The Dried Dandelion

Chapter: 2 Present Day

"Lincoln, you should get inside soon." Aunt Mary-Louise says to me. She has thin dirty blonde hair, framing her face while the rest is tied up in a big clip. She wraps her sandy sweater tighter around herself and sucks in a large gulp of air through her teeth."You'll freeze out here if you don't wear a coat, missy."

Her crystal clear blue eyes have heavy bags yet they still seem to sparkle. Aunt Mary-Louise could be wearing a trash bag and I would still consider her to be the prettiest woman I know. She has this radiating warmth that even my stone cold heart could melt slightly when I'm around her.

Honestly, she's the only one in this suffocating family I can tolerate. She's one of those cool aunts that actually give a damn about you. Unlike the others. Aka: my Aunt Dolores from 'the North', who loves to point out the difference between us, me being the uncultured southern grime and her being the cultured and experienced northern charmer.

Although, when you think about it, I hear New York City is so dirty you can taste the smog polluting the air, yet they always called Carmen a nice Southern Belle(me not so much, but that's not important). So, I'm not sure how accurate Aunt Dolores' statement is. Basically, I don't like Dolores no matter where she lives, she's still a snooty and evil woman.

"Don't worry about me. I'll be fine." I lean back on the rusty metal backing of the bench I'm sitting on. I bet this was really pretty back in the day. My grandmother probably sat out here and gazed at the trees just like I am. Her hands like a docile princess tracing the fresh paint, unlike my dry hands itching to pick off the chipped paint. "I'm sure there's someone else that needs you right now. I'll be inside later." I added the second part to try and calm her nerves. You know, give her some peace of mind so she can go back inside.

"Honey, you're the only one I have left to worry about." She grimaces. I turn my head to face the fountain once more. I realise that I never found out where they put that angel. Is she collecting dust in the tool shed or has she been destroyed and repurposed?

Aunt Mary-Louise coughs, trying to clear the air, but we both know it will take more than a simple cough. That suffocating surrounding this cage of terror will never go away no matter how many times she tries to clear it with a cough, this house is permanently a set of shackles.

"Well, then. I'll just see you inside." She swings her hands, not knowing what to do with them. She takes three steps backwards. Left. Right. Left. I return my gaze to the nearly barren notebook that rests in my lap. I picked it out because I liked the sleek black cover, it at least looked like I had important things to write about.

The door clangs against the house as she goes inside. I don't bother looking up. Although, she was right, it is a bit chilly out here. I bite my lip, to the extent that a bitter, metallic taste soon floods my mouth. I'm a lot like the flavor--bitter, unpleasant, not desired.

"What would you do, Carmen?" I ask out loud to the empty air. When met with only the sound of rustling leaves I sigh.

Loud footsteps smack the stone path wrapping around the courtyard. But, I don't bother turning around. "What are you doing here, Lin?" He asks. I know this voice very well. His presence is felt behind me, yet I don't bother turning around to face him. He walks around the bench and takes a seat next to me. His name is Jeremiah Stranton.

He leans back and does the weird manspreading thing. Why are they always saying girls should keep their legs closed when this guy literally can't sit down without his legs creating a sixty degree angle? Currently, his legs are so far apart that on a four foot bench his knee is touching my thigh. Is it really necessary for your legs to be that far apart from each other?

"Lin, sitting out here won't change anything."

"I know that."

"Then why are you here." He asks. His voice is desperate and begging. I shrug my shoulders. "Don't do that. Don't shut me out."