k a r r i s

✖

The weekend was the calm before the storm.

They were the last good days before my life changed drastically for the second time this year. The first, was the day my twin brother was fatally shot at a house party. And the second? Well, it would continue to haunt me and invade my dreams like a nasty parasite.

I woke up on Monday morning to chaos. Deep, muffled, and indistinct muttering interweaved with clamorous thuds and bangs woke me from my slumber. Initially, I thought it was some weird remix to my alarm clock, but as my mind drifted from dreamworld, I realized it wasn't. Groggily, I patted my hand atop my side table in search for my phone, and when I felt the cellular device, I squinted at the bright glow.

6:30AM

It was so damn early, and the noise outside of my bedroom door would not stop. What was my mom doing up so early? And why did she feel the need to do construction on a Monday morning? As the questions swirled in my head, the daybreak daze subsided, and I was finally gaining some strength to slip out of my comfy covers.

I yawned as I placed a hand on the silver handle and opened the door. I pushed it open, and instead of seeing my mom ransack the hallway with a sledgehammer while clad in a satin, baby blue sleep set, officers swarmed my home. They threw around police jargon at one another while placing objects into storage boxes.

"What's going on?" I stepped further into the hallway to find Gabe's room wide open.

Curious eyes and a quickened pace allowed my legs to take me towards the room. I found a few more officers inside, taking photographs and dusting the furniture for fingerprints. His desk and dresser were moved from its place against the wall, and all of my brother's belongings were thrown around as if heathens propelled themselves through the room and took comfort in pillaging. The air vent where I found Gabe's weed stash was being searched, and I was glad I got to the hiding place before authorities did.

"Anak,"

(translation: child, dear)

I switched my attention from the crime scene in front of me, to the new voice on my left. Mom stood there, still in her pajamas, and nothing but uneasiness painted her face.

"Mom, why are there officers here?" I questioned, gesturing for Gabe's room. "Did they get a warrant? They're destroying all of his things."

"Miss Villanueva," slicked back dark hair, and a disposition of power, Detective Ross stood in Gabe's closet with a clipboard in his hands. "I can assure you, that we will make sure to bring back all of your brother's belongings in one piece."

My eyes drifted from Detective Ross, down to the carpet he stood on, and remembered the journal that once belonged below him. The secret diary with the bent edges and messy handwriting that I've read front to back seemed innocent to me. There was nothing self-incriminating, and therefore no reason for me to hand it over as evidence.

Right?

"Karris, get all of your school things, your clothes, makeup, anything you need to get ready and go across the street to Sophie's house. I've already called Tita Meg and she said you can get ready there," mom explained. She forced a smile through the agitation, but her eyes told me a different story. My mother was scared; frightened over what Detective Ross would find. If a simple pencil or condom wrapper at the bottom of the sock drawer would reveal something else.

(translation: aunty)

"Ask Berkley if she can take you to school today. If not, then come back and you can take my car," mom concluded, patting my back and encouraging me back into my room.

"Okay, yea," I nodded my head. I shot a glimpse into Gabe's room again, observing Detective Ross as he examined the things inside of my brother's desk.

I found it all so weird— officers parading inside of my twin's room. They did it once, right after his death, but not to this extent. The last time, officers were looking for evidence that could pin Sebastian, and now, they were searching for proof that Gabe brought his death to himself.

My room was morphing into an untidy space as I grabbed clothes and stuffed them into a duffle bag. Body spray, mascara, and a toothbrush all were squeezed into the small compartment. As I neatly placed the needed academic items into my messenger bag, my eyes swept across my middle desk drawer. I pulled it open, and wedged in between random essays and a coloring book, was Gabe's journal. I took it, hiding it inside of my binder, before situating in my bag.

Officers continued to stroll in and out of my brother's room as I passed by, trying to erase the images in my head. The short walk to the Torres household was refreshing, and in those moments, I wished they lived further. Tita Meg cooked me breakfast while I spent some time showering and dressing myself in Sophie's old bedroom. The large square window that faced the street, also faced my bedroom window— it always reminded me Taylor Swift's, 'You Belong With Me'.

"Do you have a ride to school? I can drive you if you need me to," Tita Meg offered, pouring me some orange juice and setting it on the table next to my plate of food.

"Hindi po Tita, thank you, but my friend is coming to pick me up," I informed. "Thanks for breakfast and letting me get ready here."

(translation: no, aunty. the 'po' is used as a term of respect for your elders)

"Of course," Tita Meg gave me a side hug. "This home is your home too."

I did miss being in this house. I used to come over often when Sophie was still in high school. She'd spill all about the drama during her time at Willowridge High, and I'd try to get my homework done at the same time. It was so simple then. The only issues I had were hard math problems, and what I wanted to bring for lunch. Now, life was one huge clusterfuck.

"Hey, are you okay?" Berkley's window rolled down as I approached her idle car.

"Not exactly," I grimaced, pulling open the passenger side door and sliding in. "Tell me a funny story or something cute. I just need some positivity in my life."

"Positivity, huh?" Berkley raised a brow, her lips curving into a smile. "I do have some of that to give you."

"What is it?" I asked, securing my seatbelt.

"Well," she drove away from the curb and down the street. "Yesterday, I told my mom that I'm gay."

"And?"

"And... she already fucking knew,"

"What?" I whipped my attention over to my best friend and gazed at her with wonder.

"I don't know," Berkley laughed. "She's got this weird Mexican mom intuition thing. Anyway, when I came out to her, she just hugged me. She cried and reassured her love for me."

"Aw, Berkley, that's amazing!" I gushed happily, lacing my hands together in glee. "I'm so happy that your mom is okay with everything."

"She took me out to dinner last night, just us two," Berkley excitedly told me. "She, I don't know? She wanted to celebrate me— every part of me."

"Ugh, I love this so much. Definitely makes my morning better," I declared.

Despite having Detective Ross and his posse in my home, causing a ruckus and waking me up at the butt crack of dawn, my best friend's disclosure certainly made me very happy. When we both arrived on campus, laughing our heads off about the insane Riverdale theories we came up with, it was like the opening of some cheesy teen movie. Berkley and I sauntered from the parking lot, to the campus quad where all our friends were.

It was a picturesque scene painted before me: the way both Ashton and Natalia switched their focus from our friends, to us. Their faces lit up as if presented with all the gold in the world, and walked straight over to Berkley and I. It was cute-AF.

"Good morning sweetheart," Natalia pressed a quick peck on Berkley's lips, suddenly collecting the attention of our peers. "I picked up this for you."

"Aw, you didn't have to do this for me," Berkley bit her lip shyly, taking the Starbucks cup from Natalia's hand. Another kiss was shared between the two lovebirds, and from the corner of my eye, I witnessed the surprised gawks from the students who surrounded us.

"Babydoll," Ashton embraced me with a kiss on my forehead.

"Hi," I drawled, bouncing on my toes— damn, this boy made me happy.

"How was your morning?" He tucked a few strands of hair behind my ear, gazing at me with endearment.

I dropped my gaze to my shoes, "Detective Ross got his warrant to search Gabe's room... he and his crew already started exploring his room.

"Hey, come here," Ashton tugged onto my arm, pulling me away from the group. "Was it a complete, utter mess? How are you feeling?"

"It was weird to see so many officers go through Gabe's things, as if they're going to find something incriminating in his collection of Batman merchandise," I let out an unamused chuckle, rubbing my face in frustration. "I don't know. I guess, I'm just glad that I grabbed the weed from the air vent—"

"—and made a fine batch of marijuana-infused brownies," Ashton interjected with a smirk.

"I was teaching Chemistry," I defended with an animated shriek.

"I'm just messing with you," Ashton leaned down to plant a tender kiss on my lips, leaving me seriously breathless. "I'm here if you need to talk, or need to escape your house."

"I know," I took Ashton's hand to squeeze it. "Thank you. Wanna walk me to my locker?"

Like the sound of music in my ears, Ashton fell into a slew of giggles. I eyed him with suspicion, wondering what prompted this cute boy to erupt into laughter.

"What's so funny?" I questioned, cocking my head to the side.

"Remember when I made you and Berkley switch around your lockers for me?" Ashton brought up with a smug expression.

I scoffed, "you were such a jerk face! It was my first day at a new school and instead of welcoming me with open arms, you treated me like trash."

"But hey, I'm welcoming you with open arms now," Ashton's tone was sing-song as he opened up his body for me to fall into. With his arm around my shoulders, and mine around his waist, the two of us began our trek into the main campus building.

We definitely received stares as the two of us stayed cozy. They were mainly looks of shock, but nestled in between were some approving smiles. I wasn't sure what I would expect from my classmates, I just hoped I wouldn't run into jealous females.

And speaking of envious girls— Tegan.

She had her arms crossed above her chest when the blonde-haired bombshell approached our crew. I held my breath, ready to be hit with another Tegan rampage, but when her focus transitioned from Ashton and I to the couple directly behind us, did I realize her words were meant for someone else.

"Lez-be-honest about something," Tegan lifted an eyebrow, stopping Berkley and Natalia in their tracks.

"Oh my gosh," Berkley's left eye twitched in irritation. "What's your problem?"

"So you two," Tegan pointed her finger at the girls, letting out a giggle. "Out in the open."

"Are you racist and a homophobe?" Natalia sneered.

"Firstly, I'm not racist," Tegan declared, shooting a cold glare in Natalia's direction. After a couple of seconds, she turned to look at Berkley. "And secondly, I'm not homophobic. I, um, I actually wanted to commend you on your bravery. I know it's not easy to come out, especially in a picture perfect town like ours, but..."

"Are you actually complimenting us?" Berkley snickered.

Tegan rolled her eyes, "look, my big brother's gay. He came out and my parents sent him to a camp where they tried to pray the gay away— he hasn't been the same since. So, yea. I'm complimenting you."

"Wow, never thought I'd see the day," Berkley's grin grew wider.

"Yea, well, your shirt's ugly and I can see your blackheads," and just like that, Tegan was back to her regular self. It kind of scared me to see her so kind, but I appreciated her sweet words. I knew it wasn't an easy task for her to be the bigger woman, but somewhere deep, and I mean, super deep down, Tegan had a heart.

I guess there was some hope left in this world.

✖

Okay, even though Tegan is a bully & a bitch, she's actually one of my favorite characters I've ever written. I wrote her as an antagonist with a large-scale vocabulary & confident demeanor because I didn't want Tegan to be a typical bimbo/slut like how most mean girls are portrayed in stories. I wanted her to be intelligent, athletic, sensually confident, and deep down have a heart.

This chapter & beyond, things will move quickly because it'll all take place in one day... shit's going down.

Also, I've been obsessed with 3 books here on Wattpad & I just wanna give them a shoutout. You should definitely check them out because the story lines kept me on edge & the writing itself was executed amazingly.

i. "CHEATING DEATH" by mycalumcalromance
ii. "THE REPLACEMENT PROJECT" by aaesthetic-
iii. "1789" by everlasts