Chapter 8

Mariah's POV

So, after all the fiasco, Isaac calmed down a bit. We were chatting normally, now, as we always do but he was still tense and on high alert. He was so high on alert as if he waiting for Ethan to pull up outside his house. So, I decided to calm the atmosphere.

“So… Isaac, how do you feel about going to the US during break?” I turned to him.

I was laying on the recliner, Lina and Isaac sitting together on the loveseat and Serena was sprawled on the floor. Even though there was a couch, she preferred the floor.

“Oh, yeah. Your mom had told me about the trip.”

“You knew? Of course, you knew. You’re practically her favorite kid and you’re not even her kid.”

“What can I say? Women adore me.”

“That’s what you think.” Lina coughed from beside Isaac. Of course, Isaac heard.

“Mind repeating that, babe?”

“I love you.”

“Uh-huh.” And, would you look at that. They started making out.

Serena cleared her throat, breaking them apart. “Okay, love-birds. Maybe do that when we’re not here. We do not really wanna witness a baby being made.”

This made the couple turn red. Lina glared at Serena. Like her glare would scare Serena. Nothing scares that girl except maybe her mom. Her mom is a scary woman.

“So, when did my mom tell you about the trip?”

“Actually, the trip was my idea. Yeah, I pitched it to your dad and- “

“You talked to Dad?”

“Yup. He agreed to the idea so he got 4 tickets. Now, are you done with your questions so that we could continue with the movie?”

“Ok, let’s continue with the movie.”

So, we continued with the movies and later fell asleep in the same places we were all sat at.

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I woke up in the middle of the night due to yet another nightmare. This was different from the last one. I have not had this one for a while but I know what – or rather, who – triggered it.

I got up to get myself a glass of chocolate milk. But there was a teenage girl blocking my way to the kitchen. Yup, Serena. She was sprawled on the floor like a star-fish.

I tried to walk over her but the bugger moved and I fell beside her.

“You idiot,” I exclaimed as I fell.

I got up and made my way to the kitchen, again. This time, without falling.

I grabbed a glass from the dishwasher – I guess Isaac forgot to unload it again -, the milk container from the fridge, poured my drink and went outside to the porch. I sat down on the porch swing and stared at the sky. I sighed.

When did my life get so messed up? I was completely fine just a few months ago. I was happy. I had my friends, my mom, Chase and even my dad. But now, one of the most important people in my life is currently absent from my life. I keep getting nightmares which deprives me of my sleep. I feel like a zombie half of the time. I just wish everything was okay. I just wish-

“Your glass is about to fall,” I was startled by a voice behind me, which caused my glass to fall on the porch floor.

I turned around to find Lina leaning on the door.

“Well, that prevented it from falling,” she said sarcastically before adding, “at least it was empty.”

She moved my legs, since I had my legs across the porch swing, before sitting down and putting my legs on her lap.

“So, you had a nightmare?” she asked, despite knowing the answer.

I hummed in response, indicating a yes.

“Which one?”

“Him.”

“It’s been a while since you had that one,” she said before adding, “I guess it was the aftermath of meeting him.”

“You guys gonna go to school tomorrow-“ I checked the time to see that it was currently 3am “-I mean, today?”

“Yeah. It is the last day before break. I don’t think Isaac’s gonna let you go after yesterday.”

“I wasn’t planning on going anyway. I’m just gonna go home, pack, watch movies, sleep, eat, sleep, stare at the wall. You know, the usual.”

Lina squealed, “just 2 more days and we’ll be on a plane to the land of paradise.”

I just chuckled at her. She seemed really excited.

“I just hope this trip is gonna sail smoothly,” I said under my breath.

After that, Lina and I just talked about stuff, mostly circling around Isaac. Him being her boyfriend and being my almost-like-a-brother. We laughed, had a couple glasses of milk before she decided to sleep for a few hours since she had to go to school.

So, I was left alone with my thoughts. This time, they were pleasant thoughts. I was actually excited about this trip. I was excited to meet my dad. It has been a while since I hugged him.

I can hardly wait.