Nomads

Chapter 17

At 6:59 AM the next morning, Mara stood before her full length mirror, staring at herself once again.

Having an internal debate over whether to cover up or to show off her scars, once again.

Currently, Mara sported a pale blue floral sundress she found in her closet that fell mid-calf, with a long white ¾ length cardigan that contrasted nicely against her dark caramel skin and a pair of yellow sandals. Her hair fell down her shoulders in her natural wild curls. The debate was over whether or not she should go with the cardigan or throw a turtleneck sweater over her head so as to show as little skin as possible and forget trying to look pretty.

She couldn't for the life of her figure out what was worse: being stared at for having way too many clothes on and being labeled a weirdo or being stared at for having way too many scars and being labeled a freak.

On top of that, she couldn't figure out why she cared so much.

Okay, that was a lie. Mara knew exactly why she cared.

Today Mara would quite probably be formally introduced to Luca's friends, and she didn't know how not to make a worse impression based on what she wore.

Upon hearing a car horn beeping from out front, Mara groaned and slung her backpack over her shoulder, deciding that she had made Luca wait long enough while debating on what to wear.

She thundered down the steps and breezed out the door, making sure to lock it before turning and waving at her boyfriend.

Ha. Boyfriend. She was still not used to that. 

Taking a deep breath, the teen girl descended the porch steps gracefully and made her way to the passenger side of the car. "Hey, stranger," she drawled as she slid into the seat.

"Hey yourself," he replied with a dazzling smile. "You look nice."

Mara blushed, fiddling with the hem of her cardigan. "I found this entire outfit in my closet. I think my aunt thought that I didn't own any clothes, because when I first got here the closet and drawers were full of new clothes she bought for me."

Luca chuckled, putting the car in drive and turning into the street. "Your aunt went all out for you, huh?"

"Yeah," she replied with a small smile. "Speaking of guardians, how are things with your uncle going? I remember you said something before about the two of you not getting along?"

Luca sighed, running a hand through his hair. "It's been okay, I guess. I rarely see him, and when I do it's always in passing." He winced. "And he always looks shocked to see me."

Mara cringed, unable to help the laughter that spilled from her lips. "Seriously? What is he so busy doing that he's around rarely enough to forget you're there? What is he, a professional superhero or something?"

"He works a lot, at a big law firm over in Providence," he mumbled, "and he brings his work home every night and I think all he does is work and sleep. I haven't even seen him eat since I got home."

Mara gaped at him. "Are you joking me? That can't be healthy. Why do you think he's throwing himself into his work like that?"

Luca shrugged, his brows furrowing. "I don't know, honestly. He could be trying to avoid me, but... I don't know, that seems too petty for him."

"You told me before how he had a strained relationship with the rest of your family, right? Maybe he's feeling misplaced guilt over what happened to your parents..? Or maybe he's just trying to focus on anything other than the loss?"

He frowned in thought. "Maybe... But what does it matter if I know what's going on? My uncle is a lot like me; he rarely talks, even less so about himself or his emotions. What could I really even do about it?"