The Bad Girl, The Bullet & The New Beginning (on-going)

16 ~ A New Beginning

After a few steadying deep breaths, Lila emerged from her room and slowly padded downstairs to where Penny and Jon were sitting tensely in the kitchen. Her aunt was running her hands through her hair as her mind was obviously racing over the events of the past few hours, while Jon rested a reassuring hand on her arm. Both were so caught up in their thoughts they didn't even hear her approach.

"I thought about what you said," Lila spoke quietly, gently announcing her presence. Penny's eyes flashed for a second, as if expecting a confrontation, but quickly softened upon hearing Lila's remorseful tone. "And I'm sorry," she added. "I know you worked so hard to find a place for me here and I haven't been meeting you halfway. I guess part of me was trying to mess things up here so that you'd have to send me back, but I can see now..."

She paused for a second, remembering everything her mom had said to her, how tired she sounded but how excited she was for her daughter to be getting this chance. It felt weird for Lila to admit to herself that she'd been wrong, but she also knew it was what she needed to do.

"I can see this is where I need to be right now and I'm gonna try and make it work this time," she finished, feeling resolute. There was a moment of stunned silence as Jon and Penny processed what she'd just said. They'd clearly been expecting her to put up more of a fight than this.

"And you really mean it this time?" Penny asked tentatively, searching her niece's eyes for a glint of mischief that might betray her true intentions. Lila nodded slowly, offering an apologetic smile that twitched at the edges of her lips. Her aunt seemed convinced as she let out a breath of relief and it was as if Lila could see the tension in her body evaporating by the second.

"We're really happy to hear that, Lila," Jon said softly, taking his wife's hand. Penny smiled at him and Lila saw the faint glimmer of a tear in her eye as she turned back to her niece.

"I'm sorry for what I said," she finally spoke, looking Lila right in the eye so she knew she meant it. "About you and about your mom. You've been through so much lately and it wasn't fair to expect you to just accept this new life without a few hiccups."

She smiled at Lila and took her hand, her eyes scanning over her features with a nostalgic look. "You remind me so much of her, you know," Penny whispered as a lone tear trickled down her cheek. Lila knew she was talking about her mom and she felt her heart twist in her chest, missing her mom more than she ever had in her life. "Tali was always so smart, and brave. But it was hard watching her grow up, skipping school, making bad friends, putting her time and energy into people that weren't giving back."

Lila thought about this, realising that her mom never really talked about her friends from high school or college. They'd obviously fallen out of contact long ago, maybe around the same time her dad left.

"Your mom's an incredible person, Lila," Penny said in a shaky voice, trying to hold back her tears, "but her life hasn't been easy. I just didn't want to see the same thing happen to you."

Lila could feel a lump in her throat as she fought back tears, thinking about what Penny had just said and the conversation she'd had with her mom. It was the same message – she had an opportunity for a better life here in Lake Larson, a new beginning, and she owed it to her mom, and to herself, to take it.

She hadn't noticed the beaded tears collecting on her cheeks until one dropped onto the spotless marble floor in front of her. She looked up to meet her aunt's gaze and nodded to convey her understanding. Penny offered her a watery smile and pulled her into the first hug she'd received since arriving in Lake Larson. Although it felt a little alien at first, Lila soon relaxed and let her head rest on her aunt's shoulder, knowing the barrier between them had finally broken down.