H

e in the quiet neighbourhood. There were no sirens wailing as police sped past, no babies crying, no

ate

the taxi driver as he

me out from under my father's rule. I glared at the large, spacious building – a literal mansion painted white with green ivy painted onto the east wall. Yeah, my father couldn't even

n, swinging my backpack onto my bac

at the window of the neighbour's house. It was too far to see clearly who stood there, bu

tive, interferi

fe and they'd probably sue. Public disturbance or some such shit. And I couldn't afford to go to jail after what happened last

nocker! Like it was the dark ages where no one knew what a door-bell was. I lifted the knocker slowly and let it drop back a

lowly but smoothl

me. We've been expec

till just as round, grey and friendly as she had always been. In fact, apart from

you Mrs

cond. She smoothed her grey hair back into its severe bun before she nodded, gesturing for me t

ch time I had come to visit, ensuring that it always remained my room. After that, I had noticed every littl

the bedding dark blue and the same pictures of boats hung all over the room.

was going to return afte

n to the kitchen, dear." Mrs Porter smiled

of my parents and a toddler version of myself before placing it face-down on the nightstand. It m

led my mom's number, composing myself for a

uline voice ans

ng why my mother's boyfriend of the month

giggle in th

" the guy lied, not even bot

ot to my father's place ok

man. C

about... which was most of the time. When I was little it used to bother me, but now I was just so used to it I couldn't give a damn. Besides, her boyfriends us

ng with her was WAY better than living with m

lled down to the kitchen. It was certainly Mrs Porter's domain and

e since you haven't been here in so long." she attempted to joke as s

ile on my face and took a bite of the cake, even t

nd bustled around the kitchen g

ot in with the wrong crowd and could have landed up in hot water if your father wasn't as influential as he is..." she chatte

n eyes taking in every inch of my appearance from my short, spike

e going shopping." she order

ything from my father." I argued

lightly irrit

not have a child in my household dressed like a pauper. The other housekeepers will start ru

to the car as I used to when I was younger – grabbing her handbag as we exited through the entrance hall. Mrs Porter handed me the car keys

of turtles." she exclaimed as I started th

ain everything took longer in the suburbs. When we finally arrived we struggled to find a parking sp

orter." I protested, looking in horror at t

rent items from the racks. Soon, my arms were piled high with clot

e what fits you

re all far beyond my budget. Hell! A single shirt could pay the rent of my mother's place for a mont

d her the shirt, hoping

of the items I had left behind in the dressing room and put them on my fat

ht. The Summers have invited you and your father over

tuck up snobs I had been forced to deal with growing

t me with a stern ex

." I muttered u

I think she drove because she was afraid I would drive us to the nearest police station and insist that I was being

, Master Rhett." Mrs Porter said in a ster

yet since she held the keys to getting me out of the dinner with the Summers family. Instead, I turned o

ginated from somewhere else in the house. The wall opposite the fireplace was covered from floor to ceiling with books shelved according to their topic. I knew from when I was a chi

ounced myself, breaki