Stay

Chapter Twenty Five.

My stomach bloated and aching after finishing as many of the cakes as physically possible, I take the last sip of my Cola and Jessie gestures for a waiter.

A girl sees his signal and approaches.

Her hair a light brown and tied back in a neat ponytail, she wears very little make up, her skin so perfect with not a blemish in sight that she wouldn't ever feel the need to wear it, and a small tattoo on her wrist of what looks like a quote but she is still too far away for me to read it.

"Are you done with these?" She asks her voice soft and velvety.

"Yes, thank you." Jessie replies before averting his eyes over to mine.

The waitress starts to pile the mini plates and mugs onto a small tray. I always find it amazing how they manage to pile up and balance so many plates at once.

Jessie throws a smile my way before he turns tense and glares at his lap.

"Oh my god! I'm so sorry, sir!" The young girl panics. She places the tray onto a table behind and grabs a few of the napkins. She goes to try off his trousers before noticing where she spilt the drink and instead handing the napkins to him. "So- sorry." She says once again before rushing the tray to the kitchen.

I can't help but laugh.

"This isn't funny." Jessie mumbles, patting himself down.

"It is." I laugh, but he shoots me a glare. "A little bit." I'm trying my best, but the smile just won't leave my face and soon I see the corners of his mouth begin to rise too.

Smiles are contagious.

The young girl approaches with a twenty pound note, her expression clearly apologetic.

"Here is a full refund, I know I shouldn't ask but please don't compl..."

I cut her off; I can see the raging anxiety in her eyes and find it painfully relatable.

"It's all okay," I look at her name badge. "It's all okay, Zianna. Accidents happen. Plus it was kind of funny." The young girl looking stunned at my kindness, places the note in front of Jessie before saying a 'thank you' quietly and rushing off.

"I would have complained." Jessie spits, the smirk still lying on his lips.

"No you would not. Jessie Oliver you are too kind to complain." He raises an eyebrow at my words.

"Maddie Henderson, you are such a flirt."

"Am not!"

He gives me the same 'oh really?' look.

We both get up and walk out, a bell ringing as we open the door.

The sky clear but the ground glistens in the sunlight.

Must've rained while we were stuffing our faces.

I hand him back his phone and keys before we part ways, my family are probably worried about me by now.

So much for running away.

Entering the house is different. It's as if nothing ever happened. The once broken pictures have been repaired and placed back on the wall. The kitchen is spotless and my parents seem to be sat quietly watching TV. They must have not heard the front door open. They don't say a word.

"I'm home." I mumble.

"That's nice hunny." My father utters, not even glancing round to look at me.

That's it?

No 'are you okay?' No 'Where have you been?'

Nothing?

Did they even know I was gone?

By the silence I guess Shay isn't home. Probably out with her boyfriend.

I'm about to go upstairs when my mum calls my name.

"The school rang me, said you ran out of school. You have two choices, either go to school and detention tomorrow or we sell your phone."

I'm stunned at the lack of concern for why I ran out. Considering I'm a good student with high attendance, she shows little interest for my reasoning.

"We need the money anyway. Understood?"

"Yes." I reply, more of a quiet sound then a whisper.

For the rest of the night I'm lead down in the pitch black, wide awake.

I was gone for a day and a half... An introvert who panics at the sound of footsteps and avoids all eye contact when possible... But they don't question why I was gone.

Not worried at all.

Like I was a ghost that they were glad to see go.