3

Is this the sign a rapture is coming? Is the world coming to an end?! I'm not ready to die!

"Quinnel?" I asked again.

Don't blame me. I'm shocked to the bones right now. Quinnel Ashford is on the phone with me?! 

As in, it's Quinnel, the captain of the basketball team. The one I only talked to by mistake this morning! Yes, that Quinnel.

"Navaeh, you still there?" I heard making me shake my head slipping the thought out of my head.

"Umm, Quinnel Ashford?" I asked still in disbelief.

 "Don't hang up...please. I know you probably hate me but..."

"I don't hate you Quinnel." I said cutting him off.

"You don't?! Oh my God! Thank you so much. Oh Goodness! I was scared you did." He replied heaving a sigh of relief.

"Well I don't so..." I dragged kicking the air.

"Oh right... Look I know what happened has happened but could you kind of... forgive me? That's all I need. Look..." He said and then paused.

"I'm sorry for that time and all but I just need your forgiveness. Could you forgive me and let's be friends?" He continued rambling.

"Quinnel... I..." I said and paused.

"I just... I'm speechless really... I really am. Just..."

"Vee?" A small voice said from the background.

"Hold on." I said turning my head to Aerin.

"Yes baby?" I replied. 

"I'm hungry." 

"Oh. Aelin too?" I asked. 

She nodded her head blinking at me. Her hair was no longer in a ponytail. 

"Do you want noodles then?" 

"Ooh! With meat sliced in it?!" She asked.

"With meat sliced in it." I said nodding my head at her and then winked.

"Wait till Aelin hears!" She replied and ran out of the room.

"Quinnel? You still there?" I asked. He had grown silent 

"Oh yeah. Yeah yeah. That was...?" 

"My younger sister, Aerin." I replied with slight happiness in her voice. Oh shit, I'm smiling like Joker.

"So then who's Aelin?" He asked curiously.

"Her twin sister." I replied.

"Woah! Twin siblings?! That's so cool!" He gushed.

"Yeah... They're the best siblings you could ask for." I said smiling.

"Caspian is the best too." He replied making me rolling my eyes.

"Caspian? Does he attend Silva Elementary School?" I asked sitting up.

"How do you know my brother?" He asked instead.

"I knew the surname was yours. I just didn't think he was your brother. I thought your Dad..." I said and hesitated.

Don't say shit.

"Yeah... IVF. That's how my little boy was brought to life." He said without batting an eye.

"Oh... Yeah that's cool." I replied lowly.

Well, damn. I had no idea about that one. 

"You know you're the only person I'm telling this. Not even Zaire knows." He whispered.

"Thanks." She muttered.

"You still haven't answered my question." He said after some minutes of silence.

"Oh right... Aelin reported him to me. Said the boy disturbed her in the class but it turned out he just wanted to share sweets with them." I answered.

"I didn't know Caspian was generous." 

"Neither did I know Aelin was nice. She's kinda the most wicked girl ever." I added and laughed.

"I'm sure she's not that bad." He replied joining in my laugh.

"She's... her. Just Aelin."

"You know, Aelin is-"

I cut myself off when I heard the front door slam close and the dream catcher just by my door shook at the impact.

Don't ask me how I know it's the front door. Live in a house long enough, and you would definitely know every sound in the house.

And I knew who was here this time around. Yep, you're right. My parents.

"Hey, Quinnel. Can you hang up for a moment?" I asked and I pulled my phone away from my ears in anger without waiting

I opened my door in anger hearing their yells already and walked down the stairs to see the television still playing the Disney movie Frozen but the couches in front of it was empty.

I pursed my lips and turned to my Mum and Dad. Still arguing. I don't even think they sense they fact that the twins aren't on the chair or the fact that their subscription money is running off without anyone watching it or the fact that I'm standing right here.

The iron that was used as the design almost tore my leg off just now but neither of them even looked at where she threw the bag.

The bag hit a table and then I saw the vase swirl for a moment and I made no move to catch it as it fell to the ground with a loud crash.

Had it caused a havoc? Was someone's life in danger? How was their kids? Were they alive? Well? 

But I knew it wasn't going to cross their mind. I knew it too well it didn't hurt me anymore. It hadn't since 2 years ago.

Not once.

"Maybe if you stopped acting high and mighty, I'll consider answering you." Mum said glaring at Dad.

"Oh please. Just shut your trap up you bitch!" Dad replied her with the same look.

Note... There's a lot of cussing from here on. Skip if you don't like cusses.

"Just shut the fuck up! Both of you!" I yelled angrily. Can't they just shut up?! Please?!

"You guys are pathetic! I fucking hate you. Both of you! You are a bitch and you a bastard. I'm pretty sure both of you know that yesterday was the end of the first week of resumption. But did you guys even give a fuck?! You came back last night and yell at each other like you always fucking do! Aren't you guys tired of this display of stupidity everyday? Cause I am!" I yelled throwing my hand up in frustration.

"And even if you guys aren't considering me at least consider the twins! They're just Five years old! Five, Mum." I said spreading out my palm.

"Oh honey... I..." Mum started tears already coming down her stupid face. Damned crocodile tears. All the fucking time.

"You what Mum? You're trying? If you want to really try... please behave like a mum to Aelin and Aerin that's all I'm asking for." 

"I... I'll make dinner. How about that?" 

"Do you even know what we had for breakfast, Lunch? Oh, do you even know where the ingredients are?" I asked crossing my arm.

She looked down at her hand and I nodded.

"No, you don't." 

I turned around walking upstairs feeling tears cloud my eyes but I did nothing and only angrily ascended the stairs.

I had reached the top of the stairs and was about to take a turn to my room when someone collided their head into my hips.

My phone fell to the ground but it was none of my problems right now.

"Aelin what's wrong with you?" I asked crouching down to her level so we were eye to eye.

"Nothing. Sorry... Here's your phone. Seems like your call connected." She replied. 

I knew what she was doing. She was eavesdropping. On their fight. Shit.

I brought my hand up and wiped my tears harshly with the back of my hand and then cleaned Aelin's eyes that had slight tears in it.

They don't deserve my tears. Our tears.

I lookdd down at my phone in confusion and then I was surprised.

Quinnel didn't switch off the phone. He didn't hang up.

My phone was with me the whole time.

I... My phone. He heard.

Quinnel fucking Ashford knows. He knows my damned secret. I made to place the phone on the ear when he finally disconnected the call and I saw myself staring back at me on my phone's blank screen.

No... No... God, No. Please no.

He can't hear it. He shouldn't have heard it. No! 

No one in school was supposed to know till I graduated! Now, Quinnel knows. Everyone knows him! He's the popular bastard.

I broke down into sobs that I was holding back. I ran to my room slamming the door after me as I fell onto the bed with my face on my pillow.

"Vee?" I heard from behind me.

Rubbing my face in my pillow, I turned around and saw Aerin and Aelin.

"Kids?!" I heard Mum yell.

They looked at the door and then at me. I smiled at them, a fake one though and nodded my head.

"Go on." I said.

"Are you okay?" Aelin asked ignoring what I just said.

"Go on, I'll be fine." I said.

Aerin opened her mouth to talk and Mum yelled once again cutting them off.  

"We'll be right back." She said instead and pulled her twin sister almost immediately.

I turned my head to my window sucking in a deep breath.

Now how do I go to school on Monday? Let me improvise and think.

First, bargain with Quinnel. Since he wants my forgiveness, I'll make a deal with him. As long as he promises to keep his mouth shut and keep my secret.

But will he-

I was cut off yet once again that night as I turned to my window. The sound came from there. It sounded again and I swear my heart is beating as fast as you can say the letter slash word I.

I slowly stood up suddenly cursing the fact I was only dressed in a bum short and a tank top. I walked to the window and another pebble came flying at it.

I opened it slowly to see someone I nevee thought I would see this early.

Yep.

Quinnel freaking Ashford.

The captain of the Basketball team if Silva High was at my window with his left hand in his pocket and his right waving at me.

"Hey." 

What the-?