Spitting Image • TFC 3.0 • l.t. au

Chapter Five

I dont understand. I don't understand at all. Everyone seems to be in deep conversation and it's as if nothing's bothering them while I sit there, my head spinning with confusion as to why this is happening.

What's worst is that I'm sat right infront of Melanie and how can I focus my attention on the conversation going around when she gives me a look every minute. Im possibly the only person at this table who finds this awkward as hell. I didn't want to say anything that surprises everyone or catch them off guard so I tried my hardest to bite my tongue.

"Meg," I snapped back to reality at the mention of my name by mum. "Could you help me in the kitchen?"

She raises her eyebrows at me as if telling me I don't have a choice. I look around and see everyone staring at me, even the little boys. "ummm... Yeah..." I say awkwardly and get up. I pick up some plates and follow my mum inside then putting the plates in the sink. She closes the door.

"You were very quiet." she says without looking at me. She reaches up to get some small plates, probably for dessert. She puts them on the kitchen island while I stood there, still wondering why in the world Melanie was there in the first place.

"I really didnt get the conversation." I say honestly. Part of it was true but part of it was also a lie because i spent the whole time thinking out of curiousity and confusion.

"So Emily," mum changes the subject, thankfully. "How was she last night?"

I laughed at her question. "Shes definitely not your little girl anymore, I can assure you that." I tell her as I unstack the plates on the island.

"Frankly neither of you are my little girls anymore, yeah?" she says bitterly but still smiles.

"I've stopped being your little girl years ago, mum. But Emily?" I ask her and she let's out a bitter, half-hearted laugh.

"I'm not used to her being a young lady, Meg." she says and stops doing what she's doing. I nod and do the same. "I'm not used to seeing her with a boyfriend or growing up into a young lady. Pretty soon, before I know it, she'll be on her own way to find who she is."

"I think Em's found herself. She knows who she is and she won't have that much difficulty in refining herself." I say making mum laugh and shake her head in disbelief.

"Was she drunk last night?" she asks. She took my laugh as a 'yes' because she shakes her head with a smirk.

"At least she went home. I'd be damned as well if she didn't want to." I tell her. "why? Were you worried?" I ask her

"so much, Meg, so much." she says with a hint of sarcasm. I raise an eyebrow at her making her smile. "Not really because I know you'll take care of her like you always do." she says hopefully with a warm, genuine smile that I found myself returning.

"I'll always look after Emily, mum. I love her too much and I don't know what I'd do to myself if something bad happens to her. Even if it's not my fault, I'd probably go mad if something happens to her." I tell her then the door bursts open.

My eyes widen when I see Blaine running around the kitchen holding a fork out to Luke. When I started moving after him, mum grabbed my arm and shook her head. "Leave it. Louis' there and we were having a good talk." she says.

I turn around and see Louis pull Blaine to him and got the fork out of his hand and set him free again. I feel a wash over of relief and I slump back on the counter. "See? He knows what he's doing." mum says then closes the door.

"You're right, he always knows what to do with Blaine." I say.

"and you know that. Now take the dessert out of the fridge and help my distribute plates." she says, pushing me over to the fridge. There's a glass pyrex covered with tin foil on top. I take it out and follow mum out of the kitchen.