Twisted

Chapter 2 Flasback

So basically, this is a flash back from when Brian n Bliss were younger and how Bora Bora was a second home...Enjoy!

***
Back in the day, my parents used to take my brother and I frequently to Bora Bora. It was a second home to my family because it was a place where we would bond and celebrate most festivities. Eastview High was no ordinary school, it was tuff to keep up and expensive to even get an entry. My parents thought that in order for my brother and I not to be spoiled brats, they would takes us to a place where we can go back to our roots. The house we had in Bora Bora, belonged to my grandfather; Robert Desai n his father before him and he passed it down to my dad; Richard Desai. My mom; Catherine Desai, on the other hand came from an Arabian family and her side of the family was not to keen about my mom's marriage to my dad. However, my mom had a close friend, more like a sister even; Joanne Denis. They were the best of friends n she was like family to us. Joanne lived in another town not far from Eastview, and she also had a holiday home in Bora Bora. She and my mom would fix up dates and we would meet up for thanksgiving and other traditional family celebrations. Joanne was married to Mason Cooper and had two sons. The eldest was Stephen; he the most gorgeous creature I ever layed eyes on, but I never told him because he is also the worlds biggest asshole. Although his big green eyes begged me to reconsider.
The other was Nathan; he was 18 years old, only 2 years younger than his brother and one year younger than I. He was sweet and caring just like his mother.
Stephen n Brian were good friends and growing up, all four of us would hang out by the beach for hours.
As we all grew older, Stephen grew distant from us all. Days became longer and nights shorter without him to keep us entertained n to turn us into dare devils.
I realized that I was falling for Stephen on my 16th birthday...things got heavy real fast. That year I had encounterd a new friend..a sweet girl who had just became part of the Bora Bora islands. She was a year younger but she was cool to hang with. She had long, curly black hair which fell down on her shoulders perfectly. Big brown eyes and the energy of a thousand lighting bolts. Her name is something that I would never forget; Victoria Oliviee.
I met her one day at the beach when Stephen, Nathan, Lexie and I were smoking weed. We had intended to spend the whole day getting high by the beach. She approached us n asked for a light.
I offered her mine and asked if she was new around here. She nodded as she lit her cigarette.
'Welcome to the hood girlie!' Stephen said 'My name is Stephen, that my brother Nathan, My girlfriend Bliss n his girlfriend Lexie..' He added. We all turned to him and started laughing.
'You guys are so high!' She exclaimed. 'I'm Victoria!'
'Nice to meet you, is it tori or Vicky for short?!' I replied.
'Tori!' She said
'Ok, tori. Would like to join us? The more the merrier!' I said with a huge smile on my face. She sat down and we smoked weed until we were to high to go home. Stephen couldn't drive so we decide to sleep on the beach.
That night, Stephen and I went to the car to gather a few blankets n some firewood to make a fire to keep warm. He got into the drivers seat n said
'Hold up, am too high for this...'
I chuckled and then joined him in the front seat.
'Why'd you tell tori that am your girlfriend?!' I asked breaking the silence.
'It..' He paused 'it felt right.' He continued. A huge silence then crept in. It was almost midnight and it was quiet, I could hear him breathe softly. Our hands accidentally rubbed against each other and he quickly pulled away.
'I want you to know that, when your around I feel vulnerable n weak...and I hate that! I hate that u make me feel this way.' With those words I could feel him staring at me deeply. I wanted to tell him how I felt but it felt stupid. I don't remember what happened next but I woke up the next day in the backseat, my head on his lap, while he was still snoring. I pretended that I couldn't remember that night because I knew Stephen would believe a word I said so every time he asked I just said that I was too high to remember.
Weeks passed and Tori and I grew closer. I found her I one of the bathroom stalls crying. When she saw me she just leapt forward, hugged me n hurried her face on my breast and cried more.
'Tori!' I said 'what's wrong?!'
'My boyfriend!' She exclaimed. 'He broke up with me to date my best friend!' She continued.
'That's some best friend.' I replied and hugged her until she stopped crying. We were in the bathroom for a while and after she felt better I took her to my place so she could feel better. We sat for hours talking about how much she'd given up for the boy n how she had been pregnant n how her mom is always breathing down her neck for being the only child. She showed me marks on her wrist and thighs were she would cut herself just to feel better. Tears filled my eyes but I didn't cry, I don't cry. I felt sorry for her and I offered her my empathy. We became so close people even thought she was my sister.
***
On my birthday, Brian threw us the biggest house party in Bora Bora...so much people...so much alcohol...so much weed...so much music. All our friend were there including Tori. Everyone was having a great time, I was on the dance floor with Danny. Stephen had been eyeing me since Danny had asked me to dance. The music was intimate n therefore the dance moves were as well. Danny's hand were on my waist, he pulled me in n whispered in my ear..'Great party! Happy Birthday Bliss' he said before kissing me under my neck. Stephen's eyes turned dark, I couldn't believe it. He stormed out of the party and stupid me, I followed him.
'Stephen!' I screamed his name as I ran to the door. He stopped in his tracks but didn't turn around.
'Why are you leaving?!' I asked.
'Doesn't matter!' He said and started to walk again.
'Don't go! Stay. For me!' I begged....why did I beg.
'I don't want to be here with you Bliss..at your lame party, with your lame friends! I hate having you around. Don't you see.' He yelled causing some people outside to come look at the commotion.
'Now, am going to my girlfriends... You get back to your shit of a party n leave me the fuck alone' he said, turned around n left. I stood there, speechless n numb.
How could he even...I can't believe he...I started to think to myself. I walked back inside and went down to the beach to get some air n light a cigarette. It was dark, I could only see lights n hear the music from the house...as I walked closer to the sea I noticed something on the shore, waves crashing onto it softly. As I got closer, I couldn't, I didn't..want to believe. I turned on the flashlight on my phone so that I could see better. Laying there all wet n turning blue, was Tori's body. I quickly dailed 911 n checked for a heart beat. I couldn't feel it.
'Yes, please help! My friend I think she's dead!'
I I screamed into the phone.
'Help is on its way!' The voice on the other line said. 'What's your address?!' She asked
'House 19 of the Bora villas.' I said n hung up the phone.
It didn't take long for the peremdics to arrive. Soon the whole party was down at the beach watching as they took Tori's lifeless body away.
The party was closed down soon after, so many girls were hysterical and the officers order us to close it down. The weeks that followed were gloomy, there were so many rumors going around, and the police started to question everyone. I was called in a few weeks later, the investigation was on going and I was a suspect because I found the body. I told the authorities everything I knew, but I was nervous because I hate the authorities.
There was no sign of Stephen anywhere after that and soon my family and I went back home. To my surprise, rumors reached my school and everyone started to ask questions...on social media, next to my locker, during lunch breaks. I felt as if I couldn't breathe.
On a random Friday, I saw Stephen's car in the schools parking lot. I was surprised and moments later, I was called into the office. I sat in the waiting biting my lip and feeling nervous.
Why was Stephen here?! I asked myself. The doors finally opened n I was called in. Two male sat at the end of the table wearing suits. My headmaster, Mr Jordan, sat behind his table n the gorgeous Stephen was seated next to an empty chair.
'Please have a sit Bliss!' Mr Jordan said politely.
'This is detectives Johnson and Holbein. They're investigating the death of Victoria Olivee which happened in the Bora Bora islands. Not in my school. And am sure you are familiar with him?' He said pointing to Stephen.
I nodded and said 'yes sir'.
Mr Jordan left us soon after so I could be interrogated. These detectives were asking me the same questions that the police had asked me back then. I was frustrated and not once did I look at Stephen. I could feel him eyeing me, our hands were under the table close to each other, I wanted to feel his touch but as soon as I saw how close it was, I pulled away.
'Ok, last question Miss Desai, before we tell u about what we found out. Did you ever get into a fight with Victoria?' Asked the detective referred too as Holbein.
'I...urhm..no never! Like I said we were always on good terms. Why?!' I replied
'Unfortunately, we have some disturbing news and we would appreciate if u keep it to yourself.' He added.
'Miss Olivee's case has been filed under suicide.' He said
'What?! No never! She wouldn't.' I said in defense.
'You claim that but you would believe what we are going to show you.' He replied.
Detective Johnson stood up n started to place some pictures on the table. I was nervous to look, Stephen took my hand and gave it a trustee squeeze.
'These pictures are of Miss Olivee's room. It was full of black magic items. There were dolls n books n hair...basically some voodoo things.' He said, I reached for a picture and I could see Tori's room full of things I would only see in movies.
'We spoke to a few people back where she came from and we figured out that Victoria was messing with a shadow man. Now we have reasons to believe that she wanted something, she was hurt and she was desperate. According to the sources, once you make a deal with this 'shadow man', you must focus on the sacrifice and not what you want. But Victoria was side tracked...she didn't focus. We found these behind the door of the room she was using back in Bora Bora.' The detective added and handed me a picture. I was trembling at the site of wat I saw, my picture dangling on the door and my name written in red ink.
'We have reason to believe that she had selected you as her sacrifice, that because you have to sacrife the person you love the most and she was fond of you. Her mother said the night of her death, Victoria kept mentioning your party and how she would go because she couldn't, well, wouldn't do it.' He finished his sentence. A silence dropped in the room and all 3 of them stared me in the face trying to find something. An emotion, a flinch, anything but I didn't budge...I sat there frozen out of words.
'We apologize for the inconvinence Ms Desai but we just wanted to make u aware of the circumstances.' Detective Holbein said with a pitiful look on his face. 'We will get in touch if there is any updates. Until then stay safe.' He added before they both left the office. The silence was there, filling the gaps between Stephen and I. He finally broke off the silence and said
'Listen, its ok. She's gone now. Your safe, I would never let anything hurt you' and placed on hand on my shoulder.
'Cut the crap Cooper, you left that night after insulting me. Now your playing the hero card. I grabbed my bag and walked straight out of the office and practically ran out of the school.
'Bliss!' He screamed behind me. 'Wait!' He said n I stopped and faced him.
'Do you trust me?!' He asked?!
'What?!' I replied.
'Do you trust me?!' He asked again.
'Yes?!?' I said trying to convince myself.
'Come with me.' He said and rushed over to his black Ferrari. I was so uncertain but I went any way.
***
We drove for what seemed like forever, except for the music roaring through the speakers the silence was intence. I hated it, feeling vulnerable, feeling weak, feeling worthless. I replayed the words the detectives said over and over again in my head. And I knew that sooner or later I would explode. I wanted to scream n cry all at the same time. Was it possible to love someone to death?! Literally?
I was shocked and I couldn't, well wouldn't believe Tori would do something like that to me.
'

Are you ok?!' He asked reducing the volume of the music, it was then that I noticed he was eyeing me for the last 5 minutes.
'Yeah! Where are you taking me?!' I asked feeling annoyed.
'You'll see, we're almost there.'
He replied.
We drove up the mountain and came to a stop at the view point. It was a breathtaking view of all Eastview..the sun was covered by the clouds as the night would soon be falling.
'Why'd you bring me here?!' I asked refusing to get out the car.
'Its peaceful, and I want to talk!' He said
'Talk!' I said with 100% attitude in my tone.
'Atleast get out the car Bliss, take a smoke with me?!' He asked.I undid my seatbelt and got out the car. He offered me a cigarette but I refused n said I had mine. Unfortunately, I couldn't find my lighter.
'Here!' He said offering to light it for me.
'So listen...' He continued
'I wanted to apologize for that night, my behavior was uncalled for and it was your birthday and I shouldn't have said what I said...' He said as his gaze met mine. His eyes had the beautiful green color and was full of sadness and anger.
'I was angry and I got jealous!' He added.
'Jealous?! Of what?!' I asked
He sighed and said
'Of you and Danny...I see the way he looks at you! And I don't want him looking at you that way.'
All this felt like a dream, but it wasn't.
'I should have been there, with you on that beach, that night...' He continued.
'Look, Stephen.. I don't want a pity party. Am fine. Ok...so you can stop with whatever your doing and continue being a jerk.' I said feeling pissed off.
'But Bliss, you don't understand...the other night, when you fell asleep on my lap in the car, by the beach..I told you that I hate the you make me weak n vulnerable. Being around u is difficult,' he said
'Especially when your not mine!' He added.
'But why?! why don't you let me help you...Stephen let me in! You've change and there's something bothering you. You can trust me too you know.' I said while I straightened up from the hood of the car. I moved in front of him, reached for his hand and he didn't stop me.
'Am here for you, no matter what!' I said.
'Bliss...' He said in a low voice, still holding my hand.
'Its not as easy as it seems.' He added.
'It could be!' I said. Our eyes met and his eyes grew darker. I trusted him and that was it. He stared into each others eyes for a while but then I looked away n sighed. He stood up, turned my head towards him n said
'I am bad for you.'
'I don't care!' I replied, my heart was racing, our bodies were closer now. I could feel his breath on my face, I could smell his cologne and how I wanted to melt into his arms. He pulled me closer as if scared of what he was about to do, he leaned down and soon his lips met mine, it was soft n that breath of the last cigarette made it even better. He was so careful, so passionate and longing. He pulled away quickly.
'Am sorry, I shouldn't..' He started to say but didn't finished because I kissed him back. He knew I was longing for this just as much as he was. His grip got tighter, his tongue was in my mouth n it felt so good. He picked me up n I tied my legs round his waist and we just kept kissing...he quietly moaned and I knew that I was never alone in this. He slowed down, and stopped..he stared into my face and was satisfied with what he saw.
'I promise, I'll never let anything hurt you Bliss!' He said
'I know, I trust you' I whispered. And we kissed one last time before he put me down.
He drove me home that night, with a beautiful smile across his face all the way to my house.
'Stay?!' I asked
'I wish I could but I have classes tomorrow.' He said sadly. 'I'll call you!' He added n pecked my cheek before I got out the car. I walked through the door and turned back to see him smiling right at me. I waved goodbye and shut the door.

***
I attended Victoria's funeral service alone. Her family was in despair and I just couldn't understand what went wrong. I stared at her as she lay there...lifeless just as the other night.