Seven Sins

Chapter 33: The Mercedes SUV

The next morning, I woke with a pounding in my head, like I could hear my heart beating in my skull.

I sat up slowly looking around at the strange room surrounding me, it looked much lighter in the day light, I had to squint from the brightness

"Oh noo" I moaned, this is so embarrassing

How did I even end up like this..

I waddled to the bathroom across the room and took a look in the mirror

My curls were in a complete tangle, I stuck my fingers into them to try and pry them free again but I gave up and decided to accept the mess

My eyes were lined with dark rings from my smudged makeup, and for some reason my face had just puffed up from the night before

"I gotta get out of here" I moaned as I rinsed my face with some cool water

I walked out and realized the loud mansion from last night was eerily quiet now, and Nate was nowhere to be seen
I looked around for my phone and found it sitting on the side table.

X3 missed calls - Mia
X1 missed call- Carter

There was also a text message
"Yara come home please, dear" and it was from Mia

I scoffed, not even a word from dad and I was actually terrified of him hearing about this disaster...

I wonder if he's upset with me...so upset that he can't even bare to speak with me...

Now I'm in some strangers home and I've slept in their bed and my family thinks I'm obsessed with that perv of a step brother...

Letting out a sigh I checked my other notifications and there was a Facebook message from Nate

' sorry I had to leave early this morning, it's cold outside, help yourself to a hoodie and anything in the kitchen '

I smiled, Nate was very sweet to accommodate me...but he was Evans best friend so I had to keep a boundary...I needed to leave right now, I can't take advantage of Nates kindness
My thoughts flashed back to the moments when he was above me, kissing my neck slowly...I could still feel it... the feeling of his wet kisses and -- OK no no

Shaking my head I walked into his closet and grabbed the first hoodie I saw, I would obviously return it to him, it was a light brown fluffy hoodie and wearing it felt like a warm hug from your favourite person.

I found my way out of the mansions maze that was somehow harder to navigate when sober, and walked out towards the security gate where by the push of a button and the gate opened up for me

I hadn't a clue on what to do and where to go... my mind began brainstorming as I stood outside the mansion gates wearing this oversized hoodie that came down to my knees

I thought about taking the bus somewhere nice, or maybe finding solace at the underground club Axel took me too, or maybe I could just go live at my old house again...

Feeling this helpless was something I never expected to feel...especially considering how big of a family I had entered...

My phone buzzed in my pocket as a warm tear escaped my eye, it was Carter... at first I watched it ring but after feeling guilty for ignoring it I answered

"Hello" Carters soothing voice came through the phone

"Hey"

"Yara, I've been so worried about you, let me come get you, wherever you are-"

"Carter you don't have to-"

"I insist, and then we can have a proper client to lawyer discussion about your situation"

I smiled at his attempt to persuade me

"I'm um..." I looked around to try and get a gage on where I was, when I turned to face the mansion I had come out of across the street, the title on the gate read 'Archibald Manor'
In the moment I didn't know if I wanted Carter to know where I was
"Umm"

"Are you lost-"

I turned to find the street signs instead

"I'm in an estate uptown, 4 East 74th Street just off of Fifth Avenue"

"Stay right there"

It was nice to feel like I had a big brother looking out for me in a way

Carter arrived sooner than I expected, he arrived in his Mercedes SUV and picked me up from the corner where I stood hidden under the hood of the large hoodie

"Morning Yara?" Carter asked leaning forward trying to see my face

It felt like I looked so awful I hid my face further by pulling the hood lower

"I'm having a bad day-" I began

"Say less" Carter chuckled as he put the car in gear and we drove off

The A/C felt nice and his car had these led strips on the door that lit up

"I didn't know I had such an expensive lawyer" I joked, keeping my head down

"Only the best for you" He replied charismatically

"So what's been going on?" He pulled into a drive thru restaurant and ordered two milkshakes and a medium fries

"Carter, Evan has been so weird with me from the start and like... and I should've told you and I didn't want to make a big deal out of it so I just tried to avoid him as best I could"

"You don't have to convince me Yara, I've been telling mom about how far off Evan has gone since he started touring...hanging around the wrong crowds...he does what he wants whenever he wants, can't be good for any young man learning to make decisions"

The lady handed Carter the fries and the milkshakes through the window
He handed them to me

"Your breakfast madam" He smiled as he tapped his milkshake cup on mine

"Thanks" I replied

"But that behaviour is not going to make a member of our family uncomfortable in her own home, you have just as much a right to live with us" Carter continued as he drove, one hand driving and the other waving his cup around as he spoke

"The thing is he thinks he can get away with anything, and I suggest that we strategically compile" He looked over at me to see if I was listening, and I was as I sipped the delicious strawberry drink and stuffed my face with fries, I was starving

"We strategically compile some viable evidence on him so mom will let me speak with his management company and have him agree to go to a military based rehabilitation center for spoiled brats in Sweden-"

"Aren't you a big time lawyer, you still need your moms permission to manage your brother?" I interrupted

"Well you'd be surprised at how the law works, but we don't need moms permission..." He leaned in closer to me as we stopped at a red light

"We need to strategically compile-"

"Viable evidence, I know I know" I replied

"Yes but do you understand?" He asked again

Suddenly it clicked for me what he was saying

"Ohhh" I replied taking a big sip from my milkshake again

"Our meeting for today is adjourned" He pulled into the building parking lot

"Mom said she was gonna take Evan up to the family GC to make sure his stomach isn't poisoned and have him drug tested, so feel free to go have a shower now, I don't think he'll be around, ill be home after work" Carter reassured me

"Thanks Carter, for everything" I hugged him and stepped out of the car and into the building

It was daytime so I ran into the man in the elevator who presses the buttons

My heart dropped as I stood quietly in the awkward ride up

"Nice hoodie" He commented breaking the silence as he side eyed me