Chapter Nineteen: Home (not too) Sweet Home

"You sure you're okay?" Kate asked for the thousandth time.

I nodded through the phone even though I know that she doesnt see the gesture I am doing.

"I'll be fine, Kate. Don't worry."

Last night when I got home, it didn't took me by surprise when my mother welcomed me with a slap on my face and grounding me until graduation.

The point of her grounding me is pointless. I don't have friends to go out with and most of the time I am only home. Sometimes, I just really like to think that she knows what she's doing eventhough she obviously doesn't.

I sighed before ending the call and laid my tired body on my soft bed.

Today has been seriously depressing and it's stressing me out.

I heard a soft knock on my door and I sat up right away, afraid that it was the devil coming in to nag me again.

"Good morning, Miss. Your mother says that its time for you to come down and go to church with her." Nana addressed carefully and I nodded, following her down the halls after she had closed my doors shut.

As I ascend down the stairs I can hear my mother's heels against the concrete floor.

"Stop slacking and walk faster. I don't want to make the church feel unimportant." She exclaimed walking right out of the door, her head held up high not even looking at the ground as she walk.

I waved my hand to Nana gesturing her good bye and I made my way to the car.

The car ride was silent and neither of us wanted to talk to each other since our fight last night. To be honest, I like it like this. I don't need to hear her snobby comments about everything anymore. I am tired of her.

We arrived the church and sat on our usual seat, as usual.

The reverend talked about forgiveness and giving and I'm sure as hell that my mother didn't understand a thing since she's unforgiving and selfish. I'm pretty sure she could've wished that we didn't go to church today because the reverend's speach might've stung her heart, if she does have a heart which I'm pretty sure she doesn't.

I was surprised to see Miss Adelaide here without Mr. Hemmings. It felt weird.

"I need to talk to the reverend if he can do wedding ceremonies outside his parish. Wait for me by the car." My mother ordered me, "-And, don't dare to disobey me this time." She gritted thru her teeth and I nodded, not having any other choice.

As I head towards the exit, I felt a hand on my shoulder taking me by surprise.

"Hello, Miss Adelaide." I exclamed nonchalantly.

"Darling, just call me Adelaide. I'm just a few years older than you." She smiled.

My eyes widened, who knew she was younger than Luke? I never had expected this.

"Oh..okay, if you insist." I gave her a smile.

"Are you on your way home? I could give you a ride if you want? My car is just parked over-"

"No its okay, my mother is just inside talking to the reverend. I'm just waiting for her." I answered as we walked by the nearest bench.

She nodded, "I could wait with you if you want. I'm not in a hurry anyways." She smiled, her voice is so sweet and I can feel guilt creeping under my skin.

"Its okay, you really don't have to." I tried my best not to look like I was trying to get rid of her.

"Its not a problem, I've been meaning to talk to you anyway." She gestured us to seat on the bench so I obliged.

"Talk to me? Why?" I asked once we sat ourselves comfortably.

"I don't know. I just feel like I need to get to know you, you know? Since the day you ate lunch in our house, I became very fond of you. I don't know why but I did."

Your husband is very fond of me as well, you just don't have any idea how much fond he is. I can't believe the thoughts that I am thinking at the moment.

I laughed awkwardly."That's very sweet of you." I muttered.

"You should stop by our house sometime, we could bake brownies or mud pies." She clapped her hand enthusiastically.

I just nodded in response. Before I could say a word my mother popped out of nowhere telling me that its time to go without even acknowledging Adelaide's presence.

I did what she said and offering a hand shake towards Adelaide before heading towards the car.

Once we got home my mother started making phone calls, to a wedding dress designer and a catering company.

I stomped my feet on the stairs not caring if my heels break.

As soon as I got in my room I dialed Calum's number.

After a quite few rings he answered.

"Hello?" He exclaimed on the other line, his voice sounded a little off and groggy. It was obvious that he had just woke up.

"We have to stop this wedding! Its getting out of hand, Calum!" I plopped myself on the couch near my window as I exclaimed my point in frustration.

"W-what do you mean?" He asked,

"My mother is calling Vera Wang to make a wedding dress for me. I'm not going to be surprise if tomorrow they'll start taking my measurements!"

He sighed, "Its too early for this, Tatum. I just woke up and.."

"Calum, I don't care if you just woke up or you just had a shit in the toilet, we need to talk about this now!!" I persuaded.

"If you could just give me a few minutes to fucking collect myself before we could talk because I swear to god my brain is not working at the moment!" He shouted on the phone, "Meet me at-"

"I can't meet you anywhere. I'm grounded." I sighed.

"Then I'll swing by your house then." I swear if I could see him right now, he is rolling his eyes at me.

"Okay but text me when you are here. I don't want my mother to see you."

"Then how the fuck would I get in?"

"I'll meet you at the back yard and we could talk there. My mother doesn't go there. She's going to think that I'm just going to take some fresh air."

"Okay whatever. I'll let you know when I'm there." He sighed before ending the call.

I threw my phone on the bed and decided to change into more comfortable clothes than the ones im wearing right now. I've never liked my church clothes but I don't have a choice but wear them when I'm with my mother.

I made my way towards the bathroom to wash my face. I removed all the make up that I was wearing and dried myself with a towelette that was folded neatly underneath the sink.

I looked pale and dead without my make up. I've never felt so naked.

I undressed myself and grabbed some ripped jeans from my wardrobe and a band shirt that I didn't even know I own. It must be one of Kate's since she was born liking any type of music.

After I tied my hair into messy bun I heard my phone vibrating against my bed's mattress.

I assumed it was Calum.

I read the text.

It was indeed from him. I shoved my phone in my jeans' back pocket and made my way descending from the stairs.

I came across Nana who was feather dusting some furniture but she ignored my presence as she continued her work.

I found myself walking outside our backyard that was being sprinkled with water by the automatic sprinklers built in all over the lawn.

I made my way behind the green house, grabbing a ladder by the gardening tools that was settled by the green house's wall.

I placed the ladder by the wall and peaked on the other side only to see Calum standing by his car across the street.

"Hey!" I exclaimed quietly enough for him to hear.

I caught his attention right away and made his way towards the other side of the wall.

"Okay. So what now?" I asked.

"You wanted to talk, Tate!" He groaned,

"We need to get ourselves out of this mess!" I started.

"How?"

"I don't know." I shrugged and I watched him roll his eyes.

"Are you kidding me?" He scoffed,

"Look, were getting married two months after my graduation and my graduation isn't happening in a week." I explained.

"So what are you planning?"

"I'm going to runaway" I blurted not even sure if what I'm saying is from my head.

"Wait, what!? Runaway?!" He practically screamed.

"Oh my god shut up! Keep it down" I shushed him.

"Runaway?! Where do you think of going?" He asked in disbelief.

"I don't know, Miami? Be with my sister? I'm not yet sure but that's what I'm going to do but right now, running far away from here is my only option."

"Are you sure you're thinking straight right now?"

I nodded, "There isn't going to be any wedding if there isn't going to be any bride."

He didn't answer but he nodded his head trying to comprehend what I'm saying.

"What about you? If I runaway what are you going to do?" I asked,

"I'm still trying to get back with Cassie."

"And how is she doing?"

"Not so good, I heard she lost her job. I don't even know where she is. I'm still trying to find her. There is only one place where she is going to be."

"Where?"

"Her grandmother's house."

"And do you know where is that?"

He nodded,

"So what are you planning?" I asked.

"After you runaway...I'm going to find her and get her back. I just love her so much to let her go."

He really do loves her.

"Anyways, remember we do all of this after my graduation. I still don't want to jeopardize my future."

"I understand. I guess I'll just have to keep on calling Cas."

I nodded.

"Anyways, is this all what were going to talk about?"

"Yeah." I answered sheepishly.

"Well then, I have to go. I guess I'll talk to you soon." He exclaimed waving his hands towards me before heading back into his car.

I watched him silently speed off before I carefully went down the ladder and walked back inside our house.