Coming Home

Chapter Two

'Hello deary, I just wanted to let you know that we're having a get together this weekend. It would be lovely to see you there. I know you're busy these days but it would be marvellous to have you there! Ta-ta now!' Her mother's shrill voice sang through the phone.
'Brilliant' Alexa muttered under her breath. Her mother enjoyed pretending that she wasn't from a council estate ever since she found her new husband, Benedict. He was the main reason that Alexa had only returned to her mother's arms on special occasions - she could be homeless and that house would still be a last resort.

Alexa rolled a cigarette and gritted her teeth as she slumped down the stairs. She tried to think of a new excuse not to go, but in reality she did actually miss her mother. Alexa remembered being five years old and waking up to a sweet smell in the kitchen which lured her closer. She remembered sitting down at the table, banging her knife and fork on the table as she waited for her mum to slide a plate of fresh pancakes in front of her. Her dad would eventually make his way downstairs, sleep still in his eyes. His wide grin was enough to make anyone's day. Things were less difficult back then, Alexa didn't have to pretend that she made of stone, and be afraid of letting anyone in.

Her phone vibrated in her pocket.
Hey
It was a message from her step sister. Alexa sighed and palmed her forehead - she knew that this was a tactic to get her to return. She complied with the tactic nonetheless.
Hi, how's it going?
Not bad, you?
Yeah, not too bad. What's up?
Just wanted to see whether you were coming this weekend. You'd be the only cool person there if you did and I don't know if I can handle another family gathering without you.
Alexa hated it when Steph pulled on her heart strings like this - there was a ten year age gap between the girls but Steph was definitely a smart fourteen year old. Alexa palmed her forehead again and groaned.
I'll be there. I don't know how long though.
Great :) see you there. 

Alexa rolled another cigarette after finishing her first and began to smoke again.
'Hey.'
Alexa jumped in shock as she heard the voice of her roommate.
'Woah - calm down there Scooby.'
'You scared the shit out of me!'
Gabbie laughed. 'Can I steal a ciggie?'
'Yeah sure.' Alexa said as she passed the rolling tobacco to her friend.
'You okay?' Gabbie asked as she began rolling.
'Just got a voice message from my mum; family gathering this weekend.'
'Great!' Gabbie's voice portrayed sarcasm. 'You gonna go?'
'I wish I couldn't, but Steph used her powers on me.'
'Should be a good day.' Gabbie nodded.

Friday eventually rolled around and Alexa lugged her baggage onto a bus, and made her way to the train station. From the outside, the station looked as though it had been around for over a century - it was possible it could've been. On the inside, the station had shops and cafes, it was complete with a modern lift and escalators. None of this phased the people who had been in the city limits for a long period of time, but you could tell who the tourists were as they stared at the building in disbelief, having not taken in the exterior on their way out of the station.

When the train eventually pulled up, the green haired girl sat on her own, headphones in and ignored the train. She stared out the window, watching the colours and animals fly past as she entered the other side of the midlands - an entire world passing her by.

Finally arriving in Birmingham, Alexa walked out of the station and decided to make her way to the bullring. It had been so long since she was last here that Selfridges had teamed up with Primark to create a small store together within the oversized shopping centre. She still couldn't believe that her mum wanted to act like she was too good for this city whilst residing within it.
'What do you think a fourteen year old girl would be into these days?' She asked a worker at The Entertainer.
'Anything that isn't from here...' The worker replied, rolling her eyes.
'Surely there's something...' Alexa talked back.
'This is a toy store. Fourteen year olds don't really play with toys - they listen to music and play games online.' The worked chammed one her gum.
'Fair enough.'

Alexa walked out of the store, unsure of what to get her step sister. Apparently she'd grown up now. She didn't want to show up empty handed, so she ran into the nearest HMV and picked up the latest Now cd - Steph had always been more of a mainstream kid.

Eventually Alexa found herself at a red door, and reluctantly knocked. She heard shifting, keys turning and was greeted by her mum. This woman's eyes were more sunken than Alexa remembered, her face had gained more wrinkles over the past six months. She was in her mid-sixties and it didn't suit her at all.
'Ah! Alexandra, how are you my dear? How was your journey here?' Her voice was shrill and didn't match her decaying form.
'Yeah, it as alright.' Alexa replied, as she stepped inside.
The house was full of warm colours, giving the impression that a perfect family resided here. The beige walls and the fabric sofas lured in those who didn't know any better, Alexa knew better than to believe it.
'So which room am I staying in?'
'The one on the far left, but don't worry too much about that now darling, come say hello to everyone. We've been so excited to have you back!'
'Can you give me five minutes to get my shit together. I have some stuff to sort out first.'
Alexa's mum nodded as she noticed the fire in her daughter's eyes.

Alexa lugged her belongings upstairs and walked into the room that would be hers over the next few nights. She walked around the room, ran a finger over the desk that faced a small window and checked for dust - it was clear. She dropped her jacket to the floor and opened the window - as nice as this place was, the July heat didn't feel good.
She sat on the single bed that was pushed against the far wall. She bit the side of her bottom lip and noticed the royal blue paint peeling nearly the ceiling. There was a knock on the door.
'What?' Alexa said, flatly.
'It's me.' A familiar voice squeaked.
'Come 'ere jellybean!' Alexa's mouth turned up into a cheshire grin.
The young girl walked through the door and held a smile that matched Alexa's. The world seemed a little lighter now that Steph was there.
The girls talked for an hour before anyone realised Steph was missing and their mum came upstairs to collect them.
'Before we go down, I have something for you.' Alexa sang, pulling the CD out of her bag.
'I've wanted this for over a month! Thanks you Alexa! You're the best!' The girls hugged before they made their way downstairs.

'Alexandra, how nice of you to join us.' Philip snarled, taking a sip of his whiskey.
'Pleasures all mine Phil.' Alexa replied.
'You know darling, if you just tried a little harder, you might be able to bag yourself a real keeper. Men with class don't go for girls who look like they belong on the streets.'
'Philip - dont.' Alexa's mum tried.
'It's okay Mum, I mean it's not like girls like a guy who judges her based on how she dresses or her physical appearance. It's not like a woman is capable of having a brain - so I'm sure Phil is just trying to help. Right Phil?' Alexa commented, sarcastically.
Philip rolled his tongue along his inner cheek and tutted.
'Drink deary?' Alexa's mum asked.
'If I had to be here, I may as well enjoy myself.' 

Alexa strolled into the kitchen and checked the wine rack, and pulled out a vodka bottle. She poured herself a double and added lemonade. She downed the glass and poured herself another one, this drink managed to make it to the living room.
'So what are we watching?' She spoke as she threw herself down on an armchair.
'The Great British Bake Off deary, it has one of your favourite actors in it now so I thought you might enjoy it - Noel Edmonds.' Elizabeth said, her voice still shrill.
'Noel Fielding, mum.' Alexa corrected. 'They're totally different people - you like Edmonds.'
'Oh deary, they're all the same to me.'
Alexa rolled her eyes and sat quiet, watching the television until she grew too tired to stay awake.

As if by magic, Alexa felt as though she was fourteen again - awoken by an array of shouting and screaming downstairs. She went straight to Steph's door and peered into the room.
'You okay?'
'Yeah, it's not stopped since you left - it never stops.'
'Wanna get out of here?'
Steph nodded and grabbed her coat.

'So do they argue everyday?' Alexa asked, over a cup of hot chocolate. 'Pretty much, I just try and stay out the way.' Steph bit her bottom lip, unsure about opening up. 'I don't even know how they managed to get this far - my mum seems to forget where she comes from when she's with your dad.' 'He was never quite the way he is now either. It's all fake.' The girls sat quietly for a moment, drinking their beverages. This family had always been broken at the core, it's the main reason Alexa tried to stay far away for as long as possible. She'd lost her mother to the higher class and it didn't seem as though she would ever get her back. '
Alex?' A voice sang from the entrance.
Alexa lifted her head and smiled as soon as she realised who it was.
'Jace!'