CHAPTER ELEVEN

Sunday, October 2nd

RIGHT BEFORE NOON KANDICE PULLED into the driveway of her aunt's house. The last place in the world she wanted to be, but it was also Blake's home. And while she'd offered to make room for him at her place, she refused to push him on the matter.

Which is how she ended up sitting in front of the house that had brought her such misery. She got out of her car and rang the doorbell. It took a couple minutes before Blake answered.

"Are you ready?" she asked.

"Almost, I just woke up a few minutes ago. Let me finish getting packed."

"Hurry up. I don't want to be here when Aunt Jackie gets back."

She followed him up the stairs to his bedroom. It was a total disaster. There were dirty clothes everywhere, and his trashcan was overflowing with empty energy drink cans.

"You need to clean," she joked.

"I know. Aunt Jackie has been on my ass about it. She's been a little less of a pain, though, since you left. I think she's worried I'll leave too."

"Have you decided if you want to move in with me?"

"I don't know."

Promising at least.

Blake shut down his laptop and loaded it into his backpack. He took off his shirt and put a fresh one on. At least, it might have been clean, since it came from a pile of disheveled clothing.

He had never been that tidy of a person, but this was the worst his room had been. He seemed like one of those people that was too busy to pay attention to his surroundings. In the past, his room always got worse the closer they got to finals.

"Okay," he said. "Let's go."

Kandice popped her head into her old room. It was the same and didn't appear to have the Aunt Jackie cleaning treatment yet. Maybe her aunt expected her to change her mind and move back in. Jackie had always lived somewhat in denial of reality.

When they were backing out of the driveway, Kandice saw Jackie's car turning onto the street. They would have to cross paths for her to get out of the neighborhood. It wouldn't look good if she sped by so they ended up making eye contact as they passed each other.

Kandice didn't stop, smile or wave.

There was nothing to say to her, and no reason for Kandice to feel out of place picking up her brother. No. She would keep her head held high and disregard the ugly looks her aunt shot in her direction.

A couple minutes later Kandice received a call from Jackie, but she ignored it and let it go to voicemail. Her aunt was likely just going to bitch at her, and there wasn't a point to go through the routine anymore.