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Ch.10-Falling Together

The roles had a bit of a reversal after Alec caught me crying in the middle of the night.

For starters, I became the one staunchly avoiding him, going as far as locking myself in my room if that was what the situation called for. I wasn't proud of it, but pride had stopped being a factor long ago. Call me stupid, foolish, whatever; I just couldn't face him.

"Lilia!"

I cowered away from my grandfather's voice on the other side of my bedroom door. "What? I'm busy! Come back later!"

He sighed. "I have to talk to you now, Lily. I realize for some reason you refuse to leave your room, and I'd rather not interfere with any skirmishes between you and Alec, so may I just come in?"

I released an exasperated breath and trudged to the door, yanking it open. My grandfather appraised me with an amused look, taking in my sock monkey pajama pants. "I like your attire."

"Shut up," I muttered, flopping down on my bed. "What is it that you have to tell me that is apparently so dire and important?"

He gave me a flat look, lowering down in my desk chair. "As usual, you make everything sound so dramatic."

I shrugged. "I'm a teenage girl. Isn't that my job?"

He chuckled. "I suppose."

"So what is it?" I asked, staring at the ceiling.

"I'm going away for a few days, Lily," he began. "I have an appointment down in Georgia and I'll be gone for a week."

My eyebrows shot up. "What? Why? With who?"

"I'm just meeting with somebody," he explained. "Hopefully it'll be nothing, but I should be gone no more than a week, I promise."

I sat up and stared at him. "Is there any chance this meeting requires you to take Alec along?"

He smiled. "Alas, no. And I have to ask that you not tear my house apart while I'm gone."

I pursed my lips. "No promises."

"Lily."

"What?" I threw my hands up and spread my fingers apart. "The boy can have a major stick up his ass when he wants to. The consequential actions are out of my control."

He didn't seem impressed. "Uh-huh."

"I'm serious. That's how it goes."

"I see." He patted his knees once and pushed himself to his feet. "I'm not leaving until tomorrow, so I have today to make sure everything is orderly and courteous around here before I depart."

"I believe I can hear your blaring insinuation."

He winked. "Good. That means you'll follow it."

I watched him walk to the door, but before he could completely leave I called him back. "Wait, Grandpa."

He stopped, poking his head back in. "Yes?"

"Is, um . . . Is Alec still around? He didn't go anywhere by chance, did he?"

He shook his head. "No. He's in his room too, actually. You both seem to be in odd moods."

I smiled in relief, rushing passed my grandfather and racing down the stairs to the kitchen. God, but, I was starving. I grabbed the tortilla chips and the jar of guacamole and went about sating my monstrous appetite.

My grandfather followed me in a few minutes later, shaking his head. "I don't think I'll ever understand you," he mused. "But anyway, I need to go out and do a few preparations. Do you think you and Alec can function okay in the same house alone? Think of it as a test-run."