The Lies We Tell Ourselves

ONE

"Damn it. Amelia!" Adeline cried holding onto her left foot that had just been squashed by the box Amelia, her best friend, has accidentally dropped onto it.

"Sorry..." Amelia cringed watching her friend.

They were currently moving Adeline's stuff back into her old room at her parent's house as she hadn't gotten her own place yet. It had always been Adeline's plan to move home again after graduation but with the chaos that came with graduating as well as finding a job, she had simply forgotten to look for an apartment. Her parents didn't mind her being home especially as she had just graduated from a college located 2000 miles away. They were simply glad she was home and in no rush to kick her out. 

Adeline was grateful Amelia was still around. Despite how far away Adeline had been for college she and Amelia had always remained best friends. Amelia had decided to go to college locally because her father relied on her to help to raise her younger siblings while he worked full time. 

She had called Amelia to beg for her help with moving in while her parents were at work, Adeline had been truly grateful that Amelia said she was happy to help.

"I told you we were better off finding some big strong men to help. They could carry the boxes in shirtless while we watched." Amelia winked at Adeline imagining it while Adeline just rolled her eyes and pushed her friend slightly.

"Yeah yeah I will remember for next time. Just help me do this before my parents get back."

Together they picked up the box and carried it into the house. There weren't many boxes as Adeline was not the kind of person that had a lot of stuff mostly just pictures, sentimental trinkets, clothes, and the odd book. Her twin sister, Addison, was the kind of person that liked her room full, in fact, it had always overcrowded with stuff that she brought and wouldn't throw away.

As they moved the boxes into her old bedroom Adeline couldn't help the smile that came with all the memories she knew were in there. The familiar smell of home was comforting though the bright blue colour that was on the walls... not so much.

"I think I need to redecorate..." Both of the girls looked around the room. Amelia humming in agreement.

The room itself belonged to Adeline no doubt, however, it was for a teenage Adeline. Teenage Adeline had been a determined straight-A student, part of the track team, and would even sneak off with Amelia to go bowling or see a movie to destress when she should have been studying. That Adeline had also spent her weekends working in her parent's restaurant to save money so she could do things she wanted such as getting new glasses, even though her parents said they would pay for them. She was still most of those things at 21 years old, but she was also a woman.

"I will put it on my to-do list" Adeline concluded writing in the note section of her phone so she wouldn't forget.

"Well, now that we are done moving the boxes in should we go surprise your parents?" Amelia was grinning like a Cheshire cat as she was most excited about this part.

"Yes."

Together the pair drove into the center of the town where Adeline's parent's restaurant sat. It was a popular place in town that centered around good old-fashioned home-cooked meals. Her great-grandma's recipes in fact. The restaurant was actually named after her great-grandma, Katherine's Kitchen. Her parents had opened it up when she and her sister were just babies. Their parents had struggled for a few years while the place was just getting started and finding its feet, but it became a source of pride for the town.

Adeline had enjoyed working there while growing up. She knew most of the regular customers by name and could have a conversation with them while taking their orders with complete ease. While Adeline had enjoyed working in the environment Addison hadn't and eventually found a job in the mall because their parents could only support Addison's shopping habit so much. Addison hadn't been pleased about having to work as it took away from her social time but she had understood.

As they pulled up to the restaurant the lunchtime rush was ending so the restaurant wasn't busy but not deserted either. They spotted her parents quickly chatting to a regular Mr. Peter. Mr. Peter who lived alone with his dogs on the edge of town. He was a sweet gentleman that Adeline remembered enjoyed talking when he came in. Adeline thought Mr. Peter had always been a little lonely since his wife died so she didn't mind taking the time to talk to him.

As Adeline stepped closer it took her parents a moment to notice her stood there but when they did smiles flew onto their faces.

"You're home!" Nina, her mother, yelled catching the attention of all the customers as she ran over to her daughter for a hug. It was a tight hug almost as if her mother thought she was going to disappear.

"Hey, pumpkin." Her father, Marc, said softly as he joined in the hug.

When they released her, they took a moment to look her over noticing how much her hair had grown, how her sense of style had changed, and how she looked older. Their daughter had grown up more then they realised. 

"Look at you...you look so grown up."

"Thanks. Where's Addison? I thought she was meant to get back yesterday." Adeline looked around the restaurant almost as if she expected to find Addison sat somewhere on her phone.  "She wasn't at the house." Adeline squeezed her mother's hands which were holding hers filled with disappointment when she didn't see her sister. Her parents looked at each other warily.

"What's wrong?" Adeline asked sensing something.

"Addison ran off last night...we can't find her."