I’ve always thought that Honey Green Tea smelled like hot beer. Not sure why, but the aroma always reminded me of the foul stench of beer. If it wasn’t for the way the tea could calm me down in a matter of seconds, then I would probably automatically dismiss the idea of drinking it.

Lifting the warm white mug, I pressed the brim up to my lips. Taking a small sip, I started to feel calmer already. Placing the cup on the coffee table, I considered watching a movie. Glancing around the living room, I wondered where Carollena had put my movies. There was perks to her being a clean freak, but moving my stuff around and confusing me about their whereabouts was not one of them.

I contemplated on if I had the energy to get up and find the movies. Five minutes later, I shook that idea out of my head and just decided to lay down on the couch. Sprawling out, I made sure my body was encased in the red fluffy blanket that I loved so much. With my eyes feeling heavier and heavier, I closed them.

Everything suddenly faded around me, that was until I heard Carollena come into the house with a loud, “I’m home!”

Cracking my sleepy eyes, I glanced over at the door way to find her with brown grocery bag and a wide smile. Yet, the second she laid eyes on me, her smile twitched down into a deep frown. Walking hesitantly into the living room, she set the bag on the coffee table and looked at me with a hint of sadness. “You know if you frown too much, you’ll get wrinkles.”

None of her features changed as she continues to stare down at me. “What happened?” She finally breathed.

I cuddled more into the couch and gripped the blanket tighter as if it would save me from Carollena’s quizzical mind. Soon, I knew it was in vain, Carollena would not give up until I told her what plagued my mind. Even though I wanted to do nothing more than to tell her the spider web I’ve entangled myself in, I bit my tongue on that matter. “I-I just am tired,” I lied.

Carollena, who saw right through me, shook her head in disapproval. “Annabelle, you might not be Pinocchio, but I can most certainly tell when you are lying.”

Sighing, I knew that she would not leave my presence until I told her the truth. But, the truth was poisonous, it was something that she had no right knowing, and if she did know ... gosh knows what Leaven would do if he found out that I admitted to her that he was being slightly abusive. Carollena also would more than likely try to protect me from Leaven, if she knew. But, she couldn’t protect me, no one could. “I slept with my boyfriend’s brother,” I told her knowing that if Leaven already knew that then there was no problem telling her. And in all honesty, having sex with Seven was in my top three problems going on right now in my life.

Slowly, Carollena bent down and grabbed my feet. Lifting them in the air she took a seat at the end of the couch. Placing my legs in her lap she gave a long sigh, which meant she was displeased and thinking. “Anna, I’m not very happy with you,” she spoke in a motherly, stern voice.

I wanted to coward under my blanket, but I knew I need to face the music. “I can tell.”

“Seven is engaged and Leaven is his brother. Not to mention, Leaven is the one you are dating...”

“I’m very aware of all this information.”

“Yet, you still did what you did,” she honestly stated.

As those words left her mouth my stomach sunk and I wanted to do nothing more but tell her the cold hearted truth ... but I laid there, bathing us in silence. No one, not even Carollena could or will even know what I’m going through, because I cannot allow them to be but in harms way, for if they know, without a doubt Leaven will do something. “So, are you going to give me the silent treatment in order to show me how upset you are?” I questioned knowing that was her favorite kind of punishment.

Looking over at me, I saw her eyes soften. “No, I will not condemn you to silence. I can sense you are going through a lot more then you are letting on. I’m your friend Anna, do remember that.”

With a small nod, I muttered, “I know.” A few seconds passed before my eyes drifted over to the bag that she had placed on the coffee table moments ago. “What is in that?” I inquired.

“Oh, well, Heaven wanted to go grocery shopping for her apartment. Yesterday, I had already got all we needed for the house to last us all week, but I forgot two things that I just knew you would want.”

Her words enticed me to find out what was inside the bag. Sitting up, I removed my legs from her lap and sat Indian style. Leaving over, I grabbed the bag. My eyes scanned the inside to find a chocolate bar and some sushi. With a wild, untamed smile, I reached in and grabbed the two items that I wanted to devour.

“Movie?” Carollena asked as she grabbed the now empty paper bag and folded it neatly.

“Yeah, but please, no love dove movies. I find that I need no reminder of love right now.”

With a nod in understanding, Carollena walked over to the televisions. Opening the cabinet below, she started to call off names of some movies. “Thor, Captain America, Avengers, Hulk-“

“Do we only have superhero movies?” I questioned in humor.

Carollena took a second to scan over the movies, “Ummm, we have Transformers ... would that be considered a superhero movie?”

“When did we become collectors of superhero movies?” I asked as I opened the plastic black container that held my precious sushi.

“Good question, one I have no answer too. So, what do you want to watch?”

“Captain America, I guess.”

“Sounds good to me,” Carollena said as she pulled out the movie.

After a few minutes she had the movie in and playing. Carollena asked if I wanted popcorn. I turned down her offer and finished off my California roll. Placing the empty black container on the coffee table, I tore open the chocolate candy bar. The chocolaty goodness was mere centimeters from my lips when my phone went off. Reaching in my pocket, I pulled it out and huffed.

Looking at the screen I saw that it was an unknown number that texted me.

If you are not going to meet me, I will come to you.

- 7

With an elongated sigh I figured that it was Seven and he was without a shadow of a doubt going to find me and talk about last night...

Carollena walked in the room a minute later with a bowl of popcorn. “What is wrong?” She asked the second she landed eyes on me.

“Nothing,” I quickly replied as my stomach did somersaults.

Seven was coming here ... and Leaven would most definitely find out. I reclined my back until it touched the back of the couch. My eyes flickered to the chocolate bar on the coffee table. For once in my life I didn’t want to eat it. For once in my life, I was truly afraid of what was to come.