No reviews last chapter. ): What happened to everyone? Ah well, I hope you guys decide to make Chapter four different. Fill my in-box, people!
Ah well I guess I can't force reviews outta yall, but please drop what you think if you get the time. I'm rather pleased with this chapter I think things are progressing well, and I hope you'll all enjoy it.
Thanks!
The Runaway's Daughter
Chapter 4
Luckily since Kai was my boyfriend or so said I wasn't questioned much for spending most of my night there. It wasn't until the sun was setting over Mineral Town that he was happy with our story.
My parents and I had taken a vacation to Miami for spring break last season where I'd met Kai. It was love at first sight but we'd hardly gotten together when I had to leave back t school. We tried to stay in contact in a long distance relationship, which hadn't been working well. When we thought it would fail completely my mother said I could spend my last summer before college at Mineral Town is was just a coincidence that I had stumbled upon the Winery the first day I came.
Kai wasn't happy to say the least that I wouldn't tell him why I was here but for whatever reason he seemed content that I was taking the blackmail easily. This of course was only feeding to my own curiosity as to why we needed this fake girlfriend in the first place.
Now as I sat on my grandparent's couch the television set to one of Manna's soaps, a book in my hand it really was hitting me how nice these people were. Or seemed… I'd only known them for a day.
Manna although looking so much like my mother had none of her characteristics, for example right now. She sat on the small recliner a blanket spread delicately around her legs, her pajamas consisting of a silk night gown. Her hands weaving in and out of something she seemed to be knitting. Apparently it was a new habit because she seemed to get rather frustrated with it every few strands. But even in frustration she was elegant almost, reformed a lady I guess would be the best answer. Nothing like my mother...
Nights that I would spend watching programs with my mother were nothing like at my grandparent's house. At home I'd be curled up in a ball of blankets similar to now only on the ground not the couch. Our only couch that could seat up to three was consumed by my Mom. Her arms and legs spread widely along the couch lazily and sloppily. We wouldn't be watching soaps either, Nascar races or football games probably.
She'd cheer loudly and wake up the neighbors, it wasn't a bad thing of coarse (well not for me anyway) but she wasn't at all a lady. Even her pajamas would more likely be an over sized T-shirt and boys boxer-shots than a night gown… No not more likely, are.
It was nearing ten o'clock when I told her I'd be going up to bed. I wasn't sure if I actually wanted to sleep yet but I'd heard enough of some Roderick and Carol's problems for the night. Whenever things seemed to work out someone would die, then again I guess it was a soap opera…
When I got upstairs I still refused to unpack my suitcase, I wasn't going to do anything that might show staying for long amounts of time. Get the money get out, and I had to be careful about the attachments I made in town as well.
The sleepover tugged in my mind again, that small feeling of excitement in my stomach. Maybe it was stupid, but I was nervous would the other girls like me?
It doesn't matter you won't be here long.
But even still… I was about to turn in officially for the night when I heard a door slam. Jumping I pressed myself to my bedroom door curiously.
"Duke!" Manna gasped and I could hear the click of the recliner and her footsteps run over to him. "How much did you drink this time?"
"Nothing woman!" he growled and if I didn't know any better I could have sworn that gasp from Manna was from a good shove.
"We're still paying of that last drinking contest with Karen honestly!" Manna shouted and I heard a loud stomp on the bottom step. Unconsciously I locked my door; after I did it I even questioned myself. I hated drunks something my mother and I had in common, was this why? Mine fear always came from one of my mother's ex's back when she used to date… I thought that was why for her as well but I'd never thought it could go back to why she ran away.
No it had to be new she wouldn't send me here if her father was abusive… Then again she was rather desperate…
"I'm going to bed!"
"DUKE!"
"LEAVE ME ALONE WOMAN!"
He wasn't even a happy drunk either, when I heard the door slam and I was sure Duke had retreated into his room I unlatched the door. Cracking it open just a tad, Manna was sitting at the bottom of the stairs her head in her hands. This wasn't the first time this happened I could tell…
* * * * * * * *
"What are we supposed to do with the bad grapes?" I asked cocking my head to the boy at my side.
He merely pointed to a bucket off to the side, filled with wilted and other wise damaged fruits. It was a little ways off but I tried to throw it in it missed by an inch.
"Figures," I grumbled walking over and disposing of it properly. Grabbing another I found myself picking the worst grapes first each in turn being thrown at the bin, each one missing. "Come on damn it," I growled about to throw the last of my collection when a hand grabbed mine.
"You're going to splatter all of them," Cliff told me. He didn't seem mad, but then again I couldn't exactly read the expression at all on his face. Glancing over it was true the ground around the bucket was slightly tinted purple.
"Oo," I replied not really sure what to do. "I'll go pick them up," I told him wriggly my hand away from his, his face flushing.
"Here," he told me holding out his hand, uneasily I placed the grape in it. He raised it and threw it straight into the basket, like it was nothing then turned embarrassedly back to the vines.
"Show off," I muttered though I had to admit I was impressed. Shouldering past him I picked up my own failed attempts best I could. Since learning from the day before to wear old clothes, tattered long jean shorts and one of Duke's old shirts hat stated: 'There's too much blood in my alcohol system.' Apparently even the person who bought this for him new of his problem. The owner of said shirt seemed to be to hung-over to work yet again, and although Cliff didn't say it I was sure it happened most of the days around here.
"S-so you really going out with Kai?" Cliff asked when I started to harvest the grapes again. I still couldn't tell what he thought of me. The first time I'd met him it'd been so weird, and even now he didn't seem to fancy talking…
"Yeah, I came down for a visit." I told him just as Kai and I had worked out. "Kind of crazy I ended up here," I was getting better at this lying thing I thought I lost my knack, guess not.
Cliff nodded but didn't say anymore, we worked silently throughout the rest of the morning when Manna called us in for lunch.
"You didn't tell me you were going to the girl's sleepover tonight," she said as I took a bite of my sandwich.
"O-oh," I guess I hadn't. "Kind of slipped my mind," I admitted.
Manna smiled, "no matter. You are a tenant here not my…" her eyes clouded over. "Very well don't take too long, you should be getting those grapes out of the sun."
"Yes ma'am," me and Cliff said as she threw on her shawl and hurried out the door.
"Her daughter," Cliff said staring after her. I didn't really want to hear about it but I did my best to act surprised.
"What happened?" I asked figuring it was the expected question.
"I don't really know," Cliff admitted. "I'm kinda of still new h-here…" he stared at his hands while he talked something I was really starting to find really annoying.
"I'm sure she had her reasons," I said feeling some loyalty to my mother even if no one knew my relation here. Finishing up my sandwich I slipped into the kitchen rinsing off my dishes taking Cliff's as well and we got back to work…
* * * * * * * * *
"HEY!" Ann smiled at the door. Already washed up from dinner I was packed and ready to go. "Ready for tonight?" she asked.
"Y-yup," I nodded turning back to Manna who was in the kitchen. "I'll be back tomorrow Manna," I told her stepping outside before I got a reply to see Ann staring at me oddly.
"You seem to be comfortable here…" she told me.
I shrugged, "well they've been very kind."
Ann nodded but I guessed she still didn't really like the fact that they were taking away her customers. I couldn't really blame her.
"So we going to the Inn?" I asked trying to break the subject.
"Yup! Personally I was hoping someone would offer, change of scenery you know? But no apparently the Inn's the perfect location," she grumbled. "My one night off and I'll be spending it making a mess that I'll later have to clean up…"
I laughed but something told she was nothing less than serious.
Ann led me to the Inn, yelling at people as they tried to place their orders apparently she wasn't afraid of losing any customers. "Yeah right tonight's my night off," she growled. "You can turn right here Leila, we'll be going upstairs."
"Cliff stop ordering the free water and get some food, I don't care if you're washing dishes just get some meat on those bones," she yelled at him. He sat at the counter her comment making him turn beat red.
"Looks like Mom's back," another guy in a baseball cap mumbled grumpily. Ann didn't seem putting off by the boy's angry disposition though she did hit the bill of his UMA hat into his eyes as she walked by.
"You could be a little nicer you know? And for that you're not meeting who I have with me," she stuck her tongue out like it was the best leverage in the world and glared at him.
As he repositioned his hat as he looked up curiously his eyes locking with mine for a second.
"And who said I wanted to met her anyway?" he growled looking away.
"That was rude," I growled.
"Oh that's just Gray don't mind him," Ann waved me off.
A pink haired girl walked in the Inn, another shyer looking girl with raven hair and glasses following her. Before they could say anything though, Kai seemed to take notice in something. I hadn't realized him before sitting at one of the spare tables a newspaper from the city in hand.
"You picking on my girl Gray?" he asked, lowering the paper.
Gray snorted like he couldn't believe it otherwise didn't acknowledge the comment.
"Careful Gray mess with Kai's girlfriend and you could be getting a black eye," Ann laughed. This simple comment however seemed to catch many of the local's attentions, even Gray turned to look at me better.
"That's right!" Kai grinned proudly forming a fist like he was some-sort of big butt kicking type of guy.
"Don't go being so high and mighty sweetie," I finally found my voice. "The black eye wouldn't be from you."
Silence, everyone was staring at me and I found my floor suddenly particularly interesting. Then Ann broke into a loud obnoxious laugh everyone following.
"Looks like someone told you," a new voice said. I dared to look up again at the stairs where stood a new face a blond haired girl in suspenders her lips cracking a grin. "Looks like I'm no longer the new girl in town," she walked down the stairs holding out a hand. "I'm Claire welcome to Mineral Town."
"Leila," I said taking her hand.
"Better watch out Gray she doesn't seem so easily intimidated," Claire laughed but Gray still look too stunned. I wasn't exactly sure why to tell the truth, maybe I apparently didn't look like the type of girl to make such a comeback. I wasn't sure, but I knew I'd be asking someone about it later.
Ann laughed and waved the two other girls at the door in, who seemed to have doubled since I last looked over now having four all just around my age. Suddenly something clicked in my brain as they walked though. Like a light that had always been off was just clicked on. This wasn't a normal small town, and what I'd told my mother I'd do was going be a lot harder than I thought… And I wasn't sure if that should be as intriguing as it was…
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