Something smells fishy and it's not my week old socks

After Melissa left, I told mom I was heading back to Spencer's house. I told her I would get home soon, and since it was getting late, she packed up and left the store.

"Spencer?", I called as I unlocked her front door. No one answered and the house was unusually quiet. Knowing Spencer, she probably would be yelling her throat out singing Madonna. I called again but received no answer and I decided to go upstairs. I tried to think positive, but the thought of Spencer getting kidnapped crossed my mind. 'Spencer can protect herself, she'll be alright', I said to myself but it didn't convince me enough. I heard talking before I opened her room door and I sighed in relief, letting out a breath I didn't know I was holding in. But who was she talking to? I opened her room door and but her back was to me but I could see that she was talking on the phone. "What?", she said to the person on the line. "I'll be at the pack in minutes", she stated before hanging up the phone. She turned around, and saw me and immediately turned nervous. "Uh, hi Emerald", she said and walked past me. "Where are you going?", I asked as we ran down the stairs. "What are you doing here?", she asked deliberately avoiding my earlier question. I frowned. "A question can't answer a question Spencer." She turned to face me. "What are you, 5 years old?", she rolled her eyes. I laughed and followed her as she went in the kitchen. She took a water bottle out of the fridge and handed one to me. She seemed anxious, like she wanted to leave but someone or something was preventing her from doing that. Probably me. A notification popped up on her phone and her eyes widened. "I'm sorry Emerald, something came up", she said as she ran top speed to the front door. "Go home, it's not safe. I'll talk to you later", she yelled over her shoulder. She was running towards the woods. "You're going the wrong way", I shouted but Spencer had long gone. That was... queer. I stood there, in shock for awhile before I got in my car and drove home like Spencer said. Someone ran out of my house, obviously in a hurry. I recognized it as...... Liam? What the hell was he doing at my house? "What are you doing here?", I yelled. He looked at me, then at his phone. He didn't bother answering me, although I thought he wanted to. As always, he looked extremely handsome, and I wanted to push the hair that kept falling in his face off of his forehead. He kept eyeing me, as he was a hungry cat and I was a delightful piece of fish placed in front of him. But he said nothing to me. Liam ran to his car and drove off. Weird, I thought and went in my house. Like Spencer's, my house was extremely quiet. "Mom?", I called. No one was home. I hope this wasn't a prank they all thought of, because I wasn't taking it too well. I called Dad, hoping he would answer, which he did on the 5th ring. Yup, father of the year. "Hey honey." His voice seemed calm but I knew him better than that. "Where are you and why is everyone acting so strange?" I thought about mom; she was supposed to be here before I came home. "Is mom with you?", I asked. "Uhmm", Dad thought. Before he could come up with a quick enough lie, Mom's voice floated down the line. "Who's that?", mom asked. "Uh, Emerald. There's a lot of static here, I can't here you honey", my dad said through the phone. "What?! I'm not even talking. You better tell me where you are or else! -" I stopped when I realized he had hung up. Bummer. 'I'm definitely going to get him back in Father's Day', I thought as I miserably thought of something to do until my secretive family came home.

~°~°~°~°~°~°~°~°~°~°~

The front door opened and I flicked on the light of the lamp beside me on the small table. I knew it was them. If you asked me, I looked like the cliché mom or dad who stayed up until their 16 year old daughter came home, beer on her breath with smeared makeup; I had on my bed robe, my feet were crossed in front of me and my face held a no- nonsense look. "Where were you?", I asked and stood up. They all look surprised and stood there with their mouth in a 'O'. They both erupted in laughter and dad was the first one to contain himself. I will definitely remember this day when it comes to putting them in a retirement home. "Are you auditioning for a 4ole in a TV show?", my dad asked. He chuckled and continued. "You look like one of those cliché parents." I glared at him. "Where were you all?", I repeated my question. "I was worried sick, and I was left to fend for myself. I even cooked!" My mom laughed and attempted to rub my head in affection but I batted her hand away. "You behave like we left you for one month without internet or food. We just had a little emergency to take care of", mom examined. "Anyways" , she continued rubbing her temples, " I'm going to take a shower and sleep. I had a really long day." She climbed the stairs and left dad and me alone. "Don't feel bad kiddo", he patted my head and I let him. "We're here and we're never leaving." He kissed my forehead and started up the stairs. "Dad?", I said before he left. "Yes buttercup?" I cringed slightly at the name. "If my birthday isn't good, can I sue you and mom?" My dad laughed. "Sure", he responded before disappeared. I have crazy parents, but I love them either way.

I went up to my room and started to get ready for bed. "Yes?", she answered the phone. "Go to hell Spencer, you know it's me." Although I knew she couldn't see me, I rolled my eyes. " Are you going to talk about what happened earlier?", I asked. I heard Spencer sigh. "Can we talk about it another time please? I'm really tired." I reluctantly let go of the topi, but only for her sake. Spencer and I have never kept anything from each other, and I knew she would talk about it when she was ready. "Guess who I saw today?", I said remembering my encounter with Liam earlier. "Kim Kardashian?", she guessed. "No", I laughed. "Meghan Markle?", she tried again. "I'm not even answering that." She laughed and continued. "I know, I know!", she squealed. "Who is it?", I asked, desperate to hear her answer. "Princess Diana!" OK, I am going to bed. "She's fricking dead!", I scream. Spencer bursts into laughter. "Emerald", my mom called. "Are you okay? Who's dead?", she asked, her tone sounding slightly worried. "No one mom", I hollered back. "Spencer and I were just having a heart to heart conversation." Mom went back to doing whatever the hell parents do, and I resumed my conversation with Spencer. "The person I saw was Liam, Spencer", I told her. She squealed and I could here her clapping. "You really , really like him, don't you?", she asked. I blushed. "Whatever." Spencer and I kept on talking until I didn't hear her again, so I assumed she was slepping. I told Sleeping Spencer good night and hung up the phone. And before Shakespeare could say 'Thou' , the darkness took me away, and I welcomed it.