Sunflower

50 - Familiar

Theo

Linda and Jude were sitting at the kitchen counter when I got home. They both looked at me for a mere second before turning back to whatever papers laid in front of them. I didn't question it as I dragged myself up to my room, shutting the door and throwing my bag somewhere where it would be forgotten.

A knock pulled me out of my thoughts after I changed into sweats and a hoodie. I opened the door to be greeted by Jude.

"Theo, we need to talk." I nodded, knowing very well there was no way out. She would probably bring up something concerning about my health or about what I am doing to myself. She knows of what I do, she just doesn't know why.

I let her into my room and she took a seat on the side of my bed. I followed her and sat down next to her.

"Linda and I both know everything's been hard on you. We know what circumstances you lived in back in Sunderland, we know that forcing you to suddenly move to Florida was a huge change, and we know about your habits..."

I nodded with no care once again.

"Linda suggested we should send you to rehab, to help you with your problems." I looked at her with wide eyes. She saw my reaction and smiled slightly.

"I persuaded her that we shouldn't. You know how to survive, and we know that, but we just want what's best for you. You might not be our actual son, but in our hearts you are."

"Thank you Jude." She rose her hand to caress my cheek, and I let her. I wasn't going to fight them, there was no point to.

"We want to get to know you better, so the main reason I came up here was to ask if you'd like to go out to eat dinner. Just the three of us." I let a small smile spread on my lips and nodded.

"Get ready soon. We're leaving a bit later then 7, so finish your homework." After that, she left me to myself in my small room.

I let the breath I was holding in out and swiped my long locks with my fingers back. Tonight would be a long night.

~

I walked down the stairs wearing a purple blouse tucked into tight black pants. My hair was put into a messy bun, my dangling chain earrings showing along with one silver ring.

I spotted in my steps when I saw Jude, Linda, and a girl who looked around my age at the doorway.

"Theo honey. This is Alexandra, the daughter of our boss." Linda said full of glee. I looked at Jude with a questioning glare, but she never gave me an answer.

"Hello! You must be Theodore. I've heard a lot about you from Linda and Jude."

"Hello." I replied, meeting eyes with her blue ones. She looked familiar for some reason, but I shrugged the feeling off.

"I came by to ask your parents if they would bring you along to work one day. My father would love to meet his best employees's new child." I nodded for the tenth time that day, and she took my answer with excitement.

"Alrighty, thank you Linda and Jude! Nice to meet you Theodore!" And with that, the mysterious girl left.

"Let's go to dinner."

~ baba