The Way of Life ((Closed))

[Padme Rendel S2]

Padme knocked on the door that belonged to her childhood home. The knock sounded through the house but no footsteps followed it. Padme put her ear to the door and listened. Nothing. The young eleven year old frowned deeply. Why wasn't Tessa home and ready to answer the door? Padme had even sent her a letter about her arrival. After she had read the owl from Roger, she had been forced to return to her own personal hell. Padme stepped away from the door and surveyed her house. It looked dirty then the last time she had been there; the windows had grime spread all across them like jelly. Padme wrinkled her nose in disgust. She couldn't exactly say it was a surprise; she had basically done all the work once Tessa had broken down. Padme returned to the door, tapping her chin in deep thought.

"Darling, I want you to remember that if you ever come home and don't find me there, you can find the key to unlock the front door."
"Really Mommy? How can I get the key?
"Just look under the mat in front of the door. I hide the key there when I leave. I'll make sure to leave it there all the time for you."
Padme remembered the time back when she was six. That was the time Tessa began to leave more and more often. Padme bent down to pick up the now filthy mat. Much to her dismay, she found no key under it. Padme threw the mat onto the lawn before sulking on the steps. That also was no surprise. Tessa must be so careless she forgot that her daughter just might want to get into her home. Padme glared at her tiny fists with such a hating force she thought she might just swelter into a balloon.

Matters became worse steadily as the day wore on. People in their cars stopped on the street to ask her what she was doing sitting on someone's doorsteps. Padme would have to explain that she had been locked out and was waiting for her mother to come home. The people would shake their head sadly. Padme couldn't blame them for mocking her horrible mother. Then, a car pulled up that made Padme's heart race. The Dumas family got out of the car. Padme swallowed hard, trying to look almost normal. It didn't help that she sat on the stone for three hours now. She watched as the whole family - Giselle, Catherine, Daphne, and Pierre - walked up the dirty walk-way.

"What are you doing?" Giselle asked the moment she saw Padme.
"Hey," Cathy said as soon as the reached her. "You're that one girl who sings with Giselle, aren't you. Padme...Rendel, right?"
Padme nodded, afraid to speak in case her voice cracked.
"Wonderful," Giselle said sarcastically as she crossed her arms across her chest.
"Now Giselle, be nice. It's obvious this girl is poor and needy." Daphne said, placing a pale hand on her daughters' shoulder. Padme's eyes somehow grew larger then every before and she stood up to her full height, which wasn't much.
"I'm sorry, but you must be mistaken. It is obvious you are the needy one. The one in need of brains." Padme spat. She knew it was rather lame but she didn't dare go any farther with a dangerous lady like Daphne. Pierre had been quiet until now. He looked up, surprised.
"What a funny girl." Daphne said with a cold sneer. They left right then and there.

[Padme Rendel S2]

Padme had been sitting on the step for another three hours before the van came up. The stars were hard tonight, not winking or twinkling like they should be. It actually reflected Padme's mood. With no noise whatsoever Padme rose from her stoop to greet Tessa Rendel. Or, Tessa Dumas. That was her true name, not a lie. Padme waited as Tessa took her sweet time getting out of the van. She was obviously drunk and slower then usual, which was really slow. Padme waited and waited, expecting a hello from her but nothing came out of Tessa's thin lips. Instead, the stupid woman stumbled to her house, fumbled with the keys, and walked in without a second glance at Padme. Padme had experienced this before, but had no intention of letting it go this time. Come morning, Tessa would feel Padme's wrath.

"Tessa?" Padme asked loudly. There was that slight chance that Tessa's eardrums had been knocked out like her brains. The young woman turned around, startled. It seemed like this was the first time she had set eyes on Padme. Those blue, blue eyes widened with...was that fear? Padme gloated. If it was, she had won the battle fought over the summer.
"Padme?" Tessa breathed, finally finding her voice. It wasn't pleasant to hear her talk actually. Her voice cracked and it sounded dry and brittle. Padme lost some of her anger in fear. Was Tessa okay?
"Yes, I'm back. What's the matter with you...Mommy?" Padme asked, her voice screaming for the love she wanted so much. Her mommy was back and she wanted her to stay, to keep her love for her niece/daughter. Padme's eyes welled up with tears that had been bottled up in pain and frustration. "Why didn't you contact me Mommy?" Tessa frowned and fumbled with her coat to get time. Padme let her.
"I - I didn't get your mail." Tessa said, lying through her teeth.
"Okay." Padme said softly, surprising herself as well as Tessa. She breathed in the smoky smell that wafted from her mother. "I'm going to bed now." Tessa nodded and sat down on a chair with wobbly feet. Padme shot one last glance behind her before walking up the stairs to her room. It looked dusty and nothing had been moved from it's spot she formally had it in. Tears rolled down her cheek as Padme fell on her bed. Although the welcome wagon hadn't been the greatest, she was still happy to see Tessa, drunk or no. Hopefully, tomorrow would hold better promise.

[Padme Rendel S2]

Padme was tired. Yes, tired. And Padme was never tired. Never! What was wrong with her? Padme lay in her bed, thinking over all her problems and multiple solutions. She didn't have a Dix or Mack to rely on. She had decided just ten minutes ago that she wouldn't rely on anyone. Not even Jack, who didn't have a clue what she really was. Not a Rendel. She was still considered a Rendel by most; in fact, only Mack knew the truth. Padme hoped direly that the girl hadn't told anyone; if she had, she would receive a punishment Padme style. And, she was visiting Roger on Sunday. Sunday! That was two days away! What would she say? Do? What would she wear and how should her hair be? Up, or down? Maybe it should be side-ways, like Padme's feelings at the moment. She sighed and rolled over, trying to get some sleep. It didn't help that Tessa continued to snore so loud that it sounded like her bloody head was going to fall off!

Morning came like morning always does. Relentlessly sunny. Padme rubbed her eyes, angry at herself for not closing the curtains before falling asleep. Sitting up, she let the covers fall to the floor. She had had a restless night, going in and out of nightmares about her meeting with her used-to-be father. The only reason she was so nervous was because he knew everything about her and the family. What if he threatened to tell Jack? What could she say to restrain him? A thousand questions popped into Padme's head, but she had to push them down. Relax, she told herself roughly, get a grip on yourself! She had never had such a problem before, so why now? Padme got up and went into the living room downstairs. Tessa had fallen asleep in the kitchen, drunk. When she woke up, she would probably have one hell of a head ache.

Padme crossed the room and sat on the couch. The phone rang. Padme ignored it. Probably some bloody muggle commercial thing. She glared as the phone continued to ring. With an annoyed grunt, Padme reached over slowly (hoping it would stop ringing) and picked it up. "Hello?" She drawled out slowly, blinking to get her eyes into focus. "Padme?" Came a voice that she easily recognized as Jack. "Jack?" "Yes Padme. Who else would call you?" Padme didn't reply to Jack's rather honest statement. Who would call her? "What do you want?" She asked into the receiver. "Today you and I are going to Mack's house to - " Padme interrupted him, "I'm not going." She could almost imagine Jack shaking his head at her. "Yes you are. We're going to visit Dixie. I want you at Mack's house around sun set. Get there. Dixie's expecting you." Beep! Padme set down the phone and pulled her knees to her chest. Bloody hell! Now, she had to visit Dixie today and Roger tomorrow. And she wasn't even out of her bathrobe and PJ's yet!

Padme got dressed and ready for going to Mack's house by noon. She was - sad to say - excited. She hadn't talked to Mack in a while, and she had to make sure she hadn't said anything to Jack yet. She hadn't seen Dixie since that epic train ride, where she had forced Padme out. She would regret that. Padme wasn't sure how to act though. Whether to be her normal self or sympathetic? What would Dixie want? She should have asked Jack what he was going to do. Maybe he didn't even know. Padme wouldn't be surprised if that was the case. Tessa stirred in the kitchen, startling Padme off the couch.

"Mommy?" Padme asked. She had thrown away all those days of being hard and rough toward Tessa. She was thirsty to love and had given up her abandon to Tessa and her lies. She just wanted her mum back. Tessa just grunted and sat up. "What time is it?" She asked gruffly, her voice still sounded so crackly. Just like a radio. "Around noon Mommy. How do you feel?" Padme shifted on the couch to get a better look at Tessa. It felt so good to say Mommy again. "I feel better then last night but not as good as I should." Tessa grunted again, sitting up from the chair she had fallen into last night. Padme was disgusted at her mother's behavior but she didn't let it show. "I'm going to be gone today." She declared when everything had become quiet. Tessa looked around, confused and...sad? Padme blanched for a few seconds, but gathered herself quickly. "And tomorrow." she added, just to get it over with. "I'm visiting with some friends and I'll be gone most of the day. You can expect me back tonight. I'm not sure what time but I won't be sleeping over anywhere." Padme smiled a rare sincere smile at Tessa. "Okay honey. Don't stay up to late." Tessa replied before falling asleep again. It was sad how such a young woman could become such a slob. But it was her own doing, Padme told herself, not mine.

She walked down the streets of London after eating a fast dinner. She didn't want to heave up a huge dinner when she smelled the place Dixie was in. There must be tons of old people there. Old people always smelled like cabbage. Padme nearly gagged every time she went close to one of those smelly old people. She had dressed in muggle attire, of course; faded blue jeans, a green sweatshirt, and her hair was down in soft curls. She had been bored, so she twirled her hair in her free time. Padme hadn't put on any make-up and she looked like a ghost, walking around with a befuddled expression. Everything was escaping her today, including a good appearance. Padme walked to the part of London that was mostly apartments. Jack had given her Mack's house number, which she quickly found and hit the buzzer. Here goes nothing, Padme thought as the door opened, allowing her entry.

She walked into the apartment, letting her mouth hang open. She was just...amazed how money could be so quickly taken away. The Holden's had been one of the wealthiest families around; now they lived in an apartment. Padme swallowed her astonishment and walked straight until she found Mack sitting on the couch. The girl looked worse for wear as well, maybe even worse then Padme. Padme gave Mack a quick smirk. "So, where's the welcome wagon? I suppose you forgot to roll it out, have you?" Padme sat down on the couch without invitation, making herself comfortable. She leaned back her head and let out a breath she had held in nervously the whole time. "Jack's not here yet?" she asked, already knowing the answer. He would be sitting here if he was. Padme rolled her eyes onto Mack as she raised an eyebrow. "Could you tell me a few things? What am I to expect with Dixie? How do you expect me to act? Where are you going really? A mental institution or what? How are we getting there? And, how is Dixie's condition?" Padme asked, snapping the questions into the air at machine gun speed. She only hoped Mack could answer them.