Tangled Strings (sequel to Red Strings)

Chapter 43

I look over to see my mum is still fast asleep and she stirs a little before finally waking up.  "Are we landing?" she asks and I nod, as the plane begins its descent.

It's weird coming back home.  I feel numb as I watch everyone getting greeted by their family and friends but I suddenly hear my mum say "There he is!"  I'm confused, but I follow her anyways before I finally see my dad, and he grins widely and says "There are my two girls!"  

I feel tears well up in my eyes as I run into his arms and he clutches me, as I grip back.  It's been so long since I've seen my dad, and I missed him like crazy.  My dad kisses the top of my head and I finally pull away wiping away a stray tear.  Since I've left, I noticed he's a little thinner....he's aged for sure.  His hair has grey hairs weaved into the light brown and he's got a couple wrinkles, mainly his laughter lines.  

"How are you?" he asks me, putting his hand on my shoulder and I smile a little and reply "I'm fine, but the more important question is how are you?" "I'm alright darling." my dad smiles and we finally get into the car and begin the drive home.  It all feels so familiar, but yet it feels so unlike home at the same time.  

"Robert did you make another appointment with the doctor?" "I have a doctor appointment in a couple days, they might run a couple more tests and give some results." my dad says as he makes a turn into our street before pulling into our driveway.

"Welcome home!" my dad says and I get out flicking back my hair, looking up at the house.  Same old.  I look around the neighbourhood.  Still the same as well.  I then see Skyler's house which is smack dap across from my house.  I look at my parents and my dad then says "Go say hi to Sky.  She's been waiting since I've left."  

I look to the other side of the street and run across immediately and don't even bothering to knock on the door.  I know she usually keeps the door unlocked so I walk in immediately and yell "Sky?" "NATALIE!!!!" I hear Sky yell before I suddenly get pulled into a bone crushing hug.

"Holy shit!" I say as I finally hug her back.  "You came back?" she asked and I then say "Well...it's a bit of a story." "I have time." she jokes before we both walk into the kitchen, as she begins to make some coffee.

"Tell me all about it!" she says, flourishing her arms and I explain everything.  My mum, my dad, the boys, everything.  Skyler listens and by the time I'm done I've gone through at least two crying fits, a cup of coffee and half a tub of Ben and Jerry's.

"So the results are coming in this week?" she asks and I nod rubbing my head.  I was developing another migraine and my jetlag wasn't helping.  "You alright?" she asked, putting a hand on my shoulder.  "Yeah, yeah, I'm fine." I say as Skyler then says "Just go home Nat.  You're probably jetlagged anyways."  I smile and say "That's a good idea.  Thanks for letting me rant." "What's a friend for?" she asks and I get out of her house before going to my house.

I open the door and yell "I'm back!" "Oh there you are Natalie!" my mum says.  "Why....did you need me for something?" I say as I take off my shoes.  "Well there's something....or more someone here for you." my mum says with a smile.  I'm confused as I see that the dining room table has been set up.  Obviously we had a guest, but the real question was who.

I walk into the kitchen, an unfamiliar figure standing by the table, their back turned to me.  "Cameron, she's back!" my mum says and when the person turns around I feel my heart drop into my stomach as I begin to feel my head pound.  It's Cameron.  

"Natalie you remember Cameron right?" my mum asks, turning to me, a terrifying smile on her face.  Oh I fucking remember Cameron.  I remember him too well.  His dark brown hair isn't as floppy as before, it's a little more styled now.  He's taller, I noticed that he's clean shaven, as he's wearing a button up shirt with some khakis.  

"Oh yeah of course!" I say trying to hold it all together with a fake smile before I possibly have a mental breakdown right now.  Cameron smiles back and says "Been a while huh?" "Yeah.  It has." I say, suddenly feeling self-conscious in my shorts and All-Time-Low tank.  

"Well I'll leave you lovelies to it, I'll just go and call a sushi place yeah?" my mum says, clapping her hands together, and obviously wanting to ease some of the tension.  "Sushi sounds great." I say before clearing my throat and my mum leaves the room.  "Want anything to drink?" I ask and Cameron says "I have some water right here, I'm fine."  I nod, licking my lips.

"So you've been in LA." he says after a while.  "Yeah." I say nodding.  "You got a new piercing there?" he asks and I realize he's looking at my second ear piercing on my lobe.  "Oh yeah, it's nothing too big." I say shrugging.  

"How has school been?" "Hard.  Lotta work and stuff.  But I manage.  I came back a little early, thankfully after finals.  They held them a little earlier for my courses." I say dryly.  Cam nods, taking a sip of his water.  

"So what are you studying?" I ask politely, still standing awkwardly.  Cam swirls some of the water in his glass around before he thens says "I'm at the University of Sydney for Civil Engineering." "Nice." "It's all pretty hard though." he says shrugging, taking another sip of water.  I'm still feeling light-headed, the migraine that had only started a half hour ago was getting worse and worse by the second.  The throbbing was unbearable.

"Are you ok?" Cam asks and I look up blinking a bit.  "Oh, me?  I'm fine." I say giving a small smile.  "You look a little pale...." he said, coming over for a closer inspection.  I freeze as he comes closer.  "Trust me, I'm fine I guess I'm just....tired.  Jet lag ya know?" I say raising an eyebrow before turning around and grabbing some water, my stomach churning.  

"You could go up to bed and take a nap.  It's fine with me." Cameron assures me. "Don't worry, I'll be fine.  I had some coffee early so I just need to stay up for another hour or so before I can start wearing off this jet lag." I said drinking my water.

I hear the bell ring and I then say "That must be the sushi!  I'll go get it."  I quickly put down my glass before practically sprinting to the door.  God, why did my mother bring Cameron over!?  It clicked however.  She was trying to set us up together.  I felt my stomach do a flip, and I felt nauseous as I try to take a deep breath before opening the door.  Thankfully, it was the sushi.

A few minutes later we were all seated around the dinner table, sushi open as we chatted.  Mostly it was my mother talking to Cameron obviously being extremely impressed by god-knows-what about engineering.  I tried however to speak at the right moments, smile when necessary and eat when I felt starving despite my stomach practically trying to reject anything at this point.  Eventually, the sickness that had been twisting in my stomach was getting unbearable before I said "You wouldn't mind if I was....excused would you?"

"Why?  What for?" my mother asks, snapping at me.  I then put my napkin down and say "I'm really tired right now, and I'm feeling a little nauseous.  I've had it since we've got off the plane." "Natalie why didn't you say anything?  I coulda gave ya something." my dad reassures me, oblivious to my mother's laser glare.

"It wasn't this bad before.  I just hope the sushi doesn't make it worse." I say, the dizzying feeling in my head not helping me at this point.  "Go to bed early sweetheart.  There's some ginger tea in the cupboard that might help." my dad says and I nod, getting up before turning to Cameron and saying "Well it was really nice to see you again." "Nice to see you too!" he said getting up before suddenly pulling me into a hug.  What!?

I hug him back, reluctantly, before I then say "Well goodnight everyone!" "Night!" they all reply as I quickly grab some already hot water and slip the tea bag in, before going up the stairs.  I go into my old room.  It doesn't feel like my room anymore, since I had taken all my band posters with me, but there were still a couple things up, and all my furniture was still in place.  I sigh as I flop down onto the lemon-scented sheets before pulling out my phone and dialling Calum.

"Hey Nat!" he chirps and I then say "Calum....we've got a problem."