Hope.

Chapter four. 'Dinner guests'

"You're still not up yet? Gwen, honestly!" My bedroom door slamming; my mom's voice snaps me out of my dreamy state.

The curtains are nearly ripped off their hinges as they're torn open, allowing sunlight to bathe my perfectly darkened room. I don't have the energy to reach for my covers and pull them over my head, so instead I just let out a muffled whimper, cuddling up into my blankets.

"Its mid-afternoon sweetie. I know you had a rough night last night, we all did, but the rest of us haven't turned nocturnal like you!" She shakes her head at me though her mouth sneaks a smile as she lays out an assortment of clothes for me to wear.

Trying to adjust to the light, I sit up in my bed, holding onto the sheets. With a long breath I blow at the tangled mess of a fringe falling onto my eyes.

The quiet is broken by a thump of feet running down the hallway. Stoping outside of my bedroom door for a small face to peer in.

"Hey moo-om," my youngest brother calls.

My mom cocks her head at him.

"You know that fish you're cooking..." He giggles at us "Well dad wants me to tell you that it's on fire and you need to save our dinner."

She lets out an exasperated groan, quickly hurrying out of the room after tapping on my clothes, signalling for me to get dressed. Just before she leaves completely she gives me a stern face.

"Make sure you're looking nice, okay honey? I've invited a special guest over in order to thank him for taking care of you last night." She winks at me. "Plus we haven't seen him in a while."

"Wait. Who? Peter!" I hurry down the hallway after her. My mom calls back a sound that sounds faintly like a yes.

"I was with him a few hours ago though! We went to Oscorp together? After I came home to check everything was alright, remember I went out again? He met me there..." I raise my eyebrows at her.

Her forehead furrows together so deeply it nearly disappears. "Really?" Mom's eyes widen, "Oh I'm so sorry I didn't realise... I suppose I was too busy just worrying- no... Well all of us had just presumed you'd spent the day asleep."

I shake my head, any other time I would have felt partially hurt that my family hadn't noticed that I'd disappeared... these weren't exactly normal circumstances though.

"How did you get back inside then?" Her eyes quickly dart behind her towards the kitchen, where the smell of charred fish is drifting towards us.

I can't give her an answer though. I don't know how I ended up lying on my bed. It was like at some point I'd blacked out, only to wake up in my own room, like nothing had happened at all.

"I thought you'd be happier to hear that he was coming around?" My mom frowns, "Goodness, did you two have a fight?"

"No, no! I mean, well... I just don't know what's going on anymore." My head still aches; I haven't even begun to trying to process about everything that has happened over the past twenty-four hours. It's as though my mind is willing me to block it all out.

"Well, his aunt couldn't make it; he'll be here sometime soon. Get dressed!" She shouts from the kitchen. My mom was only half listening. Then with a murmur she adds, "I hope Peter likes Branzino..."

...

The tables been laid out, with me sitting opposite from him. White plates piled high with my mothers cooking are placed in front of us. Upon them sits the remains of a small fish, steaming hot, covered in boiled peas.

Peter nudges my foot underneath the table, sneaking me little smiles which I can't help but return. I have so many questions, but for now, it's easier to just sit here and eat a normal hot dinner. Enjoying it while I can. I have an aching feeling that all too soon, things are going to grow dark.