Touch Me While I Taste You

37

Arabella Rivera

I had the intention of avoiding Haiden the next day. Well as much as I could anyway, seeing that we were neighbors. Just the very thought of him had brought on a red stain on my cheeks temporarily.

But that very morning, I awoke to yells of anger that would’ve terrified anyone. But I had grown used to it. Still, this argument between mother and son was far from their normal bantering.

Their hostility, well I suppose Haiden’s hostility had carved into one so strong that one could hear the tremble in Charlotte’s voice when she responded. She tried countering him but it was useless for his words sliced through hers dangerously.

It was too early and definitely too cold for an argument. Yet the two went at each other’s throats with the intention of inflicting mental pain. Even with my drowsy mind, I tried to force my ears to listen to the words that were spoken with so much hate.

so much hate.

“You must like that don’t you? You’ll finally get the perfect son you’ve always wanted huh? You’ve known for weeks and never fucking told me until now.” Haiden growls with so much bitterness that it would be mistaken as poison. Like a rose withering away, that’s exactly what his tone did. So much bitterness, so much animosity.

“We didn’t want to tell you because we feared you’d react the way you are, now. We’re family-” Charlotte’s raspy tone voice pleads with him to calm down on whatever upset him so early in the morning.

“I don’t fucking care, just keep his shit away from me. We won’t be a fucking family and never will be.” His words would strike anyone who was just a few distances away from him, I wouldn’t be surprised if it had stricken Charlotte straight through the heart.

By now my eyes were wide open, gone was the drowsiness that weighed them

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“I tried to make out sense of his words, but

ied to make out sense of his words, but as I failed to piece them together, I came u p with nothing but a jumbled mess of a brain.

Just from their tone, I could tell that they were already arguing for quite a while now. Which meant I missed out on all the key points that would’ve pieced out his words perfectly.

“Haiden!” I heard Charlotte shout before I heard the slam of a door overpowering

her voice.

Next came the sound of a revving vehicle skidding down the road. Haiden had left his home early in the morning and that day, which was practically yesterday, he never showed up at school.

His actions had definitely helped with the whole avoid Haiden at all cost thing. But something I didn’t think I’d ever feel, not even in a million years for the boy who lives just next door to me, I felt yesterday. The worry was eating me alive.

Budent

until

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That is, until Sunday gives us a huge hint that

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feel relieved, not even one bit. Why? Well because the Cross’s driveway was empty last night and didn’t show any signs of Haiden’s black

the front.

voice broke me out of my

the bag strap on my shoulder as we made our way to our lockers. “Nothing’s wrong. Just didn’t

ones that would have made her unhappy that

don’t tell me, let me guess.” She pushed out her hand in front of her to show the action of a

as her walk now

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were going haywire?” She chirped, looking to be

the fuck’ look, something I’ve been

closer and whispered.” Did you finally

“Gwen?” I murmur lowly.

leans away from me, knowing

of some jocks way. I rolled my

She pleads. “Like, if it has anything to do with some secretive shit,

shit, I definitely want to know. Oh wait, did a guy finally sneak in your room last

happen eventually!” She then

me speechless. Fortunately, I recovered quickly and shot her a glare of annoyance. “Stop okay. I just couldn’t sleep last night end of story. There’s nothing secretive, nothing major and definitely

about to answer, only

name or a face to it. Sadly I never paid attention to

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“Arabella!”

and I turned around

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Rebel bounding towards us. Her hair bounces off her shoulder

out her confusion. “It better not be another invitation to church.”