CHAPTER 4

 'So are you really leaving?' Kimberly asks as she bursts into my room, a week after I received the news from Jon.

'Yep but just remember that it is only temporarily.'

'Yes, I guess that's true,' she sits herself down on my bed and I carry on packing. 'By the way, my mum wants to talk to you.'

'What?' I internally panic because I know she wants to talk to me about my dominant gene and what it means for the brain tumour.

'Oh yeah, didn't I tell you?'

'Shut up Kimberly,' I state, rolling my eyes at her sarcastic response. I do some last minute packing and when I'm satisfied with my belongings, I take my bags downstairs.

'Kiera?'

'Yes Aunt Rachel,' I reply putting my bags on the floor. Kimberly follows me downstairs and Aunt Rachel goes inside the kitchen, obviously wanting a private conversation with me.

'Can you please take my bags to my car Kimberly?'

'You mean this rubbish,' she motions to my bags on the floor and breaks into an amused grin.

'Not funny Kimberly.'

'It was hilarious,' she defends which causes me to roll my eyes.

'Just do it.'

'Okay, okay calm yourself down.'

'Whatever Kimberly,' I say before handing her my car keys and I walk into the kitchen. Aunt Rachel is sitting by the dining table and I sit opposite her. 'Are you sure you want to go Kiera?'

'You mean with my mutated gene?'

'I didn't mean that Kiera,' she replies sighing. 'It's just that I promised that I'd look after you.'

'And you are,' she smiles but the smile doesn't reach her eyes. 'I just don't want you leaving and then having to come back because Jon wants to discuss your results-'

'That won-' I cut her off but as a result, she cuts me off and continues speaking, 'or I don't want anything else to happen to you which will make you come back earlier than you planned.'

'Aunt Rachel, that won't happen and I'll be fine, they did catch this early on,' she nods her head, silently agreeing. 'It'll be fine.'

'You don't deserve this Kiera, why is this happening to you?' 

'No-one deserves this but there are people that are in a worse position in comparison to me, so I guess we should be grateful.' She nods her head again, smiling before engulfing me into a hug. I wrap my arms around her shoulders and try to hold back my tears. After all, some people really do have it bad.

'Drive safely,' she says as we pull apart.

'Don't worry I will.'

'And call me or text Kimberly as soon as you get there.'

'Don't worry I will.' I repeat. She chuckles before giving me another hug. Once she lets go, we say our final "goodbyes" before I walk out of the house. Kimberly is leaning against my car, waiting for to come out of the house.

'You took your time.'

'Shut up Kimberly.' I smile and she returns it.

'Are you not going to say bye to Kelly and Kelsey?'

'I already did.'

'What? When?'

'None of your business,' I smirk and she rolls her eyes.

'Whatever you say Kiera,' she replies with an irritated expression on her face which widens my smirk. I wrap my arms around her shoulders and she returns the embrace, wrapping her arms around my neck. 'Drive safely.' I smile as I already had this conversation with her mum.

'Don't worry, I will.'

'And you better text me as soon as you get there,' my smile becomes wider because I had no idea Kimberly and Aunt Rachel were this similar to one another.

'Don't worry, I will,' she rolls her eyes before hugging me again and going inside the house.

I get inside my car and start the engine. I put the Sat Nav on, entering my once in another life time address and begin driving.

----------

Three hours later, I arrive at my destination which took longer than I thought it would. I take out my phone and send a text to Kimberly.

(To Kimberly) Hey, I have arrived. I promised I would text and I always keep my promises... ~K~

Instantly, I receive a reply from Kimberly.

You always keep your promises? I wouldn't put it quite that way and I'm glad you got there safely. -Kim

I scoff loudly at her response and instantly tap away at my keyboard to reply.

(To Kimberly) Whatever, you're entitled to your own opinion. :) ~K~

I quickly switch my phone off, saving the battery and put it in my back pocket. I get out of my car and take in my familiar surroundings. I knock softly on the door I once called my home. An old man that I have never seen before opens the door and asks 'can I help you?'

'Erm...I'm looking for the family that lived here before you did,' he nods at me and holds the door widely.

'Come on in.' I give him a confused look because I just expected an answer on the doorstep. He looks at me and I can't help but walk inside.

The hall has been painted red, instead of the white colour it was before. The creamy carpet on the stairs has been changed to black. I can't help but mentally scoff because my deceased mother designed this house from top to bottom. 'I asked you if you wanted tea,' the man interrupts.

'No thank you, I would just like you to answer my question.'

'Okay,' he leads me into the kitchen, which still looks familiar but it is missing something I can't put my finger on. He tells me to 'take a seat' so I sit on one of the chairs. He sits opposite me, giving me a glass of water. 'The family that lived here don't really want to be found.'

'What?' I ask shocked. His brown eyes become a little smaller and he strokes his beard softly. 'Yes, they don't really want people to find them. I'm guessing you are out of town?'

'I guess you could say that,' I shrug my shoulders as I don't know what else to say. 'Do you not have any idea where they could have gone?'

'They don't want anyone to know,' he repeats causing me to scoff loudly.

'So let me get this straight, you invite me into your home, offering me a drink, only to tell me that you can't give me what I'm looking for.'

'I'm sorry, I just thought I would break the news to you gently,' he sighs softly.

'You're pathetic.' I say angrily before walking out of the house, slamming the door on my way out. 

I don't know where else to go now, so I go into my car and drive to the only place I know, Lily's house. It takes three minutes to park my car outside Lily's house but the driveway seems clear so I doubt anyone is inside the house. To be more sure, I send a quick text to Lily but I notice the text that she sent nearly a week ago which I still haven't responded too. 

Yay, I'm so excited, I can't wait till you finally get here! :P xLilx

(To Lily) Hey, I'm sorry I didn't reply to your text but wuup2? :P ~K~

I intend to subtly ask her where she is so she doesn't get suspicious. Moments later, I get a reply from her.

It's okay. I'm at Lucy's house, hanging with her and a few friends.

I sigh because she isn't at home. I consider staying with someone else but I haven't kept in contact with anyone much except James and Lily. And I am definitely not staying with James, so I'm going to have to drive over to Lucy's house. 

The drive to Lucy's house doesn't take very long and before I know it, I'm parked outside her house, not a clue about what I'm going to do. 

(To Lily) Can you come outside for a sec? Don't tell anyone. :3 ~K~

Instead of getting a reply via text, I hear the door to Lucy's house open and Lily sprints towards me. 'Oh my God' she breathes quietly as she stands in front of me and she wraps her arms around my neck. I laugh and wrap my arms around her waist. 'What are you doing here Kiera?'

'Do you not want me here?' I tease. She pushes my arm playfully before saying 'of course I want you here.'

'Well, I said I was going to come didn't I?' She smiles before hugging me again.

'Kiera, you have to come inside!' She jumps up and down excitedly causing a giggle to escape my lips.

'I will but Lily, I have to talk to you first.'

'What about?' I sit in my car and she sits in the passenger seat.

'I have so many questions that I don't have answers to.'

'Questions like what?' She raises her eyebrows.

'Why have my dad and Andrea moved house? Why didn't tell me they move house? Where are they living now? Who is the man living in my old house? What-'

'Kiera, slow down,' Lily states as she rests her hand on my shoulder. 'It is a long story Kiera.'

'I have all night,' I reply leaning against the window.

'I think you should talk to Liz about this,' she sighs uncomfortably.

'You're my best friend Lily and I'm asking you, so just get it over and done with and tell me.'

'Okay but you're not going to like it.' I raise my eyebrows as if to say "get on with it." She seems to understand as she sighs and begins talking.