Present Day October 2018

Saturday had come around quicker than I had anticipated , the trip 'home' had been playing on my mind ever since the picnic but now it was finally happening. Ricky and I had been in the car for almost an hour and I was like a nervous wreck. "I really don't know if I can do this , Rick." I murmured , I knew I was being stupid but the thought of seeing my mother again was putting me on edge , she'd gone too far this time and I wasn't anywhere close to being able to forgive her. "I know sweetie , I'll be there with you every step of the way. She might not even be home , try not to let it bother you too much." His reply soothed my nerves slightly and I sunk down into the chair and tried to tear my thoughts away from my return to Riverside.

"It's the big White House at the end of the street." I said as the car made a left into the familiar cul-de-sac. "Not as nice as the old one , I never did like the colour it always looked so cold and clinical." As the car pulled up outside my anxiety spiked , just as I feared my mother's car was parked in the driveway I just hoped that her being home wouldn't result in WW3 when I got inside. "You ready?" Ricky asked , clearly sensing my anxiety.

"As I'll ever be. I'm only here to get my stuff , I'm not here to argue with her."

"Wow , is that yours?" Ricky asked as he spotted the white Audi TT parked next to my mother's car.

"Yup." I murmured as we made our way to the front door. "Here goes nothing." I let out a deep breath as I step into the house , the place had never felt like a home to me and after the events that had taken place over the last few days it felt even more alien to me.

We both made our way towards the stairs , neither of us uttering a word in case my Mother were to hear us. We were halfway up the stairs when the door to the kitchen swung open , I turned to see the exact person I wanted to avoid lent against the door frame , an unreadable expression on her face. "Welcome home , Lucia." Her voice was cold and even now as an adult it still sent a chill down my spine. "Mother." I murmured "I won't be staying , I've just come to get my things. I won't take long."

The laugh that left my mother's mouth was a humourless one. "You're not going anywhere young lady." She began but I cut her off instantly.

"Yes , mother. I am. I've come to get my clothes and a few other things and I'm leaving. You went too fucking far telling me that Hayden had died , it's one thing tearing me away from my friends and forcing me to forget about them , but you crossed the line when you told me he was dead." I was shaking by the time I'd finished but I held myself together , I wasn't making myself look like a fool in front of her.

"Lucia , if you want a conversation with me about this we can have one in private. I'm sure that poor man doesn't want to hear about this." I almost laughed at her , there she goes again , not wanting anyone to hear our dirty laundry. People only saw what she wanted them to see when it came to my Mother , she was as fake as they come in that sense.

"I'm sure Ricky already knows most of it mother." I replied. She stayed quiet for a moment , I could tell that she remembered the name from somewhere so I decided to give her a little hand with remembering who he was. "Ricky." I began "was my best friend when we lived in Oakland , Mother." I could tell she was speechless , If she would have allowed herself I'm more than certain her jaw would've hit the floor. "Now if you excuse us , I'm going upstairs to pack." With that I made my way up the rest of the stairs and made a B-line for my room.

"Are you okay , Luce?" Ricky asked before pulling me into a hug.

"I think so , let's just hurry up and pack. I don't want to be here any longer than I have to."

For the next hour both myself and Ricky worked silently as we packed up as many items of clothes and other personal items we could , the only words uttered between the two of us were when he asked if I wanted to take something or leave it behind.

Dropping down on the bed I let out a sigh , I was exhausted but I still had to face my Mother again and I was sure that she'd inflict some type of verbal torment on me before I left. "Is that everything?" Ricky asked as he sat down next to me , I was grateful for his help but not only that the moral support he'd provided me on the trip.

"Yeah , I think so. Let's just get the cars packed up , I need to get out of this house."

On the last trip to the cars my mother appeared in the doorway again , I prayed that she wouldn't say anything and that she'd just let me leave without sticking the knife in any further but she was my Mother and sadly I knew her too well to know that she wouldn't let me leave without giving the knife a little twist.

"So , I'm guessing you've seen Hayden then?" The way she said his voice made me feel sick , it was as if he were lower than pond scum in her eyes.

"Yes , so what if I have?" I replied feigning indifference her question.

"Is he still an addict , Luce? Tell me , I'd love to know if a boy such as him had any redeeming qualities what so ever."

"I don't think that's any of your business , mother." I replied , my tone was icy but I knew and she knew that Hayden had always been a sensitive spot for me and she'd use that to her own advantage.

"On the contrary it's every bit of my business , every decent mother would want to know if their daughter was hanging around the trash of society." I tried to not blanch at her words , she was a calculating woman and knew how to sharpen her words to use as knives in an argument. "Mother" I began "any decency you may or may not of had was firmly eliminated when you dragged me away from my friends 5 years ago , to make matters worse you further damaged your status as and I quote 'a decent mother' when you told me that Hayden had died. So please forgive me when I tell you that anything you've said in last 5 minutes is utter shit."

"Regardless of my past actions what I did for you was for your benefit. Mark my words Lucia , running around after that boy like a love sick puppy will only end up one way. He's an addict , they're selfish and only care about themselves. It will only result in one thing with him lying dead in the ground and you heartbroken. Once an addict always an addict , or do I have to remind you of why you were moved from Oakland in the first place?" I visibly shuddered at her words and immediately images of Hayden's lifeless body after he'd overdosed popped into my mind , I battled with myself to suppress the images but by the time I had my mother wore an expression on her face indicating her victory. She'd made me react by bringing up the one thing that had totally broken me.

"Come on , Rick. We're leaving." I spat as I stormed out of the house , thankfully Ricky was close behind me and when we'd reached his car I finally allowed myself to relax.

"Jesus , Luce. That was some intense shit." He murmured , running a hand through his hair. He looked as exhausted as I felt.

"Yeah , just a bit." I tried to play it of as if I hadn't been effected by the malice that had been spewed from my mother's mouth by in reality it had well and truly rattled me to my core.

"It's all over now , sweetie. You don't ever have to see her again if you don't want too." He pulled me into a well needed hug and I allowed myself to relax into the familiar feeling of his embrace.

"I don't know how we're going to get passed this , rick. The damage has been done and I don't think I could even look at her without my blood boiling after that outburst."

"I think only time will tell with this one. You're out of here now and back where you really belong , don't let this argument distract you from the fact that Lucia Smith is finally coming home."

His words almost caused a sob to escape from my lips , but he was right I was coming home. After 5 long years away I was finally able to be where I truthfully felt like I belonged. After giving me another hug I made my way over to my car and pulled it out of the drive , this was it there was no turning back and for the first time since setting foot inside that house I smiled. The drive back to Oakland wasn't a short one so I allowed myself some time to reflect on what had gone on earlier that day , there was something that my mother had said that I couldn't quite shake. ' It will only result in one thing with him lying dead in the ground and you heartbroken.'

The statement was at the fore front of my mind no matter how hard I tried to suppress it I couldn't. What if she was right , what if there was no saving Hayden and all of this amounted to nothing?

A/N

I hope you all enjoy the chapter ! Please remember to vote and comment your support means the world to me and makes me super happy.

What do you think about Lucia's mum ? Do you think she's right ?

The next chapter will be out some time next week so don't forget to Add this book to your library so you don't miss out on an update.
P.S. Here's a photo of my dog ❤️