The Love of a Stranger

Just Like Old Times

Jack left to go to work, said he had something really important he had to do, something I would never understand, he's the one with the good grades...I'm the failed one. I was obvious for anyone to see that I was jealous of him; gained himself a living, a good job, a lovely house, and me; homeless and jobless. Leaving me alone and depressed in the house I forced myself to make a sandwich, I hadn't eaten in a while...not that I was bothered.

My weekly routine consisted of spending my time alone in Jack's house while he left for work, then soon my weekly routine became daily. I would waste my life away on Jack's couch watching TV being nothing but an utter anti-socialist. By now, after what seemed like a lifetime, Bastille's tour was finished and they were now back in the UK. I couldn't bare the thought now that Dan was back in the UK it made him just as vulnerable as I was. I couldn't cope knowing that he was in the same country, same city, same area, and I stopped myself from seeing him. I hadn't talked to him in a while, I wanted my mum to think that I had nothing to do with Dan so that she wouldn't go after him.

Suddenly there was a knock at the door making me jump and almost drop the plate, cursing. My stomach flipped, should I open it? I tried to think optimistic and say to myself that it might just be the milkman or the postman or even Dan...and with that confidence I strolled over to the door and swung it open and who stood there in front of me took my breath away.

"Hello darling." She smiled showing her pearly white teeth with her curly black hair that sat neatly upon her shoulders, her Louis Vuitton bag hanging over her shoulder, her height over towering me and her smug little face staring back at me

Why did I open the goddamned door?!

I stood there smouldering at her repeatedly shaking my head refusing to believe she was even standing in front of me.

"No...no..." Was all I could say.

"Why don't you just invite me in and we can have a little catch up? It's been a while surely you have some gossip for me."

"No you can't come in, what makes you think I'm just going to tell you everything? How could you even dare to think that I would even talk you after everything you've put me through?"

I never gave her the chance to speak as I slammed the door in her face. Before that satisfying click of the lock indicating the definite close of the door, she jammed her foot in between the doorframe and the door, preventing me from closing it no matter how much force I pushed onto the it. Damn she's strong.

"Now Laura, you will open the door for me we don't want to make this any harder then it has to be."

Her threatening voice haunted my memories, like it had complete control over my actions. I did what she told me to do, just like when I was younger and had no other choice. I was scared. I opened the door for her to walk in, her sickly perfume made me gag as she purposely brushed past my shoulder. She wondered her way into the living room while I followed her, she inspected the house while I inspected her.

"It's nice to see that Jack had done himself well. The first-borns always do so much better."

"Well it's not like I had a choice to be second born, in fact it's not like I had a choice to be born at all, and right now I wish I hadn't been." I sneered. I had every right to hate this woman. I didn't even see her as my mum. I watched her as she straightened out her tight, long skirt while I leaned against the doorframe and my arms folded, I chewed on my bottom lip in anger so much that I could taste metallic taste of blood in my mouth.

"So, what's been happening with you?" She asked like nothing has ever happened between us. That's was it, I lost the plot.

"YOU'RE NOT ALOUD TO ASK ME THAT." I shouted bringing myself away from the doorframe. She crooked her head to the side gobsmacked. She angrily took off her blazer and threw her bag onto the couch opening it up and bringing out a gun and pointing it out at me.

"I didn't think it would have come to this." She gritted through her teeth. I stood there with my arms half risen and my eyes wide with terror.

"Why does it?" I asked her.

"Because I can't and won't go to jail, I have a life, I have a business to run and without me it would fail, I have a wealthy husband and I'm not letting some pathetic little girl like you ruin my career!" She shouted getting louder.

"Oh yeah how is dad? Remember him?" I asked remembering Jack telling me that mum and dad split up years ago, now figuring out that mum left him because they were broke and mum found some wealthy bloke to live with while dad continues to live alone, he's lucky, he got away.

She didn't even reply, only to cock her gun and come closer to me, her lips pursed and her breathing heavy. My arms raised higher while I shuffled back. I took a quick glance at the clock, 3pm. That's when Jack usually gets home, if I could stall mum long enough for him to come home in time.

"I'm not going to let you, or your boyfriend, or even Jack ruin my life. And I'm starting with you." She squinted her eyes. I could see her finger curling round the trigger.

"Wait! Please! Do whatever you want with me, just please don't hurt Dan or Jack." I pleaded.

"You won't be able to do anything about that once I'm finished with you." She smirked.

Bitch.