"You cannot keep running away from your fears. At some point in life you will have to build up the courage to face and overcome them."

Chapter 12:

If only I knew that Chris will be only leaving me at his house bored to death and alone all the time, I swear to God that I would've never agreed on this trip.

Still, I was stuck at Chris' childhood bedroom, almost finished on watching his collections of action movies. I know to myself that I'm done, when I saw the faces of Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger enough for my whole stay.

Would it hurt if I visited my family instead of wasting my time in here or that would be too suspicious?

I groaned in frustration as I forcefully closed the lid of my laptop. I lay at Chris' bed for minutes before deciding to make my way downstairs.

Just in time, the front door opened revealing Albert holding some paper bag which I assumed contains food.

"Hello there, Clary!" he greeted as he managed to balance the things he was holding while closing the door behind him.

I smiled at him, "Hey, Albert!" I greeted back, "How's your morning?"

"Same ole, same ole stressful day at work." He chanted, while preparing the table.

"How about you?" he asked back

I took the silverwares from him and laid it on the table.

"It was fine," I said "I think I just finished Chris' collection of action movies."

He chuckled, "Chris does love those movies."

I just nodded in acknowledgement as I removed the food from the paper bag.

"Speaking of Chris," he said, catching up on his absence "Where is he?"

I looked down, "Bro time." I simply said

Because that's what exactly he said to me, not even saying who is he going with or that there will be girls with him there, who am I kidding, Chris and his friends are notorious chick magnets of course there are gonna be girls there.

Plus, it's not like they had enough bro time last night, for all I care he already got home at two in the morning, how many bros are there that it requires a lot of bro time.

I suddenly stop myself from my train of thoughts, like why the hell I care if he leaves all the time and that I barely see him anymore. It's not like we're really dating, I don't care about his whereabouts. Just like they say, bros before hoes, right?

I just feel upset that I get to be staying at his house all day when he gets to have fun and catch up with all of his friends.

I caught a glimpse of Albert shaking his head disapprovingly.

"Sit down, Clary" he said, attempting to change the subject, so I sat down on the seat opposite to him, since it's a square table.

"You must be hungry and all," he said, putting some food on my plate.

I shook my head, "Not really." I denied but my stomach contrast to my mouth when it rumbled like an elephant.

I looked down, feeling myself blush in embarrassment, "I—,"

"Your tummy doesn't think so." He chuckled

I started eating the chicken placed on the plate in front of me. I looked at Albert after a long silence, to see that he's not touching his food.

"What time did he leave?" he suddenly asked

I ponder for a moment, "I'm not really sure, when I woke up he was already halfway out the door."

"Did he say when he's coming back?" he asked again

I started playing with the leftover food on my plate, "No, he didn't say anything."

"I'll admit, my son can be a jerk sometimes." He sighed

"I can't believe he did that," he said "I mean it's normal for a civil person to keep his visitor preoccupied not to leave them at home alone."

"It's okay," I tried to reason out

He just shook his head, "No, because to make it worst, you're his girlfriend not just a random visitor."

I tried to smile, "I'm not gonna stand between Chris and his friends."

Albert frowned, "At least he should've find time for you,"

"Maybe he just missed them a lot," I said, unintentionally covering up for Chris.

"Although it's a shit move, I appreciate that you understand him. He's really a good kid growing up, always obeying the house rules. He may not be the perfect child to others, but to me he is." Albert said, surprising me because I never pinned down Chris as the one to obey he looks more like a rebel, "He joined the football team, to fulfil his mum's death wish. I was a very proud father, especially when I see him play; it's a shame that his mum never had a chance to see him but I know she must be very proud of him, now that he made it far in his football career."

I smiled genuinely, at least I indirectly did something good to him that he gets to treasure 'til now.

We began eating again, I offered to do the dishes when we're done, but as usual, Albert declined. So I just stood at the corner watching him.

"Do you want me to drive you to a mall?" Albert asked, "Since you're probably gonna be alone until I come home from work."

I thought for a moment, I really want to visit my family so bad even just for a few minutes.

The library close to our family house suddenly came into my mind.

"Is there a library here somewhere?" I asked trying to sound clueless; all those acting workshops are paying off

Albert beamed on me, "Actually, there's one on the 5th street," he said "Do you want to stay there?"

"Yes, please." I smiled

As soon as we finished cleaning, I followed Albert to his car to start our way to the library.

I grew excited when the surroundings finally become familiar. Forgetting everything that happened to me, I feel like I'm already at home.

Albert stopped in front of the library, I bid him goodbye and checked out the library I grew up to. To be honest, nothing really changed it was still the same gothic style building.

I pretended to go inside, but after a few minutes I looked outside, when I saw no sigh of Albert's car, I made my way to our family house.

I can't believe that after five years or so, there's not a lot that change in our neighbourhood and it still give out the same ambiance before I left, it only screams one thing, home.

I nervously knocked on the front door of my childhood house, which is now owned by my Aunt Gem.

I heard shuffling from the other side before it opened.

"How may I—Clarissa, oh my God!" my Aunt Gem said, enveloping me in a hug

I returned her hug, "Aunt Gem, I missed you." I said "It's been so long."

"Come in!" she said "Oh my! If I knew you were coming I would've made plans."

I smiled at her, "Don't sweat it, Aunt Gem" I said "I can't stay too long."

As we got into the lounge, she called for Trinity, my cousin that is four years older than me. Aunt Gem and Trinity are one of my relatives who didn't practically disown me, except for Sarah and Kevin's family of course.

"Trinity," I called as she descended, making her head snap on my direction.

"Clarissa!" she said giving me a tight hug as she balanced her son on her waist.

"Hello, Sam!" I greeted the young boy, pinching his cheeks lightly, making him giggle.

We started catching up until the doorbell interrupted us.

"Clarissa, can you get that?" Trinity asked "It must be the babysitter."

"I'll just prepare the feeding bottles," Aunt Gem said "You should get Sam ready."

I made my way to the front door, opening it to reveal a very familiar blonde girl. Shit not again.

"Hey, I'm Sandy. I'm the babysitter." She said with a cheery voice, until a flash of recognition went through her eyes.

The once cheery grin is replaced by a mischievous grin.

"Come in," I managed, she was about to talk when my aunt peeked from the corner.

"Oh hi dear!" she greeted, "We'll be out in a minute."

She snapped her head to me when my aunt is gone. I prayed that it'll just be a quick minute.

"Clarissa Humphrey!" she finally said, "I knew you were familiar when I bumped into you yesterday, I just can't put a finger on it."

"It was nice to see you again, Sandy." I said "Small world, eh?"

"With your new found beauty, I understand why they won't recognize you, especially when Chris showed us a picture of her new 'girlfriend'." She laughed, putting air quotes at the word girlfriend. "Darling, I'm not that stupid."

"Even though you changed your looks," she said, twirling a strand of my hair with her slim fingers, "You're still the same ole nerdy Clarissa, the laughing stock of high school."

I stand stiff, no words seems to come out of my mouth. I hate that Sandy still has this effect on me.

"Still you landed a spot on Hollywood," she chuckled humourlessly "And look, you managed to date my ex-boyfriend, who for your information will be my boyfriend again."

"Was that your plan all along, huh darling?" she continued "To get Chris to notice you?"

She stopped talking as her eyes widened in realization "Wait, does Chris knew about this?"

I stayed silent, making her laugh.

"He doesn't know, does he?" she prompted "Oh poor darling, he fell for you not even knowing that you're the same person he used to loathe, oh the joy of telling him."

That's when I snapped, "No, Sandy, please don't, no!" I literally begged "He is not even falling for me, that'll never happen."

She gave me a smirk, "Darling, you're blind as a bat and numb as an ice."

I was about to say something but Trinity came into the foyer telling Sandy that they will be leaving. Sandy smiled and she gave me one more knowing look.

"I'll see you," she said

Out of all the people in this town, why does she need to be the one to recognize me?