The Dark Hour

--------Skyla--------

Ridge was in the shower and I had brought my shampoo and conditioner so I could take a shower too. Lalna was first and he was drying off his hair. Astrid looked tense about something.

"Astrid are you okay?" Axel asked. Astrid just nodded and went into the bedroom. "I don't think she's okay." He said looking at me. I shrugged.

"She's looked like that ever since we left the lake."

"I know, I wonder what happened when she was by herself."

"I don't know."

"Hey has anybody seen my shirt?" Lalna asked walking in. "I can't find it."

"Did you look in the bag? I put something in the bag it might be in there."

"I'll look. Where is the bag?"

"By the couch." He nodded and he went to go look when I saw something weird on his back.

"Wait Lalna!" He stopped and I walked over and looked at him. "What is on your back?"

"That's weird."

"What? What is it?" Lalna asked trying to look.

"I don't know. It looks like a spiral." Axel looked at it.

"I never seen something like that before."

"Is it a birth mark?" I asked.

"It might be."

"Can I go get a shirt now?" Lalna asked.

"Oh yeah, go ahead." He walked over to the couch and I looked at Axel. "Are birthmarks supposed to be black?"

"I don't know to be honest."

"I don't know either."

"Let's not worry about it right now."

"Ok, so are you going to talk to Astrid or am I going to have to?"

"I can." I nodded.

"Ok, if you need backup just call."

"I will." He said walking to the room Astrid was in. I sighed and a minute later Ridge came out of the shower.

"My turn!" I called out. I grabbed my things and quickly went into the bathroom.

~~~~

By the time I was done in the shower Ridge and Lalna were passed out on the couch and I think Axel was still talking to Astrid. I sighed and sat down.

"Astrid would you please just calm down."

"No, stop asking me questions, I'm fine so just leave me alone!" Then a door slammed closed. Ridge and Lalna both woke up and I got up. What just happened?

"Astrid open this damn door!"

"Make me!"

"Fuck." Axel growled walking in the front room.

"What's going on?" Lalna asked rubbing his eyes.

"Astrid won't talk to me."

"What's wrong with Astrid?" Ridge asked sitting up.

"Something has been bothering her since we got back from the lake and I've tried to talk to her and she just says the samething over that she's fine when she isn't."

"Let me try," I sighed.

"Hope you can get some answers out of her." I walked to the room Astrid was in and knocked.

"I told you to get lost Axel!" She shouted.

"I'm not Axel and I just want to talk," I called back.

"Sorry, what do you want?" She said lowly.

"Well can I come in?"

"Fine you can come in." I walked in and shut the door behind me.

"Ok, something is bothering you and me and Axel both noticed it."

"I'm fine. There's nothing bothering me."

"Then why are locking yourself in the room and pouting?"

"I'm not pouting I'm thinking."

"About what?"

"Things."

"Like?"

"Just things why does it even matter."

"Cause it's making you upset, and that is affecting all of us."

"How is it affecting you guys, it's not your damn feelings or something you have to deal with."

"We care about you and are worrying us! That's how it's affecting us."

"I'm fine and you can tell the rest. This has nothing to do with you guys I can handle it on my own."

"But you don't have to do this alone."

"I want to though!" Astrid sighed. "You guys can't help me with this."

"Why not? What even do you have to do?"

"None of your damn business."

"Why?"

"Cause I said so Sky. Just please stop."

"Why are you being difficult? What is so-" My phone started ringing and I quickly answered it. "Hello?"

"Skyla, where are you?"

"I'm at Axel's dad, why? Am I not allowed to go home again?"

"No, I need you to come home right now."

"What? Why?"

"Please just come home, right now."

"But-" He hung up and I groaned.

"Damn it dad."

"What's going on?"

"Nothing," I sighed. "I have to go."

"Okay see ya later." I walked out then just ran out the door.