NINE

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NINE

I didn't go home that night. But instead found myself with Versa, Ryan and - surprisingly - Thomas. Some would argue it was strange to be with your ex's brother, especially when you just found out he cheated on you. But Thomas wasn't budging even though Ryan politely asked him to leave.

Versa wasn't looking his way, at least not directly, since she still wasn't over the night he asked her out but ditched her for other girls at the party two nights ago. It was also the night Link decided to grace us with his presence.

We all sat in a booth, in a small take-away shop with half eaten burgers and chips in front of us. Next to me sat Thomas and Ryan was sitting next to a silently brooding Versa. Thomas's phone, that was on the table, vibrated and my eyes travelled down to see that he got a message from his brother asking him where he was.

Just as Thomas picked up his phone to reply to the text, I opened my mouth. "Don't tell him you're here with us." I told him, narrowing my eyes down on his phone. The thought of coming face to face with Brandon did not sit well with me.

Thomas looked at me, slightly baffled. "You mad? I wouldn't do that."

I nodded at him and turned away to face Versa. "Can I stay at yours tomorrow? I seriously can't stomach going ho-"

Versa cut me off with a wave of her hand, "I already had your bed prepared."

I sent her a grateful smile, thinking I scored well with my best friend.

Thomas was furiously texting on his phone, mumbling curse words whilst he was at it. Ryan was eyeing Thomas closely and after a few seconds he opened his mouth. "He's coming isn't he?"

I snapped my head at Thomas. "You said you wouldn't tell him!"

Thomas glared at me. "I know! But he figured it out."

"How?" I exclaimed.

"You guys always used to come here," he pointed out, back to texting on his phone.

I grimaced as the memory slammed back in my head and groaned out loud. That was true, we used to come here a lot and if he could take any bet, this would be it. We had to get out of here before Brandon came. I stood up from my seat and draped my jacket over my arm. "I'm leaving, anyone coming?"

Versa didn't wait a second longer as she shot up from her seat and stepped out the booth. Thomas stood up as well - but only to let me get out.

"Look Ori, we really need to talk." Thomas said in a low voice, trying to catch my eye. I looked straight at him and held back my distaste. It didn't help that he resembled his twin brother.

I didn't hold back the words that came out next. "About what? That you knew Brandon was cheating on me with my mum?"

"I wasn't meant to say anything!" Thomas fired back.

I couldn't see past him anymore. I've always been able to tell the brothers apart and that's probably what made Brandon catch any interest in me. But right then, watching Thomas across from me, his features slowing morphing into ones of his brother, I couldn't tell them apart. "Why not? Any human would." I said in a much lower voice, sounding defeated to my own ears.

"No, they wouldn't," he said, holding my eyes. He was telling me something, maybe for the good or maybe not. But I decided that I just couldn't do anything right now, let alone get an explanation.

I let out a sigh and dropped my hands down my side. I felt crushed and worn out and having to argue with Thomas was doing me no favours. "Goodnight Thomas."

I started to walk away when I heard him call for me. "Ori come on-"

I stopped on my feet and snapped my head back. "I said goodnight." I repeated through gritted teeth.

A few seconds later I was outside, my arm linked through Versa's. I had my mouth covered by my massive scarf, trying to keep my lips from freezing away in this chilly weather. We silently crossed the road, not one person speaking.

I didn't know what to say to my own best friend because I didn't know what I was feeling myself. I was angry yes but I kept pushing this feeling of relief away. Why was I relieved about this?

"Link told you about them right?" Versa asked me quietly.

I looked down at her. "Yes."

"Did you believe him when he told you?"

I shook my head, even though Versa's eyes were trailing the path in front of us. "He didn't tell me. He made me see it."

I heard Versa inhale deeply, surprised about it all. "Why would he do that?"

I shrugged. "I don't know."

Versa stopped walking, causing me to come to a halt as well. She peered up at me with pursed lips, her eyes trained on me attentively. She was searching for an answer to a question she hadn't voiced yet. I looked down at the ground, biting my lower lip and wondered what was going through her head.

And then she finally voiced her question.

"What did you do to him?"

My heart started speeding up rapidly, and I could imagine beads of water trailing down my spine. I kept my face stoic, hoping that I managed to cover up my panic.

"Nothing-"

Versa didn't stand for my bullshit for one passing second. "Don't lie to me Ori. You did something and he's after you with a massive machete."

I scoffed out loud. "He's not stupid enough to go that far."

Versa wiggled her arm out of mine to grab me by both my arms. "Ori, that guy went to prison for something we don't know. But I can take a clear guess and say it was something dangerous."

I managed to shrug. "It could be anything from robbery to vandalism."

"His parents are rich as hell and they can cover shit up!" Versa exclaimed loudly. "And if that doesn't scare you – I have bad vibes around him."

I looked down at my only best friend as she tried to shake some sense into me. But my lower lip was already trembling, the sides of my eyes clouding up and my vision turned hazy. "Versa, I'm shit scared of him." I whispered, my voice cracking at each word.

"Shit scared." I repeated, a few tears rolling down my face. I couldn't hold up another facade around my own best friend and she should know that I wasn't okay. I wasn't stable anywhere anymore and I slept at night scared. Out of my fucking mind scared.

"Ori, please tell me what you did."

I shook my head roughly. "I can't-" I sniffed, wiping tears from my face with the back of my hand.

"So you did do something?"

I nodded at her, realising that I couldn't speak anymore. I just wished that all of this could be over and just let myself live my life as a good human being. But knowing that the dark incident would forever haunt me, and that Link made it his life mission to torment me with it, was doing me no good.

"Versa, I need to forget everything. Like right now."

My best friend reared her head back quickly. "You want me to give you a drug so you lose all your memory?"

I let out a small chuckle over my sobs and shook my heads. "I just want to sleep."

Versa patted my cheeks before doing a good job of wiping away all my tears. She linked her arms through mine again and started to lead the way to her house.

"You're going to sleep tonight and then try to sort out your shit with Link tomorrow." Versa concluded.

I shook my head violently. "No-no. I'm not going near that guy."

Versa rolled her eyes at me. "You have to or else he's going to keep coming at you. Harder and harder."

"He's never going to forgive me."

"Have you tried saying sorry for whatever you did?"

I shook my head at her. "Not properly."

"So that is what you're going to do tomorrow."

_

_

_

I didn't have the slightest idea where to find Link and the fact that I was searching for him was still a crazy idea. So I was going to apologise for what I done. And it's going to go down great.

I kept walking around the school premises, telling myself that I will somehow bump into Link and miraculously avoid everyone that I know. Again, stupid thinking on my part.

Crossing the road, I decided that I was going to get something to eat and sit at the park or something.

"Searching for someone?" A voice asked from behind me and I snapped my head back so quickly I feared for my own neck.

Behind me stood Link himself, dressed in full black. He looked sinister without even attempting it and I couldn't hold back the shiver that coursed through me.

I swallowed down loudly. "Yes. And he's standing right in front of me."

Link pointed at himself with his fingers, feigned a look of surprise. "Me? Surely that must be a mistake." He questioned, pushing his head back whilst all the while keeping his humourless smile on his face.

"Cut the crap." I interjected quickly, deciding that this was suddenly a really stupid idea. I could see the coldness behind his eyes, he was too far drowned in vengeance that he had no room for forgiveness.

"What is it that you want exactly?" Link asked me.

I swallowed down my parched throat loudly, hoping that whatever I was going to say next would be worth it. "I want to say that I'm sorry-"

"For what?" Link asked, interrupting me mid-sentence.

"For what I have done."

"And what is it... that you have done?"

"You know exactly what."

Link shook his head at me. "No, no I don't."

I held back from viciously bursting towards him. He was making me feel really chaotic and filling me with hatred.

"I'm sorry for killing your sister."

Link let out a scoff and that lone should have told me a simply sorry wouldn't do it. "Is that all? You think a simple sorry would bring her back?"

I let out a sigh, wanting nothing but to just walk away from him. "I didn't say that-"

"Then what did you say?"

"I just said that I'm sorry."

"You're saying sorry so I can back off..." he suddenly pointed out. His eyes were trained on me before he let out a sardonic chuckle. "You know what Orianna?" He took a step closer, and another, and stopped too far in my personal space.

"Fuck off." He whispered in a low voice.

_

_

_

I was back in Versa's dining room, sitting back in one of the chairs with my feet soaked into the warm carpet floor. Versa was munching on a sandwich she prepared for us but nothing felt right going down my throat.

"How did it go?"

"Classic Link Dane style."

Versa's eyebrow arched up in question.

I dropped my hands on the table loudly, frustrated yet embarrassed. Everything he said to me and what I had to say in return kept replaying in my head.

"He told me to fuck off."

Both Versa's eyebrows shot up this time. "Classic Link Dane style," she parroted.

After that, it was quiet between us, and I waited for Versa to finish her sandwich. We were meant to meet up with Ryan in five minutes at the usual spot but it didn't look like we were leaving any time soon.

Until Versa's phone buzzed from on the table. We both looked at each other, down at her phone, then back up at each other. "It's Ryan." Versa said, when she reached for it and swiped her screen.

"Oh my god." She gasped, kicking off the chair in a haste. "They're fighting!" She shrieked, looking up at me with wide eyes.

"Who?"

"Link and Brandon!"

_

_

_

We both ran to the usual spot which was ten minutes away by walk - but it took us under half those minutes to get there. As we got closer, my eyes made out four well-built guys, two of them snarling at each other and the other two holding them back.

When we came closer, all the boys snapped their heads at us.

"Great timing girls," Thomas scoffed at us, his hair looking ruffled and his shirt was missing a few buttons. It looked like he was in a fight himself- rather than holding his twin brother back.

"What happened?" Versa asked, switching her gaze from the two boys who were breathing loudly, with blood oozing down their face.

"Little pretty boy here thought he could give mouth." Link answered, which surprised me because I thought he'd shrug everyone off and just walk away.

Brandon glared at Link from behind Thomas's arm. "Fuck off you dick," he spat, quite literally, but it didn't come close to Link at all.

Ryan pulled Link away from Brandon, decided that he wasn't going to let them get heated up again. He pushed Link in front of us, and I scattered backwards, afraid he would launch at me.

"Don't look so afraid. Your boyfriend took all the beating I'm willing to give out today."

Link's lower lip was ruined and I knew, from the redness on his forehead that a bruise would soon appear. "Palmer is going to flip when she sees you."

Link scoffed out loud and shrugged Ryan's hand. "You think I care?"

"I think you do."

"Ori, don't talk to that bastard." Brandon yelled at me from a few feet away. I did well to ignore him but I couldn't help look at what Link dashed out to him. Dark red blood trailed down his temple and his nose was bleeding as well. Over all, he looked much worse than Link.

"You going to listen to your boyfriend?" Link asked, tilting his head to the side to grab my full attention and block my view of Brandon.

"He's not my boyfriend anymore."

Link's forehead creased in tight wrinkles. "But he thinks otherwise?"

"Just shut up and let me take you to Palmer's. You look a mess."

Link threw his head back and laughed at my extended hand. "What part of fuck off didn't you get?"

Versa pulled my hand down and stepped in between the both of us. She faced her back to me whilst she looked up at Link with both her hands on her side.

She opened her mouth to speak but then Link growled - and he gave her one look - which sent her right back into her shell. She took a few steps back until she stumbled into me. I held onto her, making sure she was steady before I let her go.

"You move the fuck out of my way." He growled down at her and she nodded up at him rapidly.

A massive hand clamped down on Link's chest and roughly pushed him back. Ryan was suddenly all up in his face, his massive built body nearly covering the whole of Link.

"You listen to me, and you listen carefully. Don't you fucking ever speak to her like that."

Link just scoffed at Ryan, looking unfazed by the threat that sent shivers down my spine.

"Are you not going to see to your boyfriend Ori? Instead of worrying about me, worry about your own man."

"He's not my man!" I yelled back at him, furious beyond measure.

Link just smiled at me, that sardonic smile he was always pulling off smeared on his face. He decided his foreplay had to come to an end. He wiped blood off his lips using the hem of his sweatshirt, spat towards the ground that Brandon stood on and then turned on his heel.

He didn't say anything else as he started to walk away, looking all kinds of messed up but still pretended that everything was fine with him.

Brandon took a step towards me but I quickly sidestepped him, holding my hand up to halt him in his steps. "You stay the hell away from me." I told him, already moving towards the direction that Link took.

"Are you seriously going to chase after that psychopath?" Brandon proclaimed, ignoring my hand as he jogged towards me.

"I'm not going to chase him to be friends." I told him through gritted teeth, increasing the pace of my walk. I had to catch up to Link and at least try--

Try what exactly?

Brandon was still trailing next to me and I just knew that if I wanted to confront Link, Brandon should be far away from it. I stopped and planted my feet firmly on the ground. Brandon mimicked my action and he stood, facing me with his hands down his side and with his bloody face.

"Brandon, if you want to talk," I threw my hands up on the air, "we can talk!"

"But not right now. Meet me at Versa's house in an hour."

Brandon disappeared soon after that. He was going to clean himself up and then come to Versa's house. But I had no intentions to be there in an hour, to talk.

I carried on walking in the direction I hoped Link took since he was fully out of sight. The street slowly started to become familiar until I realised I was on Palmer's road.

I knew he'd come here.

I walked inside the bakery and the sweetness and warmth mingled together and travelled up my nose. I inhaled deeply, taking in the smell as much as I could.

"We're closed!" I heard Palmer shout from the back.

I ducked under the counter and made my way to the back. As I got closer I heard her furious yells. "Why did you do that Link? You know you're on thin line here."

"I know but-"

"No buts. Goodness gracious how am I meant to clean this up?"

"Use a wash cloth. It's not that hard." Link scoffed at Palmer.

I stepped inside the room and my eyes landed almost immediately on Link. He had his eyes closed whilst Palmer was trying to clean him up as much as she could.

I heard the bells from the front, followed by the soft chatter of the customers. "You should probably go and see to those people." I said softly but Palmer heard me alright. She flicked around and let out a relieved sigh.

"Ori am I so glad to see you. Could you please?" She lifted up the wash cloth and I reached for it quickly.

"Sure. But I'm expecting payment in cupcakes."

Palmer smiled at me warmly, threw me a wink before rushing back to the front. "Hey there my loves, what can I get you today?" Her cheery voice carried to the back.

"Are you fucking shitting me?" Link said over a groan but he didn't bother to open his eyes.

I lifted up the wash cloth and pressed it down his lips, wiping away the dry blood. "Nope, I'm not shitting you right now."

"You don't even know what I'm talking about."

I rolled my eyes at him even though he couldn't see. "Could you for once just say thank you and shut up?"

Two massive hands suddenly clamped down on each of my sides and before I could so much as open my mouth, Link yanked me down so I fell right onto his lap. I don't know how he managed to manoeuvre me so I was straddling him, but he did.

"You can carry on playing nurse now."

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