Adrenalin

Chapter 15 - Sydney

Okay, so here we go. I think this is a pretty good chapter, I like it :3 Please leave a comment, just anything! I love comments. Also remember to vote and share and all that.
Let me know what you think of the last chapter also :) xx
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I almost swear aloud as I walk into Hayden’s house. This place is massive... and unnaturally clean. Everything is large and white and expensive-looking. We don’t even have enough furniture at home to fill up one room of this place. It’s got a cold, sort of lonely feel to it; except for the pink and purple photo frames up on the walls containing a picture of a young girl with the same golden hair and bright smile as Hayden.

“Who is that?” I ask Hayden, looking up at him.

He stops and looks at the photo frames, some sort of emotion sliding behind his eyes. “That was my sister.” He replies simply.

“Was?”

Before he can reply, a head pops into the hallway. “Hi darling! You’re just in time.” The woman says, still in her apron and mittens. Her rich brown hair is tied into a neat bun at the top of her head and she smiles at me warmly. Okay, maybe they aren’t that bad yet.

“Hey, Mum.” Hayden replies, continuing down the hallway to her. He kisses her cheek. “This is Sydney. Sydney, this is Mum.”

His mother rolls her eyes, takes off her mittens and shakes my hand. “It’s nice to meet you, honey. I’m Jennifer.”

“It’s nice to meet you, too.” I reply politely.

“I’ve heard so much about you!” she smiles brightly.

I grin, looking up at Hayden. “Really?” I highly doubt that.

“Oh, yes.” She nods. “Now sit down, sit down! Your father will be home very soon now.” Jennifer ushers us into the dining room which is filled with yet more grand furniture and a fancy glass table. She bustles out of the room and into the kitchen again where I can smell something wonderful cooking. I take a seat next to Hayden.

“Well she seems fine,” I tell him, hoping to rid the uneasy look on his face. He’s been stoic stiff ever since we looked at the pictures in the front entrance hallway.

“Mhmm,” he replies distractedly. “Just wait until you meet my dad.”

“He can’t be that bad...” I say somewhat hopefully.

“In his own way, he’s probably just as bad as your dad.” Hayden says stiffly, looking over at me finally.

Doubt it. “I’m sure I can handle him.”

Hayden cracks a smile. “That’s probably true.”

Jennifer re-enters the room, her mittens back on carrying a tray of roast potatoes in one hand and shavings of turkey in the other. As she returns with steamed vegetables and the gravy, I hear the front door open and shut. My heart beats a little faster. Hayden’s dad walks in, wearing a suit and holding his briefcase. He’s tall like Hayden, but stockier and not as lean or athletic. His hair has faded from blonde to a sort of whitey-grey and so has the stubble on his chin. As similar as he is to Hayden, his eyes lack the warmth that Hayden’s have.

He stops at the entrance of the dining room and looks at me. It feels as though he’s scrutinising every single inch of me, looking for all my imperfections.

“Hi,” I say, my voice coming out clearer than I thought it would. His dad is quite intimidating. “I’m Sydney.”

I hold out my hand and he finally uproots himself from his position, grasping my hand firmly and shaking. “Richard. Pleasure to meet you.” He lets go of my hand and I sit back down again awkwardly. Hayden places a hand on my thigh under the table, reassuring me that I’m doing okay.