Sanctuary (A Dan Smith/ Bastille fanfic)

74. Chloe

After my trip to America to visit Dan, I decided that I was serious about moving back to London. I had spent the two weeks after my return searching for places to live but with no luck. It wasn't helpful that I was living hours away and so any possible chance of viewing a flat ended quickly because I wasn't readily available to see it. By the time it came around to each weekend, all the flats I had been looking at during the week were gone.

Even though I had made this huge decision that I was happy about, I was more down than ever trying to make the move possible. I could feel myself slipping back into this sad, angry state where everyone and everything around me irritated me and just made me feel unhappy.

Amelie was trying to be as supportive as possible, but I could feel her getting sick of my mood swings. It was like I was 16 again, angry at the world because things hadn't been handed to me on a silver plate. Whereas in reality, that's life.

My phone suddenly rings, snapping me out of my thoughts and bringing me back to life. I read the name on the screen and see 'Mum' written in bold. "Hello." I answer the phone, laying down and preparing myself for some sort of gossip from my mother. Our relationship, even though it's not the most stable one in the world, has improved considerably over the years. She still has high expectations of me and seems to think that I'm some person that I'm not, but I've learnt to deal with it.

"Chloe!" She sounds almost shocked that I've picked up, that would be because I've been dodging her calls for weeks now.

"Hi mum, how are you." I sigh as a response, almost wishing that I didn't answer.

"Good. Well not good because Alan said that he would hang the washing out but, guess what, he hasn't and I've just returned home from my lunch and now the sun's going in and the washing is never going to dry tonight." I roll my eyes, listening to her pointless moaning about a tiny subject. "But anyway, Sam called and he's coming around for dinner with Claire this evening and he has some sort of big news. He was hoping you could come too." I hear her take a breath in, expecting a harsh no as an answer.

"Okay." I shock her and myself by agreeing to dinner with my family.

"Okay?! Okay well that's perfect. Now Sam and Claire will be around at 7 which is just a few hours away, will you make it?"

I glance at the clock and it's only half 4, I don't know what my mum is talking about. "Yes mother, I'll be there for 7."

"Good, I think I'll do chicken. See you at 7."

"See you then." I reply but my mother has already put the phone down. I hold my face in my hand and groan, confused as to why I just agreed to a painful evening.

........

"Chloe!" My step-dad Alan stands at the door with a grin plastered on his face.

"Hi." I stand awkwardly with a bottle of wine in my hand as a peace offering. It's mainly for myself really. At most of these family events I need at least half a bottle down me to deal with it.

"Come in." He leads me through the door and I follow him into the kitchen where my mum is finishing off dinner.

"Hi there. Oh Alan get some glasses for that wine. Thanks Chloe." I hand the wine to Alan and he pours me a glass and I smile as a thank you. "Sam's in the living room by the way, go and say hello."

"Will do." I leave the room and head through to the other side of the house where my younger brother is sat with his girlfriend, a pair who are almost as sickening as my mum and step-dad. I watch them for a moment as Sam grins at his girlfriend. Claire seriously has him wrapped around her little finger. I'm almost sick at the sight of them. But then I realise that it's only because I miss my own boyfriend and would love to have him sat here with us so that I don't have to endure this alone. He could make this better with his sharp wit and charm. I feel myself missing Dan so shake the thoughts off and take my first step in attempting to make conversation with my brother.