Swift Attraction

Chapter Two

*LUCY*

“You don't have any enemies or something do you?” She asked, trying to get my mind off the whole issue. I thought deeply about her words. Indeed, I didn't have any ex-lovers or ex-lover's crazy girlfriends nor was I one who was famous in high school and I am not one that is quick to get into a fight with people. And by the way there were plenty of good-looking girls in the town so it couldn't be any mad stalker.

"Rita, let's just grab a bite shall we? I'm starving beyond human reasoning." I said dismissing the topic from my head.

“How many hours ago did we both have breakfast?” She asked me. We both stared at each other with nobody saying a word to the other for a few seconds and each of our eyes peeled open. I was trying to hold in the rocket of laughter that was about to erupt out of my belly because I knew what her next statement was going to be.

"On second thought, let's eat something, my stomach is churning wildly" she blurred out. At this point, I was unable to hold in the earlier listed rocket of laughter. I just had to let it all out. She was not in any way left out of the whole laughing trend. Her initial reply came as a shock to me because if there was one thing that I know about her, it was that she was always ready to eat. So that question came as a boomer to me. We ate in the cafe right opposite the mall where we had just shopped. Rita kept talking about how her parents had a fight with her older brother who had been acting off lately. She also mentioned that he was caught m**********g in the living room while watching porn. I tried to laugh at her funny story and ask the necessary questions but my mind couldn't help but divert to the thoughts of the car. Maybe I was hallucinating or maybe someone was actually following me.

After filling our empty stomachs, we decided to go home. We both hooped in her car and she drove towards my house. It was a Saturday morning and I had done a double shift the previous day after school and had to work till late. So I called my mom to inform her that I would sleep over at Rita's as her house was the closest to my place of work. My mom would be back from work at this time because she also did a night shift the previous day. She works at a small clinic while my younger sister and I try to help her as much as we can with little side gigs and jobs. Being a single parent is a tough job and it was not in anyway easy for her either. My sister may not remember but my mother had to work multiple jobs just to afford our education. We help her out when possible. My dad, well I don't want to talk about him.

"Bye Rita," I said as I got out of the car. "Don't forget to pick me up on your on the way to school tomorrow, my car's broken down." I reminded her. Our music tutor had organized an afternoon Sunday class for us. And I was one who loved music.

"Sure, honey," she said, hugging me. I waited and waved at her until her car disappeared.

My mother's car was parked in the driveway. A satisfied grin crept through my face knowing I'd get to spend some time with her now.

As I was turning around to go inside the house, I saw the same black car parked far away across the street. A strange daring feeling made me want to check whether it was just my thoughts or was it someone following me. Not thinking about the consequences, I commenced action. But as soon as I started walking towards the car, it took a turn and drove off at a full-blown speed.

“Strange” I said and shrugged as I walked back inside while still staring at the now moving vehicle. As soon as I entered my house I was greeted with the delicious aroma of pizza. This was another confirmation that my mother was home as she was the only person in our house who could cause such a delicious aroma to erupt from our house.

"Hey mom." I said as I hugged her from behind while she was doing the dishes.

My mother smiled at me. "Hey honey. How was shopping? Did you enjoy it?"

she asked.

"Yes, mum, who doesn't enjoy shopping; it'll be the last thing on earth to hate.", I said cheerfully.

“But hold on a sec, how did you know that I went shopping?” I asked her with a curious look on my face. “Lillian told me,” she replied.

Yeah Lillian is the name of my younger sister. “But how did Lillian also know about it?” I asked. “Maybe Rita told her you know,” mom replied. Why don't you go freshen up and come back to eat your meal. Even though I was already a bit full, I could not leave Lillian and my mom to be the only partakers of that pizza. And my mom makes one of the best pizzas in the world. So instead of going to freshen up, I decided to grab a few bites before going to freshen up and enjoy my once interrupted sleep.

After eating pizza, I just told her about my day. Obviously, I exempted the car incident else mom would have either banned me from turning on the TV as she would feel that I watch too many crime series thus the reason for my recent thoughts. Or she would panic in a whole other measure. And I certainly don't want either of them to happen. I asked her about her day and then frowned then she suggested applying for another job.

"No, I am not letting you work for so long.", I said, denying her words.

"But I have to, dear!" she said. “You know we need the extra cash?” She added.

"Yeah I know, and that's why I would try my best to work some extra hours and even try a few new jobs" I said.

“Look baby girl, you need to focus on your education. You just started college and you need to dedicate time to it” she said. “I know mom but..”

“Buh.. buh.. buh..” she said in an attempt to interrupt me. She had her index finger on my lips.

“Who would take care of lilly when I'm away?” She asked. My sister Lillian was four years younger than me. She was the most cheerful girl one would ever meet. We fought; we played, had fun, and loved each other. She had gone on a study tour so it was just me and my mom for 2 weeks.

"How is she?" I asked my mother as it now occurred to me that I could not change my mom's mind.

"Enjoying the tour. If you ask me, Lilly thinks it more of a picnic for her." my mother said with a smile on face. I laughed along. Our discussion changed my initial plan of just running into the room after eating, freshening up and then relaxing for a while. We watched the television together for a while while still discussing. Soon I felt my eyes shutting on it's own. Yawning I said, "Okay mom I'll just go to bed. Today was a very hectic day for me."

When she didn't respond I looked over at mom and realized that she had fallen asleep. I chuckled.

She just works too hard than her capacity. Two jobs to pay the bills would make someone of her age look tired and sad. I know my mother, and I know that even though she doesn't show it and conceals emotions; I know that she's sad. I have heard the sniffling sounds coming out of her room but even if I wanted to go in and hold her, I know couldn't. She needs space and time, just like I needed. Lillian and I had suggested she start dating but it was always a no from her. They were two occasions where she agreed reluctantly but then neither never for a week. It was as though she was putting in efforts to make the relationship fail or something. Lillian thought it was our fault; she thought mother was still in love with our father. But I know the real reason, the truth behind those tired eyes but I was forced to live with it, and to hide it from my little sister.

Not wanting to disturb her, I turned off the TV and covered her with the

blanket. I walked in and cleaned the dishes that we had just used making sure not to make much noise while doing it. When everything was done I headed toward the room. I took a quick shower and then walked toward the bed. It was half-past twelve in the afternoon and I was lying down on my bed waiting for sleep to overtake me yet I couldn't help but start thinking about that mysterious car.

Why was it that I could see it everywhere? Was it really an illusion or was it really someone following me? Will I be kidnapped? Or worse, killed! But what freaked me out more was that I wasn't scared, I didn't feel the creepiness scaring me. It seemed more like an adventure to me.

Oh god!

I should really stop watching crime serials.