CHAPTER 9

To say the past few days have been horrible would be an understatement. All I think about is the photo being smashed right in front of my eyes. What am I supposed to show my future children?

'Kiera?' I look up from the living room to find Anna standing by the doorway. I ignore her presence as I don't want to talk and hold the fury cushion to my chest closer. 'Kiera, you can't act like this. What would your mother say if she could see you right now?'

'I don't know but it's a relief that she can't see me because she is dead.'

'Kiera-'

'I really don't want to talk right now Anna' I sigh loudly.

'I have spoken to Ronald and he apologised for what he did.'

'So is apologising supposed to put the tiny pieces of glass back together again? What is sorry going to do for me? I don't want his apologies.'

'Kiera, you should calm down,' Anna replies as she walks towards me.

'No offence but I think I want to be alone right now.' She nods her head and leaves the room leaving me to my own thoughts. I scoff at the fact that Anna thinks what Ronald did is all right because he apologised. 'Hey,' Lily states as she sits down on the sofa next to me.

'I want to be alone Lily.'

'I'm not leaving,' she replies holding the remote in her hand searching for something to watch. 'You do know that Ronald apologised don't you?'

'Oh, so that obviously makes it okay,' I sarcastically mutter hiding my face in the cushion.

'No, I didn't mean it like that.'

'So what did you mean?'

'I was just seeing if you knew but you obviously do. And for the record I don't think his apologies cover what he did to you Kiera. I am on your side here,' she replies as she takes hold of my hand.

'Oh, that's a first then.' I mumble quietly.

'Stop pushing me away Kiera, you've done that before and I let you but I'm not going to let you push me away this time.'

'I'm not trying to, I was merely just voicing my opinion Lily, no need to get all offended,' I say faking a sweet voice. She rolls her eyes and says 'I get that you're mad but stop taking it out on me. I'm sorry about what happened, but stop acting like you are now.' I nod because she is right but I don't bother speaking. 'What do you want to watch?'

'Just put on whatever you want, I'll just watch it with you.' I reply quietly. She nods and puts on The Big Bang Theory because she knows I like it. I smile at her and she returns it before putting her attention on the TV in front of us.

'Are you guys that bored?' Liz's voice captures our attention and we look up to face her.

'What are you talking about?' Lily asks.

'Well, the TV programme you're currently watching just says it all.'

'Shut up Liz, have you just come here to tell us that?' I snap as I can't help but feel offended.

'No, Kiera, I also came to check up on you,' she replies as she sits beside Lily.

'Well, now that you have, you can leave,' I reply.

'Rude.'

'No, you insulting what we're watching is rude,' I reply causing her to scoff.

'Are we actually arguing about this?' Lily asks.

'Liz started it.' I reply immaturely and Liz shakes her head at my reply. Lily's phone beeps, preventing any of us saying anything. She looks at her phone and says 'it's Kara; she wants to hang out with me.'

'Well go and hang out with her then,' Liz replies coldly.

'Shut up Liz, stop having a go at me,' she turns away from Liz and looks at me. 'I'll stay if you want me to Kiera.'

'Its fine Lily, just go and hang out with her.'

'You know that I'm on your side don't you?' She asks and I smile nodding my head. She wraps her arms around my neck and I return the embrace before she stands up, walking out of the house.

'So what do you want to do?' I ask Liz.

'Well, do you want come home? Well, you might not feel like that and stuff and I get it but-'

'Liz, you're rambling,' I smirk and she becomes quiet.

'Well do you want to come? Lola really wants to see you as well.'

'I was going to say "yes" in the first place so there is no need to guilt trip me into coming with you.'

'I wasn't even doing that' she replies unconvincingly.

'Sure, whatever you say Liz,' she rolls her eyes, not replying to my statement.

'Well are you coming or not?'

'Now?' I ask curiously as I raise my eyebrows at her.

'Well now is when I'm asking,' she stands up and I roll my eyes before following her out of the house.

'So where is this house you speak of?'

'What's with the formality?'

'Emphasising my curiosity,' I shrug my shoulders and she laughs.

'It's close,' she replies briefly answering my question but fails to give me the detailed answer I was expecting. I wait for her to carry on but once I realise she isn't going to tell me more so I ask 'is that all you're going to tell me?' She smirks and shrugs her shoulders. 'Liz,' I whine.

'You'll see for yourself, it is close anyway.' I nod my head before asking 'why did you guys move house anyway?'

'There were too many memories in that house so my mum wanted to move so that is what we did,' I hum, showing that I heard her but have nothing to say.

'Isn't it weird though?'

'What's weird?' She questions as she folds her arms.

'Settling in to a new place and calling it "home." That has to be a little weird at least.' I reply.

'Well, it was at first but then you sort of just get used to it-'

'Liz!' an old woman shouts preventing Liz to finish her sentence. I raise my eyebrows at her but she just shrugs her shoulders and we turn around to face the woman. The woman has dark hair and dark coloured eyes. She looks strangely familiar but I can't remember where I have seen her. 'Oh hey Elaine,' Liz replies smiling. The name begins ringing bells but no matter how hard I try, I can't put the pieces of the jigsaw puzzle together. 

Liz nudges me with her elbow, hurting one of my ribs. 'What Liz?' I hiss loudly. She motions towards Elaine who says 'it's all right Liz, Kiera was day dreaming, everyone does that even I do that sometimes.'

'How do you know my name?' I ask.

'I met you that day when your parents were hosting a party for close family and friends.'

'Oh,' I mutter and Liz nudges me again, glaring at me. I realise she's telling me to greet Elaine so I open my mouth, faking a smile and say 'hi Elaine.'

'Hello dear, how have you been?' Her voice successfully irritates me even though she's just being polite. It's probably because I hate people asking me that question.

'I've been okay.' I shrug my shoulders and we begin walking to Liz's house with Elaine in between us. I bite my lower lip, hoping this day happens much faster.

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Liz rings the doorbell and Lola opens the door. Liz and Elaine step inside so Lola notices me. 'Oh my God,' she squeals as she jumps on me. I wrap my arm around her back, holding her in place. 'What are you doing here?' She asks happily when I put her down.

'I said I'd visit didn't I?'

'I can't believe you're actually here.'

'Well, you better believe it because you will definitely see more of me kiddo.' I reply messing her blonde hair up. I notice Liz smiling and I return it. I walk into the house and close the door behind me. This house doesn't seem inviting and fails to feel like a home. The colour of the halls and the stairs are the exact same copy of the old house. Only, the old house actually seems like a home. It's not the same and never will be.

I hear Elaine talking to Andrea in the kitchen loudly and Liz lightly pushes me 'go on.'

'What?'

'You know what,' she smirks and I roll my eyes. I walk into the kitchen and say 'Hi Andrea.'

'Oh my gosh,' she puts the pans that she had in her hand down and rushes over to me, engulfing me in a hug.

'How have you been?'

'Okay, I guess.'

'You are definitely staying the night,' she says with a serious facial expression. I smile, nodding my head. 'Oh and I need to talk to you later on.'

'If it is about my dad then I know,' she sighs heavily before asking 'who told you?'

'Lily but I should have heard it from you.'

'I know. I didn't know how to tell you Kiera, I am sorry for not telling you sooner.'

'Its okay.' I fake a smile and Elaine watches the scene in front of her. 'I'm going to go upstairs.' I break the awkward silence and Andrea nods.

'Kiera wait,' I turn around to face Elaine who is leaning back in her chair. 'Yes?' I ask because "what" seems rude in my head. 'I heard that your grandmother is dead, is that true?'

'And where did you hear that?'

'A friend of mine called Sally-' I begin day dreaming again as I remember Sally. I met her the same day I met Elaine, only I met her before Elaine. 'So is that what you and your friends do? Do you just gossip about things that don't even concern you?'

'We were not gossiping-'

'Whatever and yes it is true' I snap loudly. 'Kiera, why didn't you tell me this?'

'Why didn't you tell me my poor excuse of a father is in prison?' I retort and she sighs. Liz walks in and says 'mum, I think you should talk to Kiera another time.' Andrea nods her head and Liz pulls me out of the room. 

'Are you okay?' She asks as we walk into her bedroom.

'Fine,' I reply. She scoffs and I can tell she doesn't believe me. I inspect her bedroom, which is different to her old room. The walls are black and I can’t help but stare at it. 'It's different right?'

'I don't even think different covers it Liz,' she laughs, agreeing with me. 'So what was all that about?'

'What?' I ask deliberately trying to circle around the current topic. She tilts her head to the side, raising her eyebrows at me as if to say "you know what" and I sigh. 'I don't like Elaine.'

'What?' She laughs again.

'Shut up Liz, do you see me laughing?'

'How can you not like Elaine? That woman is awesome.' I suck my lower lip into my mouth, ignoring her comment. 'Seriously Kiera, she is.'

'Oh, so tell me, how exactly is she awesome?'

'She is just really nice and you can always talk to her if you need to without her judging you-'

'So what is she? A therapist?' I sarcastically ask. 'No, she is just a friend.'

'A gossipy old friend.'

'Kiera!' She scolds and I roll my eyes. 'Can we just change the subject? Because this conversation is getting kind of boring.'

'Whatever you say,' she replies.

'I'm going to go and hang out with Lola-'

'So what am I supposed to do in the meantime?' I stand up, pretending to think of an idea, 'I know, you could go downstairs and go and hang out with your old gossipy friend Elaine,' I sarcastically state while smirking. She clenches her jaw and says 'fine, maybe I will.'

'You totally should.' I reply before walking out of her bedroom and slamming the door loudly.

It's only then I realise that I have a problem. I look at all the doors in the hallway without a clue on which door leads to Lola's bedroom. I take a deep breath before walking into every room until I find Lola's.