Chapter 4 Four.

"Let me show you around." Assuming my mum already knew her way around the house, Tom held my hands as we sauntered along the road. Through the entire ten minute walk, i never came across another soul in these streets. The houses were very wide and far apart from each other and there was just this nostalgia that stung my nose in the air.

At some point, i felt like i was being watched but then i'd turn around to see my father staring at me.

"What?" I asked softly and he just shrugged his shoulders with a smile.

"I can't believe you're here" Tom replied and he scoffed. "I can't too."

"So many adventures i want to take you on, Isla. If you look over there, there's your school. Aces-the only school in this town. There's a lake on the other side of the town if you go through the forest as well and many other things unique to Marquette that i-" He paused and my eyes fell to his pouty lips.

"That i think could really help you."

"Come here" His hands roped me in before placing a kiss into my hair. "You're a strong woman, Isla" He smothered my shoulders and it was the first time someone called me a woman. Even though i had just turned eighteen, it barely felt like the pinnacle of my life.

Half the time it was just me wishing i was a normal girl.

From the distance, my eyes fell on the archaic building of Aces, my new school and my stomach tied into a firm knot as i already dreaded meeting new people and being in a new place. No one could understand how terrified i was of school.

And it would take a whole lot to make me fall in love with it again.

"Isla!" My mother's frail voice halted us from a distance and i sauntered up the rocky roads with my hands in the jacket. "We should get back" He said and we made our way towards the car where she stood. "Brad really has to get something done back in Cali. So we regret that we wouldn't be able to spend as much time with you as we planned" Alyssa pulled me into a corner and gaped my slender hands.

"Aww man." I couldn't hide the disappointment in my face.

"We should really hit the roads soon, okay. You know it's a long ride" She said before pulling something out of her pockets. It was a necklace with an encircled pendant that hung across my chest once she'd clicked it behind my neck. I held it in my hands to admire it and Alyssa chuckled.

"It belonged to my mother and she gave it to me before she passed."

"Before she passed?" I echoed with a crinkle between my eyes and my mother rolled her eyes to the back. "I just think it's time for you to have it. Because i was eighteen then as well-she said it's like a hug. A good luck charm when you think you're alone." Alyssa's voice fell into a whisper as she squeezed my palms.

"Just look to it and it will calm you. It will direct you, Isla"

My mother pulled me in for a lasting hug and i didn't know when tears began to fall from my eyes. I was going to miss her so much and by the way her hands gripped into my hair, it was obvious she was going to, too.

"I love you so much, Isla" She gazed into my eyes once she pulled back and i nodded, pushing a lump down my throat. "I love you too" I said.

"I'll make sure to call you everyday"

The sound of the kickstarting engines drew our attentions back to the car and she wiped beneath her eyes. "I think it's time" There was a crack in my voice as i waved back at Brad who honked the horn.

I found my father's arms as i watched my mother walk over the car and then drive away. "It's going to be fine, kiddo" He said and i nodded with sour red eyes. I didn't stop waving until they disappeared and my arms began to ache.

I couldn't believe they were gone so fast.

"So that's your mother's new boyfriend huh?" Tom's voice towered over me and i gave my father a light push in his chest. "His name's Brad" I scoffed. "-and i'm not talking to you about Brad" He raised his arms in the air as i reached for the last of the luggages.

"Okay. Okay, fine."

"You're living with me, though. The least you could do is give me some inside information" He scoffed and i brushed into his shoulders. There was a grin on his lips which mouthed a chuckle as i made my way into the house. The floors creaked upon my entrance and it was like the houses i had seen on tv.

The halls were darkly hued and from the kitchen, i made my way past the living room and there was my room-just opposite his. And i stood by the door where Brad had kept all the bags. It was obvious Tom had just painted the walls, and assumed i loved pink.

I didn't hate it but it just seemed to be like a room from a different house.

"Do you like it?" His voice startled me from behind as i still looked around. There was a picture he'd hung of me as a child just above my bed-side and there were flower stickers he'd stuck to the wall. Stars that shone on the ceilings. The windows were open, letting so much light in.

And i smiled, a little too impressed as i looked back to him.

"No nightmares around here" Tom said and my heart sank into my chest.

I hope.

I really hope.

The next few hours were me settling in and making the room the most home it could be. I unpacked my suitcases, filled the wardrobes and drawers with my things until there was as much space in the room. But then there was one last thing and that was the bike that still rested against the door.

Grudgingly, i stood from the bed and grasped it by his handles to wheel outside. There was a shed beneath a tree which i attached it to and when i was done, i stood to take in a deep breath of the cold Marquette air.

And suddenly there was that feeling again, the feeling of being watched.

It filled me so much uneasiness as i turned around. And then my eyes caught him, a figure standing by his windows. My hands flew to clasp my chest as i made contact with those grim eyes of his. He was staring from his window and when i saw him, he disappeared.

I pushed a hard lump down my throat with an exhale of relief.

"Dinner is ready, Isla" My father yelled from the windows and i made my way up the front porch whilst throwing glances back to his windows which was now empty. "What the fuck was that?" I cussed between my teeth.

Who the fuck was that.