Page 8 of Fractured Constellations
I’m back home later that evening, sore and tired, but I know the slight pain from the procedure will fade in a few days. Jerry leads me up to my new room with a grin, telling me he’ll have dinner sent up so I can continue to rest.
My mouth gapes open when I walk in, my new space more beautiful than I even imagined it. The walls are a soft blush pink, and there are rose gold and cream accents, which makes the space feel almost like I’m amongst the clouds. The furniture is made from a warm colored wood, and there’s a large but delicate four-poster bed with gauzy canopies that make it look like the perfect princess bed. On the far wall, glass doors are open, the white sheer curtains floating in the breeze, and it seems to lead to a balcony that must overlook the garden. In front of the doors is my telescope, and a lump forms in my throat at being able to look at the stars again. They became my constant in an ever-changing world, where nothing was certain. They reminded me that I was a small part of something unimaginably big, and I found comfort in that.
All of my stuff is already here, my collection of crystals and my paperback collection organized prettily on shelves that line one wall. There’s a plush-looking pink velvet chair that I can just imagine myself curled up in while reading.
“You approve?” Jerry asks, and before I overthink it, I fling my arms around the man and give him a hug.
“It’s stunning, thank you,” I gush, tears filling my eyes at the work it must have taken the staff to get this ready for me. I’m not sure what the room was like before, but the slight lingering smell of fresh paint tells me it’s been revamped just for me.
“I’m so pleased. I’m sure the rest of the staff will be too,” he replies, his arms hugging me right back, and I just bask in the comfort for a moment. I’ve barely seen Mom, as she’s been so busy with Robert, and I realize how much I just needed a hug. She took me to my port surgery, but spent much of the time I was with her on the phone to Robert, and I’m not sure she gave me a full hug the whole time.
Jerry leaves me to go and sort some food out, and I must’ve fallen asleep, because when I blink my eyes open, it’s dark outside, the room a bit chilly from the nighttime breeze. Sounds of people laughing and music filter in from outside, as well as the scent of weed, and rubbing the sleep from my eyes, I get up, heading over to the balcony.
My lights are off, but there are plenty outside for me to see all three triplets lounging by the pool, several others around them, including quite a few girls wearing barely there bikinis with figures to die for. My arms wrap around my own thin waist as I watch them, laughing, drinking, and having fun. I can’t make out their words, but even Blade, who was so cold this morning, is smiling.
Green eyes catch mine, and I step back quickly, shutting the doors as my heart beats fast in my chest. I don’t want Chase to catch me staring, no doubt looking like I wish they’d invite me to join in. I’ve never really had a friendship group, never had a best friend, as everyone seemed to be taken by the time I went back to school, and now with this, my plans to start college in the fall will have to go on hold, so it looks like I’ll be a loner for a bit longer.
Walking over to the table beside the door, I find a covered plate, and lifting the lid, there’s a selection of cold meats, freshly baked bread, and creamy butter. There’s a thermos next to it, and unscrewing the lid, the scent of my favorite mint tea wafts up to me, steam curling from the cup.
My lips lift in a smile, the tightness in my chest easing slightly. Maybe I’m not as alone as I thought I was.
“TOXIC” BY OMIDO
THORN
All the usual crowd is here, but even though previously I’d be having the time of my life, letting off steam after being forced to sit through all the boring shit that I’ve had to listen to over the past week, it feels a little flat.
I had more excitement messing with our new pretty stepsister than this party.
“Thorn baby, what’s up?” Rachel whines, and the sound sets my teeth on edge. The girl might give exceptional head and always be up for a threesome or foursome with my brothers, but god, does her nasally voice grate.
“Maybe he’s thinking about that hot piece of ass sleeping in his old studio.” Bradley chuckles, and before I can even say a word, Blade has picked him up and launched him into the pool.
That has me bursting into laughter, especially when Bradley comes up spluttering.
“What the fuck, dude?” he shouts, bobbing in the centre of the water.
“You don’t speak about her or to her,” Blade snarls, voice no louder than it usually is but all the more deadly for the lack of volume.
“Fine, Jesus,” Bradley agrees with a huff, swimming over to the edge and pulling himself out.
I look at my brother, my eyebrows raised as I study him as he gets himself another drink, bourbon of course. It’s not like lashing out is unusual for him, hell, he’s the hit first and tell them to fuck off later type. What’s more surprising is that it almost feels like he was defending our new little sis, which doesn’t make any sense because we all hate her, right?
Shaking my head, knowing that I won’t get any answers unless I ask him, and even then there’s a fifty-fifty chance he’ll keep quiet, I pick up the blunt I was about to smoke and light that fucker up.
Bradley was right on one count. I’m pissed that I no longer have a studio. Nowhere aside from my room to express my art, something that Dad finds unpalatable anyway. Well, fuck him. I’m going to chat to Jerr, see if there’s a shed or something I can use. I need to paint, need to be able to get all the pent-up shit that tries to drown me out of my head.
“Pass that,” Blade’s deep voice demands. Blowing out the toke I just took, I hand him the spliff, watching as he takes a huge inhale. He doesn’t always indulge, because his body is apparently a temple, or maybe he views it as a weapon to be honed for some future battle.
Mine is more of a playground, something to help me have fun and fuck around. Life is all about the pleasures it brings, and fuck knows, in the Banks family, there isn’t always a lot of fun going around.
“Father told me that we’re having a family dinner tomorrow night. All of us,” Chase states, Blade handing the blunt to him as our friends party and laugh around us. They know that sometimes we want to be left alone, even if the girls always cast glances our way, giving us bedroom eyes.
“Ohhh goodie,” I snark, taking the spliff back off him and inhaling another drag.Fuck, that’s good. I can feel all my muscles relaxing already. Only the best shit for the Banks name, even if it’s recreational.
“Yeah, well, we can ignore the bitches,” Blade rumbles, taking the blunt off me again and drawing a deep pull. “Not our problem if they don’t like it.”
“Plus, there’s a party at Chelsea’s tomorrow night, so we can go and leave her behind. Show her that she’s not part of our lives,” Chase adds, leaning back on the lounger and closing his eyes. This is the only time I see him relax even somewhat, after he’s smoked a joint. He’s usually so uptight and straight-laced. Focused.
