Lost in The Devondale House

Chapter 1

Some people - my mom for example - hates jogging. She says it bores her. For me, it's absolutely exhilarating.

I love the feel of the wind on my face, the sun shining down on my skin, my shoes against the ground.

Another thing I like about jogging is the sights. The beautiful neighborhood, the thick woods and then there's the mysterious rundown house at the corner of our street. Normally, people from the town openly avoid that specific house but I like to gaze at it.

There's something about the intimidating big house that grabs your attention. It's just an added bonus that it's covered in vines and almost hidden by thick trees. Do not get me started on the thick daunting iron gate restricting not just a proper view of the house but any means to get in.

Before, a brave - most probably very drunk - teenager tried but failed to get in. He moved away and never tried again. Nowadays, no one even dares pass by the street where the property is.

If I was smart, I wouldn't as well but there's something... something about it that just demands my attention.

I pause catching my breath from my morning run. I've stopped a few feet from the gate and stare. Nothing has changed. It looks the same from last night when I passed by for my evening run. Old, large and a little intimidating. The vines on the gate have grown a little if that makes any difference. I peer closer and squint. I could see a small part of the window. It's broken and you could hardly see anything inside.

My skin prickles in an odd way and the air thickens which tells me it's time to look away and I do. 

I turn away and start to walk back home again.

The house I live in is beautiful. My mom made sure of it. She's the mayor and kind of a control freak. Everything has to be perfect from the freshly cut grass of our front lawn to the potted plants she has at the steps of our door.

Inside of our house is pristine. All white furniture with decorative fruits in nice looking bowls. I stretch my sore arms and yawn.

I woke up extra early for my run today. It's the first day of school and I needed a good start for my morning.

"Addie? Is that you, sweetie?" My mom calls out from the kitchen.

"Yes. I just got back from my run." I say entering our kitchen and spotting her chopping fruits whilst watching a pan that was frying bacon. She's also a big multitasker. I wasn't. If it were me, I'd have already chopped off my fingers.

Mom smiles when she sees me. "Good morning! Getting ready for the season, huh?"

I nod taking a piece of chopped fruit from her and taking a bite. "Got to be in shape. Have to make my mom proud."

"I'm always proud! I just tend to be overly competitive for my girl." And she really is. "And do not mention that one time I complained to the judges when you didn't get first place."

When I was thirteen and really into gymnastics, my mom strongly believed I was the best girl in one of the competitions.

I really wasn't and when I didn't win, let's just say the judges had an earful from her. It's never nice to have someone as commanding as my mother glare and shout at you for giving her daughter second place.

I put my hands up in mock surrender and grin. "I didn't say anything."

"You didn't have to. I can see it in your silly smile." She quipped grabbing a plate and placing freshly cooked bacon on it. "Eat up or you'll be late."

I got my competitiveness from my mom and my love for athletics from my dad. In sports, I tend to be an overachiever. When I was younger, each summer would be a different sport. From baseball to volleyball and even martial arts. That's right until high school when my dad died and I focused solely on gymnastics and cheerleading.

After eating our fill, my mom rushes to her room to get ready for the day. I look up to my mom. Every day I strive to be just like her. It's hard being the mayor and a single mom but she does it well. Just like everything that she does.

I follow after her and prepare for school. Getting in the shower, I hurry knowing well my mom would throttle me if I'm late for the first day of my senior year.

When I'm smelling of vanilla shampoo and body wash, I get out of the shower and wrap myself in a towel. Still dripping wet from my warm shower, I proceed to my closet and choose a pretty sundress.

I pair it with white sneakers and blow dry my hair. Mom has drilled into my skull the importance of looking presentable. She's the mayor and that meant I had to look right as well. There's extremely high expectation to being her daughter. In her time she was prom queen, valedictorian and head of every possible committee there was. With that thought in mind, I apply a light layer of make up.

"Addie! Time to go!" My mom shouts from downstairs.

"Coming!" I scream back grabbing for my school bag and make my way down.

Mom is in a crisp corporate dress with her hair pinned up perfectly. This wasn't my mom anymore. I was in the presence of Mayor Anastasia Bennett. The meticulously strict and unwavering leader of our town.

Sharp eyes inspect my appearance. Satisfied, she gives me a nod of her head and takes her leather briefcase from a side table. "I'll try to make it for dinner. If not, just order in."

"Don't worry about it." I tell her flashing her an encouraging smile. "Have a good day!"

"You too."

-

The drive to school is a short one filled with my loud horrible singing over my playlist. The sounds I made could have shattered the windows of my car and successfully herded wild rabid animals.

I park at my spot in front and immediately Theo Grayson is by my door. Theo is my boyfriend. We met at a swimming meet when we were four. He beat me in a race and I promptly pushed him back into the pool. We've been joint to the hip ever since.

"I knew I heard the sound of cats dying." He jokes with a wide grin and proceeded to open my door for me.

"That's just the sound of your bad joke, babe." I tease back giving my boyfriend a long hug and a quick kiss.

Theo chortles and returns the hug. We haven't seen each other for awhile. He's been with his mom the entire summer in Greece.

"How was your trip?" I ask pulling away and locking my car.

Theo immediately starts his rant about how annoyed he is that his parents are divorced. "There are definitely perks. Two of everything and they constantly fight for my time but seriously I'm done meeting my mom's constantly changing boyfriends."

I don't comment knowing well of his fashionable mom's lifestyle. She's a rich heiress who married a small town successful businessman. It never really worked out. From what Theo tells me his mom had big dreams outside the town while his father refused the idea of leaving town. I hardly ever saw Theo's mom. She's always traveling and partying at some exotic country. "How's your dad?" I ask smiling and waving at anyone that said hi to us.

"Dad is dad. He wants you over for dinner soon by the way. You know he always wanted a daughter and is quite disappointed that he got someone as manly as me." Theo's dad is the richest man in our town. He owns most of the establishments.

I scoff at his words. Theo Grayson is definitely manly with his blonde hair and bright blue eyes. A talk of the entire school, he has firm arms that show years of his training in swimming and football. He's every father's dream. Straight A student, plays in majority of the sports in school and is the MVP in each. Already, he has several universities scouting him. "Whatever makes you sleep at night my delusional boyfriend."

The grin he flashes is devilish. "You know I don't sleep well. Too many nightly visits from you."

A blush creeps in and I cover my ears trying but failing to escape his strong arms that's draped around my shoulders pressing me close to him. "

Suddenly, a rolled up magazine smacks the side of Theo's head.

"Yuck! Stop harassing my best friend, Theo." Emma Griffin armed with a rolled up fashion magazine states matter-of-factly.

Emma and I met during my first day in high school. All confidence and beauty she convinced me to join the cheer squad with her. I couldn't exactly say no. When someone like Emma tells you to do something, you tend to follow.

She knew I wanted to join but it was the first year without my dad and I lacked the drive and the confidence. Emma swooped in and has been my rock ever since.

Theo groans and rubs the side of his head. "You got me good, She-Hulk."

Emma innocently bats her eyelashes. "Good morning to everyone in the world except Theo."

Theo mutters a few choice words under his breath.

"How was your summer hiking in the mountains?" I ask hugging my best friend. We bonded through loss of parents and the determination to do better. Emma's parents died when she was a baby and since then she's only had her grandma. They live a couple of minutes away from town in a cabin.

"I still can't picture your grandmother hiking." Theo adds probably picturing Emma's elderly grandma in the woods. "Isn't she like a hundred years old?"

Emma rolls her eyes. "It keeps her young. Anyway, it was great. Maybe one day I can bring you both."

"Good luck convincing the mayor." Theo distractedly says peering at our schedules. "She'd never allow Addie to go into the woods."

At the sight of Emma's pout, I smile and take hold of her hand that was clutching the rolled up magazine. No doubt she was planning to smack Theo with it again. "Don't listen to him, Emma. He just doesn't want to leave the comfort of his bed and his imported soft comforter."

"Rich boy." Emma taunts.

"There's nothing wrong with having imported bedspreads. Addie certainly loves it." Theo shoots Emma an irritating smirk. "Woodland girl."

Thankfully the bell rings before the two could start bickering.