Double Or Nothing // C.T.H

43 ~ Calum

Valerie seemed more nervous than I was on the plane, which is saying something.

She's currently pacing up and down the sidewalk, her finger nails chewed between her teeth and her hair in a messy bun that she threw up in desperation.

We were dropped off here around 10 minutes ago, and we've not progressed since.

The house itself looked well kept. It was a light cream color, with a dark red door and a small balcony that faced the street. Trimmed hedges lined the driveway, and a blooming rose bush by the mail box. Deep red petals littered the sidewalk, which Valerie continuously crushed.

"Val," I whispered, grabbing the crook of her elbow to stop her.

She looked up at me with wide, terrified eyes. Her lips were raw from being assaulted by her teeth, and her cheeks were red and hot from her nerves.

"Oh God, I can't do this, Calum." Her bottom lip trembled and her eyes glisten.

I pull her into a hug, my face in her hair, like always. I run my hands up and down her back as soothingly I can.

"You've got this, babe." I whisper lowering my lips to her ear. "you've got me right behind you, always."

She stays in my embrace for a couple more moments before taking a deep breath and pulling away.

"You're right. This isn't about me, this is about Ollie." She marches up to the door, and freezes.

She stares at the door, hand raised, yet she hasn't knocked.

I could see her shoulders tremble as a mount the steps up the porch. I reach over her and hit the door lightly with me knuckles causing Valerie to flinch.

A woman with shirt blonde hair opens the door. She was wearing a blush colored blouse and black dress pants, her nails trimmed and manicured to perfection. She had faint laugh lines in her face despite her seemingly younger apparence.

"Hello?" She questions, squinting as sunshine floods through the doorway. "how may i-" when cuts off abruptly as she sees Val and I, recognition narrowing her eyes.

"Valerie." She pauses, not frowning, but definitely not smiling. "What on Earth are you doing here?"

Valerie looked completely overwhelmed. She was pale, and I wasn't completely sure if she was able to stay upright much longer.

"I uh," her voice shook so she cleared it softly, "I want to see Ollie." I placed my hand in her back and she leant into it slightly.

The women sighed, pressing her lips into a thin line.

"He's out at the moment," she stated, "though, I don't think it's in Oliver's best interest for you to see him anytime soon anyways."

Valerie wasn't going to be shooed off that quickly.

"Sandra, it's been years! How would it not be good for him to see his own big sister?!" Her voice raised a couple notches in both pitch and volume.

"I understand you miss him," Sandra sad briskly, attempting to close the door all together, "however you seem to be the one who doesn't understand. Now's not the time!"

"Wait!" Val gasped, desperation tore at her voice, "please, lets talk more about it!"

Sandra on the other hand, showed no sympathy. She only hurried back into the house, swinging the door back with her.

I quickly side-stepped out from behind Val, wedging my foot (painfully) between the wall and door, forcing it open.

Mr. Sandra looked as if she'd noticed me for the first time. Her face seems to drain of color as she looked up at me, eye widening.

"The girl just wants to chat," I gave her a big smile, while my eyes contradicted my warm expression, narrowing coldly.

Sandra's blue eyes glanced from me to Val, who looks on the verge of tears, then back into the house.

"Fine." She stepped back, crossing her arms over her chest, jaw set in a scowl. "Take off your shoes," she snapped.

I glared at her as I stepped out if my shoes, and she quickly turned and walked further into the home, opening into a living room.

The house smelt of cotton and lemon. It was impecably clean, especially for someone living with a child.

Tan couch, white carpet, glass coffee table. No toys. Nothing out of place. It was as if walking into a show house.

There were no signs of people living here.

"So, where is Ollie?" Valerie asked softly, tracing her fingers over the edge of a picture of a boy with the same, beautiful eyes.

He has the same dark hair also. His smile was so wide, it took up half of his entire face, complete with deep dimples in both cheeks. His hair was styled neatly, brushed off his forehead and out if his eyes. His button down was navy with white buttons, it made his cheeks pop red. He looked exactly like a younger Valerie.

"Piano lessons. They should be over soon." Sandra said stiffly, glancing to the clock.

"They?" I ask, watching as Valerie stared at the same picture, hand hovering over the boys face.

Sandra glared at me once more, "Yes, my husband Mark and Oliver will return within half an hour." Her pale hand fidgeting with her Rolex.

" The scar under his eyebrow," Valerie said, drawing our attention back to her. She hadn't moved. "It never faded." She whispered, touching her finger to the glass.

"Don't touch!" Sandra snapped, causing Valerie to flinch back. The room fell silent, and Valerie looked ready to let the ground swallow her up.

"We keep things tidy in this house." Sandra finally said, straightening her blouse. "I don't need your finger prints smudging my pictures."

"Yes-" Valerie cleared her throat, "Yes ma'am, I'm sorry." She bowed her head slightly, yes in a small 'hmph' from Sandra in response.

"You know," Val began, her voice steady yet quite. "I used to stay up all night, checking to make sure Ollie was safe. I could only sleep if I saw for myself that he was okay." She paused, setting her jaw.

"Untill you took him away. Do you know how many nights I'd lay awake, wondering where you disappeared too?" Her voice rising, eyes getting glossier by the second.

"I wasn't loosing sleep over the fact the nobody wanted me, I wasn't worried about who I was stuck living with, I was worried about Ollie!" She took strides towards the shivering woman before her, jabbing her finger into her chest.

"You did that! You tore us apart. " She all but yelled. "You tore me apart."

"How do you live with your self after all you've done to me?" Their faces were inches apart, and Sandra looked as red as Valerie's hair and cheeks.

"You better back the hell away from my wife," a deep voice boomed, sending me into momentary panic. For a second, I thought it was my father.

However, when I turned around to face the man before me, I almost wished it was my dad.

Holy shit.

A/N

So I know this book is dead.
I'm disappointing.
I'm sorry.