Fearless Beings

Chapter 7

Mia's POV:
~~~~~~~~~~
   My stomach churns and I feel like puking on the tiled floor. Just thinking of him, makes me guilty.

   I stare at him and watch the way he talks, the way he ruffles his younger brother's hair, the way he has that lopsided smile. It just drives you mad, you know?

   This was not supposed to happen. I shouldn't feel guilty. I shouldn't feel like an asshole. I shouldn't feel what I'm feeling.

   No, it should be plain simple.

   It's like turning up on a Monday school day and finding out that you have a pop quiz. You just don't know what to do, except for turning pages in your notebook and trying to stuff as much information as you can inside your brain, to the point that you feel like your brain cells are peeling off and they can't handle anymore.

    "Now, back to our question, missy," Tom says. "How did you know?"

   "Yes, how did you know?" His step-mum interferes, stepping out of the kitchen and crossing her arms in front of her.

   God, this woman. She keeps claiming that she knows me, which is weird. More like dangerous, but still weird.

   "It's obvious!" I throw my arms in the air, hoping she can read my mind and leave me be to plan her step-son's death.

   "Not to us," she argues.

   Thomas spreads his arms on the back of the sofa, getting comfortable. He has this little smirk playing on his lips. I divert my attention to the woman standing across me.

   "There's just tension." I wave my hands in air and mentally face-palm myself for the stupid statement.

   "Oh, please do elaborate," she says, her eyes flickering between me and Thomas.

   And then I'm full. "Oh you know, it's way too obvious that he's trying as much as he can to avoid you, though he would never admit it to anyone, not even himself. And now correct me if I'm wrong, you rub your hands against your apron every time you talk to him. Lemme guess, a sign of nervousness? Or is it stress, Mrs Cantor? I might as well tell you that he doesn't hate you, no, he just avoids because it gets super awkward. And now that I've seen that you can be such a presistent lady, then I might as well say that I understand him. F.U.L.L.Y."

   When I realise what I've said, my eyes widen. But then I see Thomas. He's . . . cracking? He's like laughing hard to the point that he's slapping his knees. James looks at him suspiciously.

   Trust me, kid, I think your brother is mental. I really do, no worries.

   Karen looks at me in horror and I wince. God, I saw it coming, anyways.

   "Gee, thanks," Thomas says, trying to stifle his laughter. "I never thought it was that obvious!"

   I tilt my head to the right, trying to understand his weird sense of humour. But I can't. I can't wrap my head around the fact that I'm plotting his death. I can't wrap my head around the fact that I don't know what to do. I can't wrap my head around anything, honestly.

   I stand up from the couch. You can't stay any longer, Mia. Just go and don't come back, yeah?

   Thomas stops laughing, James stares at me, and Karen glares. With the three sets of eyes glued on me, I find it hard to think.

   "I'm going home."

   "You better," Karen whispers. I snicker. She shouldn't have done that.

   Wanna play with the fire, ready to get burned.

    "I just need a glass of water," I complete, smiling sweetly at her.