The Checkup- Chapter 23

After a few wrong turns, I had made it to the parking lot, panting, I rested my hand on our car door.

"Somnium!" My mom yelled. I groaned.

"Please don't tell me this is the wrong car.." I said. She smiled and turned to me.

"The door's unlocked." She said. I quickly opened the car door and threw myself on the backseat.

"Oh sweet car smell!" I said. My mom knocked on the window.

"The window isn't tinted." She mouthed. I coughed before readjusting my seat. I folded my hand in my lap.

After an embarrassingly long twenty minutes, my mom sat inside the car.

"Well, I have great news!" She said excitedly. I raised a brow.

"What?" I asked. She turned around in her seat.

"I'm getting transferred!" She said. My face quickly switched to a look is distain.

"We're moving?" I asked angry. She shook her head with a smile.

"No, I meant buildings dear, not jobs!" She said.

"To where?" I asked confused.

"James Co. !" She said excitedly. I boiled in my seat.

"You have got to be kidding me." I muttered crossing my arms. I turned towards the window. My mom still turned to face me.

"Your.. upset?" I could here the sadness in her voice. I sighed before looked at her with a smile.

"No, not at all." I replied, but I couldn't hide the sour expression on my face. She turned around.

"Alright, lets head home." She stayed with a weak smile. The entire ride back was silent. I couldn't bring myself to tell my mom the truth of Maddie and I's fight. She was probably still wondering what in the world the plant was that started all this.

After arriving at home, I quickly rushed upstairs to look for the plant. Bursting the door open, I scanned around my room before running to the bathroom.

The bright red flower was there. Sitting in the same pot I placed it in. I let out the breath I was holding before noticing something, there was a small sticky note taped on the side. Picking up the plant, I lifted the note.

"I am truly sorry." It said. A small "M" signed at the bottom of the sticky note. I peaked the note off before throwing it in the trash.

Realizing I could no longer place my plant outside, I found a dark corner in my room and placed it there. I turned to my bathroom with a sigh.

Looking at my self through the mirror over the sink, I was still dressed in a hospital gown. I couldn't help but think of the fact I had been wearing this throughout my debate with a millionaire. Snorting, I tied my hair up and turned the shower on.

***

Getting out of the shower, I wrapped my towel around myself before going out into my room to get my clothes. My mom was standing at the door frame when I opened the door. I jumped back shocked.

"Mom! Are you trying to kill me?" I panted, my hand clutching my towel. I grabbed the clothes on my bed before going back into the bathroom.

"What do you want?" I said after closing the door.

"Where is it?" She asked. I paused before taking a deep breath.

"Where's What?" I responded cluelessly.

"Somnium Ariel Kennings if I repeat myself-"

"It's, in the corner of my room.." I quickly cut her off. I heard movement as my heart beat sped up. I rushed to but on my clothes.

I opened the door to see my mom holding the plant in her lap while sitting on my bed. I sat next to her, my towel draped over my shoulders. I gently took the flower from her.

"The Trumpet Creeper only grows on bushes and trees. What is this actually?" My mom said rather calmly. I sighed while staring at the flower.

"It's called an Clavem Abscondita.." I winced as I butchered the name badly. My mom looked at me with a smile grin.

"You mean Clavem Abscondita?" She repeated flawlessly. I stared at her in awe. She laughed.

"Anyways, how did you get it?" She asked. My hands wrapped around the flower pot firmer.

"I... someone gave it to me." I said slowly.

"Who? A friend from school?" She asked. I stared at the plant. I then remembered the crazy old man.

"No one." I said firmly. My moms expression dropped.

"Dear, your going to need to tell me-"

"I can't!" I yelled. She quickly stopped pushing. Noticing my tight grip on the plant, she brushed my arm.

"Dear, why can't you?" She said softly. I shook my head with no response. She returned her arm back to her side.

"That day I found you at the beach, was it then?" She said. I shook my head once more. I could tell she was getting annoyed. But instead of yelling at scolding me, she got up and walked to the door.

"When your ready to talk, I'll be in my room." She said. Walking out of my room, I heard to door click shut. I sighed frustrated before falling back on my bed. I shut my eyes and thought to myself.

"Why does everyone care so much about a stupid flower?!?"

***

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