THIRTEEN

| chapter song: waiting for love - avicii |

| dedication: odridodri - for that hot cover xx |

THIRTEEN

The touch of his lips against mine was different, unfamiliar and I didn't feel anything except from his fingertips grazing my jawline. I felt numb, wherever he touched, and before either of us could official call this kiss, a kiss, Link pulled back. "We're not drunk." His hoarse voice travelled between us.

We couldn't exactly blame the alcohol since our choice of beverage this evening was alcohol free. So our actions was purely initiated by ourselves with nobody being fully, uncontrollably pissed.

Well not in that terms.

Because I was pissed as fuck. I landed both hands on his shoulders and pushed him off me. He jerked back from my hard push, a look of bewilderment cemented on his face. I ran the back of my hand across my mouth, ignoring the wild thumping of my heart in my ears.

"That cannot happen again. Ever." I shook my head at him furiously, jabbing my index finger in the space between us. "Not ever." I repeated harshly.

Link didn't say a word but instead, pushed himself up to his feet. His eyes cut down to mine and shortly afterwards started to walk away.

I stared after him for a few seconds, waiting for my mind to catch up to all the events that unfolded and for my heart to press its chill button. And then I hoisted myself up and raced after Link.

I grabbed his upper arm and pulled him to a stop. "What was that for?" I asked him, my voice itching close to a yell. Link shoved his hands in his pockets and continued to stare at me, not showing me any sings of planned communication.

"I am talking to you!" I yelled in his face, hoping to get a reaction out of him. He continued to ignore me, seeming unfazed by everything. As if kissing your sworn enemy was the new norm to be socialised in.

I was perplexed by it all and the added disruption of emotions I never felt before was starting to press down on me. I wasn't familiar with this situation and the blind-sighted position I was yanked into raised my discomfort levels. Answers were what I needed and I needed them right now.

"If you're not going to tell me what that was for, at least tell me you're not playing some sick joke on me." I hissed in his face, planting my palms on his chest and giving it a push.

He didn't move as much as I hoped but my added force took him by surprise. His hand wrapped around my wrist and he slowly pulled it off his chest.

"Orianna," Link started to say, his voice deeper than it usually was and much more coarse. It sounded like he was scratching the surface of his voice and the tone sent ugly vibes through me. "You of all people should know that my sick jokes don't ever end." Link's frontal teeth came in view. His smile toyed with creepiness and I had to take a step back with what Link was emitting.

"You are sick in the head." I spat in his face, not taking two, but three steps back. My back was to the crowd that were behind us. Their loudness was overwhelming and I had this frightening idea that if I screamed, no one would here.

Link tutted whilst shaking his head. "No point in looking back, no one is paying attention."

"What do you want Link?" I asked impatiently.

Link stared down at me, his eyes dancing under the light the moon graced us with. He didn't move, prolonging his stillness until we heard a sound come from behind.

I whirled around and saw Ryan and Versa standing there, both looking at us with hesitance and unsureness. They found themselves in a perplexed state, not sure whether to come forward or to stay back.

"You're not drunk." Versa pointed out, her eyes trailing down to my steady feet. She lifted up her gaze and met my eye. "Water?" she inquired, even though she knew the answer to her own question. It was what we used to do, feign being drunk and see how our acting would be rated.

I nodded at her slowly. "I'm sorry, I couldn't just-"

Versa ignored me and looked over my shoulder. "What has she done for you to be like this?" she asked straight out, not taking any corners or any halts. It shot right out of her.

I blinked at her tone, taken aback by the sharpness of it. She took a step away from Ryan and started to walk towards us. My back was still turned to Link so I couldn't see his reaction to all of this but I prayed to myself that he wouldn't tell her.

He couldn't tell her why he was doing all of this. It would hurt her.

"Link, please answer me." Versa was standing right next to me now and she was facing the culprit himself. I slowly turned, my breath simultaneously leaving my body.

Link was looking at Versa now, his eyes scanning up and down her body, across her face, through her eyes. He was analysing her, for a reason that was unclear and just added fuel to my panic.

"Versa, please leave it alone." I whispered at her, grabbing her upper arm. I tugged on it but she was quick to snatch it away.

"No!" She yelled, "I want to know what your," she pointed her finger at Link, "problem is with my best friend. Her life is a mess and it's all because you came back. We don't even know you anymore! But here you are, making our life's a living hell and God knows I've been through hell already."

Link's jaw clenched at Versa's outburst. I had a feeling he knew exactly what happened to her and it shaped his view of her. "Versa, just listen to your friend." Link started to say. "And go."

"No!" She exclaimed, throwing her hands up. She pushed closer to him until she was right under his nose. "Don't treat me like glass, Link." She snarled at him, the warning clear in her tone. "Don't you dare look down on me and think that I can't take it."

I grabbed her hand quickly and tried to pull her back. When she snatched her hand away again I knew I couldn't do anything. I turned to Ryan, sending out a silent plea.

"You can't take it." Link told her, taking a step back just as Ryan came to Versa's side.

I saw Versa's face boil up with what Link said but she contained her anger. She said something then, something that both warmed my heart and surprised me. "Link, listen to me and you listen carefully. If you so much as touch her or do anything to hurt her believe me when I say I will personally see to your lifelong torment and possible end."

Link raised his eyebrow at her. "In order words, I'm a dead man?"

Versa huffed out loudly. "Yes!"

A wry look overcame his face. "Looking forward to it."

Versa half-screamed half-sneered at Link. "I mean it!"

"I'll see you around." With a flick of his two fingers, ever so cool, Link turned on his heel and walked away.

I let out the breath I was holding in when Link disappeared into the shadows. Everyone was still back around the front, enjoying the booze and the thrill of the night. I had to call an end to the night because the only thing I really wanted to do right now was crawl in my bed and sleep.

And then grab Versa and leap into a different continent.

_

_

_

The following morning, I was in my bed with the covers thrown over my face. The familiarity of my bed hit me hard and even though I wanted to pretend that everything was alright, I couldn't.

Both my parents were awake. If their morning havoc wasn't any much of an indication, they were wide awake and playing right along with their continued game. It was revolting how two human beings could do such a thing and completely forget their morals.

I heard scratches at my door. I groaned inwardly, knowing who was at the other side. Pug, my Mother's dog was barking and clawing at my door. If I didn't do anything, he would carry on being a pest.

Just as I was about to get up and shut the dog up myself, a knock came on my bedroom door. "Orianna?"

It was my Mother.

I threw the covers over my head again and silently waited for her to go. But then I heard the door open and soon after I could hear her breathing. She was that close to the bed.

"I know you're awake." She whispered.

"Go away." I told her, clutching the covers close to me so if she tried to pull it down, she would have to pull harder.

"Let me explain."

"Go away." I repeated.

I heard her sigh. "If you don't want an explanation then... I'll respect your wishes. But please don't tell your Father. It would do more harm than good for all of us."

That got me riled up for some bizarre reason. I threw the covers off me and glared at my Mother. She had her designer clothes and make-up armour on and it allowed her to look so cool and collected.

"You want to me stay quiet?" I whispered in a low voice, disgusted at her all together. All I could see was her with Brandon, naked limbs tangled under each other and being the dirty women she was. Before, she was just an empty shell that I learned to endure. This was something beyond me and I couldn't just sit here and let her order my silence.

The wrinkles in her eyes tightened. "Please," she murmured. "Just leave it to me."

I shook my head at her before jumping out of bed. "You want my silence? You have it." I told her. "But I want one thing in return." I quickly added, stepping away from my bed.

I got to my clothes on the chair and quickly threw on a skirt and a top. I grabbed my purse from my desk and ran to my bedroom door. All the while, my Mother didn't move from her place and stood there, staring at me and anxiously waiting for me.

"You stay the hell away from me."

_

_

_

The end of the school day couldn't have come any sooner. Everyone kept their distance which both annoyed me (because of the obvious glares it led to) and pleased me (because it meant no talking about my current issues at hand).

Ryan was strangely sticking to Versa's side nowadays and as it both frightened me and confused me, I started to realise it was a nice thing of him to do. He was looking out for her and it felt great knowing I wasn't the only one.

"Earth to Ori!" Someone snapped their fingers in my face, drawing me out of my own mind. I blinked at them, trying to avert my attention towards them.

"I'm here." I muttered at Ryan, swatting his hands away. We were sitting outside on the curb, opposite Palmer's. I wanted to go in so badly but I was scared he was in there.

"Want to go in?" Versa asked, eyeing Palmer's Passion hungrily.

I shook my head at her. "Not really," I lied.

Thomas peeked his head from next to Versa. "Why you lying?" he scoffed out loud, pushed himself off the floor and brushed the dirt off his jeans.

What mostly left me confused was how Thomas suddenly had a change of heart and decided himself that we were best friends. He trailed along with us, asking what our plans for the day was. Usually it was Versa and I, and that was the extend of our circle of friendship. The added companionship from Ryan and Thomas wasn't lost on both of us since we kept eyeing each other every second.

Thomas' hands came in front of me and I had no other choice but to place my hands in his. He swiftly pulled me up and once I was steady on both feet, he dropped my hand and proceeded to pull Versa up on her feet.

"Are we finally going to grab a cupcake?" She beamed excitedly, clasping both her hands together. She crossed the road quickly, her mind clearly set on buying cupcakes and engulfing it one bite. I let out a deep sigh and trudged after her.

She held the door open for all of us and as soon as I entered the bakery, the vanilla scent wafted up my nose. My eyes sought for my favourite cupcake and found it clearly on display. I felt it calling for me. Waiting another second was not something I would willingly do so I took two big steps towards the chocolate frosted cupcake, and shoved it in my mouth.

"I swear this is so orgasmic." I said over a mouth full, knowing well enough that my words were incoherent. Ryan shook his head at me and silently laughed.

We heard a loud clatter come from the back. All our heads turned the back door and soon after Palmer's head peeked out from it. A bright smile was stretched on her face at the sight of us.

"Orianna! Versa! And two handsome hunks!" She smiled, grabbing Versa's hand over the counter and giving it a light squeeze.

"Hey Palmer," Versa grinned at her mischievously. I saw her hand extended to a cupcake on display whilst eyeing Palmer carefully.

"You don't mind do you," she asked before stuffing the cake in her face. Ryan was quick to reach for his wallet and put a tenner on the counter for Palmer.

"For her cupcake," he lifted his chin to Versa who was gaping at Ryan. So was I. Expect he couldn't see me since he had his back to me.

"Did he just pay for her?" Thomas asked and I replied with a nod. "Close your mouth," he whispered in my ear.

Palmer ignored both Ryan and a now confused Versa and beamed at all of us. "I'm so happy all of you are here. We really need a helping hand out back, we just got a new machine and a lot of new counter tops and so many things!"

I got behind the counter quickly. "We can totally help." I assured Palmer.

"Great!" She grinned, clapping her hands together. "I just have to step out and get a few black bins."

Thomas quickly piped up, his phone in his hand and already making a call. "I'll get them for you. Be back in a few." With his phone pressed to his ear, Thomas stepped outside.

Palmer's eyes followed him through the window. "Well if he's getting the black bins then I'll run to the store and pick up a few tools."

"No need. I got some back at home." Ryan told Palmer, already walking towards the door.

"Oh darling you don't have to do that. I've already got your friend to-"

Ryan cut her short quickly. "It's no bother." And then he too disappeared out the door.

Palmer led us towards the back, all the while talking animatedly about her new counter tops and how she was going for a different design out back and front. I was so engrossed in her new plans that I didn't notice the two boys that were crouched on the floor until I nearly tripped over them.

"Watch your step." One of them said in a low voice. I looked down at him. His dark hair fell on his forehead and the hoodie he had on nearly masked his face. He looked up at me coldly and it nearly chilled me to the bone.

"Cain," another voice that belonged to the second guy rang in my ear. The warning in his tone was clear. I glanced up and I fought myself from not rolling my eyes.

Seriously?

I shouldn't be surprised to find Link here. He would obviously help Palmer out.

"Why are you everywhere?" I snarled at him.

Cain raised both his eyebrows at me. "So this must be Orianna."

Link let out a sigh and turned his head back to whatever he was working on. "This girl puts Avery and Serena's craziness to shame."

I dropped my mouth at the obvious insult that was dished my way. The nerve he had to cuss me out when I was right in front of him.

Cain glanced at me quickly. "I can tell. She looks mental."

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:))