Tangled Strings (sequel to Red Strings)

Chapter 42

"So you two are technically living together...?" my mother asked as I helped bring in her carryon suitcase while Calum paid the taxi driver.  "What do you mean by that?" I ask, questioning her obvious disapproving tone.

"Hey I didn't know your mum was coming today Nat!" Luke suddenly yelled from upstairs as he came down.  "Yeah neither did I...." I replied as he hugged my mom and she grinned immediately pinching one of his cheeks.  Luke had always been my mum's favourite probably because he was better than I ever was.  If it had been up to her she totally would've made me date Luke.

"Wow Mrs. Lane those bags were heavy.  Are you trying to bring a couple koalas here for us for company?" Ashton questioned and my mum laughed as she stepped into the kitchen, as Mikey sat having some pizza.  "Oh Michael!  There you are!  I was wondering where you'd be." my mum said before walking over and giving Michael a quick hug.  I knew she didn't like Michael either but I didn't say anything as she then said "Well Ashton I actually did bring a couple Australian delicases....quite a bit of vegemite actually."

"VEGEMITE!?" all the boys yell simultaneously and my mum nods before saying "I figured I should stock you boys up.  There's also some chocolates and whatnot.  Just to treat you boys especially because you're keeping me for a week." I felt faint.  A WEEK.  But I had to remind myself again- it was only a week.  ONE WEEK.  It wasn't that long.  It was only seven days, 168 hours, 10 080 minutes.....

"And then after that you'll head to Aunt Victoria's for a week right?" I say, hoping that she would stick to her plans. "Yes.  I would ask you to tag along but I'm assuming that you'll be too busy doing your homework.  After all you've got to stay on top of school right?" my mum said as she drummed her newly salon painted nails on the counter.   My mom rarely painted her nails, hell even go to the salon to get them done.  She was always busy with work and taking care of me that it never seemed to be priority. 

"I've got an idea I'll show you up to your room." I say hoping to steer her clear of anywhere else for now.  "I'll help carry up some of the bags!" Luke chimes in, knowing that it might help with the tension between my mother and pretty much everything here.

"Oh thank you Luke." my mum says flashing a smile at Luke.  We take everything up Luke's bedroom, since the only other room technically available would've been the bunk bed room.  But we all agreed that Luke's room seemed fit, and we got Calum and Luke to go into the bunk bed room so that my mother didn't have any suspicions with me and Calum.  I had moved into Calum's room, and had cleaned it up to make it look more like my own.

"Alright mum here's your room, I'm across the hall, there's a bathroom here...." I began showing her around the top floor, and she sighed before saying "I'm a little jetlagged so I think I'll just grab a nap.  Then maybe you and I could go out for a bite to eat Nat?  Unless you have plans...." "Oh no, we can totally go out.  Does sushi sound good?  I know an awesome place we can head to." "Well Victoria did tell me there was this nice vegetarian place we could go to instead it's perfect I think just so that I could watch my weight.  Besides you look like you could use it yourself...." my mother says, clearly indicating to my thighs and I grit my teeth and feel my body tense.  I hadn't changed much but I was slightly out of shape now, and I started heading back to the gym anyways.  

"Don't worry I've been heading to the gym lately." I state matter of factly and Luke notices me practically about to explode so he defuses the tension before saying "Well I think we should leave your mum to it then shouldn't we?" "Yeah let's.  We'll be a little more quiet ok?" I say to my mum and she nods and I shut the door quietly despite the great difficulty in doing so.

I march down the stairs and I go outside before Calum comes outside, noticing my obvious pissed off state.  "What's up?" he asks and I can't even speak because that's how angry I am so I take off and run into the studio and go behind the glass.  Finally I let out all the anger I've pent up and scream as loud as I can before I sink to the floor and succumb to a angry crying fit.