Plains

Chapter 10: Ross

June 23rd 7:52am Bailey's POV

After a few moments of walking we came to a tall pastel two story house with a perfectly manicured lawn, dozen of pale pink roses lined the house, two tall oak trees dotted the front yard, a plastic pink flamingo standing underneath one.

We walked up onto the white porch decorated with seasonal summer things. I rung the doorbell and a musical chime filled the space.

The door open to reveal a tall woman with short curled brown hair, pale blue eyes, a pink silk blouse, slacks, and a smile on her face. "Bailey!" she spoke bringing me in for a tight hug. "Hey Aunt Delores." I said smiling at her warm embrace. As much as Samantha was a snot, Aunt Delores was a delight. She never rubbed her fortunes in other peoples faces, and even regularly gave to Saint Jude.

"How are you holding up dear?" she said pulling away her eyes shining. "Well enough."

Her eyes swiveled from mine to Douglas's. "Douglas, how are you? I haven't seen you since the Christmas party a couple years ago! My how you've grown." she smiled looking Douglas up and down approvingly. "I'm good, yeah it's been to long." he spoke sheepishly.

"Right then, Samantha will be down in a minute, she's gathering her things, would you two like to come in for a cookie? I'm trying out a new banana chocolate recipe!" she exclaimed, turning and entering her home, not waiting for us to respond.

Inside was just as nicely decorated as the outside. Everything inside looked expensive but not so much that outsiders felt uncomfortable.

Hardwood floors covered the foyer and into the kitchen and living room which they called the family room. Pale yellow walls made the space look bright yet cozy at the same time.

The smell of banana chocolate was irresistible. "Here." smiled Aunt Delores handing me and Douglas one each.

I bit into mine and instantly let out a moan. "This is so good Aunt Delores. You should be a pastry chef, I know I'd buy everything you'd make." I say stuffing my face with the rest of the cookie.

"Thank you dear, your to kind. I was-" she gets interrupted by Samantha squealing as she bounded down the stairs "Bailey! Your here!" she yells running to me and wrapping her arms around me. She's nothing if not friendly.

"Hey Samantha. You remember Douglas right?" I said, trying to divert her attention away from me.

Her eyes dart toward Douglas, her eyes searching his for recognition. "Of course I do." she says as Douglas's hand goes out to shake hers but she hugged him instead. "Good to see you to Samantha." he barely says, Samantha squeezing him to tightly.

"You guys ready to go?" Bradly said, suddenly appearing from the next room making us all jump. "Of course silly." Samantha says before pulling him by the collar of his shirt and kissing him deeply right in front of us. "Inappropriate much." Douglas whispers in my ear shooting me a small smile.

We leave, thanking Aunt Delores once again for her cookies, and the piled into the black Ford Edge Samantha called her car.

Of course Samantha drove and Bradly got the front seat which meant me and Douglas sat in the backseat which I was gratefully for.

Immediately after pulling out of the driveway Samantha turned up the radio to Gwen Stefani's song The Sweet Escape which she started singing extremely loudly, soon followed by Bradly's voice as well.

Douglas handed me Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone saying. "Here, it'll be a while."

Two hours later, we pulled in to the stores parking lot.

Albany is only thirty minutes away from Plains, but Samantha drives exceedingly slow. Then we spend forever in IHop.

"Finally." Douglas sighed getting out of the car as quick as possible, his backpack slung over his shoulder.

I get out just as Samantha slammed her door shut, putting her hands on her hips and smiling at her next conquest. Ross.

As soon as we enter, a wave of icy cold air conditioner air blasts us in the face, bringing he back to that day at the Buffalo Café, before everything turned on it's side and became a blur of meeting murderers and hearing sympathetic apologies. A carrousel of emotions, and every time I walk in my house it's like that day on repeat. Waking up like it wasn't the last day my dad would ever see. Nonchalantly telling him I'd be back soon, and hearing 'okay' as a response. The last words he would ever say to me and I barley listened to them. My sister was upstairs at the time. I know she heard it happen. I can't imagen how scared she was.

"Bailey!" Douglas yells in my ear. I turn my head towards his, without saying anything. "I've been talking to you for like five minutes before realizing you aren't even listening. What are you doing?" he says tilting his head ever so slightly.

"Nothing, come with me." I say, grabbing his hand, electricity shooting through our touch, and pulling him with me to the shirt section.

We start searching through the rack, Samantha and Bradly going over to comb through jeans.

"You know the annual Summer Shin Dig at Lake Blackshear is next weekend, so be on the lookout for a summery shirt." I say casting a glace over my shoulder at Douglas who's already holding up a shirt. "You mean like this?" he asked, as I put my full attention on the shirt.

It was navy blue with 'Beaches Broken Hearts' written in white across the front. "Your a lifesaver, thanks." I smile as he hands me the shirt. "I can only hope so." he says ever so quietly that I can barley hear him, and I don't think I was supposed to.

Hours after hours later, we were finally on our way home. I checked the time on my phone and it read 10:32pm. Sighing I snuggled into the leather seat, staring out of the window even though I could only make out the out lines of things.

I ended up getting that shirt from Ross, another pair of ripped black jeans to add to my collection, white tennis shoes, a silver necklace in the shape of a flame, and a black hoodie, for 'ehem' important things.

One Republic's Good Life came on, and I started singing, much to the surprise of everyone else in the car. Eventually we were all singing along to every word.

As much as Samantha was a bother, as much as I wanted to kiss Douglas, as much as I wanted my father back, nothing could take away this moment, nothing. Because for the first time in a long time I was overflowing with happiness.

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Hey guys! Hoped you liked this chapter! More are to come I promise. Please vote and comment if you enjoyed, I always appreciate it.

-IHeartDennis <3