Children catch fireflies; death in jars.
Arya:
The curtains were yanked back, allowing the full glare of the sun to beat down on my face. The window was raised, sounds of irritating birdsong and people assaulted my eardrums. I buried my face deeper in my pillow, feeling like I was slapped with a flaming metal hammer covered in spikes dipped in acid.
When no one tried to drag me out of bed, I relaxed deeper into the covers.
That is, until I felt something sticky drip down my face.
I frowned and blearily blinked back sleep, squinting as the blurry shape above me. Then, I screamed.
"CALEB! GET YOUR SPIT MACHINE AWAY FROM ME!" I screeched as Sparklemufffin invaded my personal space. He bleated and licked me.
"ARGHHHHH!" I yelled, landing on the floor in a tangled mess of sheets. My head throbbed painfully that sharply increased when the boys walked in the room.
"GOOD morning Arya!" Ethan declared cheerfully, pulling the covers off me. "How are you feeling today?" I knew this was payback for all the times I woke the boys up from their hangovers.
I flipped them the bird and shakily got to my feet. Black spots danced in my vision as I stumbled to the bathroom. The boys did absolutely nothing to help.
I retched over the toilet, emptying the contents of my stomach. I felt someone hold my hair back. I groaned and leaned back.
"What the hell happened last night?" I winced, resting my head on Nick's shoulder.
"After your meeting with Lucas, you went out and got drunk. We found you dancing on the railing thing and had to carry you home." Ethan explained, glaring at me.
"And why are you angry at me?" I mumbled, staring at him through hooded lids.
Ethan sniffed. "You called me a depressed slug."
My jaw hit the floor. "What?! I did not."
"You did." He said. "While I was oh-so graciously dragging you inside, you giggled and called me a demented slug. I have it on video."
I stifled a laugh. "Well, if it makes you feel any better, I don't think you like a demented slug?"
He leaned over and flicked my forehead harshly, causing me to grunt in pain, but still manage a weak laugh.
"Hey guys," Isaac said nervously and we all turned to look at him. "Um... Wyatt texted me- we have to babysit Hugo for a few hours."
"NO!" The rest of us screeched in horror, which worsened my headache.
"Zack, I know you're probably angry at me for ya know, going out and getting drunk blah blah blah, but this is a joke, right?" I chuckled nervously, my heart plummeting as he shook his head.
Hugo was a sixteen year old with a big head. He constantly whined about how we weren't taking care of him properly and would act out how much he hated staying with us- as if we were dying to spend time with the entitled brat. The last time he was here- a few months ago- he burned all my clothes because I refused to drive three hours to buy him some posh fish.
Why did I have to chose last night to drink? I thought miserably. The boys gently helped me downstairs with Sparklemuffin in tow.
I sat down on the stool in front of the island platform in the kitchen, and leaned against Kit. He wrapped an arm around my shoulders and I silently watched Ethan mix some disgusting concoction and wrinkled my nose in disgust as he slid a tall glass over to me.
I poked it. "What is this?"
"Just drink." He responded. With a deep sigh, I pinched my nose and took a deep breath through my mouth, before downing the disgusting drink in one long gulp.
"Bleh..." I gagged, wiping my mouth. "What was that?"
"Revenge for calling me a slug." Ethan smirked, then slid over another drink that was a slightly less putrid colour than the one before. "Here's the real hangover cure."
The others laughed as I flipped Ethan off, but still gulped down the slightly-less-disgusting drink.
"I'm never drinking again." I declared, rubbing my eyes.
"That's what I said the first time I drank." Ethan snorted. I chuckled and closed my eyes, snuggling deeper against Kit.
Ethan:
Wow.
Just wow.
She actually fell asleep.
Just like that.
What is her secret? When I want to sleep, it takes me about three hours, a hundred position changes and a sacrifice to Satan.
I was snapped out of my thoughts when the doorbell rang. Me and the others exchanged wary looks.
"Go lock all our rooms." Zack said to Nick, who nodded and sprinted away as his twin went to open the door.
"Hello there, everyone." Bratty said poshly, dragging his equally posh suitcase behind him.
Wait.
Suitcase?
I glared at Issac. "Is he staying here for the night?!"
Bratty scoffed. "Good Lord no, I don't want to stay in a dump like this any longer than I am required to. This suitcase contains all my belongings that I will need for the next few hours. Now, where is the powder room?"
"The what room?" Caleb furrowed his eyebrows. "Oh! You mean the bathroom? It's just down the hall to the left."
Bratty sniffed. "And whose room will I be using for my stay?"
"The living room." Chris answered with a slight glare.
"No!" Bratty whined and stomped his foot. Jeez, was this kid sixteen or six? "I want proper room! What about yours, Ethan?"
I turned to Zack. "Remind me again, why do I have to be nice to him?" I didn't like Bratty and didn't care enough to pretend I did. "And kid, step one foot in my room and you will not leave this house in one piece." Thank the heavens Zack had enough sense to ask Nick to lock the our rooms.
"Because he's Wyatt's friend's son and Hugo's father is important so we don't really have a choice." Came the prompt reply. I scowled.
"What about Arya's room?" Bratty asked, an evil glint in his eye, probably imagining what else he could destroy with his pyrotechnic skills. He cleared his throat and reached to wake Ree up. "Hey Arya-"
Instantly, my hand clamped over his wrist and I squeezed it tightly, smirking slightly when he let out a strangled whimper as his bone creaked. "Interrupt her sleep and I'll interrupt your breathing."
Sparklemuffin bleated encouragingly and I could've sworn he glared at Bratty. For once, me and the flea-infested animal were on the same page.
Mine and Ree's friendship is strange. It goes from 'yo, I'll help you hide the body' to 'breathe in my direction and I'll kill you'- there is pretty much no in between. And yes, while I was still miffed she compared me to a slug, I'll be dammed if I allowed anyone else to disturb or hurt her.
It hadn't escaped my notice how underweight and pale she was all the time. At first, I thought it was due to stress, but then it started happening more frequently and I saw how tired she was starting to become. At night, I could hear her sneaking out sometimes and even tried to follow her once, but to no avail. I'd first googled the symptoms, then immediately closed the tabs when some pretty terrifying results popped up. However, when I tried to connect the dots- including last night's little episode- it formed a picture that I couldn't- or wouldn't- understand.
"The living room is that way." Caleb stated coldly. We towered over Bratty- five men and one animal united. Was it wrong of me to enjoy the fear oozing out of him?
Bratty gulped. "Yes, that will do, I suppose."
End of chapter 7.
Qotc:
1. Thoughts on Bratty- I mean, Hugo?
2. Thoughts on Ethan and Arya's friendship?
3. What do you think is gonna happen next?
I hope you guys liked it!
Stay safe and thanks for reading :)