If Addie Lost the Fight

Chapter 7: Changing Things Up

Aha! You thought I would forget again, didn't you? Well, I almost did, but that's because I had a really long day at work today and was asked to stay after a few hours because someone didn't show up for their shift. I actually almost fell asleep, but then remembered that I still needed to post chapter 7. Anyway, enjoy the next installment of If Addie Lost the Fight.

Two months later, Addie was sitting in the living room of the mansion reading the Lightning Thief because it reminded her of her friends. Cody was on the other side of the room, a different book in hand. However, he was actually staring at her, thinking she didn't notice.

Addie looked up at him, annoyed. "What?"

"I love your hair." He said, "The color is amazing."

Addie looked at her hair. It was the same hair she had always had, dark brown on top that naturally faded to a golden yellow as it grew down. She hadn't even brushed it that day. "Umm, okay..."

Cody stood and started to walk over to her, and she tensed. He sat on the couch next to her and started to play with her hair. "It's so soft, too."

Addie moved her hair away so he couldn't touch it anymore. "Right..."

Cody frowned, disappointed. "Why won't you let me play with your hair?"

Addie inched away from him. "Because I'm not comfortable with it."

"But you let Eric play with your hair."

"I'm more comfortable with Eric. And how did you even know that?"

"I have my ways of finding things out." He said.

"So you've been stalking me."

"I never said that."

"It was heavily implied."

"Okay," he admitted. "Maybe I've been watching you from time to time, but that's not important right now."

"Clearly," Addie said snarkily.

"So is there anything you want to do today?" He asked, obviously trying to change the subject.

"Actually, I was kind of wanting to go to the mall, if that's okay."

"But that would require leaving the house," Cody said. It sounded almost like he couldn't compute what the request meant.

"Yes," Addie said sarcastically. "That would be where the mall is. Outside this house."

"I'm going to just ignore the sarcasm for now. Why exactly do you want to go to the mall anyway?"

Addie shrugged. "Buy some stuff to decorate my room with. Make it my own. And besides, I'm tired of sitting around here all day. Can I please go?"

"Okay. I'll let you. But I'm coming too, just to make sure you don't try to leave. I won't take any chances."

Addie sighed a little. She felt like she was living in a dictatorship. "Fine. You won't follow me around everywhere, right? I need some me-time ."

"Okay. I won't follow you around. I'll just find something for me to do while you go shopping and whatever."

Addie smiled. "Thanks."

Cody smiled back. "Anything for you. I'm glad I got you to smile. I've always loved your smile."

Addie looked away. "I get that a lot." She thought of Eric, all the nicknames he'd call her like mademoiselle, and his queen. He always told her he loved her smile... She missed him...