Finding Amity

Chapter 37

We pulled into a trailer park in the middle of seemingly nowhere. Each trailer was painted a different colour, and most of the park was practically abandoned, but I could hear laughter coming from the other end of the park.

"Everyone's already by Pippa's trailer." He smiled. "Her family is parked right next to a plot of grass, so the whole park sets up tables and everyone gathers there."

We turned a corner revealing a cluster of people around a baby blue trailer. Adults stood around, chatting with beers in their hands while children in swimmers ran through a sprinkler.

It was strange to me, neighbours being so friendly and close. My parents were always arguing with our neighbours, both elderly couples, over stupid things like their trees hanging over into our yard or their dog doing its business on our front lawn.

"Can you do me a favour?" Isaac asked as we parked on the side of the dirt road. "Please don't tell my family what a jerk I've been to you."

"Do they think highly of you?" I laughed. The thought seemed almost impossible.

"Actually, yeah." He smiled. "Pippa, Cruise and I, we're the first residents of this park to go to university. They glorify us to no end."

"I'll keep your secret." I promised as I stepped out of the car.

Almost immediately Isaac was bombarded with people, all of which patted him on the back or gave him a kiss on the cheek. He was practically a celebrity here. I spotted Pippa and moved past the mob that was starting to form around Isaac, headed towards her.

She was in her "Catholic" clothes, which consisted of a flowing floral dress with brown boots and thigh-high socks. It was so strange to see her out of her usual punk uniform.

"Amity!" She called out as she saw me. "What are you doing here."

"Dustin cancelled last minute," I explained. "Isaac stopped by and offered to take me here."

"Oh, I'm sorry." She said, but the way her smile didn't dip made her words sound insincere. I brushed it off.

"Its cool." I waved off. "We'll just reschedule another time."

"Reschedule?" She repeated. Her gaze followed behind me, to Isaac, and back to me.

"Yeah." I confirmed. "Is something wrong?"

"Oh, no. Nothing." She mumbled.

"Pippa!" An older woman with long red hair sung from behind her. "Who's this?"

"Mum, this is my roommate at college, Amity. Amity, this is my mum Carol, and on the grill is my dad."

I smiled my polite, parent meeting smile. "Its nice to meet you."

"Pleasures all mine!" She beamed. "Its nice to know that our little Pippi is making friends at school."

"I'll be right back." Pippa muttered before rushing in the direction of Isaac, leaving me alone with her mother.

"Come sit." Pippa's mother asked as she guided me to an empty picnic table. "Helen, come over here." She called over my shoulder.

Helen was one of the most beautiful women I'd ever seen. She was elegant, she was slim with dark tanned skin, and soft brown hair flowed over her shoulders. She wore paint-stained overalls and a cotton blouse underneath, but still appeared powerful. I could imagine her sitting in a boardroom in a tight dress and stilettos, yelling at the men in the room to get their shit together.

"Helen is Isaac's mother." Carol explained. Of course she is. "Helen, this is Amity. She just hopped out of your son's car."

"Ooh," Helen grinned. "Isaac's never brought a girl home."

"Oh, no, no. It's not like that." I stuttered. "Isaac and I are just friends, I actually have a boyfriend."

"Okay, sure." Carol laughed.

"Amity, sweetie, what are you studying at college?" Helen asked.

"Neuroscience." Both ladies' mouth dropped slightly.

"Wow, we are speaking to a future doctor." Carol laughed.

"Hopefully." I smiled.

"You're parents must be so proud."

I felt my breath catch in my throat, but I just swallowed and carried on. "Yeah, I'm sure they are."

"How did you meet Isaac?" Helen asked. "I'm pretty sure a Neuroscience major and a Political Science major wouldn't have any classes in common."

"We met through Pippa." I nodded hesitantly. It didn't seem right to say we met at a party. From what Pippa had told me, Carol might not like that idea.

"Isaac and Pippa always tell us they're not friends. They insist that they cannot stand each other." Helen laughed.

"Yeah, I've heard a fair bit of that from her." I agreed.

"Carol!" Pippa's father called from the grill. "Can you bring me another beer?"

Carol rolled her eyes at Helen and I and stepped away from the table and into the trailer. I smiled politely at Helen. She had the same dark eyes as Isaac.

"When did you start dating my son?" She asked, a knowing edge to her voice.

"I'm not... Like I said I'm dating someone else." I said as politely as I could.

I could feel the heat from the barbecue more intensely now, and I took off my sweatshirt and tied it around my waist.

"I know my son." Helen smiled. "He has never, ever brought someone home."

"I'm pretty good friends with Pippa, that's the main reason he brought me here." I tried to explain, but Helen just shook her head.

"I'm not stupid." She laughed. "I see the way he looks at you."

She nodded over my shoulder and I turned to find Isaac arguing with Pippa. He met my gaze, his mouth turning into a light smile. I smiled in return before turning back to Helen. She stared knowingly into my eyes and I felt uneasily exposed.

"I promise we are just friends."