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NephilimPermalink Reply by ✓ Cornelia Hael Bradford on June 12, 2018 at 1:06

The elevator moved slowly down the designated floors as Cornelia stood, her back against the metallic wall, arms folded across her chest and her cocoa optics peering into the screen of her matte black iPhone that she held onto in her right palm, looking for messages from Jem to confirm he had reached home. The precinct elevator purred as it stopped at the ground floor, the silver doors parting to let the detective out and into the hallway leading outside.

"Have a good night, Bradford." The security guard, Vincent Jonas called out to which the female rose her head slightly, smiling in response. "You too, Jonas." Her gaze moving back to the phone as she stepped through the revolving doors and out onto the sidewalk, Cornelia finally gave up and dialled the youngster's number, the call going straight to voicemail. "Jesus Jem," She muttered under her breath, rounding off the parking lot as she approached her black Chevy Camaro. Sliding into the sleek car, she let her phone rest on the dashboard, fingers wrapping around the steering wheel as her foot pressed onto the acceleration, the car coming to a purring wake before she drove off into Evermore traffic.

Cornelia was supposed to pick Jem up from the bus-stop after his return from Boarding school but when the Captain had asked her to stay back and help with a case, she had no other choice but to inform him to come back home alone. The situation was slightly disappointing to the brunette, remembering a time when her mother would always pick her up from the station when she'd come back from Boarding School. Drumming her fingers along the steering wheel, the car rounded off in an alley, taking a shorter route home. She had asked Jem to inform her once he was home but hadn't recieved any form of communication in the past 3 hours, which made the usually calm and collected angel-child slightly anxious.

Once the car pulled up in her driveway, Cornelia stepped out hurriedly, the evening moon shining upon her nimble frame as she walked up to the porch only to find the elusive younger Chadwick sleeping by the door. "The hell.." She rose a brow, crouching down on the cemented floor, her arm resting on her knee. "Jem, wake up." Her free hand moved to place itself on his shoulder, giving him a light shake. "I swear to God, if you've lost another set of keys..."

DhampirPermalink Reply by ✓ James Richard Chadwick on June 12, 2018 at 10:28

It was longer than he thought until Cornelia would be home. His phone had died an hour ago. He spent the rest of his money so he couldn’t go somewhere until she would be back from work. Having no other choice to just sit and wait which turned into a nap. Lucky for him he was able to nap easily in random places. Whether it be on the couch, floor, pool table. Or in a bathtub or bathroom floor after a few drunken nights after going to parties in other people’s dorm rooms. Making the most of situations. Too ensuring that Cornelia wouldn’t find out all that he got up to at school since he knew she’d go over-protective parent and he’d be grounded till his married. Or arrest since he was underaged.

Jem woke up to hearing someone calling his name followed by shaking him to wake up up. Already knowing that it was Cornelia. Opening his eyes he looked to see Cornelia crouched down looking at him sleeping. “That was only one or two times” He answered back having a habit of losing his keys most of the times. “This time I’m sure I left them in my dorm” Remembering to pack everything apart from his keys, it didn’t help in situation like these when he needed it to get inside. The young Chadwick sat up, stretching waking himself up more. His bones clicked as he stretched having been asleep on the doorsteps for a few hours. “I’m getting old” He moaned referring to him sleeping in the doorway.Beside him was 5 bucks. “Oooh 5 bucks” Someone must of left money beside him thinking he was homeless or something. Slipping into his pocket.

“So, I’m back. Did you miss me?” He grinned looked to her to see whether she missed him being around. The last few months Jem had been struggling in school. Finding classes more harder as everything was getting more advance. He knew from the start when joining the school that it’ll be a challenge for him. Being a B or C student. Trying his best to get better grades since he knew how much Cornelia must be paying for his education, he didn’t want to let her down. For all she was doing for him, taking him in and trying to give him a better chance at life. Far better than before when he lived his so called Aunt and Uncle. Knowing that next school year would be even harder he would just need to focus more. “Anything happened whilst I was gone?” He asked curiously wanting to know the ins and outs since he knew Cornelia was one of the eyes and ears of the city. The two kept in contact with each other most days. It was mostly updates of how he was doing in school and whether or not he was up to any trouble. He was sure that she had the teachers feed anything back to her.

Grabbing his bag and suitcase ready to go inside his belly made a loud noise. Rumbling. He hadn’t eaten in hours since the airport having spent the rest of his money he had left. If not he would have gotten a McDonalds to fuel his hunger. Waiting almost of Cornelia to pick up that he was starving then would order take out like normal.

NephilimPermalink Reply by ✓ Cornelia Hael Bradford on July 23, 2018 at 16:46

Seeing the teenage lad on her porch was both relieving and slightly concerning as Cornelia woke him up from his nap, a quizzical expression on her face as she pressed her lips in a thin line, cocoa optics doing a quick scan to confirm he wasn't injured and the reason behind his current position was something trivial - like losing his keys.

Quirking a brow at the male as he confirmed that he had indeed lost his keys - or rather, in his own words, left them in his dorm, the sarcastic female quipped, "That is quite convenient. Did you expect the keys to fly their way across the Atlantic?" Shaking her head, she rose to her feet once again, offering her hand to the younger Chadwick, pulling him up. "I feel like I have to make you wear the keys around your neck at this rate." Not even glancing back at the boy as he talked about getting old, her only response being a slight roll of her eyes, she then spoke, "Maybe you can take up sleeping on a pavement as a career option, five bucks a day - not a bad deal." The humour was evident in her tone, highlighting the kind of relationship the two shared.

Reaching for her own set of keys in her backpocket, Cornelia slid the metal through the keyhole, a click echoing through the otherwise silent porch before she pushed open the double mahogany doors, breathing in deeply as the warmth of the house enveloped them. Stepping inside, she shimmied her arms out of the long overcoat, hanging it up by the coat rack before turning to face the male once again, "How could I not miss having a hormonal, messy teenager around, Jem?" A smirk made its way up her lips to indicate that she was indeed joking, as she walked into the living room, dropping her bag on the couch.

"Oh you know, the usual, murders, robbery, politicians screaming at each other." With a slight wave of her palm, she dismissed the topic, not entirely wanting to get into the fact that the last time the male was around, the detective was seeing a particular Vampire ambassador. "Why don't you tell me how school has been." Walking up to the coffee table, Cornelia picked up the landline and plopped down on the couch, patting the space beside her, "I have a surprise for you in your room, but before that," Plucking out one of the many menus stacked on the glass table, she tilted her head back at the boy, "Chinese or Italian?"

DhampirPermalink Reply by ✓ James Richard Chadwick on July 26, 2018 at 12:19

He didn’t picture part of the day spent sleeping on the doorstep of Cornelia’s place where he partly lived, waiting for her to come home. Still feeling the majority jet lagged so he tried to take a nap where he could. Jem was the one to nap any time of the day. Mostly cause he spent a lot of nights up early hours of the morning playing on his PS4. Like most people his age. Getting up levels. Not noticing what the time was. Napping for the next few hours before being awoken. Looking up he saw it was Cornelia, finally. Waking up he stretched feeling his bone click from sleeping awkwardly but was soon questioned of why he was sleeping outside and not in the house. Explaining he lost his keys again. “It’s not my fault the keys loose me” He replied shrugging. “If we were in Harry Potter then yes” Jem added as Cornelia helped to pull him to his feet. “I’m not that bad” He chuckled to her idea. “That’ll save a lot of time and money” To skip the next few years at school. “A beggar!” Although he might had to rethink it all.

Jem grabbed his things and followed Cornelia through into the house after she unlocked the door. He looked around to see if anything had changed since he last back at Christmas time. Except there being no christmas decorations nothing much had changed. “I’m an Angel Child” He laughed grinning to her, pretending that he was always a polite and tidy teenager most of the time. “Cool” He answered as he walked over to the couch plopping down in the space beside her, knowing that’ll they have some catching up to do and she wanted to know how he was getting on with school, “School is same old, same old. Finished first year of exmas, they were only mock exams for my A levels next year” Trying not to say that he was struggling quite a bit with it all, always having struggled quite a bit in school. He wasn’t as clever as everyone else able to scratch average grades but knew he needed to get higher. “A surpirse?” Perking up quite a bit curious to what it could be. His welcome back present. “Still haven’t learnt to cook yet” Jem joked to her knowing that cooking wasn’t one of Cornelia’s fortes. “Umm Chinese, had too many pizza take outs at boarding school” There’s only so much pizza you can consume before you become sick of it after a while. Whilst they both knew that Chinese was their favourite take out food.

NephilimPermalink Reply by ✓ Cornelia Hael Bradford on August 11, 2018 at 20:00

Taking in James was something Cornelia hadn't completely thought through, going just with her instincts and the guilt that was always at the back of her mind, but now after a year of having him around, albeit he spent most of it in a boarding school, the sight of him back home was almost refreshing, though she would never admit that out loud. The female was so used to the eerie silence that Jem's radiant presence was a welcoming relief, a change that she didn't know she needed. She cared about him just like a mother would for her son, but a part of her was always on the lookout for Abraxas, always paranoid that he would harm him.

Rolling her eyes at his many retorts, Cornelia then shook her head as she opened the door to the house, "Should've told me before I paid thousands for your school education." She said teasingly, stepping inside the house. "Angel child." The older brunette scoffed, running her fingers through her hair as she dropped her handbag on the couch before plopping down herself, "The only thing angelic in your life is me." She responded, inwardly chuckling at the truth behind her words that he wasn't aware of. "Hey, I know school can be really tough." With a slightly softer tone, Cornelia smiled at him, "I just want you to do your best."

At the mention of his surprise, Cornelia chuckled, "Well, I wasn't planning on getting you much, maybe a few boxes of chocolate but then I saw some teenagers at the mall boast about it and I thought you might like it." Rolling her shoulders back in a shrug, she continued, "As for learning how to cook, have you done it yet?" She questioned, knowing they were as bad as the other when it came to working in the kitchen, often resorting to take-outs which explained the rather large stack of menus on the coffee table. "So that's what you're spending your pocket money on." Chuckling, the female picked up the landline and dialled the all to familiar number, gesturing for him to go get the present wrapped up and placed on his bed while she ordered their dinner.

DhampirPermalink Reply by ✓ James Richard Chadwick on August 15, 2018 at 11:30

Summer always started a little bit earlier over hear than back at England, mostly to do with it being fourth of july and all that. Or that there’s more bank holidays or half terms in England, something like that. Managing to finish his exams and coursework so he could leave Boarding school a week or so earlier than he thought he would. Meaning more time for Jem to have to spend over the states, he misses it. The liveliness of it all, the food, the drink, the people. That and he sorta missed Cornelia, gotten so used to living with her. Never having had proper parental person to look after him. Someone who actually cares for him.

Jem might of not thought it through how much everything cost especially for boarding school, at lot different to public school when everything was paid for on the state. “Okay maybe not” He shrugged his shoulders casually as he walked through into the house. “You wish” He shot back laughing at her as he plopped down on the couch putting his feet up on the coffee table. Relaxing as he was now back at home. “I know you do, I just don’t want to let you down” Everything that she’s done to help him in the past year. Taking him in, giving a roof over his head so he wouldn’t go into care and tossed about in the foster system. Giving him money, phone things that teenagers need and as well as paying for him to go to boarding school. Jem just didn’t want to let her down for all she’s done, knowing he can never repay her but want to try at least.

After she told him that there was a surprise for him it only made him more curious. Wondering what it could be. He knew he hadn’t asked for anything the last time they skyped a few weeks back. “So it’s not a cat?” Half sounding disappointed but knew from when he last asked was told now. Reminded that when he goes off to boarding school for the terms who would be looking after the cat leaving him stuck. Cooking and him never got on to say the least. “Well no..” Jem answered before turning the question round to her. “Have you?” He teased back joking to her knowing that Cornelia was the same, a hopeless cook. “Maybee” Spending most of his money that she gave him on food but who wouldn’t. Whilst Cornelia made a phone call Jem went and grabbed his phone charger from his bag and plugged it into the nearby plug. Waiting for his phone to charge up so he could connect to the internet and check if he had any texts apart from ones from Cornelia.

NephilimPermalink Reply by ✓ Cornelia Hael Bradford on September 27, 2018 at 10:27

Cornelia didn't know what family meant, but she had her mother by her side for 18 years of her life to teach her how to care for others. The same care now reflected in her relationship with Jem, weighed by the guilt of his father's death. Cornelia knew it was the least she could do for him, provide him the best life she could, because that's what Harrison would have wanted for him. So spending money on his food, education, clothes and anything else he needed didn't seem much of a burden despite the limited income she had from her government job.

"Good choice." She chuckled as Jem dismissed the idea of being a beggar. "Because they don't get to play all the new games on their playstation." She reminded, however as the conversation moved to which one of them was an angelic influence, Cornelia simply rolled her eyes at his retort. "I don't wish for things, Chadwick. I know." She grinned, entering the house with a soft chuckle.

Turning back to face the teenager, Cornelia shrugged with a simple smile, "The only way you can let me down is by landing up in prison." She stated honestly, switching on the lights and sitting down on the living room couch. Running her fingers through her sunkissed locks, the older female then proceeded to call the nearby chinese restaurant and order dinner for the two. "Jem, if I couldn't learn cooking in the past 29 years of my existence, I'm not gonna start now." She quipped with a smirk before returning to the call, ordering them their usual takeout.

Once she was done, she turned her attention back to the male, rising to her feet and stretching her limbs as tiredness seeped through her body. "Okay, let's go check your present out while food's on its way." She announced, moving to climb up the stairs, waiting for Jem to follow.

Once inside the room, she would flick the lights on, revealing a rather big box wrapped up on the bed which on opening Jem would find a shiny new gaming console. A Nando-Nintendo or whatever the trendy kids called it, she couldn't be bothered to know, the present was not for her and what mattered was that Jem liked it, which she hoped he would.

DhampirPermalink Reply by ✓ James Richard Chadwick on October 23, 2018 at 19:38

Jem felt that he was in Cornelia’s gratitude. For all she’s done to help him since finding out who he was. He thought that he would have to be put through into the foster system waiting around till he was 18 as no one wants to foster a 16 year old.  Whereas she helped him. Putting a roof over his head, paying for his education and food and what not. A lot more than anyone else would have done, and he was thankful for it all. Even if it may be more out of guilt but he was still grateful for it.

Maybe he had to find a different way to earn some money cause being a beggar was something he didn’t want. He didn’t really have the look for it. “I’ll find something else” He added laughing along with Cornelia before twisting his head almost hearing the mention of new playstation games. “Bribing me already I see” He joked teasing knowing that each time he would come back for school holidays Cornelia would always try to get him a present. Almost as a way of him being good and staying in school. Bribing good grades with new gadgets and games. Not that he’s complaining of course. “Is one of them the new Fifa 19?” He wondered sounding hopeful, having looking forward to the new football game that came out. It was one of the ones that comes out with a new edition each year. As he has all the others.

“So you want me to start to learn to cook?” He pestered laughing to her. “Just to warn you if I burn anything in the process don’t get mad” Already able to imagine himself nearly burning down the kitchen down trying to make dinner. But there’s only one way to learn right? Jem couldn’t be a worse cook than Cornelia, as he’s seen when she’s tried to cook a simple meal and it nearly went badly to say the least. “Earn my keep” Not wanting to seem like a freeloader or anything, able to pitch in how he can. Able to see himself getting sick of takeouts sooner or later. He looked. “Oh right the present” Almost forgetting about it but was reminded, getting excited wondering what it was. Like he’s christmas and birthday come early. Jem too got up from the couch, soon following behind Cornelia who was heading upstairs. Reaching he’s room. Jem wanted to see if anything changed inside he’s room since the last time he had been back home, now seeing on the most part it was how he left it. Just Cornelia must of tidied and cleaned it up at some point.

Jem looked and saw a biggish box that was wrapped up on his bed waiting for him. Within seconds he flopped on his bed, grabbing the box. Egarling unwrapping it excited to find out what it was. Opening it up, inside was one of the new Nintendo Switch in Jet black along with some games like Fifa 19, Super Mario, The Legend of zelda. “Thats Awesome, Thank you Cornelia” He grinned almot beaming to her thankful for his presents. “I didn’t get you anything” Feeling bad as he was gifted with presents when he had nothing to give. Knowing that he’ll make up for it before he goes back to boarding school.