Chapter 51: Aspirations

When I offered to help with the dishes, I didn't realise that I would be doing it by myself. I used my foot to prop open the dustbin and chuck the last of the leftovers in, while under the constant watch of Mrs. Gray. All she did was stand behind me, making me self-conscious of my butt. If I set my mind to it, I could probably forget she was there; but if I did push her to the back of my mind, I had no doubt that she would cause some spectacle to make herself visible again. So I made sure that every five minutes I would glance in her direction, to remind her that I knew she was there.

"Ready to leave?" Caspian entered the kitchen.

"Almost done," I smiled at him.

"You kids go on," Mrs. Gray said as she smiled sweetly. I hadn't even realised she had resumed my former task of rinsing the greasy plates. She probably didn't want her son to see her slacking, while I did all the work.

"It's pretty late." Noah popped his head through the door.

Oh, I knew what would come next.

"Why don't you stay?" Noah finished.

"No," Caspian replied, saving me the pain of saying it. "We should really get back."

If I had known we were going to stay so late, I would have called Chrissie and asked her to cover for me. I felt like dying at the thought of confronting my parents; not that it mattered, because they were going to kill me anyway. It might be easier to die now.

Noah shrugged. "See you soon, little bro." He slapped Caspian on the back, causing me to shudder from the sheer force of his hand on Caspian's back. Caspian on the other hand wasn't in the least bit troubled by the action and kissed Molly goodbye, before pulling me towards him.

"One more thing," Mrs. Gray said. She pretended like she had suddenly just remembered to tell us, but I could tell she had been dying to tell us from the very minute we turned up on her doorstep. "I'm campaigning for Mayor."

Caspian and I shared a look, both of us knowing that the next Mayor was already as good as dead. Campaigning for Mayor was akin to signing your own death certificate.

"Why?" Caspian asked trying to hide his disbelief. He may act like he didn't care about her, but deep down he still loved her.

"Why not?" she asked, smiling widely. Her skin was stretched so much, it looked like her face was about to crack.

Caspian shrugged. "It's not really worth it, with all the work that goes into it."

"And you need a degree in law." I wasn't sure if that was true, but I was willing to help dissuade her in any way I could.

Caspian looked at me, and I knew I had said the wrong thing.

"I do have a degree in law," she told Caspian, even though I was the one who made that statement. Her eyes were hopeful. I could see that she was hoping that getting this title would gain her son's approval.

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