Who is the problem?!!

It has been five hours since Aurum stealthily avoided answering my question. Four hours since Corianne and Jacob left my house. I asked them if my table got scarred during their process of making up. They both blushed and scurried out the front door.

I want to burn the table now.

But, that's the least of my problem. My major concern now is Aurum. Not like she's my problem per se, but not knowing something about her is my problem. This is why I remained rooted on the couch, pretending to watch a movie when she returned from her so-called date.

"Ahem..." Not taking my eyes off the television screen, "Young lady, we're you coming from?"

My voice sounded authoritative but also indifferent. It's a perfect combination if you ask me.

"You sound like mum right now." Aurum waved off my question, settling on the love seat. She didn't look all that shocked to see me impatiently waiting for her return.

Allowing myself a brief moment of reminiscence, "She used to say that a lot aye?"

"Especially when I miss my curfew." Aurum chuckled to herself, "I was always at the end of that stick."

On multiple occasions, mum would flip when Aurum missed her curfew. And she did it a lot of times. Andre was second to Aurum when it came down to curfew-breaking.

"You are an independent young woman." I slipped on my `big sisterʼ mask. It was time for the long-awaited speech.

Aurum trailed off, "I know that..." She eyed me suspiciously, almost knowing where I was headed.

"... But someone still has to look out for you."

"What are you trying to say?" Her arms were now crossed over her chest. She narrowed her eyes, waiting for the pin to drop.

"You've been gone for over five hours. It was 4 pm when you left." Yes, I know because I didn't stop checking the time. "Feel free to check what the time is now."

Rolling her eyes at me, "I don't need to. I know what it is."

I heard an incoherent cuss under her breath. Surely that must not be directed at me. Pfft.

"You didn't pick my calls." For emphasis, I held up my phone for her to see. I panicked when she didn't pick up my calls. It was quite unusual. She usually tells me where exactly she was going. Whether it's a date or not.

Must to my surprise, her shoulders were shrugged. "I didn't need to." Evidently indifference.

"Aurum," That authoritative voice returned, "What if there was an emergency?" I sounded like a mother chastising her child for breaking the rules. Not like there were any actual rules. But she was being quite irresponsible.

"Then you'll call Corianne. I'm a grown woman, returning at 9 isn't a problem." It was her legs she crossed this time, "It isn't even midnight yet." Meanwhile, her voice sounded bland. Just bland. No emotions, no nothing. Most especially not even a sign of remorse.

Taking a sharp deep breath, "That's not my issue. My issue is that I had no idea where you were." I held her gaze, maintaining a leveled eye contact, "What if something happened to you? I wouldn't be able to even give a statement."

Yes, I was an inquisitive older sister who had her nose in everybody's business. But clearly, Aurum was being irresponsible. I don't know where she was. She ignored all my calls and texts. It made me unaccountable of her whereabouts. Now, that's a problem.

The wall clock did its job of ticking for a few seconds, as we both sat in uncomfortable silence.

"I was at Dee's" It came out almost as a murmur when she finally spoke.

Perplexion crawled on my face, "Didn't you say you were going on a date?" As I arched my brows, waiting for an explanation.

Dee's Cafe is simplistic bakery shop down the block. It started as a Cafe, but the owner is a terrific baker. So it's a pastry and dessert shop too. Most of our birthday cakes are ordered from Dee's. It's a great hangout spot. If you overlook the fact that my ex runs the place. He bought it two years ago, which was dope until he became my ex.

"Yes. I was supposed to meet my date there." She explained further, "The person who was supposed to be on a shift with Jordan called in sick."

Jordan, that's his name. We would have been Jorena now {Although, I don't think it's a good ship name..}

"How does that affect you?" I asked, still quite confused.

Jordan has a staff. Even if it's a skeleton one. There are no waiters or anything. But Jordan is the head baker and he has an assistant. I'm sure he could handle the baking for just a while. Seeing as there are other people handling coffee and things like that and it was quite small scaled.

I really don't know how it works.

"I had to work the shift with Jordan."

"Oh." I still wasn't convinced enough, "Seriously?"

Aurum noticed and laced her voice with displeasure, "Yes. You can call him to find out. Although, I don't see the reason you should. I'm a grown woman."

"OK..." It was better to let it go now. That doesn't mean I wasn't still upset. She could have called or answered my calls at least.

"Why are you suddenly quiet?" I could swear that she wiggled her brows, "Choosing to work with Jordan rather than going on my date bugs you?"

Some elements of humor were well hidden in her voice.

"Of course not." I huffed at her ridiculousness, "Don't be ridiculous."

But she wouldn't quit, and went even further, "Or is it because he's your ex? Why do you care anyway?"

"Jordan being my ex has nothing to do with anything." And it was true. The important topic at hand is Aurum, not Jordan. I wouldn't even care less if she quits and decides to work for him.

"I'm sure it doesn't. Especially since hooking up with Jotham Wright is now your main assignment. It's a good thing he broke up with you, it must be weird seeing your girlfriend fawn over a fictious character."

I knew that look. Her determined eyes, and devilish grin. The way she swatted her arm and flipped her hair. It was...scorn.

I gasped, "Aurum!!!" Immediately, my feet took me up from my seat.

She did the same, placing her hands on her hips in a defensive stance, "Why are you upset? Because I said Jotham is fictious or the hooking up part."

"Just shut up!!!!!"

Balling my fists in anger, I allowed the full fury of my voice to pull through as I yelled at her in irritation. Who is she and what did she do to my sister!!!

"Jotham is fictious. He is a character in a book." She didn't stop there, unfortunately, "Even if the book was written based on him, he is still just a character." Neither did she stop here, "Even if he acted the role of the character in a movie. He's still just a character." Finally, her pesky little speech was punctuated with a scoff.

"You're walking on thin ice Aurum. Very thin ice." I had to bite the inside of my mouth to stop myself from lashing out completely. I could hit her, but it would be beneath me. Way beneath me.

Walking up to cover the space between us, "My point is, stay out of my business!!!" She poked my chest annoyingly, "If you don't want me in yours."

"I just wanted to know where you went to!!!" How did we get here?!!

"I didn't ask where you going the day you went for that interview. The one that landed you a chance to speak with your delusional lover."

Was the problem me or her? I think it's the latter though.

"Fine. Rub it in my face all you want. One day, you'll be in trouble and it won't be my fault. Be a grown woman Aurum. I just hope you can try to be a sensible one too."

"Since we're giving bits of advice here. Get over Jotham! You don't love him. You are obsessed with a book character. Just because you don't stalk him or draw tattoos of his pictures over your body doesn't make your obsession weirder than it is."

I facepalmed at her directivenes, "I am not obsessed." Urgh! Argh! Heck!

"Then stop cuddling with the book each time you go to bed. Stop reciting quotes from the book as if it's a mantra. Stop believing that it is possible to love him."

"I'm going to bed."

That was the end, as I found my way to my bedroom, slamming the door behind me. Of course, she didn't stop talking. Yelling infact. But all it was were muffled sounds, from the side I was.