I knew everything would go downhill from the moment Gwen called me. She was crying and couldn't bring herself to properly talk.

That's all the confirmation I needed to take a Time Card which I only use in urgent situations, and Maxon was willing to oblige me.

Defying the prospect of meeting the Witches of The West A.K.A, Gwen's Stepsisters and Stepmother, I barged in through the front door, startling Shannon who looks like she's about heading out based on her outfit, a pair of skinny jeans and a small white shirt.

“What is wrong with you?” She screeches.

Tanya, alerted by the commotion, appears from the laundry room area. The woman frowns when she spots me.

“Where's Gwen?” I demand.

Shannon rolls her eyes. “Where do you think?” She grabs her shoes from the shoe rack and brushes past me, slamming the door shut.

Tanya just scoffs but doesn't stop my path to Gwen's room. The white door that has a sticker of Hannah Montana is firmly shut, locked even.

I tap on it, thrice and the door swings open before a pale hand pulls me inside the room and closes the door again.

“You look like hell.” I comment, looking from her messy bird, to her over piled laundry basket and the closet barely holding her clothes in.

Gwen's eyes are red, evidence of her crying. “Gee, thanks.” She murmurs, lying face down on her bed.

“What happened to you?” I ask, sitting by her side since my humour wasn't appreciated.

“Shannon accused me of trying to steal her boyfriend which isn't true. Come on, this is Connor we're talking about, like ewww.”

Chuckling, I thread our fingers together. Connor Jameson was one of the worst playboys around and Shannon didn't mind so long as he was Captain of their football team.

“Shannon is crazy, as well as the other members of her family,” Gwen aims a glare at me. “minus you of course-” I hastily add.

She snatches a Rubix Cube and starts on twisting it. “They didn't let me eat last night and this morning either.”

This drains every single positive emotion I was feeling earlier. “I would have got you something if you had said so.”

She shrugs. “Sorry.”

I have no idea what she's apologising for.

“Just get yourself cleaned up. We're going out.”

It's almost Lunchtime anyways so, I'd just have lunch with her before going back to work even if Maxon might give me an earful.

Gwen groans. “No.”

“Gwen.” I say firmly.

In between rolling her eyes, she drags herself off the bed. “Okay Dad.” She scurries into the bathroom dodging the pillow I hurled at her.

🌳🌳🌳

“Boss’ is asking for you.” Maxon tells me in a gruff voice after I had signed back in.

I flash him a grin. “Thanks man. I owe you one.”

“Yeah, whatever. Please leave already.”

Maxon, always the charming gentleman.

Soaking myself the sounds of engines and the smell of grease, I locate Roger's office. The door is slightly ajar and I overhear two extra voices apart from Roger.

Knocking, Roger asks me in. Automatically, the other persons look at me. I recognise one of them to be Denver and the second man, with blonde hair, words would fail to describe how good he looks like pastry from my favourite pastry shop.

Can I drool?

“Max said you sent for me?” I glance at Roger after staring at both men to my heart's content.

Roger has a smirk like he knows something I don't. “Remember Mr Manson from yesterday?”

I nod, unable to focus with the pairs of eyes droned on me, dissecting me even.

I don't mind being dissected by a-

Bad thoughts. Focus

“Yes. It'd be hard not to.” I reply.

“Good. He's here to thank you, with his partner.”

Partner as in?

“Damon's my husband.” Denver clarifies after seeing the confused frown on my face.

The impact of his words feel like someone grabbing my hopes, tearing it to shreds and dumping them in a drainhole.

“Oh. That's cool.”  My voice maintains it's transparence.

Damon exchanges a look with Denver, and then Roger.

“Thanks for letting us see the dedicated employee of yours.” Damon speaks, voice as smooth as cream.

I roll my eyes. Roger.

“It's a pleasure doing business you, Mr Manson.” Roger beams.

Once the room clears out and it's just me and Roger, I snort.

“Whatever you're trying to do would not work, Boss.”

He chuckles. “I don't know what you're talking about.”

Of course.

I move to the door, stopping when Roger calls out.

“I must have accidentally given your contact for future services. You get what I'm saying.”

Laughing, I shake my head before returning to my station and seeing Clarence waiting for me.

🌳🌳🌳

“At this point, I think we should adopt her already.” Nana refers to Gwen messing around in the yard with Cassidy and Pearl.

Millicent's searching the earth for earthworms with Tanner. She takes her science classes seriously.

“That would be nice seeing how much the girls adore her.” I respond. The air's cool and clear.

It might rain later. Or not.

“Are you still going out later?”

I nod. I promised to take my friend out. Trent's coming too. The third person in our friend group.

He's been busy with a project, that's why we've seen less of him.

Trent lives up to the nerdy stereotype. Glasses-wearing and computer-loving male. That's Trent in a nutshell.

His parents are back at Finland while he's studying here, to get a break from their overprotective nature.

I wish I had someone who is overprotective of me.

“Seen your mother around?”

Way to ruin the mood, Nana.

Cassidy jumps on Gwen's back as payback for some game they're playing.

“She's probably passed out somewhere, high on some drug or alcohol. I don't really care anymore.”

Nana sighs. “She's still my daughter, you know? No matter how I try to hate her, I can't. I just hates how she hurts you all and herself.”

It's understandable.

“Get rested, Nana. I'll see you later.”  I march over to Millicent and Tanner, crouching beside Millicent, her hand messy with the damp soil as she digs.

“Seen any earthworms yet?”

“Yes. But Tanner killed it.” She scowls at Tanner who feigns offence.

“I'm helping you here, so be grateful.”

Millicent stares at him with disbelief. “You're so mean. Axel, tell him to stop being mean.”

Never get between a sibling war. I just back out, returning to my room after telling my siblings not to stay out for too long.

Minutes later, while dressing for the outing, noises from my siblings bounce against the wall, fading and rising with Nana yelling at them to keep it down.

Gwen knocks softly on my door and after I verbally grant her access, she slides inside, smiling sheepishly.

“What?”

She shrugs. “Nothing. Let's go or we'll be late.”

“Trent called you?” I ask, grabbing my hoodie and throwing it on, over my black T-shirt. This has always been my signature look. Casual.

Gwen sits on my bed. “No. He didn't.”

“Don't worry. He still loves you.”

Protesting at my words, she throws a pillow at me. I don't dodge because her throws cannot hurt even a fly.

It takes us twenty minutes extra before we're leaving to the bar, that's after I've confirmed all my siblings are in the house. I put Pearl on sibling watch duty, that's after bribing her with dessert. She promptly agreed.

Kryptonite is a small cozy bar downtown. And on Fridays like this, there's always a band playing. It's soft music matches with the mood of customers unwinding after a long work week. Well, the week doesn't end for me. I'm always working, even on Saturdays. Sundays are strictly for rest though.

“Do I look okay?”  Gwen murmurs, musing over her clothes. A grey turtleneck and her jeans skirt that never hugs her figure tight like most people would like. Gwen dresses conservatively and that's just one of the facts that makes her unique.

Her skin is clear and unblemished where everyone can see but I know the true image of what lies beneath her sleeves. I'd never reveal them, not even if a gun is held to my head.

“Gwen. You're fine. Don't stress yourself.”

The doubt clears from her eyes. “What are you waiting for then? Time to order. Bills on you.”

I chuckle at the mood switch. “Of course.”

We bask in the steady hums and constant activity around us, of customers and servers.

At past eight, Trent finally walks in. His eyes settle a little longer on Gwen, then on me.

“Nice hair cut.” I smirk at the layered style he's sporting. It's a sharp contrast to his nerdy behaviour.

Trent returns the smirk, pulling out the chair beside Gwen and settling on it. “What can I say? My roommate is bad influence.”

Gwen scoffs. “Next thing you'd be leaving a string of broken hearts on your path.”

“My eyes are only for one person.” Trent bops Gwen's nose playfully.

They might not realise their attraction to each other, but soon, I hope they do.

“Get a room you too.” I tease, receiving a stink eye from Gwen.

Trent is amused. “Still haven't found someone to keep you in check?”

“You should know Axel is a wild animal. No one can tame a beast, Trent.” Gwen sticks out her tongue at me.

Rolling my eyes, I call Clara over so we can order.

“Two more years and I'm out of that school.” Trent exhales. The bags under his eyes are a proof of his stress.

Gwen presses her lips in a thin line, hiding whatever she wanted to say.

“School talk is strictly forbidden from now henceforth.” I announce, not that it affected me but I needed my friends to have a safe space from the chaos in their lives, Gwen's chaos being her family, and Trent, his school.

“Fair enough.” Trent agrees and faces Gwen. “What's going on with you, pretty face?”

Gwen smacks him with her handkerchief. “Don't call me that.” But she fills him with every interesting detail about her life, which isn't much away from my family. She spends most of her day with my siblings and Nana, and even has her own drawer for her clothes in the girls' room.

While she speaks, Trent sneaks me a look that's of gratitude for taking care of our friend.

It's way past bedtime when we disengage, Trent said he booked a hotel for the weekend and Gwen would be following me because going to her house this late would be an inconceivable idea.

There's a familiar figure sprawled on the couch. I know who it is but I turn on the lights for confirmation.

“Turn it off.” My mother scolds, shielding her face.

The stench of weed chokes me. I pat Gwen on the shoulder, a signal for her to go to the room. I'd handle my mother.

“You did not call to check on me.” Mom accuses as I bend to take off her shoes.

“That's because you left your phone here, Mom.” I remind her.

She sighs and sits up. Her hair is wild, duller than it's usual golden hue, sane shade Casdidy, Casper and Millicent inherited. The rest of us got our father's colour; midnight black.

“I'm hungry.”

Of course. Smoking weed has a tendency of digging up an appetite.

I rush to heat the leftovers from dinner that's likely to be my portion.

Mom gobbles up everything in record time and washes it down with water, scrunching up her face in the process.

“I asked for a beer.”

“You know we can't have beer in the house.”

She sighs and leans on me for support.  “I'm tired, Axel.”

“Let's go up to your room. You need a shower.” 

It's a harmless statement but the woman frowns. “Did you just say I stink?” She smacks my arm while I help her up.

“Not at all.”

Today is one of the better days when she's in a good mood, and days like this are rare.

I accept whatever she gives.

Second chapter.
I'm loving this book already!
so, there's a lot of
character development in
progress but you guys got to
meet Trent.
Do you like him?
And Axel's mother.
I don't think you'd be seeing her much for this first few pages
until the plot thickens.
I'm saving her part for the
important scenes...

So...
who's ready to see Denver and Damon again?😏