"I CLEARLY have no other way then." I mumbled to no-one in particular but the man heard me.

"No you don't. Unless you want to sleep on the stree..." His face blanched as the words slowly died out of his mouth.

"Uh... that's not... that's not what I..." I let him dig himself out of the hole he put all by his rude self.

"That's not what I wanted to say." He clamped his mouth shut and I didn't dare say anything to ease his conscience. I had been sarcastic so it was amusing to see him sweat a little.

"That wasn't a very nice thing to say wasn't it?" It didn't bother me so I didn't say anything to that. But I did roll my eyes though.

I sighed grabbing my phone from my bag. I didn't regret walking today, but I wondered if it had been a smart decision since nothing good had come of it.

"Hi honey. Are you okay? It's been two hours since you left school and you still haven't come home yet. I was getting worried. Is everything alright? Are you hurt?" Isabel kept throwing questions at me and I pinched the bridge of my nose.

"Isabel. The rude guards at the main gate aren't letting me in because I don't have an access card. And they don't believe that I live with you. So can you come pick me up?" A few other people passed me.

Each beep of the gate as they were granted access and the smirk on the older man had me wanting to rip his head off with my none existent claws. I could be a distant relative of the Salvatore's for all I knew. Not that vampirism was somehow genetic.

Why am I thinking about vampires!!

I focused my eyes on the man who was enjoying my plight much more than necessary.

"Oh yeah. Oh my God. I can't believe I forgot about that. Are you okay?"

Yeah because I forgot to remind you.

But I wasn't taking the fall for that. She shouldn't have needed me to remind her. I was new after all.

"Yeah." I said and she chuckled.

"Can you wait there a little longer for Ashely? I just texted him and he said he was nearly there. The guards know him so they'll let you in if they know he's your brother."

Hell no to the moon and back!
Why don't you pick me up Isabel?" I was definitely grovelling this time. I was asking for her help so I could get out of the situation I was already in. The situation where I had to call that spineless fellow my brother.

"I can't honey. I've already started with dinner and dad is in a meeting. Just hang in there. Ashely will be there soon. I've already talked to him so don't worry."

No I wasn't worried. Not at all. Not in the least bit.

Why would I be worried?

Since it seemed like I had to rely on Ashley's help as the only solution, I could as well squeeze myself in the matchbox room with the guards for the night. No way would Ashely vouch for me. No chance in hell would he say I was his sister. Not that I actually wanted him to. The thought made my stomach grumble, and not in a pretty way.

"Okay cool." Then I dropped the call. The guard looked at me expectantly. Like he was waiting for me to tell him that the president was my uncle.

"And? What did she say? Is she coming to pick you up." He inquired as if he actually cared.

"Her son will be here soon. She said he'll vouch for me." I wanted to see my own face as I said that. The fact that I could say that and not melt to the floor in laughter was beyond me.

I'm sleeping outside tonight.

Not that it would have been a first anyway. He furrowed his brow.

"Then why don't you sound unconvinced."

"Because I have a good reason not to be."

"Okay. You must be tired now. Why don't you have a seat?" I snickered.

"Oh so now you want to act like a decent human being. After a whole hour." He smiled using his access card to open the gate for a kid who was about Peter's age. His smile widened when I cracked my knuckles. A five year old could stroll in there without having to stand in the heat like me for two hours and I couldn't?

"Known resident." He muttered unable to hide his huge and annoying grin from displaying all over his face. The man was having the time of his life while torturing me. He had to be glad it didn't.

A few minutes later, a black jeep stopped at the gate and Ashely poked his head out of the passenger seat.

"What's up Musa?" He greeted the guard and completely ignored me. Well I ignored him back.

"Ashely. How was practice today?" I yawned completely bored.

"Intense as always." Then his eyes moved to me. There were about five of them in the car including Ashely and I could hear and see as they laughed at whatever it was they found funny. It was probably useless. They were all wearing the same costume so I figured they were in the same basketball team.

"I see you found yourself a friend. Is she trying to get inside?" One of they said with a snicker.

"She can speak for herself." Another one popped his head out of the back seat and ogled me with a sickening look.

"I bet she does. Sorry to disappoint you sweetheart, they won't let you in. But if you come with us then we'll drop you where you want to go." He winked and I wanted to gag. Ashely actually made a gagging sound before pulling his friend into the car by the hem of his shirt.

"Thanks for the irresistible proposal but no thanks." He clutched his heart like he was wounded and I sighed so done with whatever more this crazy day had to offer.

"She said she lived with the Wilsons. Is it true Ashely? Do you know her?" Musa, as was apparently his name, suddenly addressed the real matter at hand.

Yep. I might as well find a few straws of grass and make myself a bed.

Maybe it's time to replicate my cardboard house I once made when I was thirteen.

"She's obviously lying. They don't know each other." The driver said taking out his card. My eyes dropped to my brother and I saw him looking away from me.

"I obviously don't know her." He said with the most annoying smirk I had ever seen. The fucker couldn't even look me in the eye.

It wasn't like I hadn't known he would say that.

"My offer still stands." The same overly friendly guy said again.

"I'd rather sleep in the cold thanks."

Could this day get any worse?

*********

As it turns out it actually could. They always say that people manifest their own luck. That had to be a lie because there was no way I was living this life by choice or manifestation of my own luck. That tank had skipped me. It was nonexistent.

It wasn't like I hadn't known that Ashely would actually say that, but I couldn't help the little sting I felt at the rejection. It was gone as quickly as it had appeared.

"Ashely, don't be a dick. This isn't funny. Just say you know me so he can open for me already." He narrowed his eyes when I talked directly to him. The gate slid open and they casually drove in. Then the car stopped when they were on the other side.

"Don't act familiar with me like we know each other. You're a nobody that's why you're over there and I'm over here." Then he threw his jacket at me and then rolled his window back up. I heard them laugh as they drove further away and turned a corner to the next street.

I swallowed whatever conflicting feelings I experienced before shrugging. Although I had expected him to do that, I still couldn't believe that he actually did it and left me there. I wasn't bothered at all.

I'm not bothered at all!

I shrugged again staring at Musa.

"I guess we're room mates tonight." I said chuckling and the guy didn't even smile. The amused look he had been spotting on his face was suddenly not there.

"You do live with them don't you?" He gently asked and I rolled my eye with a laugh.

"You're only believing that now? I've been telling you for hours. Besides, I knew Ashely would do that anyway. He hates me and I hate him. I expected nothing less. He was my option B which means now I have to ask Isabel to pick me up. Again."

Twice in the span of a few minutes. I was clearly breaking my own records today.

I tried not to panic when the sun began to slowly set on the horizon. I grabbed my backpack to retrieve my phone when I heard a beep. I slowly raised my head only to find Musa holding the gate open for me. I smiled at him and he looked sad for some reason.

"Oh so now you're feeling sorry for me." He sighed like he was genuinely losing his patience.

"Kid. You've been a headache to me for most of the day. Shut your mouth and just go home. I'm doing this for me more than I am doing it for you. So now go home before I change my mind." Yeah, I didn't believe him but I appreciated it nonetheless. I couldn't help the genuine smile that split my face.

"Thanks. Muuusa." I said the first part of his name like I was doing the moo sound of a cow. He just shook his head with a smile. As I stepped through the gate, I saw Ashley come running around the corner, sprinting like the demons were on his heels. I frowned staring at him. He finally saw me and frowned too as he faltered. He slowed down when he got nearer.

"I see you're now in." He said uncertainly.

How observant.

"Yes. Thanks to you." He shrugged dropping down to pick up his jacket.

"I don't really care either way. Good luck finding your way home."

"I didn't need your help the first time so I won't need it now." He sighed walking away.

"Suit yourself." I watched him pick up his pace, probably going back to his friends and I wondered why he had thrown his jacket anway.

"And Ashley?" Musa shouted after his retreating form.

"Yes?" He asked turning around.

"That really was a dick move." And I couldn't agree more.

******

As luck would have it, or my lack of it, I actually didn't know which house belonged to the Wilsons. They all seemed to look the same to me the further down the estate I walked. Not to mention I had no idea which street it was.

My lack of interest had finally caught up to me. I had never cursed so much in my entire life as I turned around and round in one place. Nothing stood out for me.

I got lost so many times, I was nearly tempted to march into one of the houses to wait for either Isabel or Mr Wilson to come and pick me up. Then I thought about how lame that would actually look. How stupid it would make me feel. I wasn't into that.

An idea suddenly struck me and I instantly pulled my phone from my jacket pocket. I didn't even feel embarrassed as I looked up Isabel Wilson's name and address. One address that was actually listed was one that said Cape town.

"That's definitely not what I'm looking for." I kept scrolling and gave up when nothing that I actually wanted showed up.

"Well that's actually useless." I was about to give up when I saw a redirect to Ashely's social media. It wasn't really that hard to find his profile on Instagram. I browsed his profile and went through his content until I found what I was looking for. I smirked at the foolishness of the guy. In the endless posts of his, there was a picture of him infront of the house I  had no doubt I knew.

He was with five other guys and I recognised the two of them as the ones he had been with earlier. I smiled when I saw the house number at the background.

Judging by my surroundings, I had literally passed the house just a few minutes ago. I did the walk of shame back to the house. I was absolutely done with this shit day. It had been way too long.

Isabel called me just as I was about to open the door.  It whipped open right as I was about to grab a hold of the door knob. Her flashed face from worried amd concern to one of relief.

"Oh my God Laynie. Where have you been? We've been worried sick."

Yeah that's not a name we're keeping!

She pulled me into a massive hug and I stood ramrod still in her arms. She must seen how tense I was because she instantly let me go.

"Oh I'm sorry. I was just relieved to see you. I thought you were lost or something." I shrugged stepping inside.

You have no idea.

It felt like I had just came back from the war. The sun had long set so it had grown darker. If it weren't for the street lights, then I definitely wouldn't have found their house.

"What took you so long? Ashely said you weren't at the gate when he came home." My eyes instantly slid over to the ashen faced jackass that I wanted to shove my fist into. I was too tired for any drama so I sighed ignoring him.

"It's been one hell of a day Isabel. You have no idea. I just feel like I've been on a long journey that didn't seem to have an ending." She gave me the what the fuck look and I smirked. She had to experience it to know it.

"I'll take a shower and come down for dinner." She shook her head and walked back to the kitchen.

Ashely had won this round but his turn to suffer would come. I'll make sure of it alright.

**********

Why do you think Ashely came back?

And what would you do if he were your brother?

Revenge is sweet right, but Lanaya's is sweeter.