When Camellia moved to a new town, she didn't expect to even like it there. Let alone find a second family, friends and love, all of whom were hiding a great secret. It all started that Autumn of 1993.
(The song that inspired this story, in case any...
"Ms Sterling" my eyes open and I raise my head to meet the brown eyes of mrs. Daire. Her round glasses have slipped down her nose slightly. "It's the second time this week Lia". I sigh and rub my eyes, "Sorry, I haven't been sleeping well lately", I hug my wool sweater closer to myself and try to remember my dream as mrs Daire looks at me one last time and goes on with her teaching.
It's mid December now, and it's cold as ever, even in the heated classroom. Noah shoots me a look but doesn't say anything. I try to focus on the book we are currently studying without dozing off, I sigh deeply and rest my chin on the heel of my palm.
"Cold"? Noah whispers, eyeing the way my hands are hidden deep in my sleeves and my other hand is wrapped around my midrif. I shrug. "It's pretty cold". I answer in the same manner.
"Maybe you should wear something warmer than that"! He says pointedly looking at the pleated skirt I am wearing today over thick tights and warm boots. "Nothing to do with it, I just get cold easy, I prefer lying in front of the fireplace in days like these"
The bell rings, signifying the end of another day in the small town of New Smerne. I gather my books in my bag and put on my extra sweater before zipping up my ski jacket. Noah is smiling at the bundle of clothes that I've become.
"My parents will be out of town all day, you think Nakai and Clarke would want to come over"? I ask as we descend the stairs. He shakes his head, making his blonde locks bounce. "Mum doesn't want Clarke out tonight, it might snow, you can come over if you want". I think about it foe a bit. They've invited me before but something always came up.
"Sure, that'd be nice, it would mean I won't have to cook after all". I say joyously and skip down the rest of the stairs.
''Friday is family night, so mum goes all out with dinner", Noah informs me and I frown. "I shouldn't come if it's family night, I don't want to intrude". Noah shakes his head as we near Nakai and Clarke who are waiting for us near the entrance. "No worries, mum has been wanting to meet you, she will be glad to host you " i try to argue but they won't budge. So I let them lead me to their house, indeed only minutes away from our own, and yet I've never been here.
It's a bit larger than our own with a nice yard and large windows. "Welcome home" Noah says with a smile and knocks on the door. .
"Kids, I'm glad you are here I was about to..." a small woman appears, with her red hair tied in a bun and wearing an apron. She stops talking as soon as she realises there are four children at her front door. She opens her mouth, not as if ready to speak again, more as if she is tasting the air, the way dogs or cats do sometimes.
"You must be Camellia, It is so nice to finally meet you I have heard so much about you"! She engulfs me in a surprisingly tight hug. "Thank you for having me ma'am, I am sorry for showing up uninvited''. "Nonsense"! She argues and pulls me inside the house.
It smells like gingerbread cookies and chocolate, and it's so deliciously warm. I shed my jacket and one of the sweaters and take off my shoes, tidying my things up in a corner by the door while the other four talk about their days all at Once
"Camellia dear, come, follow me into the kitchen, would you like some water? A cookie"? Before I know it I am sitting on a tall stool next to the counter with two cookies stuffed in my mouth and a steaming mug of hot cocoa warming my long fingers.
"Thank you"! I say again as Cozy, who forbids me calling her mrs Clifford, resumes cooking. Nakai is nowhere to be found, Noah is washing his hands in the sink and Clarke is scarfing down cookies, biting the heads off first and then eating the bodies, limb by limb.
"Clarke, go easy on the gingerbread men, last year you had a stomacache for two days." Cozy warns her daughter and Noah kisses her cheek before taking a seat on top of the island in the middle of the room.
"You are welcome dear, I hope you don't mind the everything in the house is a bit messy, I only cook on Fridays so I try to do many things at once". I nod as if I understand.
"Come, I'll show you my room" Clarke takes my hand and leads me to her room while I sip on the cocoa.
Clarke and Noah give me a tour of the whole house. Nakai has locked himself in his bedroom, Noah says he does this often , he enjoys alone time.
We end up back at the kitchen, Clarke soon leaves to go and play. "Lia dear, there are bowls right behind you on the shelf, wpuld you mind grabbing one for me"? I trun around and reach for a bowl, only I can't reach it. I stand on my tippy toes, no hope, I stretch and stretch until I feel a hand around my waist and a firm chest behind me.
"Don't worry, I got it". Noah says quietly and easily reaches the bowls, he takes one while holding me, pressing me against the counter slightly and I feel my breath catch at the warmth of his body on my back.
I mumble something as he lets me go and hands the bowl to his mum.
Dinner is delicious and I make sure to tell Cozy that. I don't talk about the empty chair on the table and they don't mention my parents being out of town for the third time these past two weeks.
"Thank you for the meal". I say when I am at the door, bundling up to leave. "Thank you for the company dear, you are more than welcome to come again whenever you'd like." Cozy says kindly.
I step out and a snwflake lands on my nose.
"Noah, please, take her home will you? You can use the car"! Before Cozy has finished, Noah has the keys on hand and is out the door eith me.
"I'll try to get back before the storm" he says eyeing the clouds overhead.
Cozy kisses his frehead and touches my cheek softly. I smile and wave goodbye at Nakai and Cozy
"You don't have to". I tell Noah before I get in the car. "It's close". I insist but he just scowls at me. "Get in already," i shrug and do as he says.
Although I live next door, the snow is thick until we get there. The car can barely drive. I convince Noah he doesn't have to walk me to the door, but by the time I reach the porch it is clear he won't be able to get back. Strong wind is whipping my hair around and creates small tornadoes of snow. The car won't budge.
I wave Noah over and he runs up to me, his feet sinking in the soft snow.
I unlock the door and stumble inside, pulling Noah in behind me. The door shuts with a loud bang as a ghust of wind pulls at it. The wind is roaring outside and cold is coming through the chimney. I shrug my coat off as fast as possible and run to light up the fireplace.
"You should call your mom and tell her you should wait it out here. You can't possibly get back in this weather." I say seriously and Noah nods, shaking the snow from his head like a dog.
He talks to his mother, reassuring her it is warm in here while I light the fire and open the lights.
That's when the tree branch falls outside with a loud crash and the lights wink out. I yielp and jump a bit with a start. "Noah"? I search the dark hall. The fire doesn't light the hall.
"Noah, please don't jump out, I'll have a heart attack". I beg and hear him chuckle.
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Oop...a tiny, itty bitty cliffhanger😌. I promise the next chapter will make up for it! Take care everyone💙
