Runaways

Stepping into the house after getting back from a little trip, the house seems unnaturally quiet. You can't hear Alayna's music or Noah's video games. It's dark, it's late, they wouldn't be out right now. Where could they be? They could be asleep I guess, or winding down for the night.

"This house is unnaturally quiet for having two teenagers live here," Collin says.

"That's just what I was thinking," I say, suspicious.

That's why we're partners. Even though it hasn't been long, we seem to be able to read each other's minds.

"Maybe they went to a party," He replies, putting our bags down.

"On a Sunday night?" I ask, getting worried now, trying to dig out my phone.

She has trouble sleeping most of the time and is usually in the living room watching TV or doing something other than sleeping. So it's really weird to me that she's not in there, I can't hear a TV and we're near the living room in the hallway leading into the house.

I find my phone and text my daughter, asking where she is. And I put it in the pocket of my sweatshirt, waiting for an answer on full volume. She calls me old for having the volume up all the way. But in times like these, it's convenient. And I'm not like her and Noah, I don't have my phone on me 24/7.

When I'm back to reality, I notice Collin has a piece of paper in his hand.

"What's that?" I come up to the side of him.

"Apparently something for you," He says, and hands it to me.

I read it out loud:

"(Note 1) (Edith)," I read.

"I hate that she calls me by my first name," I laugh, "I never would have called my mom by her first name."

"Well it's kind of awkward when you have the same name," Collin replies, "How did people talk to both of you?"

"She was called Edith when she was older, well, after I was born, and I was always called Edie," I say.

"Why didn't you call Alayna Edith, too? When you come from a long line of them? Weren't you supposed to pass on the name?" He asks.

"Technically, but I chose not to. I always wanted my own name. Even thought of legally changing it. But that would have been a huge bother and I never did. But since I always wanted my own name, I thought Alayna would, too. And I didn't want her to kind of resent me like I resented my mother. Plus I always liked the name Alayna," I reply.

"I never knew that," He replies.

I go back to the note:

"The first time I saw Noah, I was blown away. He was so handsome, with that black hair, hazel eyes, bright white smile. He was exotic, with that perfect proper british accent. Every girl in the school wanted him. Maybe even some guys, who knows, probably. But he, somehow by some magical magic, he wanted me. Little ole me. Alayna Maynard. Orange hair, freckles, plain brown eyes. Nothing exciting about me. What did I do in life to deserve this?"

"What is this all about?" I ask, confused.

"Seems like she left you some notes, and they go in order," He replies. Like this is normal. Where is my daughter?? I want to run up to her bedroom, but for some reason, I feel compelled to follow the notes.

We move on to the living room to the right of the foyer. The first room you see when walking through the house. We see another note right away. This one, though, isn't in Alayna's handwriting. I pick it up because I get to it first.