I led them to their rooms and entered mine. I fished out a hoodie and went downstairs.
"Change him," I flung the hood at Ryder who groaned. I reappeared with a bowl and a towel. I sat and placed Scott's head on my lap as I cleaned his face.
This guy reeked.
After I was done, I grabbed my things and turned to the staircase. Luke was standing there, resting on the railing.
"You need anything?" I asked him and he turned on his heels.
Weird.
I checked on Lucas before I went to my room. The guy was snoring away. I held in a chuckle as I closed the door. I looked over at Luke's room. I walked slowly to the door and raised my fingers to knock but I retreated.
I entered my room and found him sitting on my bed, monk style.
"You startled me," I said and he looked up. "I never said you could come in."
"I never asked," he replied calmly.
For the first time, he didn't say something stupid or narcissist. He held my necklace in between his fingers, fiddling with it as he immersed himself in thought.
"You wanna talk about it?" I fell onto my bed.
"No," he stood up, dropped the necklace on the table and walked out of the room.
I sighed and followed him to his room. At the door, with his back facing me, he said,"Don't come in."
Yeah, I followed him.
After an hour of staring at each other, the walls and ceiling, he spoke up.
"Tomorrow is my parents death anniversary."
I shifted uncomfortably. Hearing stories like this are really boring to me. You're probably thinking that I'm a psycho but that's how I roll.
A tear slipped down his face.
"Two years ago, when I was still sixteen, my parents died in a fire accident. They had an argument that day and I ran to Lucas's house. When I came back, the house was in flames. They cared for me their whole life and now they're gone. Do you know how shitty that is? If only I hadn't gone to his house that day, who knows maybe I could have been able to stop the fire? I lost everything that day. I felt deserted. Observing their anniversary just makes me miss th-them m.. o.. ore." He broke down finally.
What do you do in situations like this?
Because I had no idea what to do.
"It's okay," I managed to blurt out. "Don't you think your parents would be happy if you went to see them?"
He looked up me and I continued.
"Even though they're dead, won't they want you to live your life happily? Without blaming yourself? Think about it, " I patted his back and stood up from the bed. I walked to the door and looked at him again. ''Goodnight."
That was awesome!
I could be a motivational speaker!
I give nice pep talks.
I skidded down the the stairs smiling at myself who saw another problem sprawled out on the floor.
"I tried to make her leave but....." Ryder gestured to Ivy's wasted body on the floor.
I groaned as I saw Scott fall on her from the couch.
That's the beauty of alcohol.
"Goodnight," I turned back to my room.
I turned and tossed on my bed. It felt uncomfortable. I felt sleepy but I just couldn't close my eyes. I grabbed my blanket and pillow and made my way downstairs. From a distance, I saw Ivy snuggling deeper into Scott's chest.
I guess they made up.
Not to disturb the lovers, I went back to my room and stared at the wall before I drifted away.
You'll grow up to be a wonderful lady, Theresa. I can see it.
Exercising all day just makes you weak. Take some time off.
I prepared food!
Invite your friends over.
Your parents don't deserve you. You're a rare gem.
I want to live on forever for you.
I miss her so much. My grandmother was the best human being to ever live on earth. She was nice and understanding. Then suddenly, she died, mysteriously. She was murdered. The police did everything they could but it was eventually closed as an unsolved case.
My wonderful parents asked for the investigation to be closed, claiming t they don't wanna go through pain.
This world isn't fair.
Why is it that good people die first ?
:::
"Buorngiono!" A deep voice yelled through the house.
Lucas.
I stood up lazily, stretched and smiled at the beautiful morning. I took a quick shower and threw on a blue sweatshirt with black trousers. I picked up my knee boots, wore them and sat on the bed to tie my laces.
I wondered if Luke went to the burial site. That guy really needs all the love he can get.
I grabbed my bag and walked out of my room. On the way downstairs, I bumped into Luke.
"Good morning," he smiled.
"Hey,'' I continued walking without turning to him.
''I went to the yard early this morning. I heeded your advise,'' he smiled at me. ''And by the way, you give nice pep talks.'' He whispered into my ear.
Told ya!
''Hey babymama.''
''Good morning.''
''Morning sunshine.''
''Hey Tess.''
''Morning Tess.''
''What happened last night must not repeat itself. This house is not a hotel. You guys should stop crashing here. I'm not a babysitter. ''
I took an apple and walked towards the door.
''I'm off to school.''
I manouvered my way towards my locker, dumped my jacket in and leaned on it.
I really needed to get back to therapy.
'''Baby! You need to see this!'' Johnson screamed as he held his phone and ran towards me.
''Dude, I....''
He showed me a video where I beat up a guy at that club. People spread words really fast.
Can't a girl just have some fun?
I brought out my phone and dialed a number.
''Hi. This is Tess Harvey. Remember that favor you owe me from last time? Take down everything about a girl beating up a guy at a club and everything that relates to it.''
This is such a bad morning for me.
I turned round a sharp corner and warm liquid spilled on me.
Told you this was a bad morning.
I stared at a guy with glasses. Every visible part of his body was covered with tattoos. He was like Ryder but looks like a nerd.
''Sorry, I spilled my coffee on you by accident. I wasn't looking.''
I looked down at my shirt that had a mixture of purple and golden brown. He brought out a napkin and dabbed at my shirt. I took it from him.
''It's fine.''
''Hey, you're Tess Harvey.''
''You know me?'' I asked in disbelief. He didn't look familiar to me.
''Heck yeah! You're Tess Harvey. You're like the popular bad ass girl in this school.''
I had a reputation like this?That's the whole reason why people avoided me in the hallways. It was because I was feared. I trudged slowly back to my locker to grab a spare shirt if there was any. Tears stung my eyes. I never wanted to have a reputation as the scary, feared and easily annoyed girl. I wanted a normal life for myself. I wanted to live like a free bird. Put behind my past and move on with the present.
I bumped into someone and looked up to apologize.
''Well well, if it ain't someone who walked out on us this morning,'' Scott smiled widely as if he had won a lottery. I looked behind him and saw Ivy, Luke and Lucas.
These people knew that I had a bad reputation but didn't bother to let me know. I was oblivious to the whole situation. These were the people that I called my friends. They should have at least acted like it.
''Get out of my way,'' I glared at them. All of them. It made me sick to even look at them.
''Tess, what happened?'' He asked, concern lacing his voice. Fake. It's all fake. No one has ever stayed true to me and it won't change.
''Get the hell out of my way!'' I yelled and he moved almost immediately. Half of the people in the hallway were already looking at me. They all knew me as a bad, self-centered person, right? That's what's gonna happen. I will uphold my reputation.
I sat down in math, listening to whatever gibberish the teacher had to say. After a few more periods of solitude, it was finally time for lunch. I went to the cafeteria and got a can of Coke. I looked over at my table. They were all sitting there, chatting away. I made my way to the bleachers and sat down. I opened the can and took a long refreshing gulp. After I finished drinking, I stood and walked to the nearest trash can.
I saw Luke hanging around that area. I dropped the can in the trash and turned to leave.
''Theresa, why are you acting like this?'' He said as if he was pitying me. Yeah, pity me all you want.
''Acting how?''
''You left us this morning and didn't even bother to sit with us at lunch. What's wrong?''
He looked worried. I've never seen this side of him.
''I don't know. Maybe because I found out that I had a bad reputation and my friends didn't bother to let me know.''
He looked shocked. They knew. I saw the rest coming towards us.
''You all knew that I wanted a quiet life. You knew what people were saying behind my back. You knew people were scared of me! I dedicated every single minute of my life to solitude. I never wanted friends with you but you guys came and I tried to be friends with you but you stabbed me right in the back!''
''Tess,'' Scott reached out.
''Stop! Don't touch me! Don't fucking touch me! I don't wanna see you. Any of you. You make me sick, '' I spat out in disgust and walked out on all of them.
I just need to get out of all this mess. My phone vibrated in my pocket. I brought it out and it was an unknown number. I picked the call and placed the phone against my ear.
''Theresa,'' that voice sounded familiar. It was the voice I was dying to forget.
''Hello Mr. Harvey and goodbye.''