Read Between the Lines

Chapter Two

—₊ ೀ｡‧˚ —

CHAPTER TWO

— ₊· ೃ࿔₊• —

Forrest

The house was locked. I had forgotten my keys for the third time this week. I facepalmed and groaned. "Leo!" I shouted. No response. I tried a few more times but clearly my roommate was not home. That asshole. Ruffling my hair, I took out my phone with my other hand and called the first person I thought of. Mum.

Ring. Ring. Ring. Shoot. Two more rings and it would go to voicemail, I thought, panicked.

"Forrest?" Mum's voice came through on the phone. She answered on the final ring.

"I uh— can I sleep at you and Dad's place tonight? I may or may not have forgotten my keys," I said, sheepishly.

"Where's that roommate of yours when you need him?"

"Out."

She sighed and agreed, asking if I needed a ride as well. I declined.

—₊ ೀ｡‧˚ —

I climbed out of my car, slamming the door lightly. I walked as calmly as possible to the door without looking ashamed. My mother opened the door before I even knocked or rang the doorbell and pulled me into a hug.

"Don't tell anyone, but I'm secretly glad you forgot your keys."

I stepped out of her arms abruptly. "Wha—?"

Mum laughed. "What I meant was, I'm glad you're here."

I smiled at her and she guided me inside. It smelt like some flowery and tropical inside the house with a hint of dirt. Just like before I moved out.

"You came at the perfect time. I just finished making dinner."

I followed her into the dining room, a place of white stone walls and marble countertops. The wooden chairs were painted white with beige cushions and a plush linen back.

Noticing the lack of dining equipment, I asked if Mum needed help setting up.

"Thank you, pumpkin, but it's alright. You just sit down and relax."

After a few moments, I realised my sister had not yet made her appearance. "Where's Yara?"

"Oh she's out at a friend's birthday party she should be back in a few hours," Mum answered, not looking up from the spoons and forks laid down neatly along the table, her brown hair fluttering lightly as she leaned over to smoothen out the corner of the tablecloth.

I ignored her protests as I started helping her and then we sat down to eat.

"So," she said, pushing around the food on her plate a bit, "what have you been up to? Are you preparing well for exams? Have you... just maybe gotten a girlfriend yet?" She looked at me hopefully after saying the last sentence.

I laughed and shook my head. "I'm fine. And yes, I'm preparing as well as you'd think I am. Not yet with the— uh— girlfriend part though."

She sighed and chewed her food.

"But I made a new friend today?"

She swallowed and gave me a deadpan look. "You sound so uncertain of it."

"Well I mean it's not like we talked about the fact that we are friends. But I did meet someone."

Mum stared, waiting for me to continue.