Consequences

Chapter 43: Silent Killer

"So how did you deal with moving away from home? And you know, living alone?"

"Lately I've been able to cope with it if I'm totally alone. But no matter how much time goes by, I still can't handle a quiet room if someone else is there. Even if they aren't actively with me. My parents didn't offer any support, so I invested any money I earned in buying music for my phone. Next thing I know, my rent is paid, I have a new phone, and a well paying job. Just not as honest as one would hope."

"So that's why you were so uncomfortable earlier." I summed up

"Yeah. I hate that something so petty and stupid still has so much of an affect me."

I looked at Torin in a new light. He was such a nice guy. It made me mad that something like that had handicapped him for so long.

"Well, that was my sob story. How about your own? I bet you have a lot of stories about growing up with someone like L'" Oh right. His delusion.

"Okay.. Well I think I should start by telling you, I'm not Lucas' Sister."

"What? But you-"

"No, I really didn't."

"So, why are you here?" And thus I traced all the way back to a few months ago. The day I awoke to my phone ringing. I expected it to be my parents saying they had landed. And instead I got the shocking news that my parents had died in a plane crash and I was to move to my Brother's house immediately.

I tried to run through everything as calmly as possible. But this was the first time I'd actually thought and talked through everything from start to finish and the tears that were shed were unavoidable. I looked to the floor or my hands the majority of the story. Only occasionally did I look up at Torin, and at times he seemed genuinely engaged in the story, his facial expressions showing either sympathy or shock or even suspense when I told him about the kidnappings.

"Wow.. Your backstory puts mine to shame."

"Eh.. It happened more recently than yours so all the details are still fresh. That's all."

"You've really been through hell and back, huh."

A single chuckle made it's way out of my lungs. "I suppose so."

He studied my face, seemingly unbothered by the short silence. But I started talking again so it wouldn't last too long. "Do you want something to eat? Lucas' Brother is a great cook so the pantry is stocked."

A smile formed on his lips. "Sure. And thanks."

"For what?"

"This. Your the first friend I've made in a long time."

"Are we friends?" I asked jokingly

"Well I wouldn't call us enemies." We both laughed and made our way to the kitchen where we made a sketchy soup that ended up in the trash and in the end settled for crackers, cheese, and carrots that were sliced up for a future recipe.

"What else can we eat?" I asked as I opened the fridge for the fifth time

"You're still hungry??"

"Yes! I eat when I'm anxious!"

"But this is the fifth time you've looked in there and you've still found nothing!!" He laughed

We hadn't stopped laughing since the crackers and cheese had been consumed. What we were laughing about is hard to say. From an outsider's standpoint, we probably looked delirious. From an insider's standpoint, we still looked delirious. All I know is that it felt really good.

Then, as if the sun had disappeared from the sky, we both sobered. Torin was the one to speak what we were both thinking "It's been a long time since I've laughed that hard."

"Me too." I closed the fridge and went to sit on one of the bar stools. "What time is it?"

He pulled out his phone. "Almost seven."

The serotonin from all the laughter gently ebbed out of my system and I came back to reality where Lucas and Gavin are still MIA. "Do you think they'll come back here?"

"Well, you said this is their house. I don't see any reason why they wouldn't come back here."

Torin's voice of reason helped calm my uncertainty, but the gnawing on my heart didn't cease as the question of  When they would return flashed through my head like a neon light.

Once again the silence fell on our shoulders. I could tell Torin felt awkward, but he wasn't nearly as uncomfortable as he had been before. I got off the barstool and stretched my arms out. "Well. I think we should just call it a day. We're both tired and if I don't find anything else to do I'm going to eat the whole kitchen."

Torin let out a small laugh and he followed me into the hallway. I stopped and gestured toward Gavin's door. "Here, this is Gavin's room. You can sleep in here for the night."

"Thank you, Alice, for everything. I think tonight was the most fun I've had in a long time."

I offered him a small smile. "Good night, Torin." I turned to Lucas' door.

"Uh- Alice?"

"Yeah?" I turned to find him fiddling with his hands and looking rather nervous. "What's wrong?"

He took a fidgety step toward me, and before I knew it he had quickly pecked my cheek. I hardly had time to register what had happened before he disappeared behind Gavin's bedroom door.

I couldn't help but smile. This kid is so.. Pure. I can't believe he's survived in this environment. This guy seems totally different from the one I met in the woods. It's as if getting to know him made him meeker rather than bolder. How on earth could a person change that much in such a short time?

This queer but endearing phenomenon occupied my thoughts all through my nightly routine. As I climbed into Lucas' bed, his scent overtook my senses and I realized this is the first time I've actually slept under his covers. Though tonight, rather than comfort me, the scent only made the nagging in my heart grow stronger. Almost to the point that it was painful every time it pulsed. Despite this, I buried my head in his pillow and filled my lungs with as much of the scented air as possible before letting it out slowly, willing myself to calm down and forget.

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A/N

Do you ever smell something that brings you back to your childhood? And then you get real emo and nostalgic and it's kinda depressing? No? Okay then.

Anyway! What did you think of this chapter? Don't forget to comment and vote!

Thanks for reading.  ♡♡♡