Rose: The thing is... that... well...
Julianne: Do you... live alone?
Rose: (panickedly) N... no... no....
She seemed quite flustered.
Rose: Well... yes... but.... well... you see....
It wasn't so much that Julianne had a problem with refugees, but it was more that she had a problem with not knowing her intentions on Earth. After all, if she had no parents...
Rose: My mom and dad are really busy, so.... they're almost never home.
Her nature kept her from saying something else or not minding the simple request to say hello to her parents.
Julianne: Oh....
To Julianne's ears, as a mother, as well as one who was also a daughter, that was a painful thing to hear.
But before she could say anything else.
Rose: (panickedly) But it's alright! Really!
Her body and stature completely changed.
Rose: Mom and dad left me with more than enough money, and a big house, and a lot of things to play with, and a school to go to... so I'm fine.
As she spoke, her face showed a somewhat crippled smile.
Julianne saw right through it. She was fighting to hide her emotions. After all, what daughter wouldn't feel bad if and when her parents weren't around.
To top it all off, she was an alien.
Being on another planet was like being in a different country, albeit perhaps worse in the sense that the multicultural misunderstandings were greater.
Find this and other great novels on the author's preferred platform. Support original creators!
And even worse, she was still just a teenager.
Julianne Hunter couldn't help but pity the girl. A funny end to her own preconceptions of this girl. She'd gone from distrusting her to letting her guard down and wanting to comfort her.
Julianne: I... see....
Rose: Yeah...
An odd silence crept into the room, as, but for a moment, Rose's countenance changed to a more mournful one for a few seconds.
Rose: B... but it's ok. Really. No need to worry about me, Mrs Hunter, I'll be OK!
She tried to fake a smile again, but, like before, Julianne saw right through it.
Julianne: Alright...
She sighed.
Rose nodded.
It was a family matter. After all, for all she knew, her mother and father lived very complicated lives.
Once again, Rose turned to leave.
Julianne Hunter looked at a photo of her own family. Her husband and son. And then considered something.
Just as Rose was at the door knob...
Julianne: You know.... Rose....
Rose: Y... yes, Mrs Hunter?
She was shocked to hear her continue the conversation.
For just a second of silence, Julianne reconsidered this decision. Was she really about to do this? She couldn't believe it. But anyway....
Julianne: I was just thinking....
She slowly got up and calmly walked towards Rose.
Julianne: Well... I was about to spend the rest of my afternoon baking some cake for tonight, buuuut.....
At that point, she'd caught up to Rose.
Julianne: ... seeing as you're here, I figured you could help me out.
Rose: Wh... wh... what!?
Julianne: After all, baking cake without your powers could be good practice for when you try to fit in in public.
Words could not describe the shock in Ros'es eyes. Julianne didn't want to do this, but... here she was.
Rose: I... I mean... Mrs Hunter.... I....
Julianne: Hmm? Something wrong? Did you have plans?
Rose: No. No. No. It's just... I mean... Im....
She twiddled her thumbs for a moment.
Rose: Would I be bothering you? I mean...
Julianne: Not at all. Although, I'm gonna have to warn you. Max is a big eater, so we're gonna have to bake a lot today.
Rose: Oh....
The fact that she may have been doing this to make her feel better was not lost on Rose.
Rose: Ummm... ok...
Julianne: Great. Let's see....
The mother turned and walked to the kitchen.
Julianne: You know how to work an oven, right Rose?
Rose: Y... yeah....
As Julianne turned, she noticed that Rose hadn't budged an inch.
Julianne: Rose?
Rose: Oh... uhhh.... coming?!
She shyly dashed to the woman and stood next to her in the kitchen.
Julianne noticed it all.
Julianne: Great!
She began to pull out all the various things they'd need from the random parts of the kitchen.