Page 14 of Chase

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Theo

The table is left in stunned silence after Izzy’s departure. Her family looks angry, apart from Tilly, who looks smugly pleased with herself. My mother looks as if she might burst into tears but instead, stares down at the table in shame, much like my father does. I can’t help but feel disappointed in them for not saying anything. We all just witnessed what was downright bullying toward the youngest member of this household. Even Grandma says nothing. She merely sits there, looking expressionless, and not the least bit surprised by the turn of events.

“Your daughter is one of the most beautiful, intelligent girls I’ve ever met,” I snap, finally finding my voice to break the silence. I then throw my napkin onto the table at the same time as I get to my feet. “Present company included,” I add, glaring at Tilly who quickly loses her giddy expression.

As I bolt out the door, I don’t bother calling for Izzy because I already know exactly where she’s gone; I’m already halfway there myself. When I do finally reach her, I stop to take in her slumped, dejected figure. She’s throwing her little pile of sticks into the water, one by one. However, when I walk up behind her and slip my hands around her waist, she screams in shock, which has me laughing.

“Jesus Christ, Theo!” she gasps, placing her hand over her heart. “You scared the bejeesus out of me!”

“And here I was thinking I had come to comfort you.” I grin but she just pushes at me half-heartedly. “Come here, feisty pants.”

I hold her in a best friend hug, to which she thankfully, returns the embrace, before finally resting her head against my chest. My chin sits comfortably on top of her head while we stand like this for, I don’t know how long.

“I don’t wanna go home,” she murmurs, “I might kill them in cold blood… and what a mess that would make.”

“It’s cool, you can come and stay over at mine.” I kiss the top of her head and begin to lead her in the direction of my house. I don’t want her to go back there either, though, she can kill them for all I care. It’s her I’m worried about. “We can watch a movie and eat crap all night if you want to?”

“Copiousamounts of crap and ahorrormovie?” she asks with a hopeful look on her face that resembles that of a golden retriever. Even after being attacked by her vile family, she still manages to look like the happiest girl in the world when it’s just the two of us.

“Well, whatever crap we have in the cupboards and Mom might have a copy ofThe Exorcist? That’s about all I have to offer.” I shrug but she seems happy enough with my meager offerings. “I’ll get Mom or Dad to let your parents know what’s happening, whether they like it or not.”

“I shouldn’t imagine they’ll give a shit,” she sighs sadly, “but whatever.”

“I would argue with you, Twiglet, but your family are a special kind of asshole,” I reply truthfully, “you don’t belong with them at all. You’re far too good for them, always have been.”

“Ah, shucks, you’re gonna make me cry,” she says with a grin that has me feeling happy for putting it there. I take hold of her hand and walk us back to my house. I don’t give a shit who sees us because this girl is the most important thing to me, apart from my folks and Grandma. In fact, I have a sudden pang of guilt wash over me when I realize I have to leave her to the wolves in just a few weeks.

We enter my cluttered kitchen through the back door where Mom is continuing to pack up non-essentials for the big move. I glance at Izzy and her smile drops the moment she sees the reality of us leaving for good. Her shocked expression has me wishing for the first time since I heard we were returning home, that we weren’t going. I try to grab hold of her, however, when Mom smiles up at us from behind a cardboard box, she quickly plasters on a fake grin and drops hold of my hand.

“Izzy, come here, darling,” Mom says as she moves out of her fort of boxes to come and grab hold of her in an embrace. An embrace I’ve not seen her give to anyone except me before. “I could swing for your family, my darling girl.” Izzy blushes and looks awkwardly to the floor at the same time as I release a nervous laugh. “I mean it, you are the most amazing girl, so don’t let them steal that fire away from you. I fell for you the moment I met you.” We both look at my mother with perplexed expressions, not quite knowing where this is coming from. “And so did my son, though he won’t admit it,” she whispers before winking at me.

Instead of denying what is true, I grab hold of Izzy and pull her toward the door so we can escape upstairs. Mom’s obviously in one of her let’s-embarrass-Theo-for-fun moods.

“Do you still haveThe Exorcist, Mom? I think Izzy fancies some gore right now.”

“Sure, honey, should be in the cabinet; I haven’t packed it yet. Izzy, why don’t you stay in the guest room tonight? I’m sure Theo will lend you one of his shirts to sleep in.”

“Only if that’s ok?” Izzy asks politely. “I really don’t want to face them tonight.”

“Of course, darling girl. Why don’t you go up and put Theo’s TV on and he’ll bring the movie up in a minute.”

Izzy nods and heads towards the stairs all the while I look over at Mom, bracing myself for whatever it is she wants to say to me in private.

“Spit it out, Mother,” I sigh, folding my arms across my chest.

“Just remember she’s fifteen, Theo,” she says, now eyeing me with a serious expression, “and we’re leaving soon. I don’t want you or her to end up with a broken heart.”

I could try and argue with her, tell her I don’t feel that way about Izzy, but she always knows when I’m lying, so what’s the point? Instead, I nod and kiss her on the cheek before following after Izzy. I know nothing can happen between her and me, but I can think of nothing better than spending the night just chilling with my best friend.

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Izzy

“I think it’s time for you guys to hit the hay,” Aunt Frankie calls through the door, presumably on her way to bed.

I love how cool she is; she’s the most laidback mother I know, which is why her emotional speech weirded me out a little.As everyone has seen, I’m hardly living with the most intimate of families. Any form of affection or hint of a compliment has me feeling extremely uncomfortable. Sadly, her trying to be nice only had me wanting to bolt for the door.

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