Cruel Summer - C. Sturniolo

Thirteen | Faint Star

For the following two weeks Stella stayed in her room, even when Vela and her mother came back. She stayed in her room and heard the boys come in and out her house to hang out with Vela. But only two of them, Matt and Nic. Rarely hearing Chris walk through or even at all.

The neat and clean room she had that night turned into a depression room, having no motivation for anything besides regular hygiene. She was back to her normal habits of when her father went off on her before heading to jail. It was what Chris said and how he said it, she never would expect those harshful words come from him. Especially for them to be directed at her. Her habits not being the best, from watching things she shouldn't be to only want to quit everything she achieved.

It wasn't only the sadness Chris brought to her but everything else that correlated to it is what put her into a depression. Being reminded every night when she looked out the window into his room that she wasn't his, seeing Vanessa in his room making moves she could never because she knew Chris wasn't comfortable with it. It got to the point where Stella finally installed the blinds she was supposed to put in two months ago. Being done with what she's seen and is reminded with.

But when Stella came out of her room for more than thirty seconds Vela silently cheered her on. Going into her room so Stella could be alone to do whatever she wanted. For the first time in a long time Stella made herself breakfast instead of leaving off on it and grabbing leftovers her mother left from the fridge. Sitting down at the table blankly staring in front of her while eating the food and drinking water.

"Good morning" Maria greeted

"Morning" Stella lowly said

"The Sturniolos are throwing something for the boys tomorrow, have you talked to them?" Maria asked

"Uhm no, I'll talk to them today though" Stella lied

"They're coming over right now Stella, Mary asked me to watch them for some reason even though they're eighteen" Maria laughed

"Thank you for that, I'm going back to my room" Stella said putting her dish in the sink

"You're not going to greet them?" Maria asked as the doorbell rang

"No, I don't want to talk to them" Stella said closing her door softly

"Oh okay" Maria said sadly

She got the door as all three boys were there, having hope in their eyes that Stella would finally hang out with them. But as Maria shook her head no they all looked down, they headed up to Vela's room and stopped at Stella's. Wanting to knock but knowing they should give her more time.

"Did she come out today?" Nic asked concerned

"Yeah! She made herself breakfast and ate at the table. It's something little but it's a big step" Vela said

"I'm glad she at least got up and stayed out for longer than a minute" Matt said

"Yeah" Chris agreed

They all switched the topic and played mario kart on the TV. Meanwhile Stella was on her phone texting Trevor per usual, that was the only person she's kept in contact with. Of course with the occasional Jack and Luke text messages and phone calls, Trevor was a regular on her phone. He was the light of her day and had helped her a lot through this, as best as he can though. Coming down when he could to take Stella out for brunch or dinner, the only times she would go out.

They both of course had some type of feelings but she's nineteen and he's twenty-one. It wouldn't be right, agreeing to be friends and staying like that. At this point Stella has probably moved Jack out of number one. But with their friendship growing she thought about hers and the triplets. Wondering where that was at.