Seagulls Part 1

I always knew that I was coming home when I hear the cry of seagulls. It was not a pretty sound, the shrill calls echoing itself was nonetheless comforting. It was a sound I had never thought much when I was younger. Now it was a cherished noise, a sound I wish I could keep within some conch shell I picked up along the shores like the crashing waves contained inside. 

I never found home to be that appealing until I got older. The sandy backyard, filled with long grass that was gross to touch, and seashells that hurt my feet to walk across seemed so much more appealing as I drove along the broken road that lead to my house. It wasn't an easy feat to get back. Perhaps that made it so much more appealing to me. 

Growing up I lamented living on an island. It was small, and everyone knew everyone. We didn't have a big fancy mall. Our movie theater was outdoors, and we only had one convenience store that me and my friends had cherished like gold as teenagers. We had one school, pre k-12. My graduating class had 12 students, all of which I had known since I was a child. We had a grocery store, and a few little shops for fishing, clothes, etc. The library was small and by the time I had left, I think I read almost everything that was on the shelves there. Living in such a small little island made the real world feel a lot bigger. 

As I pulled up into the driveway of my home, the hydrangeas were blooming brilliantly. They were always so pretty and blue. I had painted those hydrangeas so many times before, and yet each time I looked at them I saw something more. Their colors were ever-changing, and somewhat melancholic. I adored them as much as I adored the sounds of the gulls. 

"Is this seriously where you grew up?" The voice next to me drew me back from my thoughts. My girlfriend was sitting there, her mouth open wide as she stared forward. It was my first time bringing her home. I wasn't sure how anyone would react to it. I hadn't warned my family that she was coming, but I hoped it wouldn't be too big of a deal. After all, phone service here was iffy at best. It wasn't easy to call, let alone for such an important update. She drew up her cellphone and took a picture from within the car, turning towards me and grinning. She was opposite to me in every way. Muscular, tall, blonde hair... she played volleyball for a living. She had the cutest freckles along her face and arms, and striking green eyes that I could get lost in for hours. In comparison to her, I was a bug. 

"Yeah. This is it." I remarked with an unreadable tone. To be frank, I wasn't sure how I felt about it either. The mansion I grew up in seemed even bigger after so long away. The pain had begun to chip away a bit, but otherwise it was well maintained. Flowers and vines crawled up the sides of the building as if consuming it, and the water fountain to the side beckoned you to investigate the gardens along the side of the house. Woods surrounded the house, and the singular shitty road that led up to it was overgrown as ever. I wasn't sure I had ever properly said what my home was like when I offered her to join me for the family gathering this week. I forgot how abnormal it was. 

"You seriously just never mentioned that you grew up in a bloody mansion? Oh my god Lace..." Gracie breathed out, her chest heaving up as if she had lost her breath. I shrugged and stared at her with a frown. I didn't mean to always frown, but it felt easier than smiles most of the time. Gracie knew that by now, but it used to make her anxious when we first started to date. 

"I guess I didn't.. I don't really love thinking about home too much." I admitted, unbuckling my seatbelt and taking a deep breath as I laid my head against the steering wheel. "It is nice to be back though... It's been years." Gracie put her hand on my back and gently rubbed it. We sat in silence for a bit before I sat back up. "Well, we better get inside before someone starts freaking out about the car sitting in the driveway." 

"Is there anything else I should know? Like do you have servants and a butler too?" Gracie asked, clearly intending to tease. My face grew hot as I muttered out the answer. 

"We have five servants and a butler... But I promise they are really chill." Growing up on an island usually meant that you had money. I wasn't really ashamed of the money my family had, but I wasn't exactly proud of it. Generational wealth usually meant that someone in your family was a horrible person at one point or another. No one got rich from being nice, as my father loved to remind me. Not to mention but it wasn't like the money was mine anyways. 

"Are you fucking shitting me, Lace? A butler??? Thats so-- Oh my god. Well, I guess this week is gonna be more fun than I thought. You had me under the impression your folks were just normal average assholes." She didn't get mad at me though. She never got mad at me, and instead she always gave me that nice smile. I loved her for that. She always took things as they were, and never made you feel bad over things. 

"I mean they are. It's not their house even. It belongs still to my great grandfather. I promise though, its not like they are all super stuck up or anything. Just.. a bit old fashioned." I said as I got myself out of the car and began to gather my suitcase. "You will really like my aunt I think. My mother and father are a bit... well, odd, but they mean well most of the time." Gracie climbed out of the car and took her bag to follow me. We walked up the long driveway together, suitcases in hand. Once we got closer to the door, it swung open. There stood my mother and father. Mother was dressed in a pink satin looking thing, I guess it was a dress. However it was an odd looking piece of fashion. The family emblem, a winged lion, was present in the ornate headpiece she was wearing. Father was wearing his typical suit and tie, the lion staring at us from his lapel. 

"Lacey!" My mother exclaimed, however she didn't open her arms to me. Father frowned and just stared. 

"Who is this?" He asked, his voice gruff and angry sounding as always. It was like I had never left. 

"This is Gracie Whitewood, my girlfriend. The one I wrote to you about." I didn't write him about her, but he wouldn't remember. He never read my letters anyways. He looked her over, and she smiled brightly as ever and offered a hand. 

"It is an honor to meet you, Sir Rozenweiss. I have heard so many good things about you from Lacey." She spoke gracefully, like she had been prepared for this role her whole life. I adored her for that. "And Madam Rozenweiss, I can see where Lacey gets her good looks." My mother chuckled warmly at that comment. My father allowed his anger to drop slightly. Good manners always seemed to be a weakness of his. 

"I see. Well, it is a pleasure to meet you as well Miss Whitewood. Welcome to the Rozenweiss estate. I am simply pleased to see that our daughter has someone in her life. The outside world tends to be very isolating." My father said, motioning for us to enter. Gracie went to pick up her suitcase again, however swiftly a maid came trotting out to pick it up for her. Gracie didn't argue, however thanked her nicely. 

My childhood home looked the same as always. The decor was extravagant and filled with paintings of dead family members, and scenery. Ornate statues, decorations, flowers and all the like littered the halls in a way that was meant to be appealing. The wooden floors were polished and covered with beautiful rugs that came directly from India. We walked up the stairs to my old room, which had been left in perfect order. My mother then put a hand on my shoulder once our suitcases were placed down. 

"Lacey, please make sure you both are ready for dinner. It will be served at 7 on the dot. It is lovely to see you back home, dear." My mother smiled and walked out with my father. Once the door was closed and Gracie and I were alone, she nearly fell over. 

"Holy shit Lace--- this is way more fancy than I could have ever thought!!! Your mom and dad are so prim and proper! Its hard to think they raised you." She teased, however she wrapped her arms around me as she said this. She then began to pepper kisses all over my face, which caused me to melt into giggles. 

"Gracie-- Geez... I am just glad they even let you in. I was so nervous they'd get mad right off the bat." I sighed in relief, kissing her back after moment. "You handled that so well. It's like you grew up here." 

"I am a good actress~ Seriously though this place seems so--- not real? I don't know how to describe it, but I can feel a good mystery set up happening here." Gracie mused, going to her suitcase and beginning to dig through it to find her evening dress. I sighed a bit at the statement. Outside I could hear the seagulls beginning to cry. They must have found something new to eat. They always were louder when they found food. 

"Now that we are inside I should tell you... one, please be careful if you go into the backyard. The cliffs are not stable. Second, don't talk to my great aunt if she approaches you. Lastly, don't go into the rose gardens alone. Understood?"