Celia

"Celia, come on in. We've been waiting for you," my dad greets me.

He's on the couch with Alex's dad, Aram. They've been friends long before Alex and I were born. He has cold blue eyes like his son. But there's a spine-chilling creepiness to his calm. His lips are always curved slightly up, like he's amused by things that others find uncomfortable.

"Celia, you've grown so much..." he says, resting his forearms on his knees and inspecting me from head to toe. "You look just like your mother."

I grip the sides of my skirt, rooting my feet between them and the kitchen, where my grandma is cutting fruits with a poker face on. "I'll go help Marilyn—"

"Come here, sit down." My dad pats the sofa beside him. "We have some really good news to share."

Slowly, I sit and wait for them to speak. The two look at me, waiting to start a polite, small talk. When I don't, my dad exchanges a look with Aram, who smiles at him reassuringly.

"Right, Celia. Let's not waste any time," my dad begins. His features soften into concern, even his tone becomes gentle. "I know you haven't been happy here for a very long time now."

They wait for me to react. I don't.

He silently taps the arm of the couch, moving on. "I take partial responsibility for that. I haven't been able to... be there for you because of my other duties for this town." He looks at me for a moment. "I want to make up for it."

I try to predict the cards he's playing. My stomach grows uneasy, all my muscles are tense.

Aram smiles. "I heard you want to be a lawyer! Excellent choice. I know many in LA who live in mansions. They love their jobs."

"He has connections." My dad raises his eyebrows. "Connections in New York."

"New York?" I realize, shaking my head. "I already told Alex no—"

"We know," my dad waves me off. "We already know you don't love him and we don't expect you to marry someone you don't love."

"All we're asking for is open-mindedness," Aram says, gaze serious under his lashes. "You guys are childhood friends, you grew up together. You need to look out for each other."

"What do you mean?" I ask.

"We want you to get engaged and live together." My dad leans in his seat, arms open. "Consider it a trial period. You can define your relationship however you wish. All we ask is that you go to school together and see where it takes you in a couple of years."

"We already go to school together," I frown.

"Not here," Aram's eyes sparkle like he's sharing a secret. "In New York."

"Not just in New York." My dad shakes his head with a slow grin. "I was there this week. I managed to do something for you. Something that I know will mean the world to you."

"What?" I ask.

Dad reaches over the couch to lean closer. "Celia, I found the apartment your mother used to live in before she moved here. I rented that place for you."

"What?" My voice is so soft, it's barely audible.

He smiles wider. "You can be near her. You can go to the same school she went to, visit the same museums she visited. It's the closest I can bring her to you."

"But how? How did you...?"

I picture a cozy, intimate apartment. Wall-length mirrors for her dance routines. Oil paintings of meadows and sunsets. Open windows with sunlight seeping in. I picture her slender figure with an apron. The aroma of her pastries. The melody of her voice as she sings to herself.

Celia, do you know why the caged birds sing?

"I told you, I had to pull some strings." My dad is overjoyed by my reaction. He exchanges a relieved glance with Aram. "I knew you would like it! You're an artist, like your mom! This place is too small for beautiful creatures like you."

"What do you say? Hm?" Aram gives me a tight-lipped grin. "It sounds like a dream come true."

"A dream come true?" I stare at my hands on my lap. I picture my mom's hand reaching for them. I picture looking up and finding her next to me. Her warm brown eyes slowly blink, shimmering with love as she strokes my cheek.

Close your eyes, Celia. I'll tell you when we get there.

"Is it a dream come true to be near my mom?" I swallow the lump in my throat. "How can it not be? I miss her so much. Every single day, I think of her. Sometimes I miss her so much, it physically hurts."

I look at Aram and my dad. "You rented me her apartment and you want to help me leave?"

They stare at me confused, making me chuckle. "I'm not going to find her in the apartment she lived in, in the school she went to or in the museums she visited. My mom's more than that. She wasn't just a beautiful artist. My mom was kind and compassionate. And I'm with her every time I'm around people who are kind and compassionate."

"Celia—" My dad begins, but I cut him off.

"I will leave this town," I say calmly, standing up. "I will get out of here and I will become a lawyer. But it won't be because of your help."

My dad's features harden. Aram's expression remains still and unreadable.

"Thank you for your offer, but I don't want it," I tell Aram, nodding politely before I turn.

"Is this because of that single father?" My dad says behind me.

"Gio?" I ask over my shoulder.

"The new guy in town?" Aram asks my dad as I slowly turn back to them.

He raises his brow at me and studies my expression, seeing something there that makes him burst out laughing.

"The apple doesn't fall from the tree, huh?" he says to my dad, slapping his shoulder.

"What are you talking about?" I ask.

"She doesn't know your love story?" He ignores me, asking my dad. "Why Ava stayed in this town?"

My dad uncomfortably glances at me then at Aram, who takes it as an invitation to continue.

"No wonder..." he smiles, lifting the coffee cup to his lips.

I put my hand on my hip as he sighs and sit backs, spreading his legs wide.

"I'll skip over the details..." he says to me. "But let's just say you and your mom are both hopelessly romantic."

I frown at my dad, but he has his fingers around his mouth, staring at nothing before him.

"Word of advice, Celia?" Aram smiles. "Look at how her life turned out and be different."

"I assure you..." I say slowly, "that I'm not rejecting your son because of Gio."

"She's lying," Alex stumbles in, catching all of us off guard.

His expensive clothes are more disheveled than usual and though he doesn't smell drunk, he sways sideways as he points at me, curling his upper lip.

"I saw them in the lake together."

"Excuse me?" My dad gasps, standing up.

"They were all over each other!" Alex yells, turning red.

"Celia?" My dad glares at me with simmering rage.

"How could you be so foolish? Don't you see that he's just using you?" Alex trips towards me, making me flinch. "He just wants to fool around and when he's done, he'll toss you aside. I'm the one that loves you, I'm the one that's been waiting for you—"

"Enough," Aram cuts him off, then glares at my dad. "Honestly Stefan, I'm shocked. I can't believe you're not aware of your daughter's whereabouts."

"I told you! Now you see what I'm dealing with?" My dad defends himself, pointing at me like I'm possessed. "Celia's lost. She needs Alex just as much as he needs her."

"What?" I whisper. I question my sanity. Whether this is real or if I'm dreaming.

"Well, I suppose it's up to Alex." Aram puffs his chest and shoves his hands in his pockets. "If he's willing to forgive and forget, then who are we to mingle in their affairs?"

"What?" I laugh.

"I'd do anything for Celia..." Alex stares at me longingly.

"Childhood friends!" Aram boasts to my dad. "You know that's a bond hard to break."

"Don't worry, Celia. I'm not mad at you." Alex smiles. His overbite strains in a disturbing way.

"Excuse me," I step away, escaping to the kitchen.

"Are you okay?" Marilyn asks as I stand beside her by the counter and open the cabinet.

I grab a tall glass with shaking fingers and fill it with water. My mouth is too dry. All it does is make me want to throw up.

"Celia..." Alex appears next to me, making me jump.

He ignores my grandma and gets on one knee. A diamond ring shines in a black, little box that he holds up to me.

"Marry me," he says, looking into my eyes. "You're my best friend. I know I'm not perfect, but I'll do my best for you. I'll care for you just like you've always cared for me."

His words trigger memories of us when we were younger. When he'd cry about his dad. When he'd wonder why he's alive when nobody wants him.

I pity him. This is worse than death. To hurt so much that you're forced to abandon reality.

"Don't cry..." He grabs my hand, making me whimper. "Don't cry, Celia..."

He puts the ring on my finger, making my skin crawl.

"I know you're confused right now, but it's okay." He smiles at me. "I'll wait for you to forget about Gio. I'll help you get over him. He won't touch you anymore, I warned him."

"What did you just say?" I stretch my neck towards him and stop breathing.

"He knows his place," Alex says calmly. "He knows not to take advantage of you."

Luna's limp body flashes in my head. Our little black kitten. Playing with Ari, grooming Gio, chilling with me. Ari wailing in Gio's arms who hides his own pain shatters all those moments.

I bring the glass to my chest, desperate to hold onto something. "What did you do, Alex?"

"Nothing! Nothing compared to what you deserve." He comforts me and chuckles. "I'll break anything and anyone to take care of you."

"You hurt... Gio's cat?" Numbness washes over me.

He rolls his eyes. "It's nothing compared to what I'm willing to—"

I smash the glass against his face, shattering it to shreds.

He screams. Blood gushes from his forehead to his chin. Red drops fall on the white tiles.

I stand motionless, out of my body, like watching a movie. My grandma gasps and kneels before Alex, trying to help him up and lean him over the sink.

"What happened here?" My dad barges into kitchen with Aram, gaping at Alex.

Then they notice my hands. One with a diamond ring. The other covered in blood. I'm not even sure if it's mine or only Alex's. I don't feel anything.

"Where do you think you're going?" My dad shouts as I push between them and storm out of the house.

What am I going to do now? What is happening?

"I said where the hell do you think you're going?" My dad grabs my wrist and yanks me back, making me fall in the middle of our gated front yard.

"Dad—" I push to free my hand but he raises his palm and strikes it across my face.

The pain explodes across my skin like a hot whip, shocking me silent.

"Why do you have to be such a disgrace?" His voice echoes from the distance. "You're disgusting! All you do is bring harm! You're a curse, you know that?"

He slaps me again and my vision blurs. I see small, yellow dots. I feel warm wetness on my lips and copper on my tongue. I should've fallen down, but he jerks my wrist up.

"Dad, please..." I cough blood, unsure about what I'm pleading for.

Mercy? Pain? I just want my mom.

"After everything I did for you, this is what I get? A selfish daughter who attacks my best friend's son? You're insane!"

"Dad..." I look up at him and the hatred in his eyes are more painful than his hits.

"Get up, you don't deserve my pity! I'll break you into—" A large fist punches my dad from the side, knocking him over the ground.

~ A/N ~
Sorry for the heaviness, guys. Thank you all for reading <3