The Runaway Sister

thirty-four | ignorant bliss

Silent rage bubbles in me. It simmers in me, like a kettle on the stove. Popcorn in a microwave. Key to a locked door. The anger is just waiting to burst, to be set free. 

My brothers continue to smile and laugh, chatter and laugh. They act like nothing has happened. In fact, they act like Uncle never kidnapped me in the first place. 

For subtle retaliation, I've informed my friends and Warren (though he calls me Lily) to only call me 'Eve'. Not 'Ev' or 'Evie' or 'Evelyn', just plain, simple Eve. An ode to Mum, to Uncle. 

A promise that I am different than my brothers. 

I find myself back in Daphne's game room, locked into an intense game of Monopoly. Porter glares at me from across the coffee table, wearing a Lincoln-looking top hat. 

"Are you going to keep that on?" I ask. 

He nods. "Of course. It makes me look like my old pal Milburn Pennybags." He tips the glasses he wears, and winks my way. 

Warren narrows his eyes on Porter. Porter raises his hands up in surrender, leaning his back against the sofa. "Hey, I'm not after your girlfriend, buddy." 

My face flushes. "We're not dating." 

Daphne chuckles from her spot on the sofa, next to Lavender. "I believe that just as much as I believe Porter looks like the Monopoly man." 

Porter whips his head around and shoots daggers at Daphne. "I beg your pardon!" He says, trying and failing to mimic my accent. 

The door opens, revealing Silas, who storms inside wearing a backwards tiara on top of his tousled brown hair. 

"Finally decide to show up?" Warren asks lazily, slinging his arm around me. I lean into his warm embrace, a comforting peace washing over me. 

"I would've come sooner if my stupid sister hadn't practically mauled me on my way out the door, demanding I wear a princess dress to Daphne's house," Silas says bitterly. 

Porter rolls his eyes. "Oh, that's nothing. One time, my sister pushed me down the stairs to put a crown on me—"

"Not here for your life story, man." Silas plops himself on the sofa right next to Aria, whose face turns a deep shade of crimson the moment he sits down. 

She glances at me, and I send her a knowing smile, to which her expression turns into an even mixture of complete horror and embarrassment.

"If you're so manly that you can't wear a tiara, then come and beat me in a game of monopoly," Porter declares as if he's challenged him to mortal combat. 

Silas rolls his eyes slowly, but slides down to the floor to sit across from Porter, who's grinning evilly. Silas sends an unimpressed cocked eyebrow his way.

"You're so going to loose," Daphne enthusiastically exclaims, leaning towards the coffee table to examine the game board closely. She nods to her own statement. 

Lavender sighs, moving to sit beside Aria instead— who has suddenly whipped out a book out of nowhere— and turns on some '50s music using Daphne's old record player. 

Warren watches with an amused smirk, then leans down towards my ear. His breath is hot against my skin, and it sends electrifying shivers to my constricting heart. 

"Why don't we get out of here, love?" He asks slowly and softly, letting each word get absorbed into my eardrums. A smile spreads across my lips, and I smile, nodding. 

Our five friends barely notice as Warren gently takes my delicate hand into his rough palm, leading me out of that den and into the hallway of the Saints' house.