Chasing Her [Wattys2016] ON HOLD

5~ Yes or No Question

Breakfast is a quiet event. Well, for me. Anna and twins talk animatedly about some Disney movie. Cara shoots concerned glances at me while conversing with Xavier and Rosie's on the phone with someone, laughing in the kitchen.

I pick at the fluffy waffle with my fork, swirling a piece in maple syrup before eating it. Thoughts keep circling around my head and bothering me, like a swarm of bees. They keep circling and coming back, never taking a break from annoying me.

I miss mom and dad.

Xavier is a jerk.

I hate Xavier.

"A serial killer can take you for all I care."

"He will use you and he will break your heart."

Maybe I can drive home I'm the middle of the night.

I wish Jenessa was here.

"Hey Ryliee, after breakfast do you wanna go around the city? I could show you a few things and you could do some photography if you want." Cara offers, breaking her conversation with Xavier for my sanity.

"Sure. I'll go shower and get dressed." I excuse myself and walk to my room. I slowly start to memorise certain routes in this maze they call a house. I already memorized the way to my room, the kitchen, bathroom, the front door, and Cara's room.

I walk to the closet and scan through the clothes. I grab a pair of dark high waisted skinny jeans and a white crop top that says Amour written in gold cursive.

I hop in the shower and wash the sweat off, rubbing vanilla shampoo in my hair. Quickly rinsing it out, I turn the water off and get dressed. I throw my hair in a quick, messy side braid, shove my feet in my black converse, and grab my phone and camera. I walk to Cara's room and knock on her door.

Nobody answers and I knock again. No answer. I press my ear to the door and can hear a voice. Two voices to be exact.

"What did you do to her?" One voice, I recognize as Caras, hisses at the other person.

"I didn't do anything!"

She's talking to Xavier? And who's the she they're talking about? I press my ear closer to the door and strain to hear the rest of the conversation.

"Obviously you did! She was quiet at breakfast. Did you see the way she acted? Ryliee was so quiet and... sad? No that's no the right word. So... depressing looking. No thats not it either. I don't know what you did but you better fix it." She scolds him.

They're talking about me?

"I didn't do anything. Why can't you get that through your thick skull?" He protests and I scoff. Nothing my ass.

"I heard some of your conversation. Telling her what to not do. And then this morning. You said some pretty harsh things to her today. And it's not even eleven yet! I mean seriously, who says they would rather a serial killer take them? And I thought you and Antonio were friends?"

"We were," he grits out.

I hear Cara laugh. "You were? What changed in the past day to where you aren't friends anymore?"

"Because," he explodes. "Do you know how hard it is to watch your best friend go after a girl you li-" he pauses for a second before continuing. "A girl you live with? That's just weird." He ends lamely.

"Live? A girl you live with. What were you going to say before? Like? I saw that picture Xavier; you two were really close. You act like you hate her and, did you ever think she might believe that act? That she might actually believe you don't like her? Maybe she does like you, but you're being an idiot about it and hurting her! Do you really want to keep acting this way and have the one girl you liked- no loved. The one girl you loved slip through your fingers all because you don't want her to know the truth? You want to have her close to you, yeah?" She defends me and I let a small smile out.