Chapter Four

Present Day

Storm

So, Orsen was back in the town...

I didn't really know what to think about that because he didn't tell me much.

I was sitting in the living room watching TV, while he took a shower.

I was just wondering how does he, and every other male being, take longer to wash than a woman?

I mean, what are they doing in there?

"I'm coming down!" he yelled from upstairs.

Jesus Christ, finally.

"What the fuck took you so long? It has been half an hour," I couldn't wait to ask as he sat next to me. "I mean, what are you doing in there, picking flowers?"

He laughed and took the TV remote from my hand, changing the programs.

"Oh, you don't wanna know," he sang, a smirk appearing on his face.

As soon as I realized what was he talking about, I felt completely and utterly disgusted.

"Ew! Why would you even say that?!"

He chuckled, this time falling on his back. He laid on the couch and laughed for at least five minutes while I sat next to him thinking why.

Just why?

"That is so not funny, we're practically siblings! Would you say that to Sar?" I asked as he sat straight, wiping away the tears from laughter.

"I don't have to tell him, he did it too," he informed me, his smirk growing bigger.

I got up from the couch, turning my back on him. I looked out of the window, trying not to visualize it.

Oh, dear God.

"I can't believe you just said that! Again!"

"Well, you asked," he fired back. I turned around, trying to figure out if he was for real.

"Why the fuck would I want to know that you were jerking off in the shower?!"

He laughed, tilting his head back.

"I don't know, you're weird."

I put my hand to my heart and smiled, acting as if I was touched by that comment.

"Why, thank you, you stupid fuck," I replied, picking up a candle from the table and throwing it at him.

He caught it with his right hand, acting offended.

"That was not necessary," he accused me, standing up.

"You aren't necessary."

Before he could attack me, I pretended to look at the clock on the wall.

"Oh gee, I have to go to school," I rushed, pointing at the door.

"I could drive you, if you want," he offered and pulled out the car keys from his pocket.

I shook my head and took my phone out, looking for Zara's contact.

"No need, Zara will pick me up," I declined, calling her.

"Wait!" he yelled and snatched the phone from my hand.

I rose my eyebrows, a question mark levitating above my head. He looked like he shitted himself in the pants.

His face quickly turned soft and cautious, as if I won't like what he was about to say.

"Would you do me a favor?" he asked without breath.

"Depends."

"Don't tell Zara I'm here, nor Lawrence or Drew or anyone else. This is just between you and me."

Was he for real?

I can't fucking believe him!

Everyone missed him so much! He was gone for four months, nobody knew where he was and now he wanted to keep it a secret.

"I hope you're joking," I blinked numbly. He fell down on his knees and took my hand into his.

"Please, Storm," he begged. His eyes were sparkling with kindness, praying for me to be merciful. "I wouldn't have asked you if it wasn't important to me."

I twitched my hand from his, withdrawing myself.

"Have you become soulless? What kind of a best friend would I be if I kept this a secret? You're her cousin! What is wrong with you?" I hissed, punching him in the chest.

"You have to understand I left to be alone," he explained. "I'm just not ready to see everyone."

"Then why did you come back if you're not ready? Go the fuck away!"

"I came back for you."

A bitter laugh escaped my lips as he looked at me puzzled, resembling a lost puppy.

Yeah, right.

He wouldn't have left if he cared about me. When he turned his back on me, it was like he burned every good moment we ever shared.

"If you knew me at all, you wouldn't have asked that," I scorned, taking my phone from his hand.

And with that, I went upstairs without saying a word or turning back.

As soon as I got into the room, I closed the door behind me, undressing. I took a washed-up, denim jeans and Saradonyx's hoodie and walked into the bathroom.

I showered and quickly wrapped myself in a towel. Today was 59°F and I really easily get cold, so I have to layer.

I looked out of the small window. Clouds were dark and didn't let any sun shine through. The wind was blowing so hard that it bent the tree branches.

Ugh, I don't want to go to fucking school!

As I got dressed, my phone rang, Zara's face appearing on the screen.

"Hey, what's up?"

"Yo, Storm, I'm eating, and then I'll come over. Do ya want anything?" she asked, chewing.

"No thanks, I'll eat here," I declined, even though I knew I won't.

I don't really know why, but I have a habit that I can't really get rid of. When something's bothering me, I just can't eat. Even if I haven't eaten for a day, I couldn't see or smell food.

Sar was the only one that knew how to help me.

"You liar," she mumbled. "Mum, Storm won't eat again!" she yelled and laughed. "Now you're doomed."

I groaned, closing my eyes. Traitor.

God, why would you do this?

Punish me with anything, but this.

"Fuck you, Zara," I mumbled. As in response, she laughed again.

"Storm, what were you thinking?" Zara's mum lectured. "I know you have a lot going on, but you can't let the demons win. You have to take care of yourself and eat regularly. You know what? I think you just need someone to take care of you. Being alone is doing you more damage than it helps and-"

"Okay, Mrs. N, okay! I got it," I interrupted her, waving the white flag. If I didn't do it now, she would talk for ten more minutes, if not even more.

"Now, I will pack you some pancakes for breakfast and lunch for later. And you'll eat it all, right?"

"Yeah, Mrs. N. Thank you," I surrendered.

Zara's mum is a good person. She talks a lot, but she is the closest thing to a mother I've ever had. She took care of me when I met Saradonyx and after his death.

For the past few months, she's been pulling me out of that dark place on a daily basis.

And I couldn't be more thankful.

If only she talked less.

"There you go, Storm. You can't skip meals and you must take care of yourself!" Zara imitated her mother.

"Oh, go to hell. I don't have time for this."

"Love you too!" she yelled before I hung up.

I put down the phone, brushing my hair and tying it up in a ponytail. I also applied a little bit of make-up so I didn't look dead, even though I felt like it.

You'd be surprised if you knew how often this happened with Zara and her mother. Whenever I'm at their house, Mrs. N makes me a meal and I have to eat it in front of her.

Zara usually sits by my side and mocks me.

When I finally finished, I looked at myself in the mirror. A confident smile on my face masked all the sadness and pain I felt.

Even though I felt tired of pretending and hiding from everyone, this was the safest thing to do. Zara thought I was better and I couldn't let Orsen think he hurt me.

This was for the best.

I picked up my backpack from the floor and my coat from the closet, closing the door of the room behind me.

"Where are you going?" Orsen demanded as soon as he saw me climbing down the stairs.

"To school," I replied, putting on the black Converse on my feet.

"What, you won't even look at me?"

I laughed bitterly, finally raising my head to look at him.

I could notice straight away that he was genuinely surprised and offended, although he didn't have any right to be.

He was wrong and I was the one who had the most reasonable reaction.

"Now you know how I felt when you left me without any explanation," I fired back, even though I knew I didn't have to justify myself.

As I stood up, my phone rang. I looked at him emotionless and picked it up.

"I'm here, babe," Zara announced. I nodded, even though she obviously couldn't see me.

"I'll be outside in a second," I muttered and hung up.

Orsen kept looking at me while I talked to Zara, so when I returned him the look, he raised his eyebrows.

What, does he think I'm gonna apologize or run into his arms?

"Goodbye, Orsen."

And with that I left the house and closed the doors behind me, not turning back.

I leaned on them, closing my eyes.

Fucking hell.

He has really changed since the last time I saw him.

"Hey, what's wrong?" Zara asked worriedly.

I opened my eyes and looked at her. She was leaned on her black G Wagon, but as soon as she noticed my condition, she started walking towards me.

"Let's just go," I quickly dismissed the situation and walked past her in the car.

"Okay, jeez," I heard her mumble before she followed me.

She sat down in the driver's seat while I looked through the window.

Zara started the car which was followed by a loud roar, as I thought to myself.

How am I supposed to lie to Zara? She'll know something's up because I'm a terrible liar. She's probably wondering what's wrong with me right now.

As we drove away from the house, Zara turned on the music.

When we arrived at the school, the parking lot was empty. I looked at the clock and sighed.

Of course we were late.

"Neither you nor I are walking out of this car 'til you say what the fuck happened," she demanded an explanation and crossed arms.

By her facial expression and body language, I could tell she wasn't fucking around.

I couldn't lie to her. She would tell me the truth if she was in my shoes, I know it.

"Okay, but listen to me before you freak out," I warned her, taking her hand.

She nodded, taking a deep breath.

I saw a spark of fear in her eyes, the fear that still remained from Sar's death.

Do I really want to do this?

I know I shouldn't have second thoughts about this, but I don't want to make her sad. We were in a dark place for a long time.

What if it happens again?

So I decided to lie. Well, not lie. Just tell the other truth.

"I haven't eaten for two days," I confessed, shame taking over my entire body.

Pure horror filled up her eyes, as tears poured down her cheeks. I opened my mouth to apologize, to say I can't help myself, but before I knew it, she raised her hand.

"Get out of my car," she snapped, not even looking at me. Her head was pointed in front of her and I could see the rage in her eyes.

I knew there was nothing I could do.

But I would rather for her to be mad at me than blame herself and think what has she done wrong that Orsen hates her.

I would rather that she hates me than him.

And that was why I got out of the car and walked towards the school. My stomach was tied in knots and I could barely walk.

C'mon Storm. You can do this.

Before I could take another step, someone grabbed my shoulders and turned me around.

Zaraella.

"Are fucking stupid? I don't want to lose you," she wept, tears streaming down her face.

I couldn't stop myself from crying either. We were both such a mess.

"Look at us! We need to pull it together," I sniffed, my voice trembling. I wiped away the tears with my sleeve and buried my head in her shoulder.

She nodded, pulling out a cigarette. I took one too and we sat on the bench near the school in quiet.

We were like that for a while.

She was the one to break the silence.

"You are coming to live with me," she announced and pointed her cigarette at me. "And you know what? I'm not a baby. I'm Zaraella fucking Stone. I'm the party animal," she continued, getting up from the bench.

"You're right. We're fucking crazy and we need to regain our power," I added.

"First thing?" she asked me.

I nodded. "Revenge prank."

While Saradonyx was still alive, we would pull pranks on school all the time. We were just living our lives and being happy as much as we could be.

So, when he died, Law, Drew, Zara, and I made a promise we would pull the best prank in the history of pranks in his honor.

"You text Drew, I'll deal with Law," she ordered, already pulling her phone out.

I stopped for a second. We are like sisters. And I feel so horrible for not telling her the truth or not apologizing.

"Zara, wait," I stopped her. She looked at me with raised eyebrows.

"I'm sorry."

"You don't have to be, I'm sorry for overreacting. I'm your best friend, I should start acting like one."

"No, you don't understand," I shook my head, sitting on the bench again.

"What's up, babe?"

I took a deep breath and patted the place next to me. She sat down and I took her hands in mine, looking her in the eyes.

She was worried.

"Orsen came back," I simply announced, but my tone gave it away.

"But he doesn't wanna see us," she continued. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

"This is how it's gonna go," I began, gripping her hands tighter in support. "I'm gonna move in with you and your mum today and I'll start eating better. We'll invite Law and Drew over and plan the biggest prank for Sar."

She nodded in return, kissing my hands. "And fuck Orsen!" she yelled, with half-smile and glossy eyes.

"Yeah, exactly. Fuck Orsen!"

And with that, we went into the school, hugging and laughing.

And we also missed the entire first period.

Oops.

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What do you think of this chapter? Do you understand Orsen or do you hate him? You'll see he wasn't always like this. And what about Zara and Storm? What do you think about this revenge prank they're gonna plan?

Anyways, have a good day/night!

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