I waited for mum to fall asleep that night. It was around 11 pm when I opened my door and checked the hallway, there was nothing the house was dark and riddled with shadows that once haunted my childhood nightmares.
Sneaking through the house and creeping past my mum's bedroom I reached the study. The small room was only illuminated by the moonlight shining through the window, the room was coloured in shades of blue and the reflective surfaces of technology.
'Where is that book?' I whispered to myself as I turned to the bookcase.
One wall of the room was purely full of books. They ranged from novels to encyclopedias, I remember when I was seven how I would play pretend in the study act as if I was Belle from beauty and the beast. The low lighting made reading book spines an endeavor but I did my best. Then I found it; a tall black book exploding with photographs of my mum's younger years. This was bound to have at least one photo of my father.
After pulling the book out and replacing it with one from my room I made the adventure back to my room. Once safe in my room I put the photo album into my school bag and texted Elouise.
The Album has been Secured....
Looking forward to meeting detective Kingsly.
After sending the message I decided it would be best to go to sleep, praying I would not be haunted by those nightmares.
Sun.
In my eyes of course. It was only 6 am in the morning and the sun was seeping through my thin curtains. Rolling over I tried to return to sleep when I remember, I have something important to do today. Leaping out of bed I saw 38 messages from Lou asking if i was awake yet, and reminding me it was 'cycle to school day'
Once a week Lou and I cycled to school for no real reason it was mainly just for fun. I began to get dressed, this morning seemed to promise good weather but I know that rain is always in the sky in london. After packing my bag and brushing my teeth I headed downstairs, my mum was sitting in the lounge reading something on her phone. She was still in her pajamas and drinking her morning coffee.
'Bye mum!' I waved as I headed to the front door.
'Octavia why are you up so early?" before i knew it my mum was at the door with me.
'I don't know I felt like it, I guess' I responded while pulling my blazer on. 'Lou and I where going to get a coffee before school that's all'
My mum frowned then directed her gaze to my schoolbag 'your bag looks heavy are you sure you want to cycle today darling?'
'Yeah nothing beats a good workout' I smiled 'okay bye mum' i opened the front door
'Bye darling have a good day' I heard my mum reply then she shut the front door.
Jumping onto my bike I began the ride to school. I did rather enjoy riding my bike to school. It was always a pleasant ride, especially in the early morning. Once at school I noticed Lou's bike was already locked in the rack after dismounting. I too locked mine. As I walked to the library I noticed it was still only 6:40.
Walking into the library I noticed how silent it was only a few students were inside. The tudors where tutoring and others were sleeping. Highschool libraries attract all forms of life.
Making a B-line to the alcove I first saw the mop of brown hair then I saw Lou's school bag.
'Morning' I chirped as I sat across from her.
'Morning' she beamed back sipping a coffee. 'Got the goods?" I nodded as I opened my school bag. Pulling The book out I placed it on the table.
Lou took the book and started to look through it.
'Woah' she looked at me then at the book 'you and Nikki look the exact same thats whack' Lou was very expressive when she was in awe, I didn't blame her mum and I look like twins.
The photo she was referring to was one of my mum when she was sixteen, she was sitting in a library with her best friend, as Lou flipped the page a photo caught our eyes.
It was of my mum she was wearing a strikingly tight purple dress, leaning over her shoulders was a boy. He was pale. The flash of the camera didn't help him in any way. Mums hair was exactly like mines; dead straight and secured with a white headband. Then there were photo booth photos of them kissing. Nothing is stranger than seeing your parents or authority figure as a teenager and in love.
'This boy could be a contender for your dad; he has your eyes.' Lou looked at my eyes then pointed to his. When suddenly something poked out from under the plastic sheet holding the photo inside.
A small note clearly my mum's handwriting
'Okay so your mum dated him' Lou stated the obvious
'If she dated him there should be more photos'
As if I had manifested it there were many photos of this Alexander, my mum had written notes behind each photo unlike every other ex boyfriend mum really seemed to love this guy, it made me wonder what happened?
'So I am thinking Alexanders your dad' lou and I looked at the last photo that Alexander was in.
It was of me, mum and Alexander
'We need to find out who Alexander is' I said as I closed the book.
'That shouldn't be too hard considering' Lou grabbed the album from me and opened it to a page where there was once again a photo of mum and Alexander. graduation, I am so beyond proud to be dating the head boy of St Luthers for the class of 2000, boom we know his school and we are going there today'
'Your brilliant lou' I yelled
'I know' she responded
I love this chapter, I hope your all enjoying this book :)