Just as I Begin to Fade

Forty Two. Home

At Stevie's, Gwen was pouring cans of chicken noodle soup into a pot, just so dinner was made and over with and simple as her mother was not feeling well.

Lindsey would return from his home, having gathered things to stay the night, but he and the teen did not exchange many words.

"So, that offer... What is it?" the teen wondered.

"Once you're mom is up--"

"I'm up," the blonde slowly walked in with heavy eyes as she shut her robe in place. She then swiped her tresses back as she approached the dining room and kitchen.

"Hey, nice to see you," he pulled the chair out of her so he could seat her.

The simple act made Gwen roll her eyes only because she knew for a fact that he wasn't the first man to wait on her hand and foot.

"It's nice to see a different room..." she sighed and dropped her head into her hands. "It was not nice to see myself in the mirror, I look like I got hit by two trains and a bus."

He smirked, "You look fine to me... Just a little pale," he brought his hand to her forehead, feeling for a fever.

"I warmed you some soup..." the teen turned and she settled a bowl in front of her. "Do you want something to drink?"

"Is there iced tea?"

"Yeah," she went into the fridge and she pulled the glass pitcher out.

"So, what is this I'm hearing about an offer?" she wondered. "I can pretty much hear everything. I was just out of it, so what's up?"

Gwen didn't say a word as she served the two of them and herself last, getting situated in her seat to finally hear what he had to say.

"It's more of a suggestion, really..." he paused. "Being that I plan on hanging around awhile, I thought maybe due to the fact that my place is bigger, the two of you could come and live with me instead of the back and forth business."

For the first time in weeks, the girls made eye contact with one another; a blast from the past since they'd been offered before though Stevie always turned her men down.

"Again, merely a suggestion. We'll know where you are and I promise you privacy as usual---your own bedroom and you can choose---it's a three bedroom house," knowing that her mother did not have much structure when it came to raising her child. "And on the other hand, I'll know where you are," he rested his hand over Stevie's. "I'll be able to come home to you, take care of you as needed. Things are tough right now, but I promise no change, just a bigger place to stay and it is closer to the school."

"I'm gonna need to think about this," the blonde commented one of her most famous lines ever. "Gwen, come with me to my room," she got up, leaving her food since she never really had an appetite to begin with.

The teen rolled her eyes and she ventured off behind her. "Yeah?" she calmly asked, crossing her arms as she shut the door behind her.

"What do you think?" she got into bed, curling under the covers.

"What do I think?"

"Yes. This is important."

"Mom, if you think you and Lindsey are going to stay together long enough, go for it. If it's going to be easier on him, make it easier on him. I don't have the desire to live with either of you, but I will, if I have to. Honestly, it might do you good to live with somebody who's gonna take care of you. I can't always do it and it's less worry for me."

"So, is it a yes?" the blonde asked kind of enthusiastic about it only because she never had said yes to any man before and she really wanted to say yes to him, but she also had an ego to look after.