The Right Girl

TWO

AUDREY

This house is f*****g HUGE! I didn't know the old birds were this loaded. If I did I might have found myself here earlier. Speak of the devil and he shall appear, there they are, happily waving at me from the steps. I sit here with my arms folded tightly against my chest. My mouth forming into a thin line. Screw them; I am not making this easy. 

"  Hey, Audrey.... Think you might want to get out of the car." Dillon's voice broke me from my internal tantrum

" NO" 

" Come on, they are waiting for you. Don't you want to see them?"

I shook my head and bought my knees up to my chin. I am settling myself in for the long haul, I ain't moving

"Well you can't sit here forever, I have things I want to do."  His curt reply reminded me of a teacher scolding me. 

My eyes locked onto his, fury burning from my core, my whole life just got turned upside down, everything and they couldn’t even be there to greet me, instead I get this knuckle head who has " THIIINNNGGS TO DOOOO" 

" Well go do them then, I am not asking you to sit with me, I am telling you I am not moving." My stubbornness makes him shift uncomfortably in his seat.

" OH MY GODESS JUST f*****g GET OUT AUDREY." He slams his hands against the steering wheel as he annunciates each word. 

" Hmmmmm, I think not." I stand my ground. A raised voice won’t deter me. 

He exhales a deep breath and then it goes quiet, his eyes are glazing over and he is seemingly gazing out into space. That's creepy. I have never seen anything like it before.

" Ahhhh, Dillon, you ok man." I poke his shoulder, and nothing. He doesn't move. I think I broke him; I broke the good looking boy. Damn my stubbornness. 

My sit in take a quick turn as I leap from the car, my grandparents moving towards me, arms open. I running towards them, blabbering nonsense about the broken boy I left in the car.

" Audrey, my darling." My grandma tried to greet.

" I broke the delivery boy." Panic lacing my voice, pointing furiously towards the car

" I, ah I don't understand what you mean Audrey." Grandmas confusion was evident.

" I was being stubborn and then he just spaced, like he just stopped working." The words piled out of my mouth a mile a minute. 

A low chuckle left my grandfathers mouth. “He is fine Audrey. Let's get you inside." His arm extends as his hand gently pushes me forward towards the doors. 

“So, Audrey tell us about your flight over." Grandma tries to engage in conversation while they lead me further into the house. 

“It was fine." Short and sweet. I am pushing the attitude button and they will know I am not buying their happy families routine. If they cared, they would have been there to collect me. Hell, they would of not waited 7 years to see me.

“Let me show you to your room love, it has been a big couple of days for you. We will get you sorted and talk more in the morning." Her voice was welcoming. Maybe I was being silly and they did want me here. I don't know I am too tired and frazzled to think right now.

There are so many doors. “Are these all bedrooms?" I question as we walk past. 

"They are indeed." Grandpa answers with pride.

" So it’s a cult hotel?" I question, genuinley interested this time. 

I notice them exchanging a look then their eyes glaze over, like Dillion's did before. 

“Look, I don't know what is happening here but I don't like it, it's weird and you have to stop!" I demand

" Sorry love, its how we communicate sometimes." She smiles while she tells me. What kind of explanation is that? I just can't shake this intense feeling of anxiety creeping all over my body; things are so obviously not right. How could my parents land me in the middle of this? 

“This is your room Audrey; I hope it is to your liking." She hands me a small gold key, then gestures for me to open it. The room is exactly to my liking. It is beautifully decorated. A beautiful queen sized bed sits in the middle of the spacious room facing a giant TV mounted to the wall. The other side boasted a large window with the most beautiful view of the woods. Maybe if I stay here and don’t leave I can make it work.

" We made sure to give you one with its own bathroom." Grandma opened a door revealing my own bathroom. Now I just need a fridge and I will really never have to leave. 

“We have our own penthouse at the top, however we thought you may be more comfortable down here with the other kids your age." she explained. How pretentious, our own penthouse. I am glad I am down here alone. It will be easier to find the fun without them hanging around. 

" Okie dokie, well I am feeling pretty tired. I think I might just call it a night." I fake a yawn and stretch my arms out to the side

" Ok Audrey, sleep well. I will send someone up to fetch you at 7 for breakfast. We have a lot to catch up on tomorrow." Grandpa gripped my shoulder and squeezed, while grandma blew me a kiss. I locked the door behind me, taking in my surroundings. This was for me, it’s basically an apartment.  Is this really a punishment? It almost feels like I am being rewarded for being here. I guess we will see what happens in the morning, for now, it's time to test of this fluffy bed.