Chapter 52: Chapter 52

Two months after, we settled into a new normal routine. In the beginning I was scared mom would slip and start doing something she didn't do before, and we would lose both parents. But my mom was stronger than that. She was so strong she was our pillar.

The police were still looking for them. Sometimes they had leads that popped up randomly, but she was really smart, never stayed too long in one place for the police to actually catch up with her. One thing was for sure, she was always alone. No sign of my father.

That was why the inspector was with us now, every one was present, even my friends, they had turned to family within the past two months.

"For the past two months, we have exhausted our resources far more than we should because of how reputable your husband was.. however the department has gotten nowhere with the investigation, with no leads and leaking pockets, I'm afraid we have declared Mr Anderson dead."

We all expected that, but nothing could soften the blow. Mom whimpered.

"Mrs Wilson has managed to get herself caught on surveillance cameras many times but there has never been a sign of your husband..." He concluded awkwardly.

I cleared my throat, pushing the lump down, now wasn't the time to cry.

"Thank you sir. We appreciate everything you've done for us." I was surprised my voice came out steadily. He nodded before he left.

A hush fell upon every one. I wanted to cry, the man I had known all my life suddenly became a stranger. But I still loved him, he was the one that thought me stuff I didn't learn in school.

"At least we know he is at peace." Mom said, there was a small smile playing on her lips, and her cheeks were tear stained.

But her smile was contagious, pretty soon everyone had a smile on their face.

"I'll make his favorite meal for lunch." Mom said going in to the kitchen.

I sight Gabby sinking into her chair. Since it happened she has been completely withdrawn.

"Hey." I greet as I sit beside her.

She spared me a glance, "hey."

"I feel like we've grown distant." I tell her.

"You can't miss you never had"

"You can talk to me you know.."

"I miss him. I'm jealous that you got to see him one last time and I didn't, I miss him." She interrupted me.

I pull her in for a hug. There was nothing I could say to make her feel better.

"This is embarrassing, I'm going to make lunch with Mom." She said after sniffing twice.

Classic Gabrilla.

The sofa beside me dipped. It was Lucy.

"What was he like?" She asked.

I was shocked because this was the first time she acknowledged him, she always called herself a big sister, but she never asked about him. She even said she'd keep her surname till she got married.

"He was... A father.." was the only thing that came to mind.

She chuckled,

"Look at me thinking he was a mom."

I laugh.

"He was always there when I needed him, always knew what to say at the right time. He.." I said smiling in reminiscence.

"I am sure I'd have loved him.." she said before she stood up to go help Mom in the kitchen.

My friends were cuddled on the sofa, I remember their reaction when I told them everything. They were always here when I needed them, I wouldn't trade them for anything. Pulling a blanket over their sleeping form, I walk to the balcony.

Joseph was already there, looking over at the ruined house. Over the past month the police searched for evidence but found nothing. The siblings could salvage a few things but they had to buy everything again.

"Hi.." I say. My heart was still pounding like the first day I saw him. Because of everything that happened we have been stuck in the friend zone, surprisingly I liked it that way, I didn't know how to juggle grief and a relationship together when I was still new to it. I didn't want to ruin it before it even started.

He turned.

"Didn't think I'd see you here.." he said making space for me.

I laughed breezily. Both of us stared at the ruins of the house.

But I wanted to tell him that the friend zone was exhausting, but I couldn't.

"Lunch is ready." Gabby informed us. Both of us were startled since we didn't hear her come in. But we go down anyway.

Chicken soup and dumplings. Everyone ate the food sentimentally. This was our little way of sending him off.

"We raised money to get another house..." Lucy started when we were having dessert.

"Please don't ask us to stay... We want to be on our feet again. We won't be able to afford this size of house again, but it'll be liveable."

Mom seemed to mull this over for a while before smiling and allowing them to go. Me? I couldn't eat my strawberry cake. I just stared at Joseph. He knew I was staring, but he didn't acknowledge me. I wanted to tell him I was going to miss him. A lot.

A week after they moved out Joseph stopped coming to school. And we hadn't talked, so I don't know if we left on good or bad terms. I only saw Lucy when we had our meetings but it was for official purposes, I couldn't ask her.

Unfortunately I landed my first ever detention, just when we were about graduating, I was caught with my cellphone in class by a new teacher, if it were someone else I was sure they'd cut my some slack.

I sighed at the unmoving clock. I will never understand how people in detention didn't lose their minds waiting for the clock to move.

"One hour, Twenty minutes, fifty two seconds more to go." I grumble under my nose.

The detention teacher just walked out of the class. I bolted out of my seat, trying to bring down the clock in the room.

"Uh what are you doing?" One of the detention students asked.

I waved them off in a dismissive manner.

"If I could adjust the time and he'd let us go faster."

"That won't be a good idea.." an unexpected but familiar voice stopped me. But I didn't turn around.

"You see he had a wrist watch, he'd know. For someone so smart one would think you'd know this." He said again.

My chest felt compressed. I missed his voice.

"What.. what are you doing here?" My voice came out weakly.

"Is that how you welcome me?" He tsk-ed.

I still didn't turn around.

"I came to stay with you... I missed you.."

I turned around and threw myself on him.

"I missed you too."

He hugged me so tight but it was just the right amount of squeeze I wanted.

"You know you are about to graduate. You don't need to stay here." He said packing up my stuff and dragged me out. I felt excited.

"What exactly did miss perfect do to get herself a detention?" He asked with a playful look in his eye.

I blush.

"I was distracted during class."

"Uh oh.. sounds serious, what distracted you?"

"Something.." I say not wanting to tell him.

He looked intrigued.

"Okay fine I was worried about you.. why haven't you been in school?"

He stopped walking.

"Remember when you said I didn't know what I wanted? I was trying to think about what I wanted, because you'd be in Yale soon.. I couldn't be that bum boyfriend, so I took some time off for self evaluation."

My heart fluttered at boyfriend.

"So I've come to conclude that, even if it's not Yale. I will be attending college in Connecticut studying botany."

I hug him tightly.

I didn't hate crushes. I loved crushes.