Unidentified

Chapter Eight

TRISTAN

"How do you even know that girl?" Harper asks me, referring to Alyssa. I mentally roll my eyes at her. Typically Harper, she always wants to know everything, even the most stupid details. "We just saw each other, a few times," I mumble, keeping my eyes on the road. I pray that she'll be satisfied with the answer I just gave her, because I seriously don't want to have a conversation about Alyssa.

"So, you guys are seeing each other," she says. Oh my god, why does she always has to jump to that conclusion, the moment I'm around a girl? "No, we aren't," I say, my voice stern. "Well the-"

"Can you just shut up about her?" I ask. "You obviously like her," she smirks and I annoyingly groan. "I just love teasing you," she chuckles, tapping my back. I just roll my eyes at her and then keep focusing on the road. The last thing I want is to get in an accident because of this conversation.

We arrive in our neighborhood and I park the car near our apartment building. "Thanks for coming with me tonight, I really appreciate it," she says, thanking me. "You're welcome," I say, slightly nodding. We both get out of the car and walk towards the entrance of the apartment building. "Is Connor back?" I ask her, while opening the door. She mentioned that he wouldn't be home today, so I wonder when he will be back.

"No, he is in Beaverton, visiting his parents for a few days," she tells me, with a bitter undertone. "And I have to join him tomorrow."

"What's the matter with them?" I ask her and she slightly huffs. "They literally hate me. They say that because of me, Connor is living a bad life and that he would be better off with someone else than me," she tells me, being obviously pissed. "Then why go to them if they're so shitty to you?" I ask her and she sighs. "I just do it for Connor. He thinks they will like me eventually, but I don't think that's ever gonna happen," she says, then slightly shrugs. "Parents, they sometimes ruin our lives."

Now that's something I can actually relate on for once. My parents did indeed ruin my life, well in some kind of way.

"Yeah," I mumble, putting my hands into my jean pockets. "Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to-" I interrupt her before she can continue.

"No, it's all right," I say, giving her a small smile. Not a convincing one, obviously. "Okay, well can I offer you a coffee to thank you for coming with me today?" she asks, a smile playing onto her lips. "Uhm, sure," I shrug, not wanting to decline her offer. If I decline, she will think that she offended me by what she said a few seconds ago about parents. Which I was, but she doesn't have to know that.

I follow her inside her apartment and sit at the kitchen table while she makes coffee for us. A few minutes later, she comes towards me with two mugs of coffee, one for me and one for herself. She sits across from me and I take a sip of the hot black coffee.

"You never actually told me what happened to you," she starts and I look up at her. "What do you want me to say? I was abandoned, end of story," I say, my tone emotionless. "I know, but have you ever tried to find out why they did that to you?" she asks. "Yes, but that didn't work out," I reply, staring at the mug in between my hands. "Maybe you should try again. You could find mo-"

"No, I... I just don't wanna talk about it," I interrupt her, not wanting to hear more about this. I'm already haunted inside by what happened to me. And I don't need to be reminded of that. It's hard enough already.

I just stand up and leave her apartment, not giving her a chance to continue. I walk towards my own and enter it, before locking the door behind me. I deeply sigh, then walk straight to my bedroom. I quickly change into sweatpants before getting into my bed. I lay down on my back, blankly staring at the ceiling.