Eternal Flight

the more you know.

Chapter 26.

Wren.

There are counted hours until another one of the usual Sunday races. We've got school tomorrow but that never stopped me, that one aspect of my life never broke off or shut down the plans, my obligations, my duty.

Sterling would have my head if I ever acted the wrong way or made a faulty decision. That's my fallacy though, I'm the one to hold accountable for the price I have to pay. It's my business to fight myself out of this mess, this trap, a snare.

"Want to sneak into my mom's secret library or what?"

Carmen's head flicks up from the way she was looking down at her phone on the kitchen island, her dark hair a hot mess.

She leans off the island and smiles, "Yeah? Sure. What's with the smirk?"

I press down the smirk, "Huh?" I tilt my head, "What smirk?"

I don't even know what a smirk is.

"Uh-huh," I'm caught in a lie. Carmen rounds to my side and slaps my shoulder, "What's up with you recently?"

Oh, nothing. Just me realizing I'm getting too keen on this little latina who lives in my house and in my head. Rent-free, by the way.

"That'll be my second time there only," she says.

"Mom took you there?" I ask. By now Mom likes her enough to let Carmen into her secret oasis. But like, of course, she does, I mean, the girl lives in her house, why wouldn't she?

"Kian did," I'm about to ask what my brother has to do with showing Carmen the library, but, again, it's obvious. Kian is a book lover, a reader. Sounds about right to tame the emotional turmoils, or whatever Carmen was going through, with...well, books, a library. A quiet, serene, place that a library is.

We make it to the highest level of the house, it's also the coldest room in the house now in winter.

The lights are already switched on, but it's utterly quiet here.

"Mom?" I call out, no answer, "Kie?"

Silence.

"I'm pretty sure I saw Alex rush out of the house bout twenty minutes ago," My Heart says, looking up at me. That sounds about right, mom must have forgotten to switch off the lights during rush. Rushing to pilates I'm sure this time of the day.

The curtains are drawn halfway, nasty winter staring back at me. It's starting to get lighter day by day now that winter is coming to an end. No snow in sight, but I can feel the crisp chill on my skin like I was standing in the frozen outside.

I draw the curtains on all the way and flick off the small lamp next to the small couch, a dark blue one, almost navy color, so that the big overhead one is the only one on.

I shake my head, that isn't right. Carmen plops down on the comfy soft couch and pulls a throw pillow onto her lap, a fluffy blanket laid over her legs as I stand up to close off the big light and switch the small lamp back on.

All that shit, exhausting.

I decided to make us tea in the small kitchenette area. Mom has green tea, black tea, and a few fruity ones like strawberry, raspberry, and bilberry. I chose the last one for us.

With two mugs in my hands, I walk back to my girl. The mugs are white, but they get small prints of flowers and moon shapes on them when the material touches the boiling water. Sweet aroma fills the air.

After setting our teas on the small table, I join Carmen, who moves a bit of the blanket over my legs also. Looking down at the book on her lap, I furrow my eyebrows.