Two Birds [Book One]

[Chapter 17] Hell N Back

Sorry this chapter is late I was processing getting my rights taken away (#AmericaCore)

(On a serious note tho; as a triple minority, black, queer, and neurodivergent, I am SHAKING in my boots rn)

She had texted Tara twenty times between their fight and the party. It wasn't like her to be so clingy with an ex (not ex, Carla needed to make that distinction to keep herself sane.)

Carla walked up to the twin's doorstep. She raised her fist to the large door covered in expensive-looking wood veneer but the door swung back before her hand could connect.

"Carla!" Lily yelled from the inside of the house as she took Carla into her arms and spun her.

Carla stumbled, her strides into the home stopped by Lily practically jumping on her. The smaller girl's grip on her only grew stronger as Carla tried to pry her off. "Lily, I was with you 2 days ago!" She laughed into Lily's ear.

"I know, but I missed you!" Lily let go of Carla's shoulders and held both of her hands in her own. Carla looked into the foyer, Nugget was already there and stood further down the hall having an intense conversation with Billy.

"Hey Nugget, Bill-" Lily ushered her further into the house and up the stairs, past the other two. They sat down on the queen bed in the center of Lily's room, Lily never letting go of Carla's hand.

"Sooo, what was that about?" Carla gestured to the now-closed door leading to the hallway.

"Sorry about that," She groaned and let go of Carla's hand. Lily flopped onto the bed, her hair fanned out on the duvet. "Billy and I are fighting and I didn't want you to have to pick sides."

"By dragging me upstairs without talking to Billy first?" She crossed her arms and tilted her head to the side while looking at a meek Lily lying on the bed. She didn't answer, just stared at the ceiling.

Carla sighed, flopping down on the bed next to her. The two stared at the same spot on the ceiling in silence. "What are you fighting about?" They turned their heads to face each other.

"He's mad I went out with Felix the other day." She sighed and closed her eyes. "He said I've been 'leading him on'." Lily opened her eyelids just to show Carla her dramatically rolling them. "Which I obviously didn't... right?" Her expression turned frantic and worried, like whatever Carla said next could determine whether or not she would burst into tears.

Carla thought for a moment, looking up at the off-white ceiling, before looking back at Lily and shaking her head. "I don't think so. Nugget's one of his best friends-"

"Besides me, of course."

"-It's only natural for him to be a little protective over his feelings." Carla took hold of the shorter girl's hand. They laced their fingers together in comfort.

"How's you and Tara?"

Carla groaned while Lily winced. "That bad?" She nodded.

"What'd you do?" Carla glared at her out of the corner of her eyes. "Sorry, sorry!"

"I've texted her at least a thousand times now and she still won't answer!" She whined, moving her unoccupied hand to check her phone for the millionth time today. But, being the amazing friend she is, Lily blocked her from doing so by grabbing her right hand.

"Men are trash..." Lily signed.

"Women aren't better either." she turned to face her friend. "Relationships suck, I don't recommend."

They both laughed softly at that.

The party was bigger than the twins could've expected. Even the Kuznetsov's large backyard didn't help to hide the growing population of partygoers.