𝐆𝐎𝐋𝐃𝐄𝐍 - 𝐐. 𝐇𝐔𝐆𝐇𝐄𝐒

𝐓𝐖𝐎

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SIENNA
November 31st, 2023

TEARS pricked my eyes as I stared at the messily written marks on the inside of our kitchen cabinet door. During Brock and I's birthdays every year, we'd always mark our heights and talk about how much we'd grown.

I was supposed to be painting over it today, but I just stood there and stared at it. The highest mark on the door read: Brock 2020. We hadn't marked anything since.

I look at each one, the memories paired with every one replaying in my mind. Soft tears roll down my face as I think of all the good times we'd had in this house, back when dad was here.

knock knock

I snap out of my daze, wiping at my eyes as I rush to the door. I hadn't been expecting anyone, who could be here? I reach for the handle and swing it open, my face dropping when I see Quinn standing awkwardly.

"What are you doing here?" I blurt, not making an effort to act like I was happy to see him. He invites himself in like it's his house.

"You weren't picking up your phone. There's an open house at a nice apartment not too far from here." He says nonchalantly, "I drove over, come on."

Is this guy for real? As if I wanna go look at an apartment with him. Doesn't he know he's a dick?

"What?" I snarl, "How do you know where I live?"

"Brock. Come on, let's go." He's unphased at my attitude. I reluctantly follow him out to his truck, keeping my distance.

I try to say something that'll show him I'm still mad about what he did weeks ago, but when I try and intimidate him, it only comes out as a shaky squeak.
"I'm only doing this because I'm desperate."

"Yeah? What's got your panties in a twist, am I that bad?" He smirks at me, like something's funny. I furrow my brows at his inappropriate joke, taken aback.

"Don't act like you don't know what you did!" I raise my voice slightly, mad now. He looks away from the road for a second, turning to me with an amused look on his face.

"You're holding a grudge against me because we ran into each other weeks ago?" He says, obviously not taking me seriously.

"You spilled your coffee all over me, and didn't even apologize."

"Okay, well I'm sorry." He says flatly, "Better?"

"Whatever." I mutter, thinking about the job I'd lost over him not paying attention to where he walked.

He laughs as he parks the truck outside of a tall apartment complex, "Why is it such a big deal-"

"Because of you, I lost my job. I had to go home and change after you spilled your stupid coffee all over me, and then I was late. I got fired." I shout, slumping in my seat and staring out the window.

I sneak a glance at him, only to see his smirk had faded. He swallows hard, and then finally speaks up. "I didn't know that." He says guiltily as we get out of the car. The walk up is quiet and awkward, and there's no strangers talking to fill the heavy silence.

We get into the elevator, and he clicks the top button labeled P. No fucking way does this guy think I can afford a penthouse in Vancouver, especially when I've just lost my job.

I wasn't about to admit that to him, though. So, when we reached the penthouse, I didn't say anything. I almost let out a gasp as we walked in, it was gorgeous. I walked over to the windows, looking down at the beautiful city view.

I saw Quinn talking to a sophisticated looking man near the front door, and I walk over to join them.

"It's for rent, yes. $6000 a month."

My spirits drop as he says the number. I'd never be able to afford something like that, but I know that'll hardly make a dent for somebody like Quinn. How was I supposed to tell him that we had to turn this down?

We hadn't spoken a word to each other since I blew up on him earlier, but when he was finished talking to the sales associate, he walked beside me as I checked the rest of the place out.

"What do you think?" He asks, turning to make eye contact with me.

"Um- I think it's really nice." I say, too stressed about how I was going to afford this to snap at him.

"Great." He inhales sharply, "You want me to talk to him, tell him we want it?"

I go to answer him, and what I mean to say is something along the lines of "maybe we should keep looking," but my pride gets in the way, and I nervously blurt. "Yep."

Immediately, I regret it. He's already gone back to the man he was talking to before, and I feel like I could crawl into the ground and die right there.

We're sitting in silence as he drives me back home, and time couldn't be moving slower.

"I'm sorry."

I look over at him, but his gaze is fixed on the road. His hand is gripping the wheel, and I watch him swallow nervously as we come to a rolling stop at a red light.

"I-It's fine." I mumble softly, turning to look at the road ahead of us. The rest of the drive is totally silent, until he pulls into my driveway. I open the passenger side door to hop out, when he suddenly speaks up.

"Later, Sienna." He says simply, watching as I climb out of his truck. I give him an awkward tight smile, muttering a quiet "goodbye" before walking to the door. He was backed up slightly into the street, but stopped almost halfway into backing out.

I fumble with the lock, punching in the code multiple times before finally getting into my house. I discreetly watch through the window as he finally drives off, locking the door behind me and convincing myself to get more packing done.

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