Life's A Beach

Chapter Two

The rest of the drive was rather quiet, my brain stuck on the sexy devil I had met and my dad's concentrated on the road.

Finally, after endless hours of driving as a whole, we pulled into a rather grand, dimly lit residence. "Damn," I whisper softly, gazing at the magnificent, obviously expensive home.

The exterior was a light tan possibly wood paneling, adorning the flat roof with neutral, almost tan, rustic shingles and stark white gutters. It's beauty made my heart swoon with envy.

My father had lived here, probably with no discomfort, while my mother and I settled for a cheap mobile home with trashy neighbors. Through my fury, logic hammers away at me. My anger vanishes as quick as it had come, knowing that being angry wouldn't solve anything, or bring my mother back.

With hesitation, I clamber out of his vehicle, eyes still trained on the wide front door. It swings open and reveals a thin, middle-aged blonde woman, wearing a skintight and thigh-high black dress. Her icy-blue hues narrow when she sees me, drinking in my appearance.

My attire didn't light a candle to her own getup since I'd been wearing the same mid wash jeans with rugged holes and tears, and my sentimental baggy faded green hoodie with the classic 'Ohio University' and iconic bobcat head.

Mom loved watching college football and this hoodie was practically a momento. "Hey," I greet who I guessed was my step-mom, refusing to lose the staring battle between us.

"You must be Austen." She says flatly, picking at her well-manicured nails. "Allen, doesn't she have some place to stay?"

My dark eyebrows furrow at how rude she was being, not even trying to hide her shitty attitude from my dad. "She's my daughter, Olivia." He rubs the stubble on his jaw, closing his eyelids in thought. "She'll be staying with us and I'm sure Millie will enjoy her company."

Olivia, the newly profound bitch, scoffs at dad's words. "Fine, but she'll leave straight after graduation." With one last look of disgust at me, she sways her hips back into the house, leaving dad and I in a tense silence.

"Wow, she's kind of a dick." I say blatantly and walk back to the passengers side to get my backpack.

In a tired tone he says, "Austen, please lay off of the cursing, your mother will be at my throat and cussing like a sailor won't help your cause."

Anger swept through my veins like wildfire, "Did you just say, 'my mother'?" Tears form in the corner of my eyes, "How dare you! She isn't, and never will be my fucking mother!"

He tore open a fresh wound, he deserves it. I snag the backpack and swing it over my shoulder, giving him one more tear-filled glance. "I can't believe you just said that."

I push past the door, glaring holes into Olivia. I couldn't say step-mom, the thought made my stomach want to up-chuck.

Finding the stairwell, I stomp up it, attitude in every step. I wasn't normally a raging, hormonal bitch, but my mom was my everything; my best friend, the person I told every secret to, every crush.. I love her and no one will ever replace that special hole in my heart, especially not her.

"What a little-" I grew too far to hear what Olivia had to say about me and I couldn't care less.

As I walk down the hallway, filled with a variety of paintings and antiques, one of the wooden doors open. Doe-like eyes peer at me from around the doorframe, framed by blonde beach waves with highlights in them.

"You must be Austen." She says, a grin spreading across her features. "I'm Millie, your step-sister."

"You don't seem like ultra-mega bitch down there," I say, testing the waters. She giggles, brushing a fair lock behind her ear.

"Yeah, well. You don't seem as.." She trails off, looking as though she was biting her tongue.

"Hills Have Eyes type?" I say, wiggling my fingers. Millie laughs, bobbing her head into a nod. "Maybe if you feed me after midnight," I add, winking playfully.

* * *

We sat on the edge of the guest rom's queen-sized bed, where I'd be staying for the duration of my stay. "Don't mind her, by the way. Ignore anything that comes out of her mouth."

I give Millie a look of scepticism, "You don't like your mom?" I ask, shocked.

Millie shows the first sign of weakness since I'd met her, looking down at her feet covered in pink socks. "Nah, I mean who does?"

"I loved my mom," I say softly.

Millie gasps softly, pushing her palm to her pink lips. "Oh my god, I'm so sorry Austen. I didn't mean to-" I raise a hand to stop her but she continues looking down. "What was she like, your mom?"

I close my eyes, painting her portrait on the back of them like a canvas. "Beautiful. She had tan skin that glowed during the summer and wilted in the winter, she loved California when she was here." I feel tears beginning to fall down my cheeks but ignore them even as they wrap around my jawline like a wet caress.

"Her hair was as thick and unruly as mine, but wasn't inky, it was the brightest, most brilliant shade of red. She looked so beautiful when she smiled too." A similar smile adorned my cheeks, the whole world brightening at the thought of her. "She had the prettiest, most pure baby blue hues you'd ever had seen."

I open my eyelids only to find Millie with tears pouring from her own eyes, "I'm so sorry Austen," I sit stunned as she draws me into a warm hug and we both cling to each other as sobs wrack our body.