Song: Vinyl by Kira Kosarin

Chapter Twenty-five: You look like you've been eaten and thrown up by a walrus

"How long did you think you could hide this from me?" 

I yelped at the sound of someone in my room. I was coming out of the bathroom after my shower. I was so lucky Reveka hadn't woken me up by bouncing on me this morning. In fact, she hadn't woken me up at all because I woke up before her.

My shirt was raised with my hand so my torso was on display. I had removed the rib wrap and taken the medications. I was just about to try that rib belt which was now in Reveka's hands.

"I know I wanted connecting doors, but that was only because knocking has been invented."

She stood up from my bed and stared at the purple bruise and swelling on my torso because I hadn't used the medications yesterday.

"How long did you think you could hide this from me?" She repeated.

I sighed. "I wasn't hiding it."

"What do you call not telling me about it, even though you've had multiple chances to?"

"Omitting information?" I offered.

"How did you get it?"

Don't bother lying to her. She knows you're Avery. 

Plus, lying gets people nowhere.

"While I was being Avery, this guy flirted with me."

And so?

"Really? That's how you got it? Some guy flirted with you?"

"Well, he also tried to kidnap me."

"He tried to kidnap you?" She practically yelled.

I grabbed the rib belt from her to wrap around myself. "If you want him to come back, keep screaming." I gave her a pointed look.

"What do you mean come back? Does he plan to escape jail?"

"About that..." I trailed off.

Her jaw dropped. "He's not in jail? They didn't catch him? We'll go to the police station after school. How can they just let this go?"

"No, no, no. To them, I fell down the stairs."

"What? Why would you tell them that?"

"He didn't try to kidnap me, he tried to kidnap Avery. If I file a report, they police would figure it out."

Don't you think it's time to let this whole Avery thing go?

And what? Become a janitor? I want and I will to go to college.

Just tell your mum.

My mum? The one who's currently in the hospital? Plus, she would never let me.

Then do it without her consent.

Maybe I can start that when I am my own legal guardian at 18. Aren't you meant to advice me to do good?

Jeopardizing your safety is not good.

I am safe. He's not coming back. He ran away for a reason. I've heard stories of obsession and mine is not one of it.

"And what if he comes back for you?"

"He's not going to."

"How can you be so sure?"

"I'll make sure I'm never alone. Simple."

"Charvi." She groaned.

I ignored her and started rapping the rib belt around myself. I winced when I had wrapped it too tight.

"Let me help you with that." She walked up to me to help wrap it around me.

I hesitated. "Are you sure you can do this?"

She gave me a pointed look and I just gave her the rib belt. She passed it around my body and stuck it in when it felt right enough.

"Thanks." I muttered.

"You're welcome." She said. "Don't hide things from me. Ever."

"I promise. Now I'm going to get dressed." I was currently in my biggest black T-shirt. I'm all for baggy clothes now. I was used to jeans, but I wasn't just feeling it today. I picked my black joggers from my opened box. I hadn't had time to unpack.

"Are you really going to school dressed like that?" Reveka questioned as I sat on my bed to tug the joggers up. She was wearing a dark blue sweater dress and black boots.

You're going to look like a hobo.

Wearing a big shirt with joggers does not make me a hobo. Whoever thinks that has a problem.

You're thinking that.

Let me rephrase. Whoever thinks that, except me, has a problem.

 Peachy. What about your puffy eyes?

"What's wrong with what I'm wearing?" I asked as I went to look for some sneakers to where. I put on the first one I saw. My grey almost-worn out ones with white soles.

I may have not had enough sleep last night because I cried through most of it. 

Smiling increases your lifespan.

That's why I'm going to smile my day away. That is until I see my mum.

"Absolutely nothing." She said as she walked to her room.

***

"Where is everyone?" I asked as I walked into the kitchen where Reveka was looking in the fridge.

She shrugged. "They probably sleep in."

I hadn't seen Anastasia or Aaron since I got here last night and it seemed I'd go to school without seeing them to.

"Are we supposed to wait for them?"

She scoffed. "And what? Be late?" She sat on the stool at the counter and rested her head on it. "He said make yourself at home yesterday. Well, I can't make myself feel at home if there's no food I like. Everything in there is literally green."

I walked to the cupboard and pulled out Froot Loops which was placed behind a box of Honey Cheerios. At least, they had good cereal taste.

"There's cereal." I offered knowing very well she didn't like milk and cereal.

She just groaned. I chuckled and proceeded to the fridge to grab a carton of milk.

"Did you ask Kai to pick us up like I told you to?"

I hadn't gotten around using my new phone. I felt somewhat uncomfortable knowing Zane bought it for me. I know it might not make sense. His name literally made images and scenes of him invade my brain, and now it won't get out. I hate it.

"Yeah. I also sent him the location. He'll be here soon."

"Good."

At that moment, I heard a scream that could break windows.

I closed the fridge and saw Anastasia at the entrance of the kitchen. She was wearing a tank top and shorts with a pink robe over her. I think she had a towel wrapped around her head. She also had this green stuff on her face I think was some sort of face scrub. She wouldn't stop screaming. It went on for like a whole 30 seconds. Don't people lose their breaths?

I whispered to Reveka. "Is this supposed to be like all those scenes from the movie where we scream back?"

"With the way she's still screaming, I think she expects us to."

I shut the fridge. "She can continue expecting."

I think she heard me, because then her screaming died down. Then she pointed an accusing finger at me. "You! I know you're poor, but I thought you were smarter than this."

I blinked. What is she talking about?

"Poor? Who do you think you're calling poor?" It seemed that was the only part Reveka got from what she said.

"Speak when spoken to, rugrat."

I laughed a little. "I honestly can't take you seriously."

"And I honestly do not have time for this." Reveka pointed out as she picked her phone from her bag, I'm guessing to call Kai to get his ass over here.

"I'm the one that doesn't have time for this. Do you think you can just sneak into my house and steal?"

Steal? She thought we were stealing? Wow.

I sat down on the counter to prepare my cereal. She was screaming about something, but I blocked her out as I munched on the sweet goodness that is cereal. I only looked up when Aaron walked in with his Dad.

"Good morning." Dad greeted.

I just nodded to him and gave him a smile. I'm supposed to hate him, but I'm living in his house, so that kind of makes it hard.

"Arabella, why are you ranting?"

"She came to our house to steal and you're greeting her good morning? If thieves knew we were so hospitable, we'd be penniless by now."

He gave her an incredulous look. "She's not a thief. I told you yesterday she'd be staying with us for a few weeks until her mother gets out of the hospital."

I didn't listen to what they were saying anymore because of the little boy that sat next to me.

"Morning Aaron." I smiled at him.

"Morning Nova." He smiled back and then his smile dropped. "I'm sorry about your Mum."

"Thanks. I'm okay because I know she'll be okay. So don't worry."

He nodded.

"Hi." I heard Reveka say as she walked back over to us.

"Hey Nora." He waved at her.

She turned to me. "Kai's outside. Let's go."

I finished the last bit of my cereal in a rush and hurried towards where Reveka had just walked out from without a second glance at Dad. Anastasia had probably gone back to her room to dress up.

"Isn't Arabella going to drive you to school?"

I shook my head and continued out the door.

"Are both of you planning not to say a word to me?"

I turned back to him and shrugged before continuing out the door.

***

"Whoa! Whoa! Whoa! Only people that have heard the word 'vogue' are allowed into this vehicle." 

"Then how did you get in?" I asked as I opened the door and entered.

He rolled his eyes at me and continued his mouth attacking. "You look like you've been eaten and thrown up by a walrus."

"How nice of you to compliment me so early in the morning." I mockingly gestured to the sky.

He turned to Reveka who was sitting in the back seat, laughing. "What did I tell you about swapping fashion tips?"

She raised her hands in mock surrender and sighed. "I tried."

"I can't believe you two talk about me behind my back." I said as I stared at both of them.

"You better believe it." 

"Honestly, I'm flattered." I commented with a hand over my chest.

He snorted, "Only because you didn't hear what we'd been saying." I ignored him as he started the car and drove towards school.

He was smiling so much I thought his teeth would fall off. "Someone's unnecessarily happy this morning."

"Is it that obvious?"

"Very. What's going on?"

His smile faltered. "I heard your Mum was in an accident."

"And that's what making you happy?" I teased knowing very well that couldn't possibly be it.

"Of course not. I just wasn't sure you'd want to hear about my happiness."

"Kai, really? Why would you even think that? I'd love to hear why you're so happy."

"Okay." He beamed. "There are two reasons actually. I'll start from the second reason. I like a girl."

"Really? I thought you were gay."

He glanced at me with a shocked expression.

"Kidding."

He glanced at me again. "Your seat belt Char."

I thought of something smart to say. Wearing my seat belt would press my torso and I didn't want that.

"Reveka, I thought you said you weren't 6."

"I'm not. Charvi is."

I half turned to glare at her. She seemed to catch on. "Charvi has a reason."

"Which is?"

"She fell down the stairs." She blurted. "A lot of stairs. Stairs have sharp teeth, you know."

I turned to glare at her again.

"Oh my God! Charvi are you okay?"

"I'm laughing with you, aren't I?" 

He still kept shooting panicked glances at me. "Kai. Calm down. I said I'm fine. Just a little bruise on my torso."

"Now I feel more guilty about telling you all this."

"I'm going to ignore your stupidity. Back to this girl who snatched your heart."

That made his faltering style return. "I just found out she likes me back after about a year of secretly hiding my feelings."

"You must have hid it very well if Charvi thought you were gay." Reveka pointed out as I snickered.

"Haha. You're quite the joker!!"

"I am planning to earn a living from it."

"You won't succeed." I pointed out, teasingly.

She clapped her hands together. "Oh, how I love my sister bringing me down."

"My pleasure." I turned back to Kai. "I can't believe you hid that from me. Do I know this girl?"

He began mumbling and blushing.

"Is that a blush I see?"

"No." He sharply replied.

"I know this girl, don't I? Why won't you tell me who she is?"

"I want to ask her to be my girlfriend. Once I do, I'll tell you."

"Fine." I mumbled an agreement. "What about the main reason?"

He grinned like a Cheshire cat. I guess he and Leyla have something in common.

"My mum woke up yesterday."

"What?" I reached over and gave him a light hug. "Oh my God, Kai! I'm so happy for you."

I was really happy for him. He didn't even have to wait that long. It's been a little over 2 weeks. I was so scared for him. I thought it'd be like years or something, or maybe even never.

You are quite the optimist.

"Thanks. I'm so happy for myself to. And my dad. He's finally back from the dead. I mean, he literally stopped living."

"All the while, he was persuading you to live a little, wasn't he?"

Classic parents.

"Would he be a parent if he didn't?" He laughed off. "That's why I missed school yesterday."

"I don't understand. Your mum woke up yesterday. So did I. So did we all."

I half turned to Reveka. She was texting on her phone. I turned back to Kai. "Should we tell her?"

He looked up at the front view mirror. "With the way she's texting on her phone, I doubt she'll hear us."

"True." I laughed.

***

I hope I didn't drag it. I wasn't planning on including this chapter, but after a while I thought it was necessary. I promise the next chapter will be way better. I hope. Please vote, comment and share. Thanks :]