𝓦𝓱𝓮𝓷 𝓜𝓻𝓼. 𝓘𝓷𝓯𝓪𝓶𝓸𝓾𝓼 𝓜𝓮𝓽 𝓣𝓱𝓮 𝓜𝓪𝓼𝓸𝓬𝓱𝓲𝓼𝓽...

Chapter 46

A few days after was Thanksgiving Day, and the school was closed for a week while Ryan at work let me have the weekend off. My friends invited me to spend the holiday with them, but I told them I was visiting my parents for Thanksgiving. While most of them were understanding, it seemed like Remington was slightly disappointed when I told him. He tried to play it off like he would just miss me, but something in his eyes and the way he spoke made me believe he was really hoping I would stay here to celebrate with him. It's not like I don't want to be with my friends, I promised my parents I would visit them to show that I would stay in touch even if I'm somewhere far away. They told me they were looking forward to seeing me again, and I told them likewise. I was personally excited to tell them how great it's been for me these past few months since I arrived here and how many amazing and kind people I've met that make this town feel like home.

I was planning to spend a few hours at my parent's house and then come back. If it's too late for me to drive back, I might stay overnight and come back in the morning. I decided to bring Fern along because I wanted my parents to meet her since she's been so special to me. I only brought a few small things for in case I might stay overnight, but besides that, I didn't bring much for the drive and stay. Before I got in my car, I hugged all my friends and said goodbye. When I said goodbye to Remington though, his hug felt half-hearted, and it made me feel sad. To help him feel better, I stole a kiss on his cheek, leaving him blushing and shocked. I got in my car and gave one last wave before driving away out of the city.

I left around 2:00 in the afternoon, and the drive took about two and a half hours since I only stopped wherever I could to use the restroom and eat or drink something. When I finally got to my hometown, it looked the same and a million memories flooded my brain as I drove through it. I was starting to wonder how I was able to stay sane in a place that made me feel like I didn't belong here. At first, I didn't think it'd be so bad, but it seemed to get worse every year as the same kids I've known since childhood continued to exclude me or make me feel uncomfortable. I told my parents once about how I felt, and they brushed it off like it was a temporary thing, and I never brought it up again. I guess a small part of me was excited to leave this place when I got accepted to Trouvaille, but I just didn't rub it in my parents' faces when I was.

I got to my parents' house, and I knocked on the door with Fern in my arms. The door opened and I met my mother who was all dressed up like she was going to a fancy party. "Carina! You're here!", she exclaimed and I smiled. "Hi, mom!" She looked down to see Fern snuggled up in my arms, "Oh, what's this, Carina?", she asked. "This is Fern, my new dog", I answered while gently petting her,  "She's the most lovable creature I've ever met in my life." My mother petted her as well while stating, "She is cute. Maybe we should get a dog, too." Then she invited me in, and I entered my old home and looked to see my parents had already started decorated for the holidays. I found my father in the living room, setting up the dinner table which was flourished with delicious-looking food. He looked up and smiled while walking toward me and hugged me quickly. "I'm so glad to see you again, Carina. And nice to see you have a cute companion, too", he said while looking at me then at Fern. "I'm happy to see you guys, too, Dad."

After I got settled, we sat at the dinner table, and I gave some of my food to Fern so she wouldn't be hungry. My parents spent most of the first hour talking about what's been going on with them, and for the most part, it was nothing exciting to me since I know what they're really like when no one is watching but I smiled and nodded to be polite because I didn't want to be rude. Then they asked, "So, Carina. Why don't you tell us how you've been these past few months? I hope it hasn't been too difficult for you adjusting to a new place to live." I shook my head and told them, "Oh no,  it's actually been so great for me, actually. I really love it, to be honest." "Does anyone know about your...", my father asked, referring to my darkest secret, and I stopped him and replied, "No, dad. Nobody knows anything about that." Then, they both sighed a breath of relief, making me feel slightly uncomfortable as if they didn't hear what I said.

I continued talking about my new life in Querencia, "Anyway, things have been going really well for me. I have a job, I'm doing well in school, and I've met so many people who are so nice and friendly and just make me feel happy.  They help me sometimes and I help them in return." I wondered if I should mention Remington and what he did, but I wouldn't mention he's in a gang less a rock band. "I met a really sweet guy named Remington Leith who saved my life, and he's unlike anyone I've ever met in my life-" "Carina, even if that Remington saved your life", my mother interrupted me, "the last thing you should let distract you are boys no matter what." I know she was just looking out for me, but that honestly hurt. I just told my parents I practically almost died, and all they care is that I don't let boys distract me? Suddenly, I was starting to wonder what the hell I was doing here if they didn't want to hear about my new life.

I got up from the dinner table and told the both of them, "I'm very sorry, Mom and Dad. But I have somewhere else to be and I promised my friends I would join them tonight. It was nice seeing you again, but now I have to go." I took Fern who fell asleep in my arms, and placed her in my lap when I sat in the driver's seat and drove away from the home I no longer consider home. It was twilight when I left, so I was lucky to leave early enough before it got too dark. When I got back to Querencia, I drove right to Delilah's house where the party would be. I knocked on the door, and had never been happier to see my friend as she opened the door. Her face lit up and she exclaimed with enthusiasm, "Carina! I can't believe you made it! Come on in, Emerson and Nina are here, too." I entered and smiled as I hugged my other two friends who were eating some cookies. I laid Fern on one of the couch seats and then I asked, "Hey, did Remington come?" They shook their head and Emerson stated, "He said he had a really bad headache and couldn't come tonight." Del walked past me and mumbled quietly enough so that only I could hear, "I'm pretty sure its his heart that's aching, not his head." With that, I spent the rest of Thanksgiving thinking about Remington.

OOOH!!! This was certainly interesting, wasn't it? If my parents were like that, I would rather spend the holidays with my friends too. I wonder why Remington didn't come though. Was he more upset than we thought about Carina leaving her friends for her parents? Seems like he won't be hiding his feelings for her anymore...🙄🙄🙄 Anyway, I hoped you liked this chapter, and if you want to, recommend this story to someone you believe will enjoy it as well. I love you!!!