Kidnapped

Chapter 4: Home

While Mom was sitting in our front porch, she saw Luke and me walking home together. She got out of the porch swing and ran up to meet us.

"Hello," she said, looking at Luke. "I don't believe that we have met before." "My name is Luke," he introduced. They both shook hands firmly. Mom darted her eyes at us then widened her smile. "Are you two boyfriend and girlfriend?"

"Mom!" I cried. Luke's face immediately turns red. "I'm just joking," Mom chuckled. "So Luke when you have time, won't you come over to our house for dinner?" I gazed at Luke and said, "You don't have to come if you don't want to."

"Of course," he said. "I'll be there." "Great," Mom beamed. "Does seven thirty work for you?" Luke nodded embarrassingly. "It sounds great," he answered. "See you Cole." I waved back.

Instead of walking to his house, he walked across his driveway then headed straight down. Maybe he getting his mother's medicine, I thought. "He's a nice boy," Mom complimented.

"After you are finished with your homework and chores, get dressed for dinner." I nodded in agreement and headed towards the house. I noticed that the hideous orange from the kitchen was painted in a shade of gray.

The living room still has boxes that hasn't been removed. But the black couch and flat screen television remained clean. When I was about to lay my bookbag on the couch, Charlie was lying there, sleeping peacefully like an escaped convict.

"Cats," he mumbled in his sleep. "Mom," I hissed. "Does he really have to sleep-" "Take your shower and do your homework." Mom instructed. Sighing, I hurried upstairs, threw my bookbag on the couch, and gathered my clothes.

After I took a long shower, I dressed myself in my purple pajamas and began my homework. Every now and then, I checked at the time. It was five thirty, two hours before Luke can meet my mom and Charlie.

My pencil danced around my hand as I finished my math problems. I put the sheet of paper in my homework folder then continued my History and Science until it was almost six thirty.

Sighing, I put the pages of my work in my folder then shoved it in my backpack. I got off of the chair then opened my wardrobe. I took a blue blouse and a pair of jeans then put them on.

Mom came in the room, trying to find my hairbrush. I never seen her this anxious since our Family Game Night. "Are you finished with your homework?" "Yes," I answered. "And I already got dressed." Mom brushed her blond hair against my comb while staring at my bedroom mirror.

She wore a green polo with white jeans and black flats. "What do you think?" she asked desperately. "I think you look nice, Mom." I complimented. "But last time I checked, Luke isn't the First Lady." Mom ignored me then raced out the door. A few minutes later, the fire alarm blared in my eardrums.

"Ugh!" Mom groaned. I hurried downstairs, opened the windows, and turned on the fans. I smelled the smoke of the burning chicken curling my nose. Mom took the burnt chicken out of the oven and shoved it in the trashcan. The alarms stopped the noise and everything went back to normal.

"I thought I cooked this chicken right!" Mom whined. Charlie woke up from his sleep and stretched his arms. We glared at him for a moment. "What?" Charlie asked, sniffing the air."Willow, did you burn the chicken?"

"Do you see any other woman named Willow?" Mom asked angrily. I glimpsed at the charred meat in the trashcan then sighed. "I'll order a pizza," I explained. "Mom, you will get rid of the chicken, and Charlie get rid of the smell." Mom and Charlie nodded in agreement.

I went upstairs to get as cellphone, but stopped when I saw Luke in my bedroom, holding a pizza box. "Does Juliet like pepperoni?" Luke asked. He showed up in a red t-shirt and jeans. I took the box out of Luke's hands and smiled. "How did you get into my house?" I asked. "The same way Romeo gets into a tower," Luke laughed.

Smiling, I headed downstairs. Charlie was spraying something in the air while Mom came back from the garage, looking tired. They both stared at me when they saw the pizza box. "How did you get the pizza so quickly?" Mom asked. I was about to answer until Luke came downstairs, smiling sheepishly.

We ate at the dining room table. Mom served salad and bake potato along with the pizza. "Luke," Mom began, swallowing a tomato. "Tell us about yourself." Luke blushed then looked at me. "You don't have to," I reassured. "When you are ready, you can talk."

"Okay," he said. "This is the first time I have ever been invited to a house." "How come?" I asked. "Because," Luke fell silent. He stared hard at the table cloth. "Luke?" I said. He snapped out of his daydream then sipped his water. "Never mind," he said politely. "Are you enjoying the neighborhood, Ms. Porter?"

Mom nodded. "You look really nice," Luke complimented. Mom smiled then laughed merrily. "Thank you," she said, tearing up. We started talking about the weather, school, and Michigan. "What does your parents do for a living?" Charlie asks.

"My mom and dad are doctors," Luke answered. I see him fidgeting in his chair and sipping his water constantly. I then knew he was lying.

Charlie could see it too. "What grade are you in?" he asked. "Eleventh," Luke answered unanimously. Mom decided to lighten the mood by watching a movie. I immediately rose from my seat then hurried to the food cupboard to get the popcorn bag.

I took blue folded bag from the cupboard, placed it in the microwave, and set it for one minute. While the popcorn was heating, I watched Luke and Charlie doing a staring contest.

"I'll help pick the movie," Luke offered, getting up from his chair. As he walked pass me, I grabbed his arm. "We need to talk," I whispered. I took him to my room then closed the door behind me.

" I know that you are lying to Charlie," I sighed. "And it's fine." Luke sat on my bed, but didn't say anything. "I know it's completely none of my business," I began slowly. "What do your parents-" "They don't have jobs," Luke admitted. "What?" I said. "But how are they going to pay for the house?"

"I have a friend who sells expensive furniture," Luke said. "He gives me fifty bucks for each of them." "Are you parents okay with this?" I asked. "They don't know about where the money came from," Luke confessed. "And I am bound to keep it that way, so should you."

"I understand that," I said. "But I have to warn you that Charlie can sniff a liar." "Well, what am I supposed to say?" Luke hissed. The door automatically opened. Charlie showed up in my room, looking at us like we're criminals. "What were you two talking about?"

Cast

Robbie Kay as Benjamin Hamilton

Cole Porter as Zendaya Coleman

Elizabeth Mitchell as Willow Porter