Missing The Mark ✔

7

I leaned casually against Kolton's bedroom door, the only one in the house that wasn't empty apart from Lukas'. Kolton glanced up from his laptop screen, a faint frown on his face. I couldn't help but grin. That frown, I knew, was just for show. How could he not like me?

Pushing off from the doorframe, I stepped into the room, taking a moment to survey my surroundings. Kolton's room was noticeably smaller than Lukas', more akin to the size of your average American teenager's bedroom. The walls were painted a cool shade of gray, providing a very neutral and simple backdrop. A large, well-worn leather sofa sat against one wall, adorned with a few throw pillows. On the opposite wall, a king-sized bed with a simple, dark wood frame commanded attention. It was adorned with a plush comforter and an array of mismatched pillows. The bed's disheveled appearance suggested that Kolton didn't pay much attention to making it in the morning. Clothes and sheets of paper were scattered across the floor, and it was clear that tidiness wasn't Kolton's strong suit.

"I'm not this messy," I quipped.

"We're two very different people," Kolton replied.

"Clearly," I retorted, pulling out the chair at his desk and turning it around to face him. I dragged it closer to the bed so I could prop my feet up. Kolton watched my every move but said nothing.

"Where's your mom?" I inquired, referring to the stern and overly assertive cop. Kolton shook his head, a look of confusion crossing his face as if to say, "Why are you asking about that?"

"In the grave. Where else would she be?" he deadpanned.

"Wait. She died?"

"No. We buried her alive," he replied sarcastically, and I furrowed my brows, feeling like one of us had clearly gotten confused, probably me.

"The cop woman is dead?" I asked for clarification.

Kolton burst into laughter at my question, shutting his laptop. "That's our older sister." My jaw dropped, and I nodded slowly. Kolton continued to chuckle. "You're stupid as fuck."

"How am I stupid? How was I supposed to know your mother is dead?"

"Both of them are—they died in an accident," he explained. I nodded, absorbing the unexpected turn in the conversation. However, Kolton didn't seem too melancholic about it. His eyes didn't betray any sadness, making me question whether he even cared. I stared at him for a while longer, and he resumed working on his laptop. 

This family was undeniably peculiar. Their indifference was palpable, and it left me questioning their emotional depth. As I observed Kolton, his expression remained unfazed, as if he were impervious to the world's troubles. How could he remain so composed, so seemingly unburdened, after casually mentioning the loss of his parents? I couldn't help but marvel at his ability to speak of such a profound tragedy with an air of nonchalance. If it were me, I thought, I wouldn't even be able to muster the words, let alone continue with life as if nothing had happened. Yet, there he sat, engrossed in his computer, appearing as normal as ever.

The stark contrast between the weight of his words and the normalcy of his actions was nothing short of bewildering. It was as if he had mastered the art of concealing his emotions, keeping them locked away from the world. I couldn't help but wonder what is he hiding behind that facade. What else has he masked so nonchalantly? 

"That sucks," I commented casually, shrugging. I slouched further into the chair, stretching my legs out even more onto his bed. Kolton eyed them disapprovingly. "Do you mind? Pretty soon, your entire body will be on the bed."

"And where's the bad part?" I scoffed. "You know you want me."

"Whatever."

"Aha! No denying," I teased, sitting up again. Kolton rolled his eyes at me, and I couldn't help but enjoy the playful banter. He should just give in already.

Honestly, I was at a loss when it came to deciphering Kolton's true feelings towards me. Logically, there was no reason he should like me. However, as I pieced together the puzzle of his character, it became evident that we shared more similarities than differences. We both seemed to possess a certain callousness, a tendency to prioritize our own interests over others. It was hard to believe that beneath his unflinching exterior, he didn't harbor some emotion, some inkling of connection or understanding. We were, in many ways, two sides of the same coin. 

I was about to continue when someone called out his name, causing his bedroom door to swing open. I craned my neck to see who had entered.

"Speaking of..." I muttered under my breath as Kolton's cop sister stepped inside the room. Her dark hair which cascaded down her shoulders like a waterfall of ebony silk framed her face in a way that exuded both strength and authority. Her piercing eyes, a deep shade of brown, held an unwavering intensity that commanded respect, I noticed as she glared at me. Her stature was impressive, standing tall and poised, with a confident aura that left no room for doubt. She carried herself with the unwavering confidence.

Her eyes scanned me from head to toe before settling on Kolton. It was clear she had no fondness for me. In fact, it felt like she held even more disdain for me than the others did.

"What is he doing here?" she inquired, directing her question at Kolton.

"Luke, remember," he reminded her.

"Yeah, but why is he in your room?"

"I don't know. Ask him," Kolton replied nonchalantly, and I couldn't help but smile. He definitely had a soft spot for me. His sister scowled at me, and I involuntarily flinched. These cop people, I thought. They seemed to have it in for me.

"Why don't you go check on my brother?" she suggested with a sickly sweet smile. How weird...she was Lukas's sister, but here I was, being sent to check on him. It was strange how the rich could be so cruel even to their own flesh and blood. Despite our "poverty", I couldn't fathom treating Bird the way these people treated Lukas.

I pushed myself up from the chair and walked past Luke, leaving the room behind. I could feel their collective gazes on me, and I had a sneaking suspicion that they'd be discussing me once I was out of earshot.

As I left Kolton's room, I couldn't help but feel that I had disrupted the fragile coexistence within the family. The hallway outside was eerily quiet, and the tension in the air was palpable. With each step I took, I could feel their collective gazes lingering on me, and it was clear that my presence had added another layer of awkwardness to their already strained dynamic.

I made my way down the hallway, footsteps echoing in the silence until I reached Lukas' room. Hesitating for a moment, I knocked gently on the door before pushing it open. As I entered Lukas' room, the atmosphere was surprisingly serene, quite different from the tension that lingered in the rest of the house. Lukas lay in his bed, his injuries aside, appearing surprisingly at peace. The room had an air of quietude, and the subdued lighting added to the tranquility. The aura was not charged with anger or hatred, and it felt like the perfect moment to approach Lukas with a genuine sense of concern and empathy.

"Hey," I greeted him, unsure of what to say or how to break the uncomfortable silence that hung in the room.

Lukas turned his gaze toward me, and for the first time, I noticed a hint of vulnerability in his eyes, a stark contrast to the unyielding exterior he typically displayed. "You again," he muttered, his voice laced with a mix of annoyance and resignation as if my being here wasn't his entire idea.

"Yeah, they sent me to check on you," I replied, pulling up a nearby chair and taking a seat. "How are you feeling?"

Lukas didn't answer immediately, instead opting to study me with a scrutinizing gaze. "Why do you care?" he finally asked, suspicion tainting his words.

I shrugged, not entirely sure of my own motives. "I don't know, man. It just seemed like the right thing to do."

For a moment, Lukas remained silent, and I could sense the internal struggle within him. Finally, he sighed a hint of exhaustion in his voice. "Well, I'm not dead yet, if that's what you're wondering."

I chuckled softly, appreciating the hint of humor amidst the awkwardness. "That's good to hear."