The walk home was slow. You weren't too far away from your house. You could see the park. You walked this way to school. You wondered if Cain was okay. They town didn't burn down yet so you assumed that he was fine. It would be a lie to say that you didn't miss him. You wanted to see him, you wanted to talk to him about all the stuff that's been happening, but you aren't allowed outside at night and he's never out during day light.

Your dad was away on a business trip. He was going to be gone for about a few weeks, but even so, you can't find it in you to break any of his rules. You wouldn't go to the park at night, even if he wasn't there to stop you because someone could see you and you knew they would tell...

And if they told one you... you might not ever be allowed outside again...

Before you knew it, you were at your house. You walked in and went straight to your mother's room. Cayden was nowhere to be found. When you walked in, the room was incredibly dark. Your mother had asked your father to buy her black out curtains because the street lights out side were too bright. You felt like that was just an excuse. She was definitely hiding something, but you didn't want to pry.

Her secrets were to be kept secret.

She was sleeping soundly in her bed. Her hair looked messy and the room was a bit humid.

There was a faint smell of tobacco and chocolate.

You left the room. You didn't want to disturb her.

The next day, when you got up for school, your mother was downstairs. You had woken up to the sound of your brother yelling about something. He had left before you even go to see him, slamming the door as loud as he could on his way out. Your mother was standing alone in the kitchen, unbothered by your brother's outburst. She looked relaxed and she was glowing. Well.. not really..., but her happiness was showing.

She was cooking breakfast for you. All the servants had been sent home for the week... well that's what you assumed from looking at the note on the fridge. Your mother made you pancakes.

"Good morning!" She said, smiling like she used too. Her teeth were white and they were naturally straight. She had lots of feeling behind her eyes.

"Good morning." You say, enjoying the light feeling in the air. She looked so beautiful.

She handed you a paper bag lunch and gave you a kiss on the forehead. There was also a lunch made for Cayden. He must've forgot it.

You mother gave you a hug and smiled brightly...

but then—

Your mother looked off for a second. She was staring right through you, like she was staring at the wall behind you. She burped, she blushed, and then she burped again and then seconds after the second burp came a third. It would have been extremely funny to most people, but what came next was a shocking.

Placing her hand over her mouth, she scurried towards the closest bathroom. You followed her and right as you were in the doorway of the large bathroom, she threw up into the toilet. You quickly walked over to her, holding her long, beautiful hair back. Once she was done, she sat down in the bathroom floor. She looked so stained... tired, stressed. This wasn't going to be her day after all.

"(Y/n)... you should go to school." Your mother says.

"But you're not well." You say.

"Go... please."

"Mother—"

"I said go! Get out!" She screams. The warmth was gone. What did you do to make her so upset. You didn't want her to hate you... you wouldn't be able to bear it if she hated you. You didn't want to make her any angrier so you complied.

"Okay."

You would be late to school at this rate, but that didn't matter. Your mother was the only thing on your mind.

(Time skip)

You were near the local bar. You were definitely going to be late. You were walking extremely slow, but you couldn't help it. The thought of your mother hating you really got to you.

"Hey (y/n)."

You turn towards the voice to see you real father. He was in his car, about to pull away from the bar.

"It's a little late isn't it? Need a ride?" He asks.

You nod, walking towards his car, you sit next to him in the passenger seat.

The inside of his car was a bit messy. In his cup holder was a comb and his wallet along with a pack candy flavored cigars. On the floor of the car were so empty cigar packs and old and empty Starbucks cups. The only clean thing in the car were his black leather seats.

"So how has my lovely daughter been?" He asks.

"I'm fine." You mumble. "You?"

"I've been particularly well. Has your mother said anything about me recently?" He asks.

"No."

"That's a shame. You know... my offer still stands. I would love for you to live with me." Thomas laughs.

"No."

You both ride silently for a while. It would've been awkward if you were anybody else. Thomas would glance at you every minute or so.

"Hey... I never did ask... why did you tell me I made you late all those years back?"

"Is this what you think about during your free time?"

"No, I was just curious. I mean... what would a little girl be doing outside at night? Did you have a lover?"

"Why would you think that?" You ask, looking at the road.

"Well I know you wouldn't be sneaking out to do drugs or anything like that... and we are related after all so I just assumed you do what I would do as kid."

"No."

"Ah Well... just know that my offer to let you live with me still —oh well look at that." Thomas chuckles. "We're here."

"Bye." You say, opening the car door. Your real father grabs you hand. His eyes looked as empty as yours. The dark abyss that was your father's eyes was staring right at a calm, still, and lifeless ocean that were yours. There wasn't any tension between the two of you... that's what you thought. The air didn't feel thick and you didn't feel the need to look away from his eyes because there was nothing there and you eyes were his eyes.

That's what you thought, but the air was thick and it was hard to breath for anyone watching. It was intense and you and your biological father were both equally as terrifying.

"When are you going to give this up? Is there something wrong with wanting you to stay with me?" He says. "I'm so horribly lonely (y/n) and you are all I got. Why don't you like me?"

"I never said I didn't like you. I just don't care about you. My mother is my priority and I must stay with her until the very end." The ocean that is your eyes had movement in them for just a second. What was it? Love?

"Well... if she lived with me?" He says, his emotionless eyes staring back into yours.

"I would follow her." You say, removing you hand from his grasp.

"And what will happen at the end? What if she dies?"

You didn't answer, you just kept walking. You didn't want to think about it, you didn't want to answer him. He didn't deserve to know.

School went by slowly. Joel asked you if you wanted to come over after school, but you declined, stating that your mother was sick. Joel didn't seem to mind at all. She cared about you, but she didn't want to be clingy. You were the only friend that her father approved of and because of that, you were the only one she could really hang out with. She didn't want to scary you off with possessive behaviour.

She hoped that you would hang out with her. She wants to talk about boys and maybe girls and draw and watch funny videos with you even thought you never laughed at them. She wanted to do silly challenges with you and talk about worthlessness drama and eat tons of snacks with you. She considered herself your best friend and she liked to think that you thought of her that way too.

She was okay. You were helping your mother after all and the sooner your mother got better, the sooner you guys would be able to hang out. She would gladly wait.

She had a feeling that, soon, you wouldn't have to worry about you mother any more.