Runaway

Chapter 12

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~Uploaded February 8th, 2014

"Mom! We're home! And we brought a friend!", Dylan announced loudly as he pushed open the door to the house.

"Are you sure your parents don't mind having me over? I don't want to inconvenience anyone", I said to Andie as we took off our shoes at the front door. She waved her hand dismissively.

"We asked them this morning, and they don't mind. Mom loves company, which is why she babies Dylan, me and the guys so much. Come on." She showed me through the living room, a cozy little room with comfy-looking couches, an unlit fireplace, a flat screen TV and random pieces of family memorabilia.

I took it in, but didn't let it affect me. It was a skill I had taught myself. Assess the scene before me, take in all the information I can, move on. I couldn't let any of this home stuff affect me, otherwise I'd get attached, which would only make it harder to leave if the time came. A delicious smell, unlike Garrett's poorly attempted cooking skills, wafted through the air.

As I entered the kitchen, I saw Dylan kiss a slightly smaller woman on her cheek. She was quite beautiful, with dark brown hair like Andie's and Dylan's smile. They all shared the same bright, hazel eyes. She was stirring something around in a bowl that she held in her hands.

"Hello, dear. How was your day?", Mrs. McCade asked. I presumed she was talking to Andie, so I stayed quiet. Andie said that her day was fine, then the woman turned to me almost expectantly.

"Uh, hello", I said awkwardly. I hate awkwardness. "I'm Dani. It's nice to meet you, Mrs. McCade."

"No need to be so formal, my dear", she said with a welcoming smile. "Just call me Jemma, all right?" I nodded. So this was the woman that helped Mrs. Wells clean sometimes. "Alright, well why don't you kids go occupy yourselves? Dinner will be ready in about an hour."

We started to walk out of the kitchen when Dylan suddenly turned back to his mom. "Actually Mom, do you think you could make us a small bowl of poutine please? It was Dani's only condition to come over." Did that mean that he did want me to stay? I shook the thought out of my head. It didn't matter, but still...

"Dylan!", I scolded him. Then I turned to Mrs-uh, Jemma-with a smile. "It's fine, really. You don't need to do that. It was just a joke."

"Nonsense! If it is poutine you want, it is poutine you shall get!" She raised the stirring spoon in the air like a knight going off to battle. But with a flowered apron, messy bun, and just the fact that she was a middle-aged woman, made it seem entirely ridiculous. I couldn't help my laugh and it bursted out. The others joined me so my outburst didn't seem too rude. Jemma only smiled and shooed us off.

"So what do you guys want to do till dinner?", Dylan asked as we returned to the living room. I followed and tripped over something. I didn't fall flat on my face, thankfully. Instead, I turned even more and tucked myself into a ball, rolling onto the floor.

"What is it with me and falling around this house?", I asked a bit irritably, though I was only joking. The others laughed. I turned to see what I tripped over and found a furry coat. "Why do you guys have a fur coat on the floor?"

"That's not a coat, Dani", Garrett said to me. "That's Hobo." I blinked and was sure I misheard something. Garrett clapped his hands together and said louder, "Hobo! Wake up, bud. Say hi!"

And get this; the fur coat moved. I backed up quickly, but not quickly enough, and was greeted by a soft, and very wet tongue, along with breath that reeked of bacon. Eyes closed, I found the thing and pushed back with my hands. I got a good look at it for the first time. It was a dog, a freaking German Shepherd. How did I not notice him when I entered? At least, I assumed it was a boy. Any girl named Hobo, even a dog, well... Good luck to them.