Love by Numbers

Lonely Nights

I felt like I was escaping and everything was out of my control. I was just mad at Henry for making my first kiss a nightmare. I didn't want to leave him forever. My mom seemed excited and happy. I have never seen her happy. It was surreal. Like a bad TV episode. she was packing and humming and dancing to whatever song was in her head. I was a gloomy guys. I was taking my time. when all you knew was this place all your life how do you choose a few things to take and leave the rest? My mom bounced over to me, " Babe , you seem sad. Don't be. We are free. Leave all those close that don't fit you. After we great grandfather and settle in I will excuse us to go shopping so you can get new clothes that fit you. Won't that be fun?" She is so different. I smirk at her. Seeing her happy should make me happy right? I grabbed another empty suit case to drag to my room and pack what I think I should bring with me when the doorbell rang. My mom was still humming and went to the door. When she opened the door it was Mr. Honeycutt with my school bag that I left at the school. " Hello there." He peered around my mother and said, "You left your belongings at school. How will your homework get done?" He then threw a 10,000 watt smile at us both. My mom reached out and took the bag with a small " Thank you". Her face wasn't so happy just shocked that he was at our doorstep. He said, " See you guys tomorrow then." He turned and started back to his car. I whispered, "Yeah right!" and huffed up the stairs with the empty suitcase. my mom slowly closed the door, turned around and leaned against it for a few seconds then she pushed off and continued on her way. Grandfather sent a black limousine to pick us up and a small moving van. Anything we were not taking will donated. As the limo drove away I saw the locksmith pull in the driveway. Things were still sinking in. My father had another family that he would rather spend time with. How many other childen does he have? Oh my God. I have brothers or sisters I never knew of. What happens if I never meet them. " What will happen to father, mother?" They are leaving him with no home, no career and all of his things will be donated or thrown away. My mom put her hand on top of my hand and squeezed lightly so that I looked up at her face. Sh said, " Dont you worry about him. He has been stealing from the company and has a sizable nest egg. The deal will be we wont tell the authorities and get him put into prison if he signs the divorce papers, renders custody to me and goes away quietly. He can have all that money and live for many years with his new family without having to get a job if he agrees to the terms." "Will I ever see him again or my siblings he had outside the home?" Mom sighed, " You are far too good of child. you know that? Someday when you are groan but until then there will be a stay away order and a gag order in place so he doesnt cause our family anymore distress. The media will just list it as an amenable separation and divorce and will be none the wiser." "My friends that have parents that are split up go to the other parents for holidays. I wont be permitted to do that?" My mother brought up a good point. "You have not even seen him more than twice in the last month so just pretend it is like always." My mind started to wonder. " So mom it is a long car ride to grandfathers house. Can you tell me more about how you know Mr. Honeycutt and why he effects you the way he does?" My mom stiffened in her seat but then grinned. She then turned her head towards me and whispered her answer. " High school crush. I wanted him and he didn't want me. So hit right?" Ew no. " Mom no that was my teacher. How come you didn't tell him I would be in school tomorrow?" This fact nagged at me. Mom said in full voice, "Can't chance our clean get away. Tomorrow we call the school and disenroll you there. You will not have to enroll in private school until next week. This will give us ample shopping time." She then winked at me. During the car ride a dozen off several times before coming to when the car tires hit gravel. The crunchy noise was such and change from the smooth paced roads. This means that we are very close to grandfathers mansion. It set way back in the middle of the woods. But when the trees clear there is basically an modern Castle admits the acres of privacy. The grandeur of it was breath taking. Because if my father I had not seen my grandfather a lot. He did however talk to me on the phone my whole life or video chatted. He was all about, Do you have what you need? etc. He never pumped me for information on my parents marriage or anything. But now I know why. He had a private investigator involved with our home who reported back to my grandfather. He therefore did not compromise his realationships with us. The rod iron gates parted and we were driven to the front vestibule. Mom told me to leave my things that the help would fetch it and put it in our rooms. I have my own room. A new school. A now happier and vibrant mother. A new house. But my outlook was so gloomy. I cried internally for Henry. I wanted Henry. No matter how he scared me I still missed him.. As mom and I entered the grand hall I saw my grandfather seated at the dinner table as if waiting for us to come and eat like it was any other day. Grandfather beckoned for me to come to him to give me a kiss on the top of the head and a cheek. It was our little tradition. My.mom thought him to be cold but grandpa always smiled at me and kissed me whenever he was allowed to see me. This was more affection than I got at home. I came to him at the table and he made me bend down so her could hug me. He said that he was so very happy to get me out of that house for once and for all. He then he peered at my mother behind me. He then put his eyes on an empty seat

my mother jumped and went to sit in the seat his eyes fell too. I smirked because he had so much control over my mother but he never had to put me under his control because I was compliant and did all my work without prompting. We ate a nice light diner and grand father sat me next to him and asked questions. I told him a bout not being able to tell anyone before we left. He said after a few more ths of settling down and getting the legal work in place I than can invite whomever over you want. He also informed me that I would be assigned body guards and should not go anywhere without them so I am not stolen and ransomed off or killed since I was now basically a princess in his castle. Having money can make life dangerous. I excused myself and had a female staff member take me to my designated room which was as big as the first floor of the house I grew up in. I grabbed my book bag only to find that the screen of my phone had busted and it would not turn on. Beautiful. I do not have any phone numbers memorized. Not even Henry's. The next day was for calling my old school and getting transcripts sent to new private school and shopping. The most expensive thing that was purchased on my grandfathers black amex card was the school uniform. Highway robbery. I wanted the boys set but mom refused to let me wear slacks but then she granted me spanx. Like lycra shorts. Ok cool so it is an illusion of naughtiness with these school girl uniforms. One school track suit and gym short set later. Bam! Fully clothed bitches! After mom got some cocktail dresses for work gatherings and I got some Jean's and t-shirts for days with no school it was in to the shoes. Mom was amazed at the size of my feet. It had literally been years since either parent took me shopping for anything. Mom saw the pharmacy and we had to go on. She got a lot of maxi pads tampons and other feminine hygiene items but I saw her stick a box of condoms in the purchase as well. What were those for? She then decided i needed makeup at least she let me get natural colors and not a lot. She said for just learning I didn't need the expensive stuff yet. I don't know what the expensive stuff was. When we got back the the house grandfather was at the office "cleaning house" is all they said. I am not dumb. I assume this means making sure my father was kicked out. Taking all his things from his office, appointing a new person in his place and firing anyone who was bias towards my dad. This took grandfather several weeks and my mother joined in to try to help grandfather. one day mom came home with a picture in a frame from fathers office and handed it gently to me. It was of me and him when I was really small and everything was different. When they had to pay attention to me and spend time with me because if they didn't I would die. That young. He was smiling with me so very close to him. I have never seen this picture before. " He did love you kiddo. This was still on his desk facing him. It's a very old photo but he still thought of you." Mom started to cry! Cry tears in front of me. She sniffled and looked up, she whipped the tears off her face and sad smiled at me. She has a heart! Why did it take her so long to show it. It feels so funny to see her just cry. Even when they were fighting and hurtful things were being said by both parties, she never cried. I thought she was dead inside all these years. Her new found freedom gave her freedom to feel as well. At least that is what I thought. I love her no matter what. I know both my parents struggled to keep it together for as long as they had. I hope they both find peace and happiness and that I can witness it happen for them.

The nights in that large house where everything echoed was scary and lonely. I basically had my own wing and i knew no one was near me but I would hear things. Some nights i heard wild dogs from the forest baying at the moon like in an old Sherlock Holmes book or something. I felt so lonely there. Not many of my things I wish I had taken but I miss and forgot int he rush to bring the stuffed wolf that Henry got me and my favorite comforter. This new comforter was stiff and the maid tried to wash it a couple times after I had asked her to try to  soften it up. The pattern on it was sewn in and it was so very heavy. I miss my room.  This bed was hella comfy but I just couldn't sleep. When it came time to start at the new school i had breakfast alone and the driver took me to school and dropped me amongst the masses of skirt clad girls and tie wearing boys. I was alone and could not find my way. I looked for signs but they must have thought signs would be uncivilized. I just followed the flow of children until I was in a building wandering around. Inside the building there were some signs on doors so that helped me find a teacher. I asked where the office was and she gladly told me where to go. I thought perhaps I would be fine here. 

The office looked like a dean of admissions at a college all dark wood and one lone receptionist whom was absent from her desk.  I just took a seat and waiting for a sign of life from anywhere. The announcement began and after they ended then the Secretary came back to her desk from a side door. I assume that she was giving the morning address over the loud speaker. She didn't smile. She glared at me. " Whom might you be?"  I gave her a worried look and said, 'I am the new student transfer Ellie Greyson." As soon as I said Greyson her hard persona melted. Money talks i guess. My grandfather had insisted that his only heir have his last name.  The was probably a blow against my father's ego as well. Do you think he is alone now too?  NO what am I thinking about he has a whole other family anf he stole enough money from the company to live just fine for years on. I shook my head and tried to listen to the woman that was speaking to me. Grace something was her name. She called the dean out to personally meet me. I t was man and her was tall with a slim build. He looked like a classic vampire in his fitted suit and cuff links. I think my jaw dropped because he smiled and it was so real and warm. I blinked and shurt my mouth and all i  could get out of my mouth was, "Thank you". Not hello. Not my name. Nope something that made me look like i was a silly little girl. Honestly, I am a silly little girl after all. It was just shocking how picture perfect his skin was and how shiny his raven black hair was and how it was feathered in cut. Where did he hail from? The devil sent him, I am sure because he is too pretty not to be wicked. As if her heard my thoughts he smiled again but this time with a sneer. I blinked and swallowed. Grace was going on about something by my eyes never left the head masters. He c****d his head to the side. When he spoke the spell he had cast was over. "How about we give her a map and have her find her way around the first half of the day with me as her guide?" Grace protested, "but sir". He gave her an evil stare and she shut up immediately. I gathered myself and briskly followed the Head Master as he exited the office. He waited until i caught up and said, "Now that we are alone my name is Head Master Kemble.  I love this school and take pride in how it is run. You have any trouble you come straight to me. Your mother is an old classmate of mine and you as her daughter will have the privilege of coming to me directly. Only you can. I don't want to you to come for every little thing but emergencies or bad behaviors directed to you then you come to me directly. I  will settle it. No need to worry your grandfather."  Then he winked at me. I just nodded my head. After an extensive tour and seeing the whole school and it's grounds he left me at the lunch hall alone with instructions to go to the counseling wing to set a scheduled with Counselor  Reid. I got in line for lunch and they were serving real food. Baked potato, grilled chicken with parmesan crust and garlic green beans. Hello lunch! Yummy. I looked around after getting my food and there was a wall of drink frigerators but no one to check you out for your food. I guess meals come with the tuition for this place. I grabbed an apple juice and went to find a seat. There were definite cliques and it felt like all eyes were on me. Some had seen the head master drop me here. Whispering is all I heard as if this was not nerve wrecking enough I noticed no one looked inviting to let me have a seat. Then a man came up to me and said I was sit in a VIP private room. Looked like a teacher or something. I followed him and the whispers got louder. I entered a nice room with good lighting and handful of students. The man dismissed himself and finally someone spoke up. "We don't bite strangers come on and sit down." It was a very round faced pretty girl that had wavy hair. She smiled at me an waved to the chair across the way. I took it gladly. " What is this place?"  "It is where the really wealthy kids get to eat away from the lower income students.", a boy who looked like he never eats said. "Hi I am Danielle Barnes and this is my brother Jake. We are not snobby bitches I promise."  I smiled and breathed a sigh, "I am Ellie Greyson." When I said that the whole room made a noise. Guess they all know my grandfather. I clarified so they didn't have to start whispering. " I am the granddaughter to Greyson Industries."  "SO you are the only heir.", Jake said off the cuff. HE had grabbed a book from his bag and was avoiding his food on his plate. I however started eating and it was so good. Danielle giggled. "Hey we won't take it from you."  I smiled and ate some more. When I was full I excused myself and went to the counseling center.  You guessed it that look the rest of my day!  They ask you what you would like to learn and then set a few state manditory classes around your preferred subjects to study. Just going through the course listings was daunting. As the final bell rang I started towards the exit with my schedule in hand. I saw Danielle and Jake and waved. Danielle smiled and waved but Jake just c****d his head at me. Low blood sugar perhaps? I was able to find my driver amongst all the rest because he stood outside the car. I guess he knew I wouldn't recognize his car among so many black limos.  When I got home Mom was there. She said she had a dinner meeting and had to go but wanted to hear about my day. She was pleased with everything I said and she even looked at the schedule. She has never been interested before. She kissed me on the head and said the cook will make me whatever I want fro dinner. She had to go because Grandfather was holding the meeting off until she got back. She hugged me and off she went. Alone again in a big house.