I emerged from the garage through the hall that leads to Christian's Office and the house gymnasium.

Lilith was standing by the contemporary resting furniture in the corridor when I took a turn; her startling presence had me yelp and step back for a second.
"You're back; I had been waiting for you." Her mouth curved into a beautiful smile. Snake much?
She started towards me, and her exhilaration slowly slipped off her face. She was now steel with fear.

"Why?" I groan, forgetting about the bruise on my forehead until she disturbingly came for my face with panic in those limpid eyes similar to those I've been staring at for the entire day, "Are you okay? What happened to your head?"

Why do they have to look alike? Affirmative, I get it, they're siblings, but it's frustrating how easy it is to see both of them in each eye I peer at.

"Not your business." I slap her hand away from my cheek at the approaching footsteps of her brother.

Her eyes rolled dramatically at my reaction, but she let it slide and mumbled something that sounded, "If you say so."

"What do you want, Lilith?" Leigh drawled when he joined us in his shoes, but the laces were hanging over the floor.

"What are you still doing here? Aren't you suppose to be passing? Move. I am talking to Ava, not you." With disregard, she shoved him and grabbed me by the fingers, pulling me along towards the living room while her styled ponytail hair dangled faultlessly behind her. "You have to let me close your eyes for this one."
Her excitement is back. We are partially running now. I glance back at Leigh; he has a worried frown on. I don't know what to do in the midst.

We just promise to extend our secrecy; I can't give her any idea that would lead her to suspicion. He wanted it to be this way, but now the pain behind his eyes spoke otherwise, and it is punching my mid-stomach and leaving a grating sensation on my soul.

When Lilith and I were close to the foot of the living room, she circled me even more excited and brought her hands over my eyes.

I've thought of my chances between fight or flight but noticing Leigh's presence brings me ease. I know he would never let her fool or harm me, mostly now that I am blindfolded by her.

"I don't..." I started at first but gave in because I knew it was too late already. "Okay, now I am terrified." I breathed out as everywhere was quiet except for her tiny little giggles in my ear.

"But is not even the best part." She chuckled. "Come on."

Just then, it dawned on me the games we were playing. What if someone could tell our deepest secrets from observation? My mom or Christian, for instance?
Mom and Christian.
"Where are mom and your dad?" It's almost 10 pm, or is she ushering me to them? Does she have something to tie me guilty of before their eyes?

My heart bounces in my chest until she replies and then drops her hands from my eyes.
"They are at a barbeque party across the street, at Mr. Mount. Now open your eyes." She instructed, and as I did that, my jaw dropped flat on the floor.

"Oh my God." I gaped and scampered towards the pile of clothes all over the living room.

While I pick every pair and examine the attractive brand logo, Lilith explains behind me, "We have a stall ready for tomorrow at summer fest. Our crop tops and shorts are the tickets for Claire and Allison's car wash party. It's like a joint success. While we celebrate our opening, people wash cars in sexy tops and shorts for the French sisters, just as you suggested at the mountain house. And believe me, when I say, people are already pre-ordering their outfits for tomorrow. And also, believe me when I say again, we are making a real fortune."

They're so beautiful and rich and everywhere.
"I thought you were kidding." I exhale a nervous laugh at her and grab some set that enticed my sight, "Look at this adorable jumpsuit. And we have a jean jacket." I ranted, melting like butter at the cuteness of the materials. The jumpsuit and jacket are decent for las vegas summer. All that says, Boyce's sisters on the label. Ava and Lilith style. I know I am not a Boyce, but at least my name is prominent right there. It warms my heart I could have something of mine.

I turned to her with sincere joy and appreciated her effort. She claps her hands under her chin, hopeful puppy eyes pleading with me.

"Does this mean you'll be there tomorrow as partners?"

"I wouldn't miss it for anything."

At my agreement, Leigh clears his throat, pulling our attention to him. Though Lilith's was brief but mine hooked on him as I found him gritting his teeth impatiently. He expresses revulsion at the entrance, with his hands buried in his pockets. While I am lost in him, Lilith had lost me since then; I failed to give attention to what she was saying until her last words echoed in my head, "This would be great."

But before I could snap out of Leigh's distracting figure, I felt warm and wet skin wrapping around my lip.

No way she did that. But when my eyes instantly moved from Leigh, my thought was confirmed. Lilith is kissing me.

Wait, what the hell?

Instinctively, I stiffened because I knew she had just ripped off the bandage of her brother's emotional wound. I stiffened because I felt the genuineness of her emotions. I stiffened because I knew this wouldn't go well for either of us. I stiffened because Lilith kissed me again.

"The fuck? What was that?" My gaze collided with Leigh again. This time he looks like a child who learns about his parent's divorce. I wish I could pull his hand and take him somewhere quiet to calm down but not in this world right now. He wouldn't oblige for one, and I don't have that privilege in public. "You can't just kiss her." He gaped, terrified at both of us when Lilith pulled away immediately. I can hear the fast beating of her heart. It wasn't intentional. She was caught off guard.

No!

My heart slowly began to bleed while nightmare crawled into my head and seized my body, confirming to my sight that I was finished.

"Chill Hercules, It meant nothing. I kiss people when I'm excited." Lilith waved it off with miserable laughter, but perceivable pretence dripped in every sound she made.

Leigh expels an unpleasant laugh, shifts on his feet and shakes his head in her face.
"That's the corniest shit I'd ever heard. What's wrong with you?" It's impossible to ignore the shake in his voice as he swallows and forces air into his lungs. "You don't fucking kiss your sister."

"Stop cussing on me; she's my stepsister." She retorts desperately but quietly, her lips trembling while she obdurately remains in her position.

The blunt conversation feels like the walls of the house are shrinking. I know they can all feel it too. My body had gone limp. My words have shelled back in my throat. I stood paranoid and voiceless in the circle, watching the horror I had dreaded evolving in front of me.

"The fuck if it matters." He explodes, shoving Lilith's shoulder with intense force. Luckily, she clashes back into the sofa.

I was startled to the point where I retreated back and hit the glass door, watching him create a monster of his own. My heartbeat was irrationally fast. Physically, I am numb, but I can feel the tears stinging in my eyes.

What is he doing? Or perhaps, what have I done?

"What the fuck, Leigh." She screamed and pushed out of the sofa along with two electronic remotes, both of which she tossed out at him, but he managed to dodge and let them break mom's favourite antique. No! NO... NO.
"I. Do. The. Fuck. I. Want." Lilith had an emphasis on those words while she reciprocated the attack.

There are no older adults to stop them from killing themselves. If the responsibility to arbitrate in the dispute is inclined on me, then all hopes of unity and control between Leigh and his sister should be considered lost. My body had stopped functioning. It's like I am cemented to the ground under my shoes like a nation statue, watching my life shattered before my eyes.

"Including being gay for your family?" Leigh barked out the words that pulled my eyes out of their sockets.

He isn't supposed to say that.

"I am not GAY." She fires back and slaps his chest with her tiny hands. She had gotten cold feet at his utterance; her face was flushed; she travelled her surprisingly pale eyes to me and gaped blankly.

Crinkles formed between her brows. She knows I told him. I've never felt so shrank in my life.

"You just kissed, Ava. I am not blind nor stupid." His voice was getting louder and aching with each word. At least he didn't pin it on me.

"I told you it is nothing... It's normal in my-" She halted timidly and blinked away a tear.

"It better be because God, you wouldn't make a real lesbian if you're gonna go tasting only families mouth."

The moment he sneered those words out, she became desponded.
"Asshole." She bellowed and shoved him. He stumbles back a little and releases her arms. Now she was racing towards me.

My eyes widen even more prominent if it's possible. I back away, but I am already leaning against the door.

Before Leigh could reach for her, her lips were on mine.

At that point, the world seems to occur in slow motion. Leigh's pupils lose their glow. If anything, they're now sparking with darkness. I feared what he was about to do.

The reality of the disasters I've been constructing is likely to erupt in the next second or so. To my consternation, my knees had weakened. I've never been this voiceless or irresponsive before that I am cursed to live every inch of my fear while struck by horror in my stance with an awful knotting motion occurring in my chest.

Lilith kissed me again and before Leigh. Why would she do that?

The next thing that happened was fast and still confusing to decipher. Leigh yanks his sister from me. Leigh slapped his sister in the face. She's running to the foyer, stepping into her shoes.

I never wanted to be the evil. The one who destroys everything. The one who pulls people toward sin. If the student from my former school would see me now, they'd call me satan. If the principal would see me, she'd lock me in the attic to keep my demons from poisoning things around me. Maybe I need to hide myself from my stepsiblings.

The thud of the main door closing broke me out of shock.

I turn to Leigh. He's pushing his fingers into his hair, wandering back and forth behind the sofa, mumbling something to himself.

"What was that? Why would you do that?" I managed out in the pace of his heavy breathing. My voice was strained. I was barely holding the cry swelling in my chest.

What is wrong with him?

How he snapped his raw eyes on me and stopped in his track worried me. He doesn't look okay, not even close. He was sweating, and the AC was all working. He's fidgeting; it is something he never does.

When he noticed my strange stare at him, he began to walk away from the living room, down the archway to the kitchen.
"I will warm dinner." He announced instead.

I began to follow him; he quickly twirled and became petrified as though frightened. His skin was terrifying pale, as though he came from ice.
He had to be on something-what a fibster.

"Why would you say such hateful things?" I demanded frustratedly, but he wouldn't say anything. He just stared back. His lips parted, his eyes not any more familiar. "Leigh?"

It's driving me insane-scaring me even. It was unlike him. He seems edgy and itchy.

"What is wrong with you. You're shaking." I stepped toward him, and he angrily retreated.

Okay.

I nodded in acknowledgement and swallowed the lump in my throat. I was on the verge of crying. It took everything in me to blink away the tears before they fell and focus on taking a calming breath.

We were just fine some minutes ago until we got here, and now he disdains my touch. I didn't kiss her, and he knows. Why would he disgust me all of a sudden?

"I just need a minute." He muttered in a gentle voice that didn't match his frown.

"We need to talk..."

"I just watch my sister press her lips against yours, so, please... Just go get ready while-while I have that minute." His words crack, and he winces at it.

I despaired, knowing I couldn't convince him to give me his time when he didn't want to. Perhaps a minute is what he needs to realise his mistakes. I turned and began to leave but hastened and latched my wrist. It was too firm; I fear he will leave a mark there.

"Stop. You're hurting me." I squeak.

"Will you go?" He sounded and looked desperate. I blinked with thousands of emotions, but confusion was the lead.

"What?"

"Will you go to her event tomorrow?" He eagerly rephrases while I strive to slip out of the painful grip.

"You just messed things for us. And you ask me that?" I didn't know I just needed to shove him to gain my freedom until I tried. He crashed to the wall and exhaled noisily.

I look down at my hand. Yes, he left a mark. When I met his eyes, he was staring at my wrist too.

"You can't go. You see what she is capable of." He swallowed, pushing back from the wall and advancing towards me.

He wouldn't even apologise.

I back away from him for the first time since he returned because he was everything disagreeable to the Leigh I know.

"You said you needed a minute," I emphasised, glaring at him now.

He shook his head and exhaled what could be a sob.
Definitely strange.

"Just tell me, yes or no." He brought his hand over his left eye and cheek, rubbing there and dragging shaky breaths.

He is different. And thinking back to the pills I find in his processions. I could only feel the pain for him and the fear for myself. What if there's some kind of reaction, and I stay, and he hurt me? Like he did to his sister?

"You really need a minute." I nodded with mouth agape and hardened brows.

I need to leave.

"Ava..." He sprinted, but I raced for the door before he could reach me. "Ava, where are you going?"

When I was outside, and he was standing by the door, he swallowed.

"I am sorry okay? Just come here. Please." He added anxiously, his fingers tapping on the door frame. "Ava, I would not hurt you."

But he was scary. I couldn't believe him. I shook my head and watched his heartbreak in front of me. He was the one nodding this time. He hesitantly stared before he peeled his eyes from me. I didn't know I was crying until the door closed, and I was the only one standing in the driveway.

What the fuck?

***

When I have enough air in my lungs to keep me on my feet, I wipe away the tears on my face and follow after Lilith. She was a few houses away from ours. She was shuffling down the quiet street, wiping her face with the sleeves of her oversized sweatshirt.

I sped behind her and grabbed her shoulder, stopping her. I am sure she knows it is me because when she turned over with her eyes close, she inquired, "What's going on between you two, Ava?"

Everything ceased working in my body, except my voice, which came out squeaky when I retorted, "With who?"

She threw her hands around exasperatedly and cried, "Who, of course? What's happening?"

"I don't know what you're saying." I fired back instantly.

I mean, there is no way she might find out. Leigh and I never leave any trace.

"Let's not pretend you haven't been getting too close these days with my brother. You were hanging out together, ganging up against me together. I could swear I heard you two the other night. That must be how he knows about Arlen and the liquor. He slapped me for you." She harshly spoke. The last part was a scream. I turned stone-dead, and my mouth went dry.

What does that mean? She heard us? How? And when precisely? Because a lot had happened that night.

I shifted uncomfortably and looked away before she could see the lies behind my eyes.
"Because what you did was inappropriate." I squeak, scratching my thighs with my index fingers.

She stepped forward, jaw tightened and insisted, "And I will do it again, Ava. Call me insane. Call me a witch. Call me anything you feel I deserve, but I love you, and it's excruciating to see you don't understand."

"Please stop."

She grabs my hand, and I quickly snatch it back, mainly because I am afraid she's smart, I'm too sensitive, and she might figure out what I've been hiding from her and everyone with only a touch.

"You told him, didn't you?"

And then that topic.

"I-" My body started to fidget before her. I didn't know what to say this time. My eyes fell to my fingers while they fiddle with the hem of my shirt.

"Why? I trusted you." She disappointedly said. Her voice wobbled. "You hate me that much?"

Right, she doesn't get to play that card. For when it comes to hate, I've been her victim.

My eyes flickered to her, disagreeing with her statement, "Now we are going to talk about that?"

She scoffed like I was insane and shrugged her shoulders, her eyes rolling in the process.

"About what you mean to me? Yes, let's talk about it. About what happened to my brother? Yes, I am all ears. About how you broke your promise. Please, Ava, I am open to that conversation; let's talk. About the fact that you keep denying us. Ava, tell me, I have all the time in the world to listen. I want you to admit your flaws." She was heaving when she paused. I stare at her wordlessly with hopelessness. I knew the chaos this was going to create. And I knew it was getting out of hand and that I was accountable for it. "Why can't you see I'm a mess for you." She was adding acid to my ache. I am so fragile to keep up. "This is all you are going to do? Run away?" She grabbed my shoulder again when I began turning away from her.

"Because I have nothing to offer you, Lilith."

"Stop lying. You're here. You're you." She sounded six times louder than my weak voice. She was frantic with willingness. Tears are pouring down her cheeks. "That's all I am asking for: you, Ava. I will come out to our parents today if you say yes. I don't care what they will say. I am tired." She cupped my face and waited for me to say something.

Her eyes flashed three different emotions, hope, fear and anxiety.

And that something I say is, "I can't. It is not that simple."

She expels air and lowers her hands from my face. She didn't say anything else. She only mumbles,
"I gotta go."

Disappointment. I know. I can feel it too. Those we love are those that hurt us the most.

"To where?"

"Don't pretend to care." And with that, she continues to stroll down the street in the quiet of the night.

"Lilith," I called, my throat sore. I don't think she heard. Not that she would care to stop even if she did.

My breathing is drifting at the emotional and physical pain from all of today.

For the next five minutes, I stood with slumped shoulders, listening to the low hum of the crickets and the trembles of my bitter sobbing.

***

It took barely ten seconds after I knocked on the door for it to open.

Mrs Mount is smiling at me, but the kind of smile that mixes with pity. I am grateful she didn't ask what was going on even when she could tell from my tear-stained face that I wasn't okay; instead, she asked me to come in and nicely led me to mom.

The Mount's house is also a big house that's situated opposite ours. The couple has children. Both go to the same school as me, but I never really care to know them. After all, the quantity of people in your life is equal to the number of your problems. And clearly, I have enough to deal with right now.

Everyone at the get-together is a parent or at least married. There are old wines and meat and deep laughter everywhere. It's intimidating and sickening.

"Look at the adorable little thing I found." Mrs Mount announced to someone while my eyes were committed to examining the environment.

"Ava?" It was Christian's voice. My worn eyes swiftly drag to him. Or rather to him and his wife.

Panic suddenly formed on mom's face. She sat the wine cup she was holding over a drawer behind her and started examining my face like I was a piece of expensive furniture for an auction show.

"Are you okay? Where did you get these wounds from?"

"I forgot my seatbelt," I answered honestly and waited for her rage to come. It would make sense, given everyone hates me in the family.

Christian is now beside me, running a hand in my hair. "What? You had an accident?"

"I wouldn't call it an accident. I ran off the road, and hit a rock."

"I told you always to remember your seat belt, Ava. What were you thinking? I knew giving her a car was a reckless decision." She frustratedly started at her husband.

And there it is. Mom can't even help being dramatic at the only time I need her. Who in this family can I turn to?

I jerked back, breaking contact with her, but Christian still had me in his arms. So I couldn't put enough distance. Though the last thing I want is to cause a scene in this room and give this sophisticated population a topic to discuss, as people their age always assert things like the tragic life of a teen oh, and have the matter discussed back for their family dinner. After all, I've already attracted a few of their attention, mostly because I wasn't being quiet, and I looked like I just came out of a psychiatric ward.
Yes, the tragic life of a teen.

"I am sorry, mom, I forget to remember the safety of my life."

"No, Ava." Mom relented and tucked a strand of loose hair behind her ear. "You don't get it. I don't mean it that way. I just want you safe." She worriedly said when she stepped closer.

"Maybe you shouldn't bother."

"Ava, come on." Christian squeezed my shoulder. When I looked over at him, he was flashing awkward smiles at those urbane people with beards and red lipstick and big ears for eavesdropping.

"Why would you say that? I am your mother, and you're my responsibility. Let me look at it?" She demanded, handling my face again.

"Why didn't you call me?" Christian told me.

"It isn't that serious, and the car was working fine." That is true. However, the face of my car would say otherwise, but the engine was able to bring us home, and no one was severely injured.

"Your temperature is high," Mom says but primarily to her husband, even when the concern was for me, and her hand was on my head.

"I think we should leave." He told her, and she agreed with a nod.

"Do you have a headache? Any physical injury? Where did you hit?" Mom rushes each question, her eyes getting enormous and terrifying.

"No, not my head. But please take me to the hospital; something in my chest stings." I whined, and more tears began to spill from my eyes.

Her depressing stare was hesitant, but she nodded eventually and kissed my hair. "It will be fine. I promise."

We left the Mount's get-together after my parent's quick goodbyes. All of the time, my face is stifled in Christian's body, soaking his clothes with my tears. My hands around his giant torso while his hand soothed my back until mom came out of our front door with the car key and switched positions with my stepdad.

I was wrong earlier, I have mom and Christian to turn to when things get worst, but I am a hypocrite, a liar they didn't know about. A deceiver they all cared about. Now that I don't know my fate at Arlen's, I can only hope my heart is strong enough for the loneliness ahead. Because by then, I will lose these two people left in my life. And I will be stranded with the consequence of my choices.