CH.5 Mother
813 Words
"Uhh..."
Brae was growing uncomfortable with every moment that passed in the woman's arms, there was a faint smell of lemon wrapping around them.
"Mum, you're scaring Braelynn."
Wyn's mother let go of Brae releasing the tension in the shoulders she was carrying, the woman smiling warmly.
"Forgive me, I'm Wyn's mother Cassie and I'm so glad to meet you dear!"
"I'm so sorry about my mum, she's been a bit overexcited about everything since I received my mark."
Brae studied the woman, they were very similar with dark hair almost black and slim figures. Except for their eyes, his was as vast as a forest with deep hues of green, Cassie had hazel eyes.
Driving her gaze down to the shoulder she tried not to gasp or react at it is completely bare, Cassie was a Unmarked.
"I-it's okay."
Suddenly Braelynn's parents appeared at her side and started to greet each other,
"Hi! I'm Braelynn's mum Lucy!"
"Dad, Jase."
Kathy grinned widely and almost jumped on Brae.
"I'm Kathy! Brae's bestie for life!"
For a moment Wyn and his mother were silent before Cassie smiled and reached out to shake their hands, starting to talk to each other but most of it was just static in Braelynn's ears catching bits of the conversation.
Only when they mentioned Golden Gates did she lift her focus from the floor to their eyes, not even realising Wyn had been watching her.
"So where are you from?"
Her mother started and Cassie's smile wavered.
"Golden Gate Claw."
Brae watched as her parents hid their reaction well, they weren't against anyone from Claw but she knew they secretly hoped it was any other land.
Kathy was not as good at hiding her reaction, her face was visibly pale and before she could speak Braelynn was startled by her mother's sudden invitation.
"Would you join us for dinner?"
"Really? We would be honoured!"
Internally she cringed before they started to make their way towards the Butterfly path, many of the other partners had met and only about ten didn't meet their match.
As they walked Brae, Wyn and Kathy stayed in the back, with her naturally in the middle.
Kathy was staying silent almost avoiding all their eyes, Brae knew Kathy would need a night to process before accepting Wyn and she felt the urge to reach out to her but stopped herself knowing better.
"So Braelynn, tell us about yourself!"
Wyn's mother looked at her expectantly, they were close to the gate now.
"Oh um well I go to Butterfly Garden High school, I average B's in almost all my classes and I—"
"Brae."
Her mother held a hand on her shoulder and squeezed lightly,
"Not a job interview love, they wanna know about you."
But she didn't know the words to express anything about herself when suddenly Kathy spoke, meeting Wyn and Cassie's eyes.
"She hates onions on her pizza, Brae never forgets her homework and she hates when people move her things. Her favourite colour is lilac and she can't sleep in silence, Brae worries about every little thing and cares too much..."
Brae found herself smiling and leaning her head on Kathy's shoulder, all of them walking again until reaching the gate.
She noticed Wyn's mother clasp her hand around his as the gate opened and slowly the road reappeared before them, a small crowd waiting that began an uproar of applause when seeing them.
Once they all made it through the crowd Kathy smirked and started bouncing away as Braelynn shouted playfully.
"Traitor!"
The walk was mostly quiet to the house, the small talk between the parents being the only thing keeping it from being obscenely awkward.
Once inside her dad suggested a nightmare,
"Brae, why don't you and Wyn go up to your room and get to know each other while we cook dinner and get to know Cassie...keep the door open though!"
With the words ringing in both their ears they marched up the stairs silently, cheeks flushed brightly.
"Well...here's my room."
Brae stepped in and sat on the beanbag near her desk, the room wasn't huge but it did have quite a bit of space.
Two of the walls were light blue and the other two were lilac, the desk was under the bed that was elevated above with a ladder to climb.
She watched as he walked around curiously, the corner of his lip lifting when seeing all her paintings across her desk.
"You're an artist?"
"Somewhat, I enjoy art and I've sold a few paintings now..."
As he walked around her room Brae was finding herself taking deep breaths, trying to ease the tension in her body. Wyn eventually sat beside her and they were so close that she could feel the heat from his skin, the instinct to feel it growing stronger.
"So...we should talk."
- Writer
