A Forever Affliction

Chapter 4 : Home Sweet Home?

The car stops. That's when my heart drops. I squint my eyes through the rain and observe my house. All those memories; birthdays, laughs, Christmas, Holidays, and even some small injuries when I was young occurred in this house. All those memories flood back into my mind. Some pleasant and some not. The worse that comes to mind is the night when I found my father in bed with the maid. I was young so I didn't think much of what was going on. My father then sent me back to bed hastily in fear I would tell my mother what I had witnessed. When I grew older, I figured out what they were actually doing under those expensive covers. We never did tell my mother what happened.

Somehow my parents have grown closer after what happened. They seem more in love than ever. My mother, oblivious to what actually struck this everlasting wave of love from my father adores him more than anything. I fear that even if she does find out what happened more than 12 years ago, it wouldn't even matter. Her love for my father is enough to mask anything grievous he could ever do.

"Wow," Ivy gasps. "Your house is beautiful! What are those? Masonry Exterior Window Trims?"

Ivy earned a slick smile from my mother at that remark. "I like her already! A nice architectural designer eye!" My mother cheers.

"What's your study?" The man asks Ivy. I still don't know his name.

"She studies the anatomy of structure and design," I answer blankly for Ivy.

"Yea, what Mel said," Ivy utters shyly, her small smile still present from earlier.

The mood seemed to deepen, as if my blank response depressed the joyous mood in the car. We sit in silence for a few minutes outside of the house. Ivy in awe of the wonders of our land outside her window, my mother messing with her hair silently, my father tweaking the cooler confined within the limo filled to the rim with bottles of expensive champagne, and the man fidgeting with his hands in his lap. The only noises are the constant tapping of the rain against the limo. The drops rush down every window as if in a race.

A silent yawn escapes my mouth...

"Sooooo ...? Are we going to go into the house or not?" I say with a small chuckle at the awkwardness lurking in the car.

A series of relieved sighs fan out.

"Whew! I don't know what I would do if I had to stay all awkward like that any longer." The man says with a genuine smile.

Woah, what the hell? His smile is inhumanly white & so perfect. Theres something about that smile that gives me a sense of familiarity. Or a sense of warmth and essence. I feel a sort of security around him and that smile. No! That's just silly! I can't possibly feel all of that from seeing a strangers smile, for like the first time.

"At-hem." The chauffeur clears his throat. "Madam Maverick, you should really exit the vehicle." He spoke from outside, the door open and his hand waiting to help me departure the limousine.

I was so caught up in my weird thoughts that I hadn't realized that everyone had already exited the car, leaving me alone long enough for my impulses to flood my mind.

"Oh please do excuse my childishness, my thoughts distracted me!" I say to the chauffeur as I take his hand. I put on my best fake smile and add a stale chuckle before I exit the car. He hands me an umbrella to shield the drizzling rain. I really don't need it, I think.

The air outside is thick and humid , an aftermath of the rain I assume.

The walk up the driveway is long so I examine all the overpriced cars that pile up in it. I thought this dinner would be only our family. Not all those fake housewives and their spoiled daughters. Not to mention those materialistic men whose expensive suits reek of stale cigars and aged whiskey. This dinner party was never meant for just me. It was for my mother to show me off to her fake, petty 'friends'. They always--

"I know all about it." The man whispers to me with a small chortle. He places his hand on the small of my back while he walks closely behind me.

"What are you talking about?" I ask, confused. I turn my body and his hand drops back down the his side.

"That laugh and smile you gave to the chauffeur was fake. You're probably thinking now about how fake this dinner party is going to be. How long your going to have to put on a fake smile and converse with fake rich snobs. You're going to have to constantly brag to those people to please your mother and father." He whispers.

Did he just read my mind? I thought he was just as fake as those rich people already gathered in my house.

"How did you know?" I spoke in an awed whisper.

"Oh, not only do I know. I've experienced it! My parents are the snobbiest it will ever get. I've learned how to put on a fake smile for the fake people that filled my house at parties."

"I thought you were.. Uhh--" I stammer.

"Selfish? A snob?" He cuts me off, "I'm not. In fact I would call myself more like you." He says as we come to a stop at our grand front door.

"I can't wait to see the rest of your house Mel!" Ivy chirps.

"Not so fast, everyone needs to get dressed first, the party has already started" My Mother voiced. She opens the door and the sight is all to familiar.

Sweet smells dance through the cool air. The fragrance of expensive colognes and perfumes linger also, along with the aromas of wine and desserts. Everyone is dressed to their best ability. Few people mingle in the living room but I know that most are in the banquet and dining rooms. Many of the staff dressed in black suits convey polished trays with gourmet food atop it.

Ivy and I head up the majestic marble stair I
case in a hurry to not be seen. We rush down one of the halls. The exorbitant rug under our sneakers and the paintings lining the unerringly paneled walls fly past as we run. I lead her past many suites and bathrooms until we finally reach my gargantuan room. I take a deep breath and push the door open.

"Wow! Oh My Gosh! Mel! Your room is enormous!" Ivy swept past me into my chambers in astonishment.

Everything is the same as when I left it. My king sized Victorian bed, plastered with violet bedding and white pillows. The seating area by my window is untouched and my bookshelf straitened since I left. My dresser and my belongings organized.

"Okay we need to get dressed quickly Ivy, there's the closet" I utter before walking through the curtains that lead to my closet, Ivy close behind.

"Your closet is bigger than our dorm room!"

"Follow me, we need to go to my formal dress section" I tell Ivy.

"You.have.sections" she whispers.

When we get there I am surprised to find that there are numerous new dresses in my closet. Many different styles also. Ivy is one size bigger than me but she can fit some of these.

"Choose whatever you like." I tell a surprised Ivy. "I haven't worn any of them."

"Really? Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!" She exclaims and suffocates me in a hug.

The sudden gesture and her shoulder brushing up against my face cause my face to ache. Maybe I should have stayed in the hospital for a few more days to heal more. I do feel little light headed. My nose then continued to throb uncontrollably.

"Ouch! Still healing!"

"Oh sorry! I forgot, my bad Mel" she realizes then releases me from her arms.

"Let's pick something." I gesture to the formal wardrobe.

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It's short but I promise I will update more later today or tomorrow.
Hope you enjoyed reading!

-Kennedi