If We Lasted Forever | BOOK 2 ✔️

19 | Promise me

"If you promise to stay, I promise to never leave"
- Unknown
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Camilo Santoro

I haven't seen my baby cousin in years so naturally the first thing I expect wouldn't be her getting high and locking herself on her balcony.

Elijah and I just watched at first. Then at some point she slid to the ground and just looked at nothing. Maybe she was deep in thought.

It was all peaceful until Adriano, Dante, Alex, Caleb, Chris, the dude who was with Kiara (Thomas? Troy? Darion?), the lover boy (Lucas? Lionel? Labotomy?) and Dylan joined us.

I can't remember the new guys' name for the life of me. I know Lion was involved with her romantically a few years back and Derek is her best friend?

Anyway. They come and start yelling. All seem to be pissed about her smoking. Apparently they smelled weed. Such bullshit.

In the meantime Dobric and Lavender bang on the glass. At some point it breaks and Lobster goes to Kie. He helps her to her feet.

She seems to be surprised that she has feet. As somebody that has gotten high before, that is very understandable.

Daniel helps Lennart place her on her bed. She still isn't talking. I'm not sure if she even knows we are there. Has her brain made that connection yet?

She is staring at Lucius with wide eyes. We are all just waiting for her to say something but she doesn't. Adriano makes his way forward. He is such a high-maintenance asshole.

"Kiara, I must say I am disappointed to see you in such state, tuo padre non approverebbe" he says eyeing her with a stern look.
(Your father wouldn't approve)

"Non parlare dei suo genitori" I say quickly trying to save what can still be saved. Unfortunately Adriano doesn't catch on.
(Don't talk about her parents)

"I think I am allowed to mention my aunt and uncle when I want" he says laughing off my remark. I look at Kie and she doesn't seem to care. Maybe she just doesn't show it. I don't know.

After a lot of staring and waiting for responses everybody gave up and left leaving just Kiara and I. Draco looked back once.

I sit down on her bed next to her. She just looks at me emptily. I grab her wrists wanting to calm her.

When she was younger I would draw circles on her inner wrist to ease any unwanted anxiety. However then her skin didn't feel so bumpy and damaged.

I pull away and look her in the eyes. No emotion present on her face. I grab her wrist again and roll down the sleeve. Hundreds of marks, scars, scabs and burns. "Oh piccola" I say. Her eyes flash slight fear, almost undetectable.

I roll up my shirt sleeve and reveal a few old self-inflicted scars on my inner wrist. She looks at them and then at me. "You're not alone" I say opening my arms as if asking for consent to hug her. She hugs me.

I was enjoying our quick show of affection."Eli has them too" she whispers. I pull back. What? First of all she just spoke to me and second of all Elijah has self harm scars? She looks at her arms.

"Hey, I don't know what is going in on in that pretty little head of yours but whatever reason Elijah had for doing it, was not your fault. Don't blame yourself for other people's actions okay? Promise me" I say bringing her attention to me.

"Promise what?" she asks quietly. "Well first that you don't blame yourself and second that whenever you feel like this again, you come to me. No matter the time, just come to me. Please. I know you're probably tired of hearing it but please. I need you safe" I rant.

"I can't promise you either of those" she says sadly looking at me. "Why?" I ask immediately. "I don't want you to hate me too when I break the promise" she mumbles.

"Kiara, who hated you for breaking a promise?" I can feel my overprotective Italian genes activating. "No" she whispers shaking her head. "Okay well did you mean to break the promise?" I ask. "Not when I first promised" she says. "Was it necessary to break it?" I ask causing her to look at me.

"It was necessary for me but-"
"That's all that matters. If it was necessary for you then they can fuck off. They are allowed to be mad sure but they are childish if they can't get over it" I interrupt her.

"What was the promise anyway?" she was about to answer when her phone rang. Saved by the bell.

"Hello?" she answers it. I can hear yelling. At first she is listening and every passing second her eyes turn darker until they show no more light.

Almost like whatever that call was about drained her soul out of her body. She stays quiet after the line cuts off. Just staring forward.

Her whole mood was now changed.

She stood up immediately losing her balance. I supported her. She didn't look at me. No. She started walking downstairs. I'm not sure going to talk to people in such state is a good idea but whatever she wants I guess.

Alex and Adriano are the first to notice her. They are seated in the kitchen. They both give me a confused look. "dov'è Domenico?" she asks quietly. Nobody says anything. We don't know where Dominic is. At least I don't.

"Why do you need him?" my eldest brother asks her. "Ha bisogno di sentirlo da me" she mumbles. Seems like English is off the table for now. "He needs to hear what from you?" Adriano asks not even giving Alex a chance to ask anything.

"Who needs to hear what?" Dominic asks walking into the kitchen followed by Elijah. Kiara's eyes get glossy. "Mi dispiace, mi dispiace tanto" she says trying not to cry.

Dominic walks closer to her. "Sorry for what?" he asks calmly sensing Kie's panic. He hugs her shaking body. "I need you to tell me what happened" he says. All of our eyes are on Kiara as we patiently wait for what she has to say.

I know it had something to do with that phone call. Screw me for not hearing what was said.

Nothing could have prepared Dominic for what she said next.

"Clara didn't make it"

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Soooooooooo, ehm yeaaaaaaa. This has just been sitting in my drafts because it's like the calm before the storm and I don't want the storm like at all. So I'm sorry 💀

Drama and heartache. Why would Dominic care? You're about to find out...

Opinions on the cousins?

Also I passed my Estonian exam (81%) and my maths exam (80%). I'm shocked at the maths one because I suck at math. English is today and tomorrow. Writing and speaking on separate days. Yay.

please eat and drink something that is not iced coffee.

Have a nice rest of your whatever

Love ya <3