"Why you choose to drive this when you could have any other car will always be a mystery." Nathanael wondered allowed as he followed his sister into the car.
" Hey, how come I didn't see you in the dining hall the whole day?"
" I was in the library."
"Really, sis. It was the first day of school. Are you aiming for nerd?"
"Going to the library shouldn't automatically categorize you under 'nerd'. "
Nathanael grumbled something incoherent and went quiet for the rest of the ride.
" Mum, are you home? We are here!" Nathanael called out to the empty hall. Zara went straight to the kitchen to make something to eat. Jumping lunch was a bad idea, she now knew. Her stomach just wouldn't stop growling.
" How was your day, honey?"
A hesitant smile found its way on Zara's lips before she turned to face a petite brunette with motherly aura about her.
"It was fine. I am hungry though."
"I made some snack earlier. It is laid out on the table."
" Thanks, mum."
Samantha's smile brightened as she left her daughter alone.
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She glanced up at the watch by the door, three hours had passed since she dove into her books.
The evening sky was so clear, she decided to climb to the terrace.
Nathanael was deep in thought he almost didn't hear the footsteps behind him. He turned his face and waited expectantly. His sister emerged from the dark stairs and looked surprised and a little bit disappointed.
" Sorry, I didn't know you where here. I will go."
" You know this terrace isn't leased under my name, right?"
She stared at him blankly.
" I thought you wanted some privacy, so excuse me if I am being considerate."
He chuckled lightly, a very slight bitterness lining his tone.
" Don't you think we have enough of that already?"
She sighed, defeated, as she took a sit at the lounge chair beside him.
"What was she like?" Nathanael almost jumped from his seat. He hadn't expected her to speak after the stretch of silence since her arrival and least of all, he hadn't expected her to speak about that, about her.
He turned his face to look at Zara, half expecting her to do the same, but she was intently gazing at the stars.
"She looked a lot like you, you know. A shorter, fuller version of you. It always takes me off guard, the way you look alike."
" Does my presence bother you at all?"
" I told you I don't own the terrace,I even invited you to join me...sort of."
" You know perfectly well that that isn't what I am talking about. Give me a sincere answer."
He sucked in a deep breath before he answered, "It makes everything easier, more than it bothers me. You know you make mum feel so normal after everything she has been through right?"
" What would you do if he comes back?"She purposefully ignored his last statement.
" I don't want to talk about him." He bit out harshly.
He immediately reproached himself for being so harsh, " I am sorry. It is not your fault. I am just not ready yet to entertain those kind of thoughts."
"It is okay, I understand. If anything, I should be the one apologizing for being so intrusive."
He scampered for words to bring back their lighter mood. This was as far as he had seen her opening up and he wasn't going to let her build up her walls again just yet.
" You are part of the family now, Zara. You have been,ever since your surname became Payne. Now, whether you like it or not, you are my sister. Plus, it is alright to admit if you can't handle the awesomeness that is me." He tried to lighten the mood. And it worked. She smiled. She pressed her lips to hide her giggles, and he noticed. It was the most exhilarating and gut wrenching sight he has ever laid his eyes on.
She reminded him so much of the late Zara Payne. If only she would let us in, just a little bit.
" Let's go back inside, yeah? It's getting cold." Nathanael started for the door, his sister hot on his heels.
Zara headed towards the kitchen to grab a bottle of water. A tall man was hunched over the long kitchen island with lots of papers sprawled in front of him.
She contemplated over the ideas of making her presence known or sneaking in and out without disturbing him. But all was forgotten when he looked up at her.
She remembered the first time she laid her eyes on him. It was the first time he personally came to visit the orphanage. She had arrived there two weeks ago. His face had hidden a fatherly gleam behind utter dejection.
She had been summoned by the caretaker to the hall where they usually entertain visitors, possible foster parents and philanthropists.
" She wouldn't tell us her name and we couldn't find anything about her so you can take care of those things."
The caretakers had been really worried about the girl they found sitting at their doorstep on a dreary morning few weeks ago.
The psychiatrist in the building had suggested that she be assigned a family immediately. The headmistress was desperate enough to mention the foundation's misfortune to a generous donor who recently took interest in the orphanage. She was very worried at seeing the man's face brighten as if he won a lottery upon the news. Was he a sadist all along? I am fairly certain that I just shared a very sad news and yet he is smiling like he somehow found the solution to all the problems in the world.
He had asked to see the said girl and the headmistress had set a date for his visit grudgingly.
" So this is the young lady I have been hearing so much about ,huh?"
She had stared up at him with mistrust written all over her face.
He had looked at her mesmerized, the feeling of exhaustion leaving with every breathe he exhaled.
"Zara. You are Zara Payne from now on."
"But Mr. Payne-"
" I will fulfill every criteria, everything right away."
The headmistress looked skeptical. The adoption process is a very tedious one and they have to go through a lot of inspections. They have to study the family's history thoroughly and decide if it is the right one for the children.
On another hand, she was desperate. A child's well being comes first and above, everything else will follow. And as the psychiatrist said, the girl should be part of a family stat. Plus, Mr.Payne is a very beneficial factor for the foundation. Although, he looked masochistic a while ago her subconscious chimed in.
She will go through the formalities but deep down she already knew that she decided. Who else would adopt a teenage girl who seems to drag a lot of problems by just the mystery of her origins...
"Alright, Mr. Payne, for the sake of formalities, a social worker will visit your home tomorrow. Because of the unusual circumstances-" she emphasized on the unusual circumstances part,"-this process will only take two weeks."
"Make it one" He added a "Please?" when he saw her agitated expression.
" You are pushing your luck Mr.Payne. There is only a lot I can do for you."
"Okay, fine. But there is one more thing. I am not exactly the one who is going to adopt her, it is my sister. Trust me when I say she is the best candidate. She will be the best mother to Zara here."
"That is for us to decide." The landline rang. The headmistress glanced at her watch and back to her guest. "Excuse me, Mr.Payne I have to take that call. I have been expecting it all day, it is important. Sorry, i can't see you out." She dismissed her guest, apologetic.
The girl -now apparently Zara-had witnessed their exchange quietly. There had been a ghost of smile on her face when she finally left the room.
Back to present, she couldn't believe six months had already passed after that eventful first encounter with her uncle.
" Good evening, Uncle Ben."
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Flight three is up, birdies. I hope you enjoyed it. I have revealed something solid now. I would like it if you share your flight experience with your friends. Also show some support by voting and commenting.
On another note, I kind of imagine 'Zara Payne' as Gal Gadot (a younger version) and Nathanael as Andrew Garfield ( also younger version). I actually enjoy writing Nathanael's character, he is so charming ;)))))
P.S. I don't have any updating schedule but somehow I have ended up updating every Tuesdays. I will try to at least follow that one ;)