Celia

Bipolar asshole.

I'm so angry all weekend that I don't go to church on Sunday just to avoid his face.

Obviously Alex said something to him, I'm not an idiot, our little flirting did affect him. I could feel the heat crackling between us, the pull of invisible strings, drawing us close like magnets.

"What did you say to Gio on Friday?" I catch up to Alex after class in the hallway on Monday.

"Good morning, beautiful. Nice to see you too," he smiles, holding his textbook like an accessory.

I shove him against the wall to stop him from walking. "I asked you what did you say to him?"

"Relax, no need for claws..." he chuckles, checking left and right before looking at me. "Why do you care so much? Did he fire you?"

"What did you say to him? Just tell me!" I hit his chest, patience running thin and desperate.

"Celia, did he hurt you?" He puts his hand over mine. "Did he threaten you? You can tell me."

"Alex, he's never hurt me! Can you please just tell me what the hell you told him?" The students glance with bare interest as they pass us by.

"Nothing, just the truth," Alex murmurs, eyes concerned. "I only told him what you've been telling me for years. That you need to leave this town, that you want to get away."

"No, you're not telling me the truth," I prompt, clinging onto the last thread of sanity I want to believe is left in him. "Alex, please. Please, if you care for me at all, just tell me the truth!"

"How about I take you on a date tonight, huh?" He smiles. "I'll tell you every detail over seafood and wine."

My mind races to maneuver around his delusions, crumbling at every dead end.

He smiles at my inner turmoil, brushing his knuckles across my cheek. "You're so innocent, Celia. You shouldn't settle for some nobody when you have me. I can give you everything, we can escape just like you've always dreamed."

I smack his hand, jerking away. "Oh my God, Alex, how many times do I have to spell it out for you? I will never marry you! Never! It's never going to happen!"

Some students stop as Alex awkwardly freezes in the spotlight, voice quieter, almost to himself. "I see, he's already gotten inside your head. It's my fault, all my fault, I didn't act fast enough."

"What are you talking about?" I whisper while he takes out his phone, clicking on stuff.

"I need to fix this, I'll fix this." He puts the phone over his ear, staring at me absently. "I'll get you out of here, just like I promised. I'll finish what your mom couldn't finish, you'll see."

"What did you just say?" I breathe, anger boiling my blood and blinding my sight. I storm forward and grab his phone, throwing it against the wall.

"Everything alright?" A young professor from one of the classrooms comes out when the shattering silences the crowd.

"Did the device destruction finally wake you up? Are you guys awake? Hello? Good morning!" I chuckle at the students around. "Did you get startled? I'm so sorry! Bet if I put a gun to my head, none of you would fucking care!"

"What's wrong with her?" they murmur. "She's acting crazy—

"It's the preacher's daughter—"

"Oh yeah, I've heard about her—"

"I warned you if you mentioned my mom again it'd be the last time you talk to me," I say to Alex.

His lips pull into a disturbing smile. "Cel⁠i—"

"Shut your fucking mouth and listen." I step close and lower my voice. "Your dad is the reason my mom and I couldn't escape. He stopped the car. He dragged her out. He told my dad to lock her in a room, alone, by herself. And it makes me sick to my stomach that you think I'll take a dime from his pockets. Fuck your dad. If he dropped dead, I'd celebrate and dance around him."

"I'm, I'm not him. I'm different..." He stammers, blinking repeatedly.

"I know you're not him." I frown, forgetting everyone around us. "You were once my only friend and I loved you so much, Alex. We used to play together by the lake, remember?" I ask with a half-hearted smile. "I still remember your laugh, you were so happy back then. We were happy back then. Remember those days?"

"I'm still happy when I'm with you," he reaches for my hand.

"No." I flinch away, tone back to cold. "No, you're gone. It hurt too much to accept it before and I'm sorry. I'm sorry for not accepting all these years."

"What do you mean?" he chuckles. "Celia—"

"Life's such a bitch..." I laugh at the ground.

"Celia?"

"It makes you grieve not just over the dead, but also the living."

"I... what?"

I draw a shallow breath before lifting my head. "Bye, Alex. I really wish you the best."

"Where are you going?" He steps forward but I raise my palm, tone distant and final.

"We're not friends anymore and your trauma is not my responsibility. From now on, if I see you in the hallway, I'll ignore you. If you call me, I'll block you. And if you hurt anyone I love, I'll hurt you so deeply you'll never recover."

"Celia..." He panics as I turn to leave. "Celia!"

I ignore the gossips and gazes, quickening my steps through the narrowing walls. Images of Alex and I laughing when we were little, lying on the grass under the trees, promising we'll always be friends flash in my head and I die to collapse.

First they took her, then they took him.

They poked with the tip of a blade, day by day, until the pieces that made them who they are crumbled to the ground, leaving an empty shell.

I want them back. I want who I used to be back.

"Celia! Celia! Celia!" He calls after me as I escape.

~

"Do you not have an umbrella?" Gio frowns at my drenched state when he opens the door.

"What does it look like?" I walk past him.

"You'll get sick..." He trails off, turning the lock.

"Oh my God, who is this wet kitten!" Chase hollers from the couch, opening his arms. "Come here, let uncle Chase warm you up."

"Tea, sugar?" Oscar offers, sitting straight with a floral cup and plate.

I shake my head as I pass them. "I'm going to wash up, excuse me."

Gio knocks on the bathroom door while I dry my hair, deep voice hesitant. "Celia, I uh, I put a sweatshirt on Ari's bed, make sure to wear it."

"Okay."

I walk into her room to find a huge, gray sweatshirt on her bed, smelling like him.

"We'll be in the garage!" Gio calls from the living room, shutting the main door.

My white long-sleeve is soaked, making me shiver. I put on his sweatshirt and step out for a cup of tea, desperate to warm my hands.

On my way to the kitchen, I notice something on the coffee table that makes me stop in my tracks.

A gun?

I stare out the window to check if they're around, then sit on the couch and stare at the weapon.

Tentatively, I reach for it.

A weird kind of thrill courses through me as I grip the heavy metal. The adrenaline fires me with life like a battery and I almost crack a smile, marveling at its sleek, dark design.

I want one.

Suddenly Gio jerks the door open and freezes, staring wide-eyed at the gun in my hand, probably regretful for leaving it behind.

"What the hell are you doing? Put the gun down," he says, shutting the door behind him.

"This gun?" I ask, casually holding it up. "Why? Is it loaded?"

"Yes, put it down." He quickly says, voice strained. "Celia please, it's dangerous."

"Why is it dangerous? It's just an object and I'm controlling it. What, you think I'm going to pull the trigger? You think I'm that stupid?"

"I'm not playing right now, put it down," he prompts as he gets near and opens his palm.

I jump to my feet and scurry in the middle of the room, getting away from him. "And if I don't?"

He keeps his palm open, tone gravely and low as he approaches. "Give me the gun."

"No."

"I'm not playing with you."

"Aren't you? Oh, okay. Then tell me how you feel about me."

The raindrops against the window break the thick silence as Gio draws a slow, heavy breath. "Ari will be home at any second and the guys are waiting, I'm not in the mood for your games."

"No, Ari is twenty minutes away and your secret mission can wait a little. Actually, while we're at it, let's spill the beans on that too."

"Celia, please," he lowers his voice, desperation knitting his brows. "Please give me the gun and I'll tell you. We'll talk normally, this isn't safe."

"Why are you so scared of me holding a gun. Because I'm too young and stupid?" I chuckle, then study the gun. "I like it actually, I think it's sexy. I almost want to put it in my mouth."

I lift the gun to my lips, keeping my eyes on Gio the whole time, amused at how his face pales and mouth hangs in shock.

"Stop, stop right now, I'm not kidding." He raises his palms, getting louder. "That gun is loaded, oh my God, I'm not kidding! Put it down, Celia!"

I giggle, pushing the muzzle on my bottom lip. "How do you feel about me, Gio?"

"Oh my God!" His voice rips throughout the house, sobering me in a flash. "Fuck! I like you, alright, I like you! I have a stupid fucking crush on you! Give me the fucking gun!"

The fine hairs on the back of my neck rise and my spine chills from his unraveled rage— eyes darkened, face flushed, neck muscles jutted.

I hand him the gun and he tucks it behind his jeans, releasing a choked exhale. He stares at the ground and yanks through his hair, pulling forcefully at the roots.

"I'm sorry..." I mumble, "I didn't mean to—"

"Yeah, you did." He glares at me. "You don't give a shit."

"What—" I stumble back as he paces towards me in slow, heavy steps until I'm against a wall.

He pulls out the gun, pointing the muzzle up. "You think it's okay to threaten people with this?"

"N-no."

"Don't be shy, if I remember correctly, you told me to respect your intelligence." He observes the gun with feigned interest, then brings it slowly to his temple and looks at me. "Is this right? Yeah? Is this how I'm supposed to do it?"

Nausea churns in my stomach, I want to throw up. My hands turn cold, my lungs can't function.

"S-stop, stop Gio, put it down," I whisper.

"What's wrong, hm?" He lowers his face close to mine, not letting me look away. "Not having fun anymore? But you were just doing it to me and laughing, how come that was okay?"

"I was stupid, I'm sorry," I say shakily, voice cracking. "Please stop, please you're scaring me."

"You're scared? Why? It's fun. Come on, it's just a gun, Celia. What's the big deal if I accidentally pull the trigger and blow my brains out?"

"Stop! Just stop!" I hit his chest, collapsing onto him. "Stop, I don't want to lose you too!"

I curl my shoulders in, breaking into sobs, spiraling down a black, empty hole.

I feel his hands on my shoulders, his voice calling my name, but I can't come back, I'm drowning, I'm alone, and I want this to end.

Suddenly firm and warm arms enclose all around me and his deep, calm voice becomes more clear. "That's how you made me feel."

"You cruel... sick, twisted asshole!" I try to kick his shins, but he pushes his thigh between my legs and pins me against the wall.

"I know, I know... I'm an asshole," he murmurs, hugging me. "I know, I'm asshole..."

"How could you?" I cry into his shirt. "How could you scare me like that?"

"Shh, hey." He cups my face, wiping my tears with his large hands, voice gentle and tender. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'll never do it again, okay? I promise, I won't scare you like that again."

He kisses my forehead and for some reason it makes me whimper. I close my eyes and hold onto his wrists, trying to pry them off and hide my meltdown, but he keeps me exposed.

"Shh, no more crying." He pulls me in his arms, pressing his cheek on top of my head like he's trying to piece me back together.

"I'm sorry..." I sniffle, pulling back. My nose is stuffed, eyes strained, body utterly drained.

The vibration in his pocket pulls our attention, and he takes out his phone, reading the screen.

"It's Chase..." he mutters, putting the phone over his ear without taking his eyes off of me. "Give me a minute," he says then clicks on him.

I wish he didn't have to leave me right now, I wish he could hold me a little longer.

"I don't want to leave you, but I have to for a little while," he says with an attentive gaze that I feel on my face as I stare at the ground.

He takes my hand, tracing his finger across my skin as he patiently waits for me to look at him.

When I don't, he leans down to my eye-level and lifts my chin. "We'll talk when I come back. In the meantime, why don't you make some tea and watch a movie, we have cinnamon rolls in the fridge. Hm? Ari will be home soon, you guys can hang out with Luna until I'm finished, okay?"

"Okay..." I mumble, actually looking forward to the little bit of time I'll get to wrap my head around everything that just happened.

Eyes wary, he releases me and cautiously steps back. "Promise me you'll do as I say?"

"I promise," I say, biting my lip.

He gives me a half-hearted smile, clenching his hands before storming out.

~ A/N~
What do we think about what Gio did, fair or not fair? Also I promise the next chapters won't be so heavy <3 Thank you everyone for reading!