back in my chair. My hand unconsciously rests on my flat stomach, it's crazy to think that there is a tiny little parasite sucking the blood straight from my veins... or a baby, yes I should call it a baby, might make people feel uncomfortable. Theo certainly hates it when I call it a parasite, says we should give our baby a cute name like, peanut or blueberry; just makes me think of food, which makes me hungry and now I need a snack.

The kitchen was quiet, too quiet; it's only ten in the morning but Sophie doesn't have school today and I can't hear the tv or music or anything in the house. This is suspicious. Hmm I'll grab a snack then go find her, she must be up to no good. I think a banana sounds like a good idea, yummy. I peel the banana as I walk out of the kitchen; the lounge is empty, TV off and the cushions still on the couch. She hasn't been here. Maybe her bedroom is a better place to look; my feet softly pad on the wooden floors, it's so still around here it feels like I've walked into a horror movie. I peek around the corner, waiting for something to move but it doesn't; now I'm just scaring myself. Sophie's door is ajar, her duvet is half on the floor and toys are strewn everywhere but I can't see the little devil anywhere.

This is getting way too suspicious, she could be anywhere and I wouldn't know. I should be getting ready for uni, not trying to hunt down a soon to be nine year old but here I am, munching on a banana and playing a forced game of hide and seek. The bathroom door is also open, and also comes up empty; there's only one place she could be now. My bedroom door is closed; bingo.

I snuff out my steps, gently placing my feet softly onto the floor so she won't hear me; I want to know exactly what she's doing in our room. The handle turns and clicks; I let the door slowly swing open a tad and peer my head in. Sophie is standing in front of my mirror, a tube of lipstick in her hand and mascara in the other but that's not what I'm angry about, oh no. I'm angry because she currently has one of my bras strapped across her chest, one of my white bras that now has smudges of red and black over the cups. I let the door hit the wall and she turns around, lipstick mid-air.