Breathe

Chapter 21

"We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them." -Albert Einstein 

Friday has finally arrived and I couldn't feel more anxious.  Luke and I have been planning this party since Monday.  When I asked him why he wanted to through a party, he told me it was just for fun, but I don't believe him.  I know Luke fairly well and I could tell he has hidden intentions.  His parents are still home for another week, and I'm quite certain that he's throwing a party to make his parents angry.  

Jake seems ecstatic that his parents have come home, which is to be expected because what ten year old wouldn't be happy to see his parents?  I can tell that Luke is secretly annoyed that Jake has been so excited about his parents arrival.  It's almost as if Luke wants Jake to be annoyed with his parents too.  I haven't talked in any further detail with Luke about Rosalie and Stefan because every time I bring up the subject, he pushes the subject away.

I just left the hospital a few minutes ago to head to Luke's house.  The stitches have been removed from my hands, and I'm glad because it was a pain in the ass to have to replace the gauze on my hand so often.  The cut on my hand still looks painful, but it actually doesn't feel too bad.  As long as I don't bump it too hard on anything, I'll be fine.  The doctor gave me a few large band-aids to keep over the top of it for a few days.

Ten minutes later I'm pulling up to Luke's driveway.  Jake is staying at a friends house and Luke somehow convinced Anne to go into town for the night.  Since Anne took her car, I pull my car into the fourth garage stall where hers is usually parked. 

I walk through the garage door that leads into the house.  Before I go to Luke's room, I decide to go through the kitchen and grab a glass of water.  The idea makes me laugh because of what happened the last time I went to grab a glass of water in the kitchen.  My eyes dilate when I see Luke's parents sitting at the island in the kitchen. Shit.

Before I can turn around and walk away, his mother hears my footsteps.  "Vanessa!"

"Hi Mrs. Hemmings," I say politely.  I have no problem with his parents because they seem really nice, however I can't help but feel a little apprehensive around them.  Luke would most likely be upset if he saw me talking to them.

"Darling, please call me Rosalie," she says.

"Oh, sorry," I apologize.  Well, I might as well grab a few glasses of water. "I was just going to grab some water for Luke and I."

"Of course."  Stefan hasn't spoken yet, but at least he smiled at me.

I reach for two glasses and fill them to the rim with ice and water.  As Rosalie and Stefan continue to read the newspaper, the room stays completely silent.  This is awkward.

As I'm about to leave the room, Rosalie speaks up. "Vanessa, can we talk for a second?"

"Oh, sure," I smile, but my heart starts to beat twice as fast. What do they want to talk about?

"So, I know Monday must have been, um, shocking for you.  I'm sure Luke's made us seem like horrible parents, but we really don't mean to be.  It's not something Stefan or I can explain, but we have good reason, and we try the best we can to help our children.  Anyways, I know how much you mean to Luke because I just saw it in his eyes when we ran into you on Monday.  So I was wondering if you could talk to Luke about us? Try to make him understand?"

"Understand what?"

"We want you to convince him to talk to us.  I know I shouldn't be asking this of you, but we want to try and explain things and he wants nothing to do with us," Stefan says.