"You got your bag?" Abby stood at the kitchen counter, looking over at her daughter, sitting at the table.
   Jamie would be going to Ms. Gisela's again today.
   Jamie nodded, holding up a purple backpack. It was old and worn, and she'd had it since she was little, but she always used it.
   Her mother nodded, and grabbed an apron, that was stocked with straws and pens.
   "I guess you can go over now," her mother said finally, walking over, and leaning down to kiss her head.
   "Thanks Mom," Jamie said, shoving a final piece of warm toast from her plate, into her mouth. She savoured the last few moments, before getting up, grabbing her bag, and then reluctantly following her mother to the door.
   She had filled her backpack with sketchbooks, pencils, paintings and snacks earlier. Jamie was determined not to have her overly kind neighbour give her food. She had also put in a few paintings to give to Ms. Gisela. She had figured that would be the best way that she could repay Ms. Gisela for watching her so often.
   One of them, was the realistic drawing of the woman herself. Jamie had drawn it again, this time, without the ice cave in the background. Then she had copied it onto canvas, and painted it. The other one Jamie planned to give Ms. Gisela, was a painting of the flower. It was the one that had made her think of her son.
   Also, just incase Geth happened to be there, she had another painting. Though she didn't know him, really at all, she threw it in, as  or to feel awkward only giving Ms. Gisela a gift.
   It was a landscape of mountains. She was pretty sure she had seen pictures of these particular mountains, sometime before. They were the Himalayan Mountains. Snow covered the perfectly drawn peaks, and Jamie had spent hours perfecting the perspective.
   She had also packed a painting of the butterfly she'd shown Ms. Gisela last time she spent the day with her.
   Another one she brought, was a painting of a magnificent, colourful bird. The bird in the painting was quite large, with multicoloured feathers, and wings splayed out, as if about to take flight. It had webbed feet, like a water bird, and was perched upon a leafed branch. Jamie had spared no detail on any of it.
And the final one, was of a flying horse.
   The flying horse was a normal white mare, beside the fact that a pair of huge, pearly white wings sprouted below its shoulders. All of its hair was sparkly, especially the shining mane, which was blown about, giving it an even more lifelike look.
   Jamie heard her mother's car start, and continued in her way outside. Once she was out in the unusually cool air, she appreciated her clothing choice. She wore long pants, and a shirt, covered up with a hoodie, and warm boots. She had also thrown a scarf into the mix.
   Waving to her mother as she pulled out of the driveway, Jamie made her way over to the line that separated her home from that of her neighbour's, feeling a little betrayed that her mother left her everyday. Though it wasn't really her mother's fault.
   Whenever Abby asked how her time with Ms. Gisela was, Jamie would say it was fun. Because that was the truth. The only thing that felt wrong about spending time with her neighbour, was a niggly feeling inside of her. Other than the strange feeling, nothing else was wrong with her neighbour.
   But Jamie did remember Lilly telling her to trust her instincts. Could Lilly be part of all this shady business?
   And again, Jamie found herself knocking on the door to Ms. Gisela's house. She waited, then heard a voice inside.
   "Just a minute, Jamie, my dear!"
   Jamie sighed. Some things just never changed.
   Jamie felt scared. She didn't want to hang out with Ms. Gisela, nor did she even want to know her. She was a strange person, and some things didn't add up. Jamie felt like that would never change.
   And some things, Jamie just didn't understand. Like why Ms. Gisela was in Mr. Forkle's yard when he was still the owner. Or what Ms. Gisela had been doing in the first place. Or even why her strange neighbour never came to the door right away. Not to mention the fact that she didn't understand any of the mysterious happenings, like Coco's kidnapping, and Mr. Forkle's disappearance.
   So many things were confusing. So much befuddled her. So many things made her head hurt.
   With the overload of thoughts, Jamie really, really wanted to scream.
   She shifted her backpack strap on her shoulder, when she heard footsteps from inside the house. She combed a hand through her hair, as a light breeze blew it awry.
   She pulled on her best smile. Her best confident look. Her best mask of happiness.
   But as the door swung open, she really, really wanted to scream.

839 Words

Another short chapter!
I have been trying to leave cliffhangers lately. Just to torture you, of course.
XP
Just kidding.
Hope you enjoyed!
See ya!
—Wawawa