Chapter 4

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I groaned in both tiredness and frustration.
"Remind me how making slushies for you guys is going to help me beat an evil overlord!" I snapped.
The three guys looked up. I took a deep breath. Don't laugh Skylar.
"Well..." Ethan started, taking another sip of the blue crushed ice. His lips a bright blue. Don't laugh Skylar.
"It's helping us cool down..." Casimir slurped. Red colouring dripping down his chin as if he were a vampire. Don't laugh Skylar.
"And keeping our mind and body calm..." I considered taking Nicholas seriously. Well done Skylar. Then he belched. I snorted and burst out laughing. The boys looked at me. I couldn't stop laughing. They looked so stupid. Your an idiot Skylar.
"If we promise to pay attention and listen now, will you calm it?" Casimir asked. I mused over it then nodded. They sighed as I took a deep breath and settled into the sofa.
For a few moments we simply watched each other. If it was any other day, I would have started to use my amazing pranking skills on them with Abby and we would... My thoughts stopped. Abby. My dear best friend. Dead. Gone. Forever. I sank into the sofa deeper and mourned for my best friend and family.
As if sensing my grief Casimir stood and told the boys to make a bed for me. He walked over to me and plonked himself onto the dusty pillows.
"I will kill him for doing this to you." He promised. I blinked. "My destiny. Stay away!" I said. But there wasn't any force or anger behind it. Just sadness. Pure sadness. Hey, I could be sadness from that movie. Inside out. Casimir can be joy. Ethan can be fear. Nicholas can be anger.... But then we need someone to be disgust.
As I mentally matched people I knew, to the Disney character I wanted them to be, I didn't realise Casimir talking to me until he pushed me.
"OW!" He nodded in satisfaction.
"Stop being a baby and grow up!" He snapped. Anger flared in me. I stood.
"You would be doing the same if your family and only friend had just been killed in an assassination attempt!" I yelled back. A flash of shame crossed his face. I stormed out of the warehouse getting some air.
I looked up into the night sky. A few hours ago, I was braiding my sisters hair and making her into a princess for her big day.
A few hours ago Abby was pushing me into my room to get changed.
A few hours ago was the first time I had seen Casimir in years.
I let out a shaky breath.
"I'm sorry! I shouldn't have said that." Casimir said from behind me. I nodded. He stood next to me and we both looked out to the stars.
When we were little, Casimir used to name the stars. There was always two stars close to each other. He would name one me and one him. I smiled at the memory.
"That's you. That's me." He whispered. I followed his hand. The two stars. They were two small lights that danced around and glittered in the sky like disco balls. I saw a small cloud in-between. I was angry. Still. With him! So I said the first thing that came to mind.
"And that's the wall one is building to protect herself from the other." I snarled. And then I stormed back into the warehouse.

...

I sighed. She wasn't making this easy for me. I waited a while.
When we were little, I could say anything and make Sky laugh. Now? She was cold. Distant. And if I looked close enough? I could see her fear. She was scared. And I don't think I was making this easy for her.
I walked back inside.
Nicholas was making a bed for Sky. She was stood with Ethan. Ethan tweaked her nose and she smiled slightly. He smiled back. He gave her a hug.
But she didn't hug him back. I watched as her arms were about to encircle his waist. Then she clenched her fists and her arms fell limply to her sides. My eyes met with Nicholas and I knew I wasn't the only who saw it happen.
Sky told them goodnight and then she slid into the bed Nik had made. They talked between them selfs.
Eventually we heard the soft snores of Skylar as she slept.
I walked back into the warehouse. I looked at Skylar. Her chocolate brown hair was fanned out across the pillow. She had the faded blue blanket tucked under her chin.
"She's a keeper!" Ethan said cheerfully.
I grinned at Nicholas's expression.
"Do we have to keep her?" Nicholas whined. We nodded. He looked back at her. A smile touched his lips as she sighed and turned in her sleep.
We got up to move away.
"Casimir..." Whispered a soft voice. I turned. She was clenching and unclenching her fists. I walked back.
"Don't go!" She whispered. Her bottom lip quivered. I laced my fingers with hers.
"I'm not leaving Skylie."
She smiled and buried her face in the pillow. I watched her. She looked so vulnerable and fragile. And I could see the weight of the world on her shoulders, pressing down on her.
I brushed her hair back.
"I won't lose you again Sky." I whispered before planting a kiss on her forehead and letting her go.

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You may be wondering why Skylar was dreaming of Casimir so early into the book right? Well ever since dear Casimir left her, she had nightmares every night about him. And so that is why she cried his name.
This isn't a book about love! It's a book about friendship and sacrifice. And would you die or leave to protect those you love? Cas is staying strictly in the friend zone. Girls don't need guys. Girls are stronger without them;) Sky is perfectly comfortably in keeping herself safe.

Watch out for my next chapter!

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