Two Hours

Sean

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"Oh frick, wait what?"

Did I hear that correctly?

"It's almost 10 pm, and you two are going out?" They must be out of their god damn minds. "I don't know about that."

At this hour, the roads aren't exactly friendly. And the thought of Saffron and Destiny out alone doesn't exactly come across as the best idea.

Even if it is to visit Mrs. Knight.

Destiny opens her mouth to protest and I wait but she's cut off when Saffron says, "Well we do. A promise is a promise, you guys out of all people should understand that."

Okay, this situation is different. Who even told her that?

Royal.

"I don't care. Would you look out the window?" I point, in frustration. Pitch fucking black.

"Just tell the guy you'd contact us if anything goes wrong. He won't stop," Seth aids, backing me up, licking his popsicle.

Oh shit, that might be a problem.

Wait, when the hell did he go through my fridge?

"Plus, he has a point. It's pretty late and—"

I get out of my seat and block their view of Seth. "Destiny, I have your—"

"Let's go, Des," Saffron demands, cutting me off and pulling Destiny out of the kitchen.

Fuck. Should I run after her?

I turn to Seth, rubbing my face in annoyance and frustration, and point to the door they exited from. "I have Destiny's phone."

Seth laughs, slurping his popsicle up like a child. "Oh frick? You going soft, Sean?"

Are you for real? I ask Seth in one glare.

He rolls his eyes. "Alright, alright, you can have a popsicle too," he says, getting up from his seat and making his way towards the refrigerator. He grabs a popsicle and unravels the wrapper.

"Here. You could've just asked, he shrugs, sitting back down.

What the fuck?

"Seth, this is my house. I don't need your permission to eat the groceries I buy," I assert, emphasizing the last I.

He shrugs, and I place the earbuds back into my ears, deciding that I'd much rather listen to Destiny's taste in touchy-feely music, rather than the sound of Seth's voice.

I take a deep breath and relax to the sound of the beat, then I make my way to my bedroom and lay down in the comforts of my bed. Almost immediately, my mind goes back to—

The fireworks.

The blast.

I never knew how far my mind was capable of going back. The moment the fireworks shot up into the air, I froze. Echoing through my mind was nothing but the sound of a trigger. The trigger.

I used everything in me to pull myself out, but I was already in too deep. My mind was holding me hostage, replaying that night over and over again.

My own personal hell.

For a moment there, I stopped fighting. I allowed for the memories to flood in and just like that, I drowned. Swimming in an endless loop of regret and remorse. I allowed myself to feel the pain. What I felt at the moment was nothing compared to what I know I deserve. And as much as I torture myself for it, I deserve worst.

I should've stayed that night.

I was a coward.

When I thought I was finally going to break under the pressure, I took a breath and relaxed under her gaze. She was doing it again. Looking at me like she was searching for something beyond what I had to offer.

If it were anyone else, I would've immediately dropped my gaze. She rested her eyes on mine and gave me the strength to hold on. Did she know what she was doing? How quick she was able to pull me out of the depths of my mind, with just one look.

What does she see when she looks at me?

I think back to all the moments I've spent with Destiny.

I don't know much, but here's one thing. I like when she's happy.

Unfamiliar feelings started to cloud my thoughts and for once, I allow it. Because for once, my mind wasn't creating another one of its chaotic storms and for once, there wasn't anywhere else I wanted to be except for in my mind. So I let myself think. I close my eyes and I think, and I think until I slowly give in to the pressure on my eyelids.

• • • • • •

I wake to the sound of the music stopping and I sit down. I take the earbuds out of my ears and take in my surroundings. What was once the bedroom I always looked forward to returning to, is now the bedroom I've officially moved into.

Almost.

It's been over a month and I haven't unpacked.

I grab an empty box in the corner and begin to place all my old toys inside.

I could donate these.

I pushed all the boxes to one side and opened the door to my old closet. Now I'm not too big on clothes so I'm not lying when I say even this is unnecessarily big for me. I don't own a shop, and I barely take up half the room, but I'm grateful.

My shoes are an exception.

I packed up my old clothes and began to replace them with the new ones I had brought back from Moonsdale.

I caught a glimpse of a box stashed in the far corner of my closet so I pulled it out, knowing exactly what was inside. Memories. I leaned my back against the wall of my closet and took a seat.

I smile down at the contents inside.

Mom and dad loved taking family photos. Every event, every holiday. And so every year, the walls would be updated with new photographs. Mom was a perfectionist when it came to photos so each time Julianna, Kordell, and I goofed off in the middle of a take, she'd laugh it off and toss the results in the trash.

But I know she was always so secretly frustrated.

In one captured moment, it showed that we were just a normal family. Not the perfect one that everyone expected us to be. We were real. Those were the kind of photos I liked.

I kept them, Mom. Every single photo you thought you threw in the trash.

After a few more minutes of reminiscing, I decided to get up and share my findings with everyone downstairs.

They must be in the entertainment room.

I was right. "Yo, look what I found," I call out to Julianna, who appeared to be annoyed with Kordell and the guys.

The hell did I miss?

"Julianna get your ass over here," I demand, setting the box down and onto the table.

She follows.

"You always have to be so dramatic?"

She rolls her eyes.

"Saffron and Destiny are not back yet," Royal addresses, crossing his arms.

What?

"It's past 11, dude. They left at 9," Jason adds.

"Who's being dramatic now?" Julianna points out, sitting down on the couch. "They've been on my case for the past hour." She turns to acknowledge the guys. "They can handle themselves, I'm sure they're fine."

I rub my face in frustration and pace back and forth. I mean, It's only been two hours. Maybe Julianna's right.

"You'll break out if you keep touching your face." Seth points out, holding a bag of chips in his hand.

The guys and I simultaneously throw pillows at him. "Stop eating my snacks," I tell him.

"Can I go back to the girls now? Saf and Des left me in charge. Plus, we're doing each other's hair."

"Hey, get your own nicknames," Royal teases.

"Alright, Jules." Kordell sends her off.

"Saffron is not answering her phone, and Destiny's keeps going straight to voicemail," Carter says, catching me up.

What the hell? "Seth, you didn't tell them?"

"Tell us what?" River asks.

"I have Destiny's phone," I present.

"What, why? Seth?" Royal questions, all confused.

Seth shrugs. "I didn't think it mattered."

"You didn't think it mattered while we were calling her phone a gazillion times, expecting her to answer?" Carter yells, throwing another pillow his way.

"I found it entertaining." Seth smiles, sitting on the pool table, swinging his legs.

Oh my fucking gosh.

"Seth!" We all yell, in unison.

"The girls are fine!" Seth reassures, holding his hands up in surrender. "Like Jules said, they're big girls. I don't get why everyone's getting so worked up." He adds, putting a chip into his mouth. "Sure they're girls, but don't you guys have a little faith in them?"

Faith? This isn't about faith.

After a short pause, Seth breaks the silence. "Whatever. I'm all about feminism."

"Ignore him! Try Saffron's cell!"

"We already did, bro. Where were you in the last two hours?"

Fuck.

The one moment I let my guard down and let myself relax, shit like this happens.

I rub my face in frustration one more time.

"Ha ha, you did it agai—"

"Not now, Seth," Jason scolds.

"Damn. Destiny, is it just me or can you sense the tension in the room too?"

We turn to the sound of Destiny's light giggle.

"Alders!"

I immediately hop over the couch and rush over to Destiny. I gently hold her by the arms and look her up and down, making sure she's alright. I try to ignore the electric current running up and down my arms at the touch of her delicate skin. If anyone laid a hand on her—

"Okay, did we miss something?" Saffron questions, interrupting my train of thought. "What is this?" She asks, pointing to the both of us.

I look around noticing all eyes were on me. The guys looked confused and Destiny was unreadable.

"Ahem." I clear out my throat and rub the back of my neck, giving her a little room.

"Okay..." Seth drawled. "Does this have something to do with your choice of vocabulary earlier? Or am I connecting the dots right?"

"We were worried," Royal censured, ignoring Seth's comment.

"It's been two hours," Destiny explains.

No one spoke.

"We brought cookies," Destiny says, competing with the tension. She raises the bag.

"Hell yeah," Seth and River chant.

"See, I knew you guys were okay," Seth shows off, grabbing the bag of cookies and sharing it with River.

"Alright, now that the girls are back can we talk about the charity event?" Carter motions for us to join him on the couch and we follow.

I let my actions take full control and allow myself to throw one more glance at Destiny.

She's fine, Sean.

Seth and River sit on the surface of the pool table, and the rest of us squish on the couch.

"What charity event?" Kordell inquires, reading my mind.

"We hold one every year, it's Crescent High's way of introducing the new captain of the football team." Saffron answers. "The only game that's Knights vs Knights."

"There's a $5 entry fee and we accept any other donations from the students," Carter adds.

"Whichever team wins, gets the privilege of choosing which charity the money we make, goes to."

"It's an all-day thing too," River announces. "Food trucks, music, and activities. It's awesome."

"We earn a lot of money from this event. It's a win-win for everyone," Carter continues.

"It seems like you guys got everything down. What else do we need to talk about?" Kordell asks.

"It's not that simple," Carter says.

"Why do you think we're talking about it 3 months early?" Seth laughs. "Stupid, I know."

"Well, it is mid-October. It's in January?" Kordell questions.

"Ay, you can math!" Seth adds in.

"We need to work on fliers, find out which day we can actually host the event, talk to the principals, the teachers, set final prices—

"We got this. We've got two extra hands." Saffron smiles. "Now, the after-party is usually held at the school's field."

"We can hold it here," Kordell suggests. "We've got plenty of space, and I'm sure dad wouldn't mind."

"Perfect."

Destiny

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.

"I need to use the bathroom," I speak, interrupting Saffron.

"You know your way," Sean nods.

I take that as my signal to leave the room. They were throwing words around the room but I could barely focus. My mind was stuck on the thought of Sean.

We talked and we talked for what seemed to be a few minutes, and then out of the blue, Saffron comes out of nowhere claiming that we've been talking for over an hour.

Where the hell did time go?

We came back from Mrs. Knight and I wasn't expecting the guys to be so worried. In fact, they seemed really irritated. I did leave without my phone, but I figured Sean needed it more than I did.

I'd need to get that back later.

What was that back there? He ran to me almost instantly and started inspecting every inch of my body like he was checking to see if I had any cuts or bruises.

I shrank under his gaze. I felt insecure and exposed. Like besides the non-existent cuts or bruises, he found imperfections instead.

For God's sake, I drove to a psychic shop. I didn't take a walk in the middle of a creepy back ally.

And as for what I thought would be a one time thing, I felt it again. The electrifying sparks. Did he feel it too?

"Ohmygosh, I'm so sorry, I wasn't looking and— Destiny? You're back! I knew the guys were overreacting."

Julianna. Now that I knew of her relations to Sean and Kordell, she actually looked nothing like them. At least, not as much as the guys did in comparison to each other. Though, she did look like someone.

"Yeah, I heard about that. They think, us girls can't handle ourselves."

"Tell me about it. My brothers are so overprotective."

"It must be nice having—"

"Where did you get that?" Julianna asks.

Her eyes shift, turning dark and gloomy, hiding the rays of sunshine that I was originally struck by.

I follow her gaze down to my necklace.

"Funny. Your brother asked the same thing."

"My mom had one just like it."

• • • • • •

Thanks for reading!