In no mood to be on my own to wallow and be miserable. I decide to stay with Laira, so we can both be miserable together.
Much better...
Sadly, for me, she spent the entire time snoring at my side while I stared at the ceiling trying to come to terms with my life.
It seems that being caught between hammer and anvil has become the new status quo in my life, so I better get used to it.
A knock on the door drags me out of my musings. I check the time and realise that we've spent an entire morning feeling sorry for ourselves.
Slowly, I peel myself off Laura and go to check to see who is at the door. I already have a suspicion of who it might be, and the timing of it couldn't be more right.
When I open the door, I find David looking all sombre, hair mused looking rather dreadful.
" Hi," I whisper and pull the door to a close behind me. He cranes his neck trying to catch a glimpse of the room.
" Is Laira not feeling well?" He asks nervously, worried about Laira. Oh, don't worry about me. I'm doing fine.
" She is fine. She had a rough night. She is just resting," The look he gives me is bordering furious and accusation.
" What did you do?" He snaps through gritted teeth. And there it is, that look that says more than I need to know. Laira is wrong. David has feelings for her and there is nothing brotherly about it.
Deflating, I sigh " Nothing David. You can blame it on me all you like, but I think you should talk to Laira," His head rears back as if I'd physically punched him in the face. I wish I would.
" Don't even," He points a finger at my face, his face twisted in anger, " She was fine until you came back, " He bites back, and if this doesn't scream ' I have the hots for my stepsister' then I don't know what does.
" She was fine because she thought she had a chance with you, dumb ass," I love how easy to read David is, and you can see it on his face when the coin drops. He just figured it out that I know.
He swallows thickly, " You know," It's not a question. It's a statement.
" Know what? That you dipped your fingers in the family honey pot," I widen my eyes for emphasis, " You bet I do," I smirk and he curses, threading his fingers through his touseled hair. The similarities between them are so strange, but then again, I've never heard of anyone marrying outside the Quarter. So probably, there will be, somewhere down the line a blood relation between them if the gene pool is restricted.
Once he's gotten his temper under control, he turns to me, " I want to see her," He reaches to push me out of the way, but I plant a firm hand on his chest and stop him in his tracks.
" Tomorrow. She is in no condition to deal with you. And while we are at it, care to explain what's this I hear about you being in love with me, " I'm too grouchy to go about it the long way. My mood was already sour before he came, and his presence hasn't improved it in the slightest.
" It was true. No longer the case. Right now, all I care about is what you can do. Your powers are unique. It is worth exploring. Offers possibilities that we haven't even considered. If only you'd bother to drop by at the lab so I can do some tests," He switches gears rather quickly. One moment was all emotional and ready to rip off my head, and the next he is so cold and clinical that it makes me shiver.
" You might want to share those thoughts with Laira. She seems to think that you still have the hots for me," He scoffs at me. Fair enough.
" You might be beautiful but you are such a fuck up, I wouldn't come near you with a ten-foot pole. You don't hold a candle to Laira, " Ouch. That stung but also, I'm marginally glad that he sees me that way.
The door swings open, and Laira appears behind me wearing a scowl that would put Mason's to shame. I realise that Mason is quite tame compared to these two.
" You don't get to call my friend a fuck up," She barks at David, grabs my hand and tugs me inside the room, " Get lost David," She slams the door in his face and goes back to bed, mumbling.
" I'm the only one allowed to call you a fuck up. Plus, I think he is just bitter that you turned him down," She angrily tugs on the cover and settles back in the same position I left her in.
Even though she won't admit it, I know she still has feelings for David. It is for them to decide what to do with them. I love Laira like a sister, but at the same time, I'm sad that along the way I've lost a friend.
People come and go. You can't force them to stay, and sure as hell you can't force them to love and accept you as you are. I might be a fuck up, but at least I try to be better every day. Even though, I sometimes fail.
My stomach grumbling reminds me that I haven't eaten anything since dinner time. But watching Mason leave through that window has left me feeling empty, and so fucking sad that I have no clue what to do with myself.
" Are you hungry?" I ask as I start to rummage through the cupboards trying to find something for us to eat.
Laira grumbles something about buttered toast, and I turn to look at her to see if I heard right.
She gives me a wan smile, " I'm sorry. David can be a bit crass sometimes," She slips off the bed and plops herself at the table.
" Especially when he is angry, but it doesn't last long. He will be back in a few hours with his tail between his legs and apologise," She adds, while I get on to get the toast ready for both of us. Cooking is not my top priority for today. And I know I'll miss Mason in the kitchen, and his cooking.
" It's fine Laira. You don't need to apologise on his behalf. You're not the one who said it. If he does apologise we are good as gold. If he doesn't, then I guess that means that our friendship has run its course," I shrug, slide Laira her toast and take the opposite seat at the table.
Admittedly, I would be sad if David and I parted ways, but life is a bit like that sometimes. It tends to give and take ruthlessly and create space for something or someone new. It is an ever revolving door and the best thing to do is accept it, even if it hurts.