9

Background color
Font
Font size
Line height

The only thing I could could concentrate on, as I shoved the key that Daisy had given me earlier into the front door of her house, was how pissed I was.

I was pissed at Sterling, I acknowledged that first, as I finally opened the door, slamming it shut without a second glance behind me.

I was pissed at his words, I knew that, as I quickly walked through the clean and quiet mansion that belonged to my sister. I was pissed at his audacity to say them. I was pissed at the way they were calculated, designed like a specific knife to wound me and me alone.

I was pissed at the way he said them so easily, I recognized that  as I made my way through the backyard, my teeth so clenched together that it was beginning to hurt. He said them without a second guess. He didn't hesitate before he loaded the gun and pointed it at me— he just pulled the trigger.

But, the thing that I was pissed at most, I realized finally, as I finally entered into the pool
house, pushing the door closed as hard as I could, was myself.

Because it was me who had let those words hurt. I had let them affect me in the way they were currently affecting me. I had allowed them to sink into my skin. I had allowed them to poison me with the fire that they were lighting me with.

Because if his intent was a match, and his words were the sparks, I could only blame myself for being so flammable.

I kept my jaw closed tightly, as if I was trying to control the fire by willpower alone. I kicked my shoes off my feet. I kept it tensed as I walked across the room, letting my body fall into the soft bed like it simply belonged there.

I burrowed my face into my pillow, and my body into the blankets. I was just so pissed at myself for letting him get to me so deeply.

When you've lived the life I live— it's rule number one. Well, okay. Maybe it's not rule number one, but it's up there. What other people think, it doesn't matter. It can't matter. The only thing that can matter is putting one foot in front of the other. You have to keep walking, through the whispers and the judgement, even when your feet are so blistered you fear they might begin to bleed.

I focused on my breathing as I lay in the bed. Trying simply to extinguish the fire of my emotions. In for five seconds, out for five seconds.

And, eventually, the fire started to die out. My anger began to settle, maybe not completely. I knew that. Maybe it didn't settle at all, maybe it was just hidden.

But, I kept breathing. In, and then out. In, and then out. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat.

I repeated until my mind went black, and still, I kept breathing, until I was calm enough to let my eyes stay closed.

I felt them open again, slowly. And though I couldn't pinpoint the moment I had fallen asleep, it was obvious by the stiffness in my neck, and the way the light burned my eyes.

I was groggy as I slowly sat up, looking around the room as quick as my still tired eyes would let me, as if I would be able to find clues to tell me just how long I had been asleep.

But the still risen sun was the only one, letting me know that I didn't sleep into the night. I rubbed my eyes quickly as I continued looking around the room.

It took me a moment to notice the pink piece of paper on my nightstand. I felt a small frown emerge on my mouth as I reached for it, knowing exactly who left it. It wasn't a frown of worry, or annoyance; just confusion.

Didn't want to wake you yet. You looked like you could use the rest. You do need to be ready to leave for the shore party at 7, though. If you're not up by then, I'll come back to wake you. And I'm really annoying when I need to wake someone, so I hope for your sake it doesn't come to that.
- Daisy.

I let a sigh rip through my body as I read the note. Shore party? My mind searched my memories for the term, knowing exactly what she was referring to. It was the party she had mentioned to Sterling earlier. The one he had said he helped plan, and then I had made fun of him for it.

As if I suddenly remembered the small analog clock perched on my dresser, my eyes flew towards it. 6:47.

The groan left my throat without permission, as I threw the blanket off of my body. I was still half asleep as I dug through the drawers of brand new clothes, not having a clue what the dress code for such a gathering would be. I played it safe, I think, as I pulled out a dark blue sundress. I stripped my clothes, pulling it hastily over my body.

I dashed into the bathroom, where I squinted at myself in the mirror. I scoffed as I took in my appearance, raking my hands through the loose braid I had worn the school. My hair was slightly waved from it, cascading wildly around my face.

Knowing I was fighting the clock, I accepted my appearance. I shrugged, turning away from myself and leaving the pool house.

The house was less quiet than it had been this afternoon when I arrived here. There was life inside it once more, I noted as I pushed the doors opened. I followed the voices, hoping to find Daisy but finding only Lucinda and Paul instead.

"Dahlia!" Lucinda's voice met my ears as soon as she caught sight of me. "Oh, my darling. Don't you just look gorgeous?" She let out, her eyes sweeping my appearance. She looked genuinely impressed, too. "Paul, doesn't she look gorgeous?"

"Of course she does," Paul looked up from the drink he was pouring, as he looked over at me. "But who would be surprised? This house is filled with gorgeous women," he winked at his wife as he spoke.

"Thanks," I said to them, smiling back. Though, it was awkwardly said, and I couldn't help it. I looked around the room, looking for Daisy like she was the closest to ease I would get.

"She's upstairs," Lucinda read my look so easily, just like Daisy had done last night when I wanted to head to bed. "Third door on the right. And please tell her that we're all ready to go, while you're at it."

"Okay," I answered, laughing slightly at the exasperated tone she used, like she had known all along that Daisy would be the one to make us wait.

I chewed on my lip as I walked towards the curving stairs, climbing them while still trying to shake the last remnants of sleep from my brain. And as I became more awake, I realized what exactly was happening. I was going to a party, with all new people. In my new town. Where everyone was going to be.

Sterling included.

By the time I reached the third door on the right, I realized that I didn't want to go.

I could hear the faint hum of music playing from Daisy's room. I knocked on the pink door twice, the force of the hits allowing the door to open just slightly.

I didn't wait for her to answer as I pushed the door open completely, my anxiety about the night making me forget manners. Well, manners, and the fact that Daisy and I were practically still strangers.

The first thing that I saw was a cloud of pink. There was pink everywhere. Pink walls, pink rugs. Pink art. A pink couch. It was all pink. If a six year old girl was given an unlimited budget to design a bedroom, this would be it.

But, the second thing that I saw reminded me that Daisy was not a six year old girl, not in the slightest.

My sister was straddled on top of someone. I couldn't tell who, exactly, because her shield of blonde hair was covering them. All I could see was that her mouth as moving feverishly on-top of theirs.

"Oh, shit," my lips let the words fall clumsily from my mouth, my body becoming still.

Daisy was startled, her head whipping towards me as her eyes became round in worry. Once she saw it was me, I guess she relaxed, and she laughed.

"Oh my god, Dahlia," she laughed even harder.

"Sorry," she said through the laughter, as she peeled her leg from whoever was still pinned under her. "We were just... well, you know what we were doing."

"Yeah," I laughed awkwardly at the scene before me. "I guess I do."

The boy who had been trapped below my sister was finally free, and I almost let out another laugh as he sat up, and I finally caught sight of him.

It wasn't like he was funny looking, no— it was the opposite. He was so cliché, as he sat beside her, that it was funny. He looked like every jock in every teenage movie ever made, and I don't know why I was surprised.

"Sorry about that," he laughed along with Daisy. "We should have, uh, locked the door. I'm Erik," he smiled awkwardly at me, sticking his hand up in a short wave. "And, of course, you're Dahlia."

"That's me," I nodded, glancing between the two of them. The sight of them together made my eye twitch. They looked like they could be Barbie and Ken for Halloween without wearing costumes.

"It's nice to finally meet you," Erik told me, his arm wrapping around Daisy's waist.

"Finally? I've been here for like a day," I asked, raising my eyebrows as I spoke.

"I've been hearing about you for weeks," Erik looked at Daisy as he spoke, smiling softly at her. "And up to about five minutes ago, all Daisy has done today is tell me about you. I'm glad you're finally here with her."

Daisy was looking sheepish as he spoke, but she didn't argue. When he was done, she leaned towards him, pressing a quick kiss against his cheek.

"Girls!" We all heard Lucinda's voice yell from downstairs. "It's time to go unless you want to miss all the good food!"

I felt painfully awkward, as I trailed slightly behind Daisy and Erik. They were holding hands, as we walked away from where we had parked the two cars we had driven here. Lucinda and Paul were behind me, and they were holding hands too. Both of the couples seemed at complete ease as we walked, chatting to each other like they held not a single worry.

Daisy had driven the three of us here — her, Erik and myself. I had sat in the backseat as we drove, with the music blasting. I had been observing them, with Imara's words from my first night looping in my head. His heart beats for your sister, and hers beats right back, for him.

And I knew she was right, because as I watched the way they interacted with each other, I suddenly felt foolish for thinking anything was happening between Daisy and Sterling.

Erik and Daisy looked at each other like they were in on a secret that only the two of them knew. He looked at her like she was the brightest rainbow after a storm, and she looked at him like she had never had a reason to doubt him.

Must be nice.

"Well kids," Paul told us, once we had reached the beach. I was looking around at the dozens of families there. There were some younger kids there, but mostly it was people around our age, and seemingly their parents.

"We're going to get some food," Paul nodded towards a table filled with just that, right beside where the rest of the adults were gathered. "Behave," he said, but there was an edge of humor in his voice.

"Of course, Mr. Pierce," Erik answered, like they were old friends and he knew the drill.

"Daisy," Lucinda said, and then she pointed her eyes towards me. "Stick together, please."

And, even the stupidest person alive could understand what she was saying with those words. Don't leave poor Dahlia alone.

Daisy simply rolled her eyes at her mother, looping her arm with mine. "Come on," she said to me.

"You look great, by the way," Daisy said to me, as she began to drag me away from her parents, with Erik tailing close behind. "I was going to buy that dress for myself, but I think you'd look better than I ever would in it."

"Daisy," Erik said quickly from behind us, "you'd look great in it."

Daisy scoffed, "but not as good as her. Am I officially the ugly sister?" But, her voice was light and airy, and it made me laugh too.

"Hey!" I heard a voice I recognized, and Imara quickly came into view. "I was wondering where you two were. And, Erik, of course, hey! We miss you around here."

"Hey Imara," I said, smiling at her. She looked beautiful, in a pale pink dress that contrasted beautiful against her brown skin.

"Welcome to the dark side, Dahlia. Your first Sapphire Cove party," Imara said, wiggling her perfect eyebrows.

"Dark side?" I questioned, "trust me, I've been to places much darker than this."

"Somehow I don't doubt that," Imara replied, frowning just slightly.

"Do you want a drink?" Daisy asked me, and her voice sounded so happy. I wasn't sure why. She just seemed completely content.

"Oh, no thanks," I said quickly, shaking my head.

"Aw," she let out. "Erik's driving home, so I guess it's just me."

"And me!" Imara giggled, taking Daisy by the hand. "I'll come with you. Erik and Dahlia can go save us spots by the fire."

"Aye, Aye Captain," Erik said quickly, causing the two girls to giggle.

"We'll be back," Daisy said, and then they left.

Erik began to walk towards the large bonfire on the sand, which had random chairs in a circle surrounding it. I followed him without another word, falling into one of the chairs once we had reached it.

"I can drive," I said as he sat in the chair beside me. "You know, if you want to drink with Daisy."

Erik let out a small chuckle as soon as I finished speaking. "No, don't worry." He shook his head. "I graduated last year. Trust me when I say, I have absolutely no desire to drink with high-school kids any longer. I'm just here because of Daisy. She wanted me here."

"Oh," I nodded. "Makes sense."

"What about you?" He asked, "you don't want to drink?"

"Oh I don't drink," I said, leaving it at that. I didn't want to explain any further, and I hoped he wouldn't ask.

He seemed surprised, his eyes growing wide for a second before he nodded. "Good for you," he said after a second. "Hold onto that, especially in this town."

"I'm not worried about this town," I said with a small laugh.

"No?"

"No," I answered. "My town... well, it wasn't the drinking you had to worry about."

"I see," he nodded. "Daisy told me a bit about your past. I'm, uh, well... I'm sorry you went through all of that."

I nodded at his words, not surprised in the least that Daisy had told him. They seemed like the kind of couple that had no secrets. Again, must be nice.

Daisy's loud laugh caused both of our heads to turn. I only had to look for her for a second. She was standing with a drink in her hand, laughing at Micheal, who was quite clearly flirting with her, with a sly smile on her face.

I looked back towards Erik, watching as he observed her. He seemed unbothered, completely.

"That doesn't bug you?" I asked, and I knew that he knew what I was talking about. The way that all the boys flirted with her so unashamedly.

Erik chuckled, keeping his eyes on my sister. "You want to know the secret?"

"Sure," I answered, genuinely curious.

"I don't look at them," he nodded towards Micheal, who was loving the way Daisy laughed at him. "I look at her. To her, she's just laughing with a friend. So, I watch her, and if she's laughing, then I'm laughing too. But, if she becomes uncomfortable, then I have a problem with it."

"So, there's no jealousy?" I asked, surprised by his answer.

Erik laughed again, shaking his head. "There was in the beginning. But, I trust Daisy. If there's trust, there's no jealousy."

"That's nice," I hummed, winding his words in my brain for a moment in silence.

Soon enough, we were surrounded. With Daisy, and Imara, but the rest of her friends too. Lea was there, and so was Tiff. Micheal and Jaylen were there, and so was Teddy. There were so comfortable around each other and they laughed, and joked. It was a nice feeling, to be included. It took me a moment before I realized they were missing someone.

Because Sterling wasn't there. He wasn't there at all.

Which, only made my night better. And the hours went by easily.

"Daisy," Micheal said, slightly slurring his words as he spoke. "Can Jalen, Xavier and I crash in your pool house tonight?"

"Xavier is back?" Daisy asked, seemingly surprised. I had no idea who that was. "I thought he was in Prague."

"Yeah, he was," Micheal nodded. "Flew back on the jet last night. He's around here somewhere."

"That's who you would be great with," Lea said,  her speech was also slightly blurred. "Xavier."

It took me a second to realize she was speaking to me.

"Who?" I said bluntly, causing her to laugh.

"Xavier!" Lea laughed, before looking towards her friends. "Am I wrong? They both have that... I don't give a fuck attitude, right?"

"You know, I can see it," Erik agreed from beside me.

"You're just saying that because you want to use his jet for double dates," Jalen spoke next, a tinge of annoyance in his voice.

"Daisy!" Micheal interrupted, "so can we crash in the pool house or not?"

"Not," Daisy said quickly, "Dahlia lives there now, remember? Go back to Xavier's."

"No cab will drive out there," Jalen said, "and we're all drinking."

"Find a new place to crash, guys," Erik said.

"Yeah, stop using me for my pool house," Daisy yelled, jumping up from her chair. Though her feet seemed to disappear beneath her, as she stumbled towards the fire.

"And, that's our cue," Erik jumped up at once, scooping Daisy up like she weighed nothing. Daisy laughed, nuzzling into her boyfriends neck. "You good to go?" He asked me.

"Absolutely," I said, standing up at once, thankful that he and Daisy were handing me an excuse to go home and get into bed so early.

Daisy was drunker than I realized, as she giggled with her eyes closed as Erik carried her towards the car. I found myself laughing at her as I walked behind her, happy that the night had gone so well.

After Erik managed to contain my sister in the passenger seat, he drove us home in silence. Daisy's parents had left hours before, with the rest of the families. It was weird how they accepted the teenagers drinking, like they trusted their kids with access to booze.

Maybe they, just like me, knew nothing bad could really happen in this town.

Erik opened the door, with his arms holding Daisy by the waist as we got back home. Daisy didn't look back as she kicked her shoes off, and immediately headed up the stairs.

Erik quickly followed her, it was only when he was three steps up that he turned back towards me.

"Make sure you lock that pool house door," he said, "the guys might get pretty drunk at the beach tonight and forget they weren't supposed to sleep there."

"They really crash there that often?" I asked him.

"Yeah," he nodded. "It's how I met Daisy, actually. She let me and my friend Jason crash there when Jason got too drunk in sophomore year. He passed out, and me and Daisy stayed up the whole night talking."

"Aw," I smiled. "You two are sweet."

He nodded again. "Have a good sleep, Dahlia. And lock that door, okay? So you don't wake up with Micheal beside you."

"Will do," I laughed, and he climbed up the stairs, and I walked towards the pool house, making sure the door was locked behind me.

For the second night in a row, my mind was surprisingly empty as I put on my pyjamas. It was empty again, as I brushed my teeth and climbed into bed.

It was empty as I closed my eyes, and it was empty as I drifted off into sleep.

Or, at least it was.

Until the doorknob started to rattle.


You are reading the story above: TeenFic.Net