08 | Soul Sister
"Oh my my!" Alli gaped, standing at the door of my room.
I grinned, rocking back and forth on my heels. "Beautiful, isn't it?"
"It's so messy!" She gave me the mom looks with her hands on her hips.
Did grandpa just find a soulmate?
"Alright kiddo, let's get your room cleaned." She stepped in, dodging the things scattered over the floor.
I don't even know how they reached there. Not my fault.
"You're the guest, Alli. You don't have to do that." I complained as she began picking up magazines and books lying on the bed and place them in the bookshelf.
"What in the world is happening here?" Oliver's perplexed voice boomed from the door. He looked quite funny with that face and the garment bag in his hand.
"I don't know. I thought you died and your spirit took over her body." I watched her rigorously tidying up my room.
"You never tell her anything, Mr Rivera? How can one possibly live in such a messy space?"
I'm officially afraid of neat freaks.
"Well, miss Tanner, I think you shouldn't be- aahh what the fuck!"
The two of us legit jumped back in terror before going on a full on laughing spree. Grandpa just fell with his ass flat on the floor and garment bag now on his face.
"Karma is a bitch, Mr Rivera." Alli couldn't stop herself from laughing.
"That's. Not. Funny." He grumbled, standing back up with fiery eyes.
We beg to differ.
"This!" He spat, holding up the bottle of mascara which graced him the grand fall. "What is your eyeliner doing near the damn door!"
I tried mustering a puppy face. "Actually it's mascara."
"Mascara?" He scoffed. "It's a- are you for real? You're arguing over- that's enough alright! Stop laughing." He snapped at Alli."
She suddenly went dead serious. So did I. Then we sneaked a look at each other. And we burst into a fit of laughter yet again.
"I can't deal with girls." He threw his hands up, placed the garment bag on the couch and started heading for the door.
"So what about Ariel huh?" I challanged.
"Ariel who?" Allegra blurted. "Oh I'm sorry. I didn't mean to pry."
"Ariel is-"
"Quiet Vittoria." He glared at me, daring me to cross him.
I looked away feeling guilty. I shouldn't have said that.
"I'll arrange a guest room for you, Miss Tanner." He stated bluntly.
"What! No! We were gonna have a girl's night out." I protested.
"Don't you have to go to work tomorrow morning?" He raised a brow.
"I will. And I'll be on time. Be rest assured."
"He just doesn't want you to be friends with me." Allegra taunted.
"Precisely. She's the kind of girl parents specifically ask their kids to stay away from." He retorted.
She took at step closer to him, leveling her ocean eyes with his. I just hope none of them have a gun right now.
"I'm going to take that as a bloody compliment." She jabbed a finger in his chest.
"Why don't you go and sip your tea." He pushed her hand away.
"Why don't you go and get yourself hit by a truck full of hamburgers." She fired back.
I kept switching my eyes between them.
"Okay now, Toby Liam 2.0. That's enough." I hopped between them before they killed each other.
"I know what you're doing, Allegra." He took a threatening step closer to her, gently pushing me aside. "You're onto winning everyone's trust and fool them into your trap. Get one thing straight, Miss Tanner. You might play the victim very well but I don't trust you one bit."
"Are you done?" She simply crossed her arms.
The mood shifted drastically. Things were getting tense, much like his hatred.
"Goodnight, muffin." He broke a small smile, kissed my head and headed for the door.
"Goodnight." I mumbled.
"I have my eyes on you, Tanner." He did the classic I'm watching you gesture.
"Good for you, Rivera. I'm a pretty thing to watch." She flipped him the bird.
Throwing a last glare at her, he walked out, closing the door a little harshly behind him. She just kept staring at the closed white door bearing no expression whatsoever. Their enmity was fierce!
"I'm sorry about him. Guess he's just a little resistant to change."
"Why are you apologizing? It's not like his words or his behavior affects me." She shrugged it away.
"Great! I'll get you some super comfy clothes."
•••••
"I'm straight but I gotta say this. You're so pretty, Alli." I eyed her dreamily like I was watching my favorite actress on TV.
She looked perfect even in an oversized tee and a pair of shorts. Her eyes were the brightest shade of blue, perfectly complementing her blonde hair reaching till her slender waist. Her naturally smokey voice added extra effects to her British accent. She was in all ways attractive.
"Thank you. You're very kind." She giggled.
"I'm just so fascinated by the fact that I have a celebrity as my friend." I regretted saying it the moment those words left my mouth. "I mean if you want to be my friend. I'm not implying anything..I was just..."
"Will you calm down." She laughed. "Of course we're friends. In fact, let's be best friends." She held her hand up for a high five and there it was! Our friendship sealed with a high five.
"Your room is really very beautiful." She sat next to me on the bed. "When it's tidy." She quickly added.
"Fine, mom!" I rolled my eyes playfully.
"This is so pretty." She fell back on the bed, gazing up at the star filled night sky.
"I know right." I switched on the fairy lights and laid back as well. "These stars always help me relax."
The setting was perfect for a night out. We'd get drunk, dance our asses off, bitch about other girls and what not. If only I didn't have to go to work tomorrow where my scary boss slash grumpy brother would be standing with a gun pointed at my head.
"Watcha thinking, Vi?" She smacked my face with a furry pillow.
"Ouch!" I threw it back on her. "Tell me the truth, Alli. You have a thing for my brother, don't you." I passed her a teasing smile.
"What! No! Never! We hate each other's guts! That can never happen. I absolutely hate Oliver Rivera." She gushed out like an express train.
Oliver Rivera?
Hold on a second!
I plopped up on an elbow, facing towards her on my left. "I was talking about Mason."
"Mason? Oh, Mason!" She chuckled nervously. "I love that idiot. But not like that."
"Why did you think about Oliver?" I narrowed my eyes at her.
"Uh, we, I mean yeah, we just had an Oliver moment a few moments ago. That's why."
Okay, whatever you say Alli.
"You know Alli, I'm so glad I've got a friend like you." I was on the verge of tears.
"Aww, why? What's so special about me?" She giggled.
"You're a girl!" I exclaimed. "I grew up with Mase. Then we had that creep Caleb around us. Then I was kidnapped by four mafia men and I'm now staying with them. Men! Men! Men! I love them with all my heart. I really do. But MEN CAN BE SO FRUSTRATING AT TIMES!" I turned over my stomack, buried my face in the pillow and screamed all the frustration out.
"I can so relate to your problem. Plus they're all chauvinists."
"I'm just waiting for Camila to return. I've had enough brothers. Now I need some sister." I sighed.
Her smile faded. She didn't speak a word, more like hesitating to say something.
"What's wrong, Alli?"
"I hate to break it to you but you're expecting a lot from Camila. She's not how you're imagine her as." She said sympathetically.
Pure disappointment crushed me under it's unbearable weight. I never admitted it but I always feared this. It's was only foolish of me to think she'll accept me as her sister - someone who stole the man she loved all her life.
"She's the perfect epitome of the high school bitch they show in movies. I just don't want you to bring up your hopes because she's definitely going to let you down."
"You know what, let's not talk about it." I waved it away. "Tell me about you."
"What about me?"
I smiled, placing my hand over that of her. "How are you?"
Three simple words right?
The way all the emotions flashed across her eyes said it all. She's been dying to hear those words. Even in these dim lights, I could clearly see the longing in her eyes.
"I'm living my best life." She tried to humor it away.
"How long will you keep hiding from him?"
"As long as I have to." She sounded so defeated.
One thing I learned today was that hiding won't do you any good. At some point, you will have to get out and face the world. Face your fears.
"But you can't keep doing that forever. What about your work, your life."
She shook her head. "I can't do anything as long I have the danger of Nikolai lurking in my life. But he's invincible with the Visitant's support. They all are. I need to end them to get my life back."
"You're not alone. I'm here if you ever need anyone to talk to."
"Thank you, Vittoria, really. You two siblings are really something. I don't think I'd have been alive without Mason."
"I missed him so much." A single tear slid down my face. Ugh! I'm such a crybaby.
"He was completely broken when..when Rafael..you know. The normal Mason would've been out to kill him right then. But he could barely speak. It took him so many days to get back to normal."
I had erased away those memories. But now I realized I can't erase the effects it casted on everyone.
"It was all because of Luca." I mumbled.
"Who exactly are you fooling, Vittoria?"
"Mostly myself." I sighed.
"You can fool yourself all that you like but that won't change the fact that the man you loved is a monster. I'm sorry sweetie but this isn't love. It's obsession- from your side as well. Do you even realize what he did to you?"
"He's changed. He's no longer the monster you all have known him to be. Besides, loving someone even after knowing their dark side is true love, isn't it."
She sat back up, leaning against the headrest. "Why do we always fall in love with the wrong person?"
How I wish I knew.
"What will happen when Nikolai finds you?" I asked, dreading the answer.
"He'll kill me." Her hand instinctively grazed over the bullet wound on her abdomen. "This happened about a month back when I had to go back to London for some work."
"I'm glad it didn't get any worse."
"Oh it was worse. I got a very nice scolding from Mase when I flew back here. After that, he hasn't left my side even for a second." She smiled.
I suddenly felt guilty to take him away from her. I have everyone here. But Mason is all she's got. Moreover, it's not like I'm going to lose him. She has called me her friend. Now it's my turn to stay true to that word.
"You know what, I'll ask him to-"
"Don't even get there. I can take care of myself."
"But-"
"No."
"At least-"
"I said no."
"Fine!" I huffed.
"I don't get one thing. Why exactly does Nikolai want you dead?"
"I know a lot of his secrets. And above all, it's because I dared to leave him. That's it. If you aren't mine, you can't be anyone else's. Those were his exact words." She whispered poignantly.
"I understand why you're afraid of him."
"You are the only one here who'd understand. Even Mason thinks my fear is unreasonable. He was so mad at you for that desperate attempt you made to escape. But he wouldn't understand what it feels like to be controlled by some man, even if you love him. In my case, I didn't even love him." She twisted her face in disgust.
"You didn't?" It came as a shock to me.
"As crazy as it sounds, my father had made a deal with him to marry me. Sadly, that's how Esztar functions. You see, what happened with Camila and Rafael."
"That's downright pathetic."
"My father was worried about his empire. He thought I'd not be able to handle it and he didn't have a son."
My heart ached hearing her words. I was angry, upset and hurt all at the same time.
"Patriarchy still runs thick in Esztar. Even more than that, it's about power. Everyone in Esztar gets what they want by hook or by crook. And when it becomes about wanting some person, it's even more wicked and cunning."
"But this has to stop, Alli. This is unfair. They need to understand and respect other's feelings." I played with the blanket absentmindedly.
She wanted to speak but didn't find words to express herself. It was hurtful seeing someone as strong as her give in to the cruelty of Esztar.
"What about you? You never loved anyone?" I looked at her impatiently, curious to know who'd be that lucky guy.
Her lips immediately curled up in a smile. But it was a sad smile.
"There was a man I loved. But he never loved me back. I got played." She shrugged.
"I'm sorry."
"No, I don't regret it. I'll remember him as a happy memory. So what if his love wasn't real, mine was."
We aren't so different after all. Maybe that's exactly what I'll have to do. What's the use of crying over losing someone.
"Alli."
"Yes dear."
"Do you think I'm being unfair to Rafael? He's done a lot to prove he loves me."
"It's either love or self respect. It's your call. No one but you have the right to make decisions for yourself."
That sounded oddly reassuring. All my life others have decided what I do.
"Thank you, Alli." I engulfed her into a huge bear hug.
"No, thank you. For listening to me." She rubbed my back. "I've just had alliances. Now, I feel like I have friends. You and Mason. I love you guys so much."
"Did you just indirectly say you love Mason?" I wiggled my brows teasingly.
"Goodnight Vittoria!" She fell back, pulling the blanket over her head.
"Goodnight, dream about Mason." I poked her arm from outside.
"Naah! I'll dream about Shawn Mendes." A muffled reply came from inside the blanket.
"Don't you dare! I'm mentally married to him."
"I'm going to snatch him away from you. Just you see."
"I hate you Alli."
"I love you too Vi."
Vittoria: Vote!
Alli: Comment!