TWO| MEET THE SULLENS

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"SHE GENUINELY THOUGHT THAT she'd do some damage to me?" Walker asks incredulously, pointing to herself. "That's exactly why she got clocked in her eye."

She begins pacing back and forth as her face contorts in all-consuming anger. Her upturned nostril begins to flare, and her dark almond eyes flash back and forth into slits as she curses under her breath. The more she moves around, the more it becomes evident that she wants to smash someone's head in.

I've grown up with older siblings, and they've always had their fair share of confrontations, yet my Mom and I would know how to tame the situation. However, in this case, I don't even want to think about approaching Walker the wrong way; for all I know, she could be a ticking time bomb waiting to explode on the next person to come near her.

"Hey, Walker," I call out softly, hoping she doesn't hear me but fails when she stops momentarily. "Maybe you should relax a bit; getting frustrated will only give her what she wants, and I doubt you'd want that."

She opens her eyes and gives me a death stare. Her expression glazes briefly until she grimaces, her lips crease together, and her eyes are unblinking. The intense look in her eyes could cause severe destruction because she looked like a lion about to attack because I had just invaded an unwanted territory.

"Who the hell are you, and what are you doing inside this house?" She asks, backing me up against a corner.

The bathroom door opens unexpectedly, revealing an irritated Parker. Slamming the door shut with his right leg, he switches his attention to the both of us with a vexed look sprayed on his face. Gripping her collar roughly, he slams her against the wall, causing me to back up in fear. "What the hell was that?"

"Get OFF of me," Walker exclaims, pushing Parker away from her. "You're coming to the wrong person; Evelyn was trying to start something she couldn't finish."

"What do you mean?"

"She tore some of my clothes an hour ago because her boyfriend found me attractive - as if that's my fault!" Walker cries out exasperatedly, throwing her hands in the air. "I started to talk shit only after she said she wouldn't pay for anything."

"So you're telling me that you provoked her?"

"Oh my fuck, Parker, were you dropped on your head? Are you just going to neglect the fact that she destroyed my things and wasn't going to replace any of them?"

Groaning aloud, he leans against the wall tiredly, an annoyed expression blatantly displayed. "Get ready; we're going to the mall."

"Thank you, that's all I want," She breathes, moving her neck in circles.

"Don't you dare-"

"Relax, I'll ignore her as long as she doesn't try anything funny," Walker interrupts, wrapping her hair in a bun. Parker side-eyes her actions, causing her to roll her eyes. "Relax, my head hurts from all of her hair pulling."

He backs off the wall and reaches for the doorknob to twist it open. "Just go already." She complies, but not before raising her middle finger at him. "You too, Jessica. I'll show you your room before I go."

Nodding my head, I step forward and wait for him to close the door. "Follow me and try not to look so impressionable around here," He grimaces, walking further into the hall. He takes a right turn, leading to a staircase in the corner of the kitchen. "There's going to be the third door on your left, where your room should be. If you're hungry, ask Cyrus to order takeout for you. He sleeps in the bedroom across from you," He instructs, gazing at me to see if I understood.

"Alright," I nod, my voice cracking from all my earlier sobbing. "Thanks for letting me stay here again. I really appreciate it."

He stares at me blankly and walks past me and out of the kitchen.

I ignore his indifferent attitude and walk up the stairs toward the third door. I twist the door open and step inside, pleased with the size. The room is a moderate size. A queen-size bed sits across from the closet, while there's a dresser near the window. A study desk resides on the right of the bed, while a TV is hung on the left.

I immediately walk over to the bed and remove my flats before kicking them under it. I cover myself with the thick comforters and comfortably lie my head against the fluffy pillows until I fall asleep.

~*~

"How long has she been sleeping?"

"Since Parker went with Walker to go shopping. You think he drugged her or some shit?"

"Wouldn't put it past him. Remember when he was with the frat girl from Wellington? He fucking spiked her drink so she could pass out, and he didn't have to deal with her crying after they broke up."

My eyes pop open at two people conversing, completely interrupting my sleep. I kick off my sheets and sit upright before rubbing my eyes together. Once free from the thickness of the rheum, I turn to see who's talking. The sight of identical twins startled me.

"She breathes," One with a beanie and glasses exclaims, his hands sticking out towards the other twin expectantly. "Told you she was a light sleeper."

Although his and his brother's physical features were indistinguishable, the energies and choice of style were like night and day. Both had angular heart-shaped faces with light brown freckles sprinkled over their pale skin.

The twin wearing glasses has an overly boyish aesthetic. His chestnut eyes carry a playful tune, and his toothy grin stretches to emphasize his dimples. A red and black flannel encircles his slim frame, and khaki jeans on his bottom.

The other twin's eyes are deep set and dark bags that mirror Parker's. Black untamed hair reflects his all-dark attire and gloomy aura. A sheer envelops his face as he digs in his pockets and hands the other a twenty. "You can choke, Gavin," He mumbles, leaving my room.

Gavin calmly follows him out of my room as if nothing happened, leaving me just as confused. I turn and grab a sticky note that is placed on my dresser.

"Went shopping for you! Hopefully, you enjoy everything <3."

-Walker

I smile at the gesture, but it feels like they've already given me too much. They've let me stay at their house, which is more than enough. I have to repay them after I get paid from work.

I open the dresser and grab a black top with a red rose towards the corner and black jeans with socks. "Fuck," I groan in annoyance, remembering I don't have any panties or bras.

I search through all the drawers, hoping to find a pair, and I almost cry tears of joy when I see a bunch of both. Taking one of each and some toiletries, I rush out of the room and immediately bump into someone, dropping everything in my hand. "Sorry," I mumble, scrambling to pick them up.

"It's me who should apologize," A deep voice mumbles, picking up the last of my things. I raise my head just for my eyes to meet a pair of flirty brown eyes. His hair is medium length and slicked back, and he has what I notice to be the Sullen family's signature prominent dark brows. Although his square jawline is entirely covered by scruff, his whole demeanor is nothing short of clean-cut.

"Nice choice with the lace," He compliments, motioning towards the undergarments in my arms. "Parker forgot to drop these off in your room and asked me to do it. You must be Jessica Rivera; my name's London."

"Nice to meet you, London," I respond as I grab a bag of what appears to be scented lotions and perfumes. "Is there a bathroom anywhere on this floor?"

"Yeah, it should be the first door on your right." I smile and try to maneuver my way around him, but he steps forward to block me with a suggestive look painted on his face. "Can't wait to see you at breakfast."

He brushes past me with those words, and I don't hesitate to make a beeline to the bathroom. That was just fucking weird.

I lay my belongings on the closed toilet seat and remove my clothing, throwing them on the floor. It wasn't long before I finished showering, and after 30 minutes, I put on my clothes and began to braid my hair.

A knock on the door startles me just as I finish my braid. "Hello, who is it?"

"It's Parker; open up!"

Sighing loudly, I open the door while readying myself for Parker's unpredictable behavior. His eyes land on mine with an unamused glare as if on cue. "Breakfast is ready, and everyone's waiting for you."

"That's sweet of you all, but you can go ahead and start without me."

"Well, trust me, it has nothing to do with you." Ouch. "It's just a family tradition that we've had for years. Just head on downstairs; I'll put everything up for you."

I feign a smile and whisper, 'Thank you' as he grabs my items and carries them back to my room.

Walking to the dining room gives me time to soak in the house fully. Inside directly mirrors the house's mood as the walls are light gray with pitch-black borders. A kaleidoscope of photographs of what appears to be the Sullen siblings at various ages and random paintings with ominous undertones plasters the walls.

As I descend the creaky wooden steps, the morning chatter from the dining room grows louder. The voices are a blend of teasing jabs, low murmurs, and the occasional burst of laughter. My stomach twists—part hunger, part nerves—as I take each step, wondering what kind of energy this morning will bring.

Behind me, Parker's heavy footsteps echo. He doesn't say a word, but his presence is impossible to ignore. I can feel his brooding energy looming, even without turning around. As we reach the bottom of the stairs, he brushes past me with a curt nod and strides into the dining room ahead of me.

The dining room is already a whirlwind of activity. The large wooden table is laden with plates of food: golden waffles stacked high, fluffy scrambled eggs in a wide serving dish, bowls of fresh fruit glistening under the morning light, a basket of toast with an assortment of jams, and a plate piled with crispy bacon. The smell alone is enough to make my stomach growl.

London, who seems to be the ringleader of the chaos, stands by the table with a spatula in one hand and a mischievous grin plastered across his face. He's dishing out waffles onto plates, his energy bright for this early in the morning.

"Alright, everyone, new game to kick off the day," London announces, waving the spatula like a wand. "Smash or pass: SpongeBob edition."

Walker groans, already sinking into her chair at the far end of the table, while Evelyn, sitting closest to me, rolls her eyes but doesn't say anything. My gaze catches onto Evelyn's black eye—the purpling bruise stark against her pale skin. I'm tempted to make a comment but decide against it.

I feel my phone buzz in my pocket and fish it out. A text from Travis, one of my closest friends: 'Need a ride to work?'

Crap. Work. I completely forgot. My chest tightens as I hurriedly type back: Yes, thank you. See you soon. I slide the phone back into my pocket and sit down next to Walker, my pulse still racing.

London's voice pulls me back to the present. He's turned his attention to Gavin, who's leaning back in his chair with an unimpressed expression. "C'mon, Gavin, you're first up. Gary: smash or pass?"

Gavin groans dramatically. "Oh, for the love of—"

"Don't act like you're above this," London cuts him off, jabbing the spatula in his direction. "Let's face it, you'd be lucky if Gary gave you the time of day with that Target outfit."

The table bursts into laughter. Even Walker grins, and I catch Cyrus trying to hide a smirk. Gavin shakes his head, a sheepish smile creeping onto his face. "Alright, alright," he mutters. "Smash. Happy?"

"Knew it!" London exclaims, victorious. He passes Walker a plate of waffles, then nudges me with a wink. "You're up next, Jess."

Before I can respond, Walker voice cuts through the lighthearted moment. "Jessica," she says quietly, leaning over to me. "About last night... I'm sorry for being aggressive. That was uncalled for. I was being a bitch. Heat of the moment, y'know?"

Her apology catches me off guard. I glance at her, unsure how to respond, but the weight of her words feels genuine. Before I can reply, Evelyn snickers, her fork poised over her plate.

"Guess we're all just supposed to let it slide when you're a bitch, huh?" she mutters under her breath.

Walker stiffens beside me, her jaw tightening. "Say that again," she growls, her hands curling into fists on the table.

"Enough," Parker says sharply, his tone brooking no argument. Evelyn raises her hands in mock surrender, but the tension in the air lingers.

The moment breaks as Gavin, Gasten, and Cyrus suddenly stand in unison, grabbing their backpacks from the floor. "We're out," Gasten announces, his voice tinged with urgency. "If we're late again, they'll send someone to check on us."

"Good luck," London calls after them, chuckling. "Try not to look too suspicious."

Once they're gone, I push my plate away and stand up. "Thanks for breakfast," I say, feeling the need to get moving myself. "But I've got a friend picking me up for work. He's nearby."

At this, Parker and London exchange a look. Their skepticism is palpable, and I can almost hear the alarms going off in their heads.

"Your friend has your location?" Parker asks, his tone clipped.

I nod, trying to keep my voice casual. "Yeah, it's just my guy friend Travis. He's been a close friend for years."

"We'll walk you out," London says, his tone leaving no room for argument. I don't bother protesting.

The three of us step outside into the crisp morning air. The gates of the Sullen house creak open as Justin's car pulls up. His tinted windows roll down slowly, revealing his buzz-cut, tan skin and warm honey-brown eyes. He gives me a small smile but immediately locks eyes with Parker. The air between them grows taut, an unspoken tension crackling like electricity.

"Is there a problem?" I ask, glancing between them.

Justin's smile doesn't falter. "No, nothing to worry about."

I hesitate for a moment but eventually climb into the passenger seat. As soon as the door closes, Justin turns to me, his voice low. "Are you okay? Did they hurt you?"

I shake my head, staring out the window. "I'm fine," I whisper.

Justin doesn't press further. He shifts the car into gear, and we drive off, leaving the house and its lingering tensions behind.