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….."You know, when I heard, I didn't really believe  so I had to come see for myself. And now that I see it's true, I wonder , why did you come back? You shouldn't have . I prefer to think that you are dead, Sister" 

"How can you be so mean Ava?" 

April asked , approaching her angrily. Water dripped down her shoulders from her head and her face had disappointment written on it . 

"Oh please quit being so dramatic" 

Ava retorted, rolling her eyes while she turned heading back into the room. 

"When will you stop?.. " 

April asked , following behind her. Ava turned around looking back at her viscously. 

" You took everything from me. Everything ! Dad and Mom ; I was never good enough for them , I have always been the black sheep, the unwanted , the unloved ! But you, the favorite one. Their dream daughter who always pleased their hearts "

Ava spoke  spitefully.

"It wasn't my fault you always preferred to be bad "

April retorted .

"I was only living their life, it was a choice that even you could have made . And yes I always did what they wanted but that doesn't mean I was okay with it!  I am not the reason for how you feel. You are. " 

She added.

"I made mistakes, so did you. But it was always easy to forgive you ! "

Ava barked.

"If only you knew how much I envied the freedom you enjoyed but you chose to waste it !"  .

April responded.

_____

Hurrying down the stairs was a chubby lady in her maid's uniform. She seemed worried and she made a turn for the living room .

"Ma'am.. Ma'am.." 

She called out on approaching Mr and Mrs Smith.

"The twins are fighting again.." 

She voiced as she panted.

_______

" I didn't waste it " 

 Ava  replied to April marching towards her till they were face to face with each other.  The girls were so similar that one could be mistaken for the other's reflection. 

" You didn't? Sneaking out to clubs at late nights, f*ckn random men when you ain't anywhere near broke ! , Getting arrested countless times for engaging in brawls, doing drugs ! And then as though that wasn't enough, you made moves to selling properties when Dad ain't even dead yet !  You decided to be the unwanted , you chose that path !"

April voiced in anger.

Ava stood speechless while she  stared at her , she gave a smirk , and turned away biting on her apple.

" You know, I love how things are playing out now.. "

Ava spoke, turning to April from where she stood.

"You love a man Dad and Mom will never accept you marry because they prefer Dave the D*ck , what a twist. Perhaps now, you will understand what it feels like , to be me, because you are stubborn, I know you, you will rebel and that will be the beginning for you to see that those two don't give a fuck about you or me or anyone else, just themselves and their reputation" . 

She added.

"Enough of that "

Mr Smith spoke on entering the room alongside his wife. The two girls still had their eyes buried deep in each other's. April was infuriated, so much it was seen in her eyes. 

" Have you no shame Ava?  Despite all of your nonsense , all we ever do is love you and try to accommodate you even though your flaws have been totally unacceptable and your refusal to adjust your pathetic ways have remained impossible for us to comprehend, you're despicable, you find disappointing us to be fun and now you try to play the victim , trying to rubbish our names before your sister and in our own house ??" 

Mrs Smith spoke . Ava rolled her eyes and then fixed them on her.

" Oh please Mom.. spare me the sermon, you both never admit to your errors, in your eyes you are so perfect, so holy, so pure  , well I hate to break it to you but, this whole thing about me that you hate so much , is a product of your f*ck ups! " .

"Is that so? Well I wonder why you keep coming back , dear prodigal daughter " 

Ava blinked her eyes .

"Mom that's enough " 

April voiced rather calmly.

" I don't need you to stand up for me. It's too late for that " 

Ava said to April then stormed out of the room very upset . 

"That was rather harsh Camila " 

Mr Smith voiced in Camilla's ears.

"She thinks she is tough. She needs to know who is the boss around here. She can't talk to us like that , how insultive . And you said nothing. You allowed her disrespect us " . 

She replied.

" This isn't anything near what I need right now.. " 

April spoke .

"I just want peace… in my head.. in my life.. here.. no drama.. I need it.. "

She added almost like she was going to break down .  There was silence for a bit as she moved to sit on the bed.  Mr Smith exchanged eye contact with his wife .

"Okay.. we apologize.. we'll leave you to rest now.." 

Having said this, Mrs Smith and her husband turn to exit the room .

April allowed herself to fall on the bed. She shut her eyes and took in a deep breath.  She couldn't seem to get Stace off her mind and for Every time his face popped up in there, she remembered the photos and then she would feel a hot sharp flashing pain across her chest . She turned to her side on the bed in a bid to force herself to sleep. The wetness of her hair soaked on the bedding, and a tear rolled down her face landing on her upper lip. 

••••••

STACE .

Walking swiftly towards his office door , he looked unsettled. Walter walked behind him saying words he didn't seem to hear . Getting to the door, he pushed it open , stepped in  and walked some inches away from it. 

"I don't care !!!!!!" 

Stace barked as he turned towards Walter.

" I can't… I can't do this anymore.. What's the essence? For what? All of this.. the money, the fame, the fights, the immortality when I can't be happy! "  

He added in a depressed tone.

"She's gone.. She is gone Walter.. and she doesn't want to be found.. "

He concluded .

Walter could see in his eyes the desperation of a Man in love. The pain he felt , the devastation and helplessness. He shut the door behind and moved closer to Stace .

" She isn't dead.. I know how you feel. It's all like history was repeating itself, I know what that day did to you, I feel it too. But you have to stay strong. You know where she is.. finding her is not a problem. Just give her time. Give yourself time too. It's for the best that she is somewhere far from us for now. The pack , Luna, she wasn't safe here.."

Walter spoke, placing a hand on Stace's shoulder.

"I could protect her.." 

Stace replied, shaking his hand off his shoulder while he turned away.

" You are a brother to me .. the sibling I never had. You found me hiding in the woods a long time ago when the Crow Witches invaded my village and wiped out every living soul as revenge for what was done to their mother. The last words my mom told me was : Run.. trust the woods.  And with her blood stains on my palms , I ran into the woods where you found me . You saved me. And yes you are the Alpha, but I have no choice. I have to save you from making the same mistakes , I won't let you go through that pain again, you know what it did to you" 

Walter spoke calmly.

Stace seemed to be softened by his words , and so he turned , he saw Walter standing there with his hands in his pockets. He looked at him and gave a smile. 

"You're always too emotional " .

Stace joked.

"I think you mean to say i am your weak spot " 

Walter joked back. They both shared a laugh and Stace moved on to give him a hug. 

"Faggot" . Stace said as he tucked his neck in his arm and  roughened his hair with his other hand . There was a bit of a struggle till they let go of each other. 

" The show is in three days. "

Walter said.

"Yea.. would feel incomplete without her being around. She gave us the designs. " 

Stace replied.

"Yea she did.. not to worry big wolf , I will have someone keep an eye on her just so you can be rest assured she is okay.." 

Walter told him .

"That would be nice." 

Stace spoke feeling lively as he moved round the desk to sit on his chair . Just then the intercom rang. He took the call and Walter took his seat.  Soon there were knocks on the door .  Having instructed that whoever it was could come in, Stace lifted up his head and he rimmed his fingers on his forehead when his eyes met with who it  was. 

"Officer Rene.. " 

He called out. Walter turned to see .

"To what do I owe this unannounced visit?"  

Stace  asked, relaxing his back on the chair.