Mila looks down at the photo album she found stocked away in the loft.

It is dusted, and not being used that often since it is pressed in among the other stuff. 

She opens it up slowly, coughing a little bit from the dust there springs away from it. The quality of the pictures are old, but they signify a time when everyone was happy. 

The first picture is of Mila and Nick. It's on their 10th birthday. They both wear bright smiles - signalling a carefree time. 

Mila doesn't remember much of that day, though it must have been one of the last years their parents stilled loved each other. 

The next picture is of Robert and Chelsea. Chelsea smiles into the camera but what catches Mila's eyes is her dad. He doesn't look into the camera. He is looking at her mom like she is the only women on the planet. 

Mila can't get the frozen picture of Robert out of her head, that night when he heard that Chelsea had a man up in their bedroom. 

It has been one week since he left the house along with his belongings. The only thing he left behind was divorce papers.

The sad thing was that he wasn't even unhappy. He hasn't felt anything for Chelsea for a long time. At least not like he did in that picture. 

Another picture catches her eye. It's one of their family back in Florida. They are all smiling, and you can see that they love each other. Their grandma is also there.

Mila misses her so much. She wishes that she could have come with them here to Calfornia.

But that is not possible.

The rest of the pictures are of Mila and Nick from when they were younger. A few of their old house back in Florida along with some of the journeys they had been on, however, the images stopped after they turned 16. The time Chelsea and Robert were on and off all the time, and when Peter came into the picture.

The time where everything went downhill.

Mila closes the memory book and places it back from where she took it.

♦︎ 

Chelsea walks downstairs, towards the door. 

She opens it and meets an unfamiliar face."Can I help you with something?" She asks in a curt voice.

Kyle outstretches his hand, in an attempt to be polite, "I'm Kyle. I live next door," he points at his home before continuing, "Is Mila here?"

Chelsea looks down at his hand, and then back up at him again. Not impressed. 

Kyle's hand falls back limply at his side. 

"What do you want from my daughter?" It may seem like she is protecting her daughter, and engaged in her life, but she wants to make sure that nothing dangerous happens to herself again.

Like last time.

"Um... We are going to the city?" He answers hesitantly and scratches the back of his neck awkwardly. 

Chelsea gives him a once over. 'He doesn't look like trouble...' She thinks, then rolls her eyes at her stupidity. Peter didn't look like trouble either, but look where that got you. 

She is about to tell him to get moving when Mila comes to his rescue.

"Hey, Kyle. Let's get going." 

Mila takes his hand in hers and drags him away from Chelsea. 

Chelsea gives Mila one last look before slamming the door closed. 

She begins pacing down the hallway. I'm still her mom, wherever she likes it or not. And she does live under her roof.

Her feet stops pacing as the light inside her head starts to shine. 

"Why haven't I thought of this before." She smiles. 

Another knock comes from the door, and this time Chelsea gives the visitor a radiant smile. 

The smile stays on her face when she sees who it is, and she practically jumps into his arms. 

"Wow, what are you so happy about?" Blake asks his lover. 

Chelsea plants a quick kiss on his lips. "I just got the best idea ever."

Blake gives her a worried look and nods his head slowly when she tells him her great idea.

♦︎

Mila closes the door to the house. Her smile is as big as it has been since she left with Kyle 5 hours ago. 

The plan was that they should've met up with Sam and Irina. But Irina texted Mila, saying that she had some family problems to take care of, and then Sam kind of cancelled too. Mila told him to go home, because she knew he would be worried about Irina and would look at his phone every second, waiting for her call. 

That left Kyle and Mila alone. Mila didn't want to go home, and Kyle was more than eager to spend time with her. 

Therefore they spent the whole day together. 

They have only known each other for one week, but funny enough it wasn't awkward. 

Mila can't remember the last time she has laughed so much with a boy, Sam excluded. 

Kyle is a good mixture of kindness and taking care of people around him. But for Mila, the best thing about Kyle is the way he makes her smile or laugh. From his clumsiness to his funny sense of humour, it all brings a smile to Milas' face. 

He made her feel like she didn't have a single worry in her life. 

Mila was very close to telling him what happened back in Florida when he asked her about her hometown. But even though he seems trustworthy, Mila couldn't. 

If it weren't for the fact that Peter had suddenly shown up in High School one day, Sam and Irina probably wouldn't know either. 

As Mila finally get out of her own little 'happy bubble', she takes a look at what is surrounding her. White walls with no emotions, modern art replacing the places where the family photos should have hanged. The almost untouched furniture, and so on.

Mila could, unfortunately, see herself falling for Kyle, but she can't. 

Not to him.

She can't bring him into her hectic life. 

Look where it got Ryan.

The new thoughts make Milas' smile vanish completely. She can't get involved with someone, at least not before Peter's trial is over. Maybe then she can start to think about Kyle in that light. 

But not now.

"Mila?!" Chelsea calls out.

Mila collects her thoughts and pushes herself away from the door. "Yeah?" Something awful must have happened. Mila thinks. Her mom is usually not the one to start a conversation unless it is urgent. 

"I have some news." She continues with a smile. An actual genuine smile. 

Mila's jaw is practically down on the ground, but she tries to keep her shocked expression masked away. 

She is so shocked that she doesn't even notice the packed suitcase beside Chelsea before Chelsea drops the bomb. "I'm kicking you out."

With those words, Mila's mouth opens fully in utter shock, but Chelsea's smile stays intact.

"What?!" Mila gets out of her open mouth. 

Chelsea gives her a radiant smile, not even hiding her happiness. "I want you out, tonight." 

 Mila gets out of her shocked stage, and then the anger rises. "But where am I suppose to go!? We both know Dad doesn't have room for me. Hell, he doesn't even have room for himself!" In the end, she's practically screaming in frustration.

Chelsea shrugs her shoulders, "Not my problem." Then she walks past her and towards the door. She then opens it and places the suitcase outside.

She walks up to Mila and gives her one of her icy looks, "I don't want to deal with any more of your drama. You've cost me enough." And with that, she walks away, without another word.

Mila stands alone in the hallway.

Her thoughts are all over the place.

Maybe even some regrets.

♦︎

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Till next time

Much love♥︎

♦︎