Chapter 9

Mums words reverberated in my mind and I failed to get much of my Maths homework done.

I got up from the chair and sprawled myself on my bed, face down, loving the smell of the freshly clean covers.

I wanted to stay that way but sadly just like every other being I too needed some air.

The shrill ringing of my phone resounded from somewhere in the house and I scrambled out of bed in hopes of the call not ending. I rushed right past Mum throwing a quick apology over my shoulder and picked up my phone that was on the counter.

"Hello," I answered, slightly out of breath from the excertion.

"Lyra?" I heard a husky voice call from the other end of the call.

"Yeah..." I trailed off not really knowing who was calling, though the voice sounded familiar, due to my bad habbit of picking up the phone without checking the caller id.

"It's Dustin," he informed me.

"Dustin?" I stupidly echoed loudly, almost face palming myself for my loudness.

"Yeah," he chuckled at my reaction causing me to bite on my lower lip a bit too harshly from embarrassment.

"I'm in the neighbourhood and I was wondering if maybe you'd like to go out - as friends of course," he rushed out the last part.

I didn't know Dustin that much but he did seem to be a nice guy especially because of what he did for me on the first day of school. Plus I didn't feel like being at home and maybe going out with him would serve to be a good destruction from everything.

I let out a yes through the phone and Dustin informed me that he'd be over in ten. I hung up the call only to realise how rude that probably came off and bit onto my lip contemplating whether I should call him or not but I decided against it and rushed to my room to get ready for whatever it is Dustin had in mind.

I was busy rummaging through my wardrobe trying to find something that I could possibly wear. I must have been creating a lot of noise because mum came into my room after knocking and asked me what exactly I was doing. When I told her about the call I got she asked me if she could help me but I quickly assured her that I would take care of it. She got out of my room telling me not to hesitate calling her for help.

I knew I wasn't really good when it came to pairing clothes but I could pair the ones I had because they mostly consisted of sweaters, long sleeved shirt and jeans.

I got out one of my blue jeans that were tucked into the corner of my wardrobe and a white sweater since it seemed to be a bit chilly today.

Who am I kidding, I still would have worn it even if it was boiling hot outside.

I pushed my clothes in my wardrobe carelessly choosing to fold them later when I got back. I put on a pair of white converses and unbranded the cornrows for the day running my fingers through it slightly to put in order.

The doorbell sounded and I heard my mum open the door. I heard a voice that sounded like that of Dustin and I took one quick glance at myself in the mirror, and made my way towards the living room.

"Hey," Dustin said as he looked at me, a full blown out smile taking over his face.

"Hi," I shyly responded.

"Shall we," he said after opening the front door gesturing for me to go out first and I couldn't help but smile at him.

We walked over to his car and just like last time he opened the passenger door for me. I whispered a thank you and got in my seat. He shut the door and made his way over to the driver's seat. He gave me a smile before putting the car in ignition and started driving.

"You don't mind ice cream do you," he asked sparing me a quick glance before focusing on his driving.

"No I actually love ice cream."

"I was thinking that maybe since it's a little chilly today, you'd want to go for something warm," he elaborated.

"Anytime's a good time for ice cream. Well at least that's what I think."

We arrived at an ice cream shop and I opened my door just as Dustin opened his. A bell chimed atop the shop's door as we entered the shop and the barister came to the counter. The ice cream store was quite spacious with some booths, which were occupied by only about four people, and a few tables sprawled here and there. The walls were covered with swirls of colours which made it look very cool.

"What flavour would you like?"

"Uh...cilantro lime."

"I'll have-" just as he was about order, he's phone started ringing and he held his index finger up to the the barister.

"Mum?" he answered immediately then paused to listen to what was being said on the other side of the line. "Now?" He questioned then stared at me, "but I'm busy at the moment." He probably didn't get the answer he was hoping for seeing the way he ran he's hand through his locks of hair. He breathed out a fine then put the phone back in his pocket.

"That was my mum. She said her and dad are going out so she wants me to babysit my little brother." He said with an apologetic look on his face. "I'm really sorry. I'll just drop you off on the way."

"I can help you babysit. I mean if that's no problem."

A relieved look crossed his face, "That'd be great. Let me just take some extra ice cream for Andy."

Soon after taking our ice cream we went back to his car. As he drove I looked out the window and saw how the houses changed from moderate sizes to houses big enough to fit our house three times

We pulled up to a black gate that openned automatically upon nearing it. I was so busy looking at the neatly trimmed hedge, among other things, that I didn't notice the center piece. The house.

It was like nothing I'd ever seen before, well in the magazines I have but not in real life. The structure of the house consisted mostly of glass for the outer walls with bits of wood and concrete walls here and there.

I had been too busy staring at the house to notice that Dustin had made his way over to the passenger door and was holding it open for me. I shook my head trying to compose myself and got out of the car.

I probably looked like an idiot but at least Dustin didn't say anything remotely close to that.

"Welcome home," he said. He stood close to me so our shoulders were touching then he took my hand in his and tried to play it off casually by giving me a reasuring smile as if sensing my unease, "Come on."

We walked towards a massive door that seemed to be made out of redwood if I wasn't mistaken.

The door opened upon entering a code in an electrical panel that was beside it. He pushed the door open and we walked into the lavishly decorated living area.

I didn't get enough time to look at it before I heard voices coming from the stairs and there, I saw a woman dressed in a white blouse paired with black slacks. The man on the other hand wore a grey suit that looked crisply ironed.

Their chatter came to a close once they reached the bottom of the stairs and saw me. My nerves only seemed to double and I truly felt out of place.