Letters For Indie

~Chapter 2~

Ding. Ding.

I reached under my pillow without opening my eyes and retrieved my phone. I ducked under the covers and wearily opened my eyes, just enough to make out the words on the screen.

5 new Facebook notifications.

My friends back in Washington wanted to know what Hallowsbury was like. I peeked through the sheets, to be met with unfriendly rays of piercing sunshine.

What was a girl born and raised in the rainy county doing here in all smiles and sunshines California?

I quietly stumbled onto my feet and was greeted with the beautiful, uncanny blaring of my friend, Alarm Clock.

It's time to get up?

Thank you Captain Obvious.

I came face to face with the long, hanging mirror on my door.

Whenever I looked at the mirror with my mother around, she'd walk up behind me and rest her perfectly crafted cheekbone against mine.

And then with a voice sounding like a thousand angels, she'd say, "Well, aren't you gorgeous today."

I softly laughed to myself.

It's funny how she always knew what to say to make a person feel loved. To me, I was never anything that special.

The wavy ash brown hair --my mother's.

The hazel eyes with scattered specks of olive green here and there --my mother's.

The light pink natural blush on my cheeks --my mother's.

The crooked, charming smile --my mother's.

To be completely honest, every beautiful aspect of me was stolen from my mom.

When I look in the mirror, I see a haunting reflection of Valerie Blair, the woman whom I owe my everything to.

Tomorrow, I would walk into the halls of Hallowsbury High School as a Senior.

My last year in school, my last year as a caged bird. After that, it was a one way ticket to freedom and wherever life, and a domestic plane ticket, would take me.

I made my way into the bathroom to brush my teeth and wash my face. The bitter cold water that burst out of the tap with one twist of the knob felt prickly against my palms.

"Indie!" I heard Martin holler, "Indie, if you're hungry, breakfast is waiting!"

Flashes of last night's crying and my father's fake assurance came rushing back to me, and hit me in the chest with full force.

I remembered the security of being in his arms, and the strong smell of his Calvin Klein cologne against my nose.

He chose to be incognito for my whole life, and now he's back to save the day and give me a new start?

My chest began swelling up with anger. Anger that I've been hoarding up for the past sixteen years.

I was never his daughter, and I wasn't going to start now.

"Coming!" I shouted back.

I twisted my hair into a messy bun, and stuck a pencil through to keep it in place. I willed myself to hold back any tears, and stood tall and straight, creasing down the wrinkles on my pajamas.

I pushed open the door, and was greeted by the delectable aroma of...food. I slowly made my way down the wooden stairs, trying not to hit my head on the low ceiling.

"You better watch out for the third stair. It's missing a few nails here and there," Martin called out.

Various breakfast foods were scattered across the little dining table.

I spotted messy bowls filled with bits of pancake batter, and the juice blender tilted over on the counter.

He scratched the growing stubble on his chin and said, "Sorry about that, I was just about to cleanup."

I glanced around the dining table and saw a plate with a heaping stack of fluffy, golden-brown pancakes, and a tray of soy sausages. Two tall glasses of orange juice sat on the table.

"You didn't have to do all this, dad."

The word felt forced and pained against my throat.

"Oh, but I wanted to. Just my little way of saying Welcome to Hallowsbury," he said, giving me a cheery thumbs up. "By the way, I know you're a vegetarian. I hope you like pancakes."

I sat down and attacked the flurry of breakfast goodness with my fork and knife.

"Martin, we have a problem. The editor just called and told me that he couldn't make it today at 2 o'clock. The meeting's been reschedueled to Thursday."

A short, blond woman emerged from the hallway. She was slightly chubby, with long, waist-length hair.

"Oh, you must be Indie!" she chuckled, "Martin's daughter?" I stared blankly at her for a few seconds ---seconds which transformed into what seemed like hours.

"I"m Martin's girlfriend, Jewel."

I quickly put the pieces together.

She's the reason it never worked for your parents, Indie.

She's the reason why Martin never bothered to call, or why he was always too busy to visit.

I sat there frozen,my mouth stuffed with pancakes dancing in a river of syrup, while she rushed over and pulled me into a great, big bear hug.

Martin grinned and said, "Indie, sweetheart, meet Jewel, my fiancé."