Living Dolls

5Carmen

Mom's voice kept continuing on as I fixed up my makeup and hair in the mirror. I kept replying with, "Okay, okay, got it, yeah." As she kept pestering on about what to do and not to do when they were gone.

"And don't try to lie to me," She says, now standing next to me with a stern look. She keeps tapping her foot, stopping once I put my eyeliner down to give my attention to her. "Because I'm asking Anna next door to come check on you every once in awhile."

"Yeah, yeah." I rolled my eyes. As soon as I start focusing on the mirror again, she moves closer, pointing right at me.

"I'm serious, Carmen." She hisses, tapping me hard on the top of the head, "I don't want to hear any more partying going on. And especially no boys."

Ugh, enough. "Alright, alright!" I groan, finishing applying the eyeliner as I place it down on my desk, still looking around for the mascara. "I'll be back before nine." There was a part of me that knew lying wasn't good on the very first day of being left alone, but hey, I just got the notice of the party last night. Plus, it's at the Anzo mansion, no one wants to miss that opportunity!

Being with Tiffany would hopefully not make it so bad if I'm caught. Either by seeing it was okay by having my cousin there, or her getting in trouble worse than me, I don't know.

By the time Mom and Melvin were already getting ready to leave, I had finally picked out my outfit and ran downstairs to see them off. Giving me a tight hug with a kiss at my cheek, I forced myself to bear through it with my own genuine grin. "Ask me for permission to anything - and no whining if I say no." "I left a lot of food for you anyway, make sure to eat it." "Make sure the door's locked and alarm system is on at all times." and the one she kept saying over and over, "Be careful."

"Of course," I say, finding a small tinge of disappointment when she finally released me from the embrace, "Have fun."

"I'll miss you, be safe." She gave me a final kiss on my forehead before departing out the door.

My smile turned into a sneer due to it just being me and Melvin. Furrowing a brow, I gave him my attention. I was expecting a mutual glare, but his expression was rather emotionless.

"I know you're gonna stay longer at that party." He says, voice and expression strangely blank, and I just give him a scowl. "Don't really care. Just say that I've always warned you." With that, he carried up their luggage and moved out the door.

I offered a wave, "I'll miss you two, step-shit." When they're farther out the door, I step over to the porch and grin with a hand up as they load up and drive away. When they're down the road, I scowl and step back inside, kicking the door shut.

Making my way back upstairs to my room, I shoot up my cell to begin texting Tiff. "They just left", "Where are you?" "I was hoping you'd be here to answer Mom's questions and calm her down".

It takes half a minute for her to read and text back. "Why are you always bent on throwing my under the bus???" "Damn" "Just getting dropped off, meet me at the door". I do so, but all while still shaking my cell with an annoyed scowl.

Sure enough, she was making her way up the lawn. I rose my hand for a high five, but she completely moved past me. "You got anything to eat?" She asked, "I'm really hungry, I skipped out on breakfast."

"Sounds like a personal problem." I frowned, closing the door and rushing after her before she could get a hold of my food, "Stop it, I want up save up the ingredients."

"We can share, call me over when you make enchiladas."

After she treated herself to a quesadilla all through my persisting to stop, we finally go up to my room. Tiff was still lying on my bed, going through her phone with a pout as I pulled her hair back to style.

"He's still not answering my texts." She says through her hitched breathing.

"Surprised he's even letting all of us at his house." I mused with a furrowing brow, starting to braid up her hair, "He hasn't answered any of my texts for the past week, either. Brad and Justin say he's been avoiding them, too."

"... You think he's getting all gloomy because of me?" She suddenly squeaks out. I just shut my eyes and go still, letting her go into panic mode for just awhile. "He stopped talking to us ever since him and I, y-y'know..."

"Why get worked up over something like that?" I ask. In all honesty, that was what I was betting on, it was the only thing Tiff, Gale, and I can call a lead, after all. "It was just a kiss, it's not like..."

"And a confession!" She cries out, and with a sneer, lowers her cell, "That piece of shit, his mood swings piss me off."

"He might... Still be shocked, I don't know."

"That's stupid."

"... No offense, but..." I cringe, "You don't exactly treat him well. I mean, it's only natural that the girl who bullied him since third grade having a crush on him would be a shocker."

"I don't bully him." Unlocking her cell again, she goes through Julien's contact before sending another message. Ignore me again and I'll kick you to across the state, dipshit.

I frown, considering. "... Fine. I'll talk to him about what's going on."

She gasps loudly, "Don't do that!"

Tiff was persistent, she even turned around and messed up what I've already done to her hair to plead for me not to talk to Julien about he and her. In the end, I promised I wouldn't. It was another major lie of the day. I got to protect her, what kind of sister would I be if I just left their relationship in this limbo?

It took a long while for our ride to get here, but even then, we didn't mind much, for we continued to watch television, eat, and talk throughout it all. Already, she tries hogging all my snacks, I have to snatch them away, "Stop it, pig."

We eventually get the call of the upcoming ride, so we get all our stuff and head out the door. I damn near forget to lock the door, it's Tiff who calls for me to do so.

When we move into Ken's car all while giving him and Lisa our greetings, the conversation already pits over to the destruction coming ahead. Destruction, yeah, we didn't exactly ever use that word, but realistically, it was what's coming.

"Gale just texted me," Tiff sits up with a grin, cradling her cell. "He says that Julien finally opened the gates for everyone else."

"Finally?" I ask, brow furrowing.

"Apparently Julien let Gale in, and when everyone else showed up, Gale couldn't find him. But he just showed himself and now everything's open."

"Gale?" Ken sneers, eyebrows drawing closer together, "Aw, come on. That guy's gonna be there? You gotta be shitting me."

Tiff clearly grows annoyed, nose wrinkling with her scowl. Dropping her cell onto her lap, she crosses her arms over her chest, "He's Jule's best friend."

"... Uh, yeah, we know that." Lisa mutters, and after a second, chokes out a chuckle, "Still really weird, though."

Wearing a sneer, Tiff turns her head, looking at me just to express her disgust with a mere expression. I just shrug, shaking my head.

By the time we reach the outskirts of the city, we already get lost. Tiff had already made a comment or two about the area not looking quite the same around Julien's house, but we always shrugged it off. Even Tiff, upon her comments being ignored, let it slide. Yet when we discovered we really were lost, she was quick to blame, "I told you guys a hundred times! We made the wrong turns!"

We tried to call Julien for more help on directions, but sure enough, he neglected to answer any of our calls. Tiff was more than a little angered, ordering for all of us to call to make sure he wasn't avoiding her in particular. He didn't answer any of us.

So, we called up Brett and he was more than happy to help us out. He had to exit those rooms with the pounding music, we noted with relating grins.

In the end, we managed to find the house by the time the sun was beginning to make its set under the hills.

Despite knowing Julien for seven years, I've only been up close to the Anzo mansion once. And that wasn't even in relation to Jules. Melvin works for the Anzos. Two years ago, he was invited to their celebratory ceremony. Since Mom and I already had plans that day to visit Gran and Gramps, we decided to go in to drop him off.

Ken and Lisa's never been this close to my knowledge, and it's mostly confirmed when they start gawking at the area. Tiff comes here about once a month, at least, so she's the one who most definitely keeps her cool. Still, she seems a bit energetic. From my guess, one, because most of the school is invited, and two, because she's nervous about facing Julien again.

"Do we just wait here, or...?" Ken squints, hands loosening on the wheel.

"Son of a..." Tiff snarls, "Just wait. I just texted Gale to search Jules down to tell him to open up the gates."

Lisa eyes the scanner and pin codes on the side of the gate, motioning to it, "Don't you at least know the code? You come here a lot."

She shakes her head, "Nope, he always uses it. All I know is that it starts with an H." She says, and just as we're all squinting, thinking in thought, she pipes up, "And trust me, I've tried thinking too."

We all flinch when the gate's move open. Once wide enough for the car to move through, Ken drives in and as looking for a clearer place to park between all the cars, we perk up at seeing the front doors close after Julien exits.

"Little piece of shit." Tiff's ready to burst out the still moving car, I have to grab and pull her arm to keep her still.

As soon as the car pulls into a parked stop, Tiff slaps my hands off her and open the door, jumping off and closing it with a slam. Ken, Lisa, and I exchange cringes before jumping out of the car as well.

Poor, stupid Julien is already brightening up, arms raising in gesture of a hug, but Tiff has none of that. His face falls instantly when he sees her stiffening arm raise, and when it's delivering a punch to his gut, he jumps back with a cough.

"N-Nice..." He chokes out, trying to regain his composure. Clutching his stomach, he suffers through giving Tiff an apologetic smile, "Nice to s-see you, t-too-"

"Nice to see you've been ignoring my texts!" Cries Tiff, and when she sees we're getting closer, she calms herself down. Crossing her arms over her chest, she pouts as she listens to the rest of the conversation.

"Brett says you guys got lost?" He asks after giving us his famous close hugs of greetings. I usually like it, but the way he's still grabbing onto my arm as he addresses all of us is troubling. Scowling, I move out of his grip. "I thought you guys would be the first here."

"I lost my keys at first, actually." Groans Ken. "Then Tiff kept going blah blah blah blah blah blah blah-"

Julien twitches, "Oh - ah-" Shaking his head to himself, he brightens up, stepping back towards the building, "Anyway, let's go inside."

It was expected, the first thing that happened when Julien opened the doors was a soccer ball being kicked over right beside us - we barely managed to dodge it on time. Brow furrowing, I look over at Julien, who wears a spiteful smirk.

This is just the entry room, but the crowds managed to make it over here. Music pounding and lights flashing, it was difficult for me to look and hear out for those I was specifically searching out for.

My ears manage to catch Julien and Tiff's voice. Looking over, I found him moving in to talk through her ear, and throughout all of it, Tiff's wearing her scowling pout. I twitch in annoyance when I notice her cheeks redden.

As soon as they do, she scoffs and pushes past him. I'm about to ask what's wrong before she grabs my arm and leads me somewhere quieter, leading behind a desperate looking Julien.

"That idiot," She hisses, hand still tight around my arm. She storms through the many halls of the house, leaving me baffled and trying to get away to look around, but she's persistent. "Wants to talk it over."

"Talk it over?" I'm still frantically looking around and reaching at many of the rooms and art objects. Boy, when Julien once joked that his parents liked looking at their selves, he wasn't kidding. There's like dozens of mirrors in each hall.

"Yeah. As if! Like he's gonna walk out on-"

Jumping out from the side, Gale screams right in our faces. Tiff narrows her eyes at him, taking in sharp intake of breath. Just as Gale starts laughing at our reaction, Tiff releases me to smack him twice on the chest.

"I'm just kidding!" Gale says through his chuckles. Tiff moves past him, and he hurries on her heels. I'm tempted to use this time to look around and venture, talking to my friends too. But I stop when I hear Gale ask, "So, did you and Julien already talk?"

What? Face going blank, I pause before following after them.

"No." Tiff huffs, finding refuge on the couch. The room is filled with a bunch of our peers playing games on the flat screen. They try waving down at Tiff and I, but we're too occupied. Once Gale is sitting beside her, she adds, "He wanted to, but I'm too pissed."

"... You..." I finally bring myself to ask. Looking at Gale with narrowing eyes, I mutter, "You know about what happened last week?"

Tiff goes red, "I - I just..." She pauses, before crying out with an exasperated smile, "Come on, he's both Jules and I's friend! I had to tell."

Gale shrugs, "It was actually Julien who told me first. Tiff called me up and told me just an hour later."

I'm still shaking my head. Through the cries of a victory on the game beside us, and the laughter filled conversation of the new crowd of teens who walk in, my teeth grind together. How annoying.

"Carm?" Tiff sits up, "Where are you going?"

"Just need to find Brad and Kiki and ask them something." I choke out, and my head is already pounding. I really wanted to push Gale into a corner and demand to know what exactly Julien said, but with Tiff there, it'd be difficult.

Through all the venturing and even conversations I'm pulled into, I finally find Julien through the windows by the pools, waking over to the doors. Determined, I move over outside. By the time I'm out there, Julien's standing talking down to Brett and Jody who were in the jacuzzi.

Frowning, I walk my way over. Brett notices me first, and lifting up his drink, greets with a grin, "Oh, hey! You guys made it. Where's Tiff?"

"Talking with Gale." I said, and when Julien looks at me, his face drops. "Julien, can we talk for a minute?"

"... Um..." Nervously tousling his hair, he looks around, stepping away from the splash of water from the pool behind him. "Oh... Okay."

He leads me over down the pool area and near the brushes of the garden. Frowning in irritation over the fact that he wasn't saying anything, I say, "It's about Tiff."

A smirk comes over his face, though his eyes are agitated, "I guessed as much." As soon as his steps go into a slower pace once we enter the chair filled garden, I bring up my voice.

"Just what are you doing with Tiffany?" I ask, arms crossing over my chest as I gave him an impatient scowl, tapping my foot, "Huh?"

Stopping in his tracks, his eyes narrow. Nervously, confused, he looks about the area. Directing his silver eyes back at me, he mutters, "What am I doing?"

"Don't play stupid." I huff, "I know about that little incident last week. Tiff says you've been avoiding her all week."

"Avoiding?" He asks, spurting out a chuckle, "I tried talking to her and she punched me in the stomach, and the next time, stormed off."

"And you gave up just like that."

"Well, what was I supposed to do!?"

"Just - Just forget about today." I tell him, and he suddenly gets this weird smile. "You've been avoiding her all week."

"I've been avoiding everyone all week-"

"That doesn't matter. Hell, it's just as concerning, considering you go in this seclusive, grouchy mood right after you guys confessed to each other. You're being too silent." His smile was starting to creep me out and piss me off, so I added, "Tiff's starting to think that you don't really like her back-"

"What?" His eyes go narrow, and looking at me desperately, he stamps his foot, "How could that-? But - But I confessed, too! I was the one who..."

"But you're not showing. Which is why you're not dating-"

"Not dating!?" He spurts out, "But we both confessed, of course we're-!"

"That's not how it works. Clearly, I haven't okayed it yet."

He squints in annoyed confusion, "But... But we both... You have nothing to do with it."

I try to keep my calm composure. Even striking my own smile, mimicking that creepy one he had on a minute ago. "Of course I do. If you haven't noticed, even though we're biologically cousins, we think of each other as sisters. And sisters give permission for the boyfriend, and can easily make them exes."

He doesn't look too annoyed, now he looks genuinely confused. No, more tinges of curiosity. Looking down at the ground with eyebrows knitted together, he takes some steps back, fingers grasping at his chin in thought.

"If that's the case..." He mutters, I can barely hear him. I'm about to question when he raises his head again, "Okay then, I understand now."

"... Okaayy..." I squint, confused. He's just starting to walk past me when I grab tightly onto his arm, jerking him into a stop. He scowls at me, waiting to see the cause. "Still. I want you to know, you better stop acting weird and treat her right. Because if you don't, I swear to God..."

His eyes roll, a smile tugging on his lips, "Oh, you can count on that."

Later, Julien vanishes yet again. Gale said he might have went into his area of the house again, he kept retreating there all day. Tiff was with me watching a game of beer pong go on when he shows up again.

"Don't even bother!" She already tries turning away from him, but placing a hand on her shoulder, Julien leans over and whispers in her ear. Again, I try to catch it, biting my lip tightly when Julien's eyes sweep over me quick. Surprisingly, her face softens, covering with a hardened frown almost instantly, but it's close to withering. With a sigh, she gets up. "I'll be right back." She directs to me before walking off with Julien.

I'm already annoyed, but when Julien gives me a teasing smirk as he walks out with Tiff, my blood begins to boil.

Little bastard.

Sometime in our little pauses in the game, we converse more tightly. Whether about high school, college, jobs, sports, home life, a good number of us contribute. Hell, I give more than a bit confessions as to hating Melvin.

"You know there's this rumor I heard," Brett starts, which already gets our attention. "That Ester's hooking now downtown."

... What?

Most of us just blink, looking at each other in confusion. It seems to only be Jody, Gale, and another girl who gasp, before shaking with chuckles.

"Shut up, man." Jody snickers, punching Brett's shoulder.

"I know," Gale leans forward, smirking, "Hooking? Honestly."

A girl pauses, before smiling and shrugging, "Hooking isn't so bad though, it's pretty interesting if you ask me." She says, resulting in our roars of laughter.

In the middle of my heavy chuckling, I see the two come back to view again. Tensing up, I watch out the corner of my eye in suspicion. Don't tell me...

Ugh, Tiff's back to smiling and hitting him on his chest as they settle down into seats. Kill me now, please. I try texting Tiff, but she simply glances down at her cell before being pulled into the conversation, which she takes with a gleeful smile.

"Yo, Julien," Chase calls out, face reddening from all the alcohol in his system, and Julien jumps. A lot of us quiet down, quite expecting this to come anytime soon. "You better not be a heavy weight on the team, got that?"

Julien gulps, and we all look away nervously. As soon as Chase leans over closer, Julien moves back, nodding frantically.

With a grin, Chase presents his shot glass, "Good." He says. Julien looks a bit confused, until Brett gives him the hint, thus giving a polite decline. "Aw, c'mon. You're the host here, you can't even let loose."

"I can't really hold my alcohol well." Julien laughs nervously, and Tiff and Gale nod frantically in agreement. Chase keeps persisting, leading to another five people joining in. Finally giving in, Julien takes a shot, promising his only one.

In the end, it leads to a whole chain. Many more people come over in the room to join us, and we're all given shot after shot. Gale was the only one who didn't drink in this little group, he just held his shot with a distressed expression before Julien noticed and took it, downing it.

My phone began to buzz, and I just take it out to see Mom's contact and her four calls, six texts before Chase pulls me out of it. "You were right about how conceited your parents are," I turn to Julien with sudden interest, "I mean, look around. Mirror, mirror on the wall."

Julien grins, many people in the group letting out laughs. "I know, man." Ken says, leaning over the table. "Kinda surprised I haven't seen any dangling corpses of any of your executives."

"I'd pay to see Melvin like that." I say.

Julien lets out a little hiccup before hitting his chest, "No. Although I do have four people locked up in my closet, one of them was an Anzo slave, so."

"That's sick." Grins Brett, "Hand me downs, right?"

"Exactly." Julien nods, then starts laughing. Leaning back in his seat so far Gale has to move over to make sure it doesn't fall over.

Later, Jules gets caught up more in the drunken Chase's rules, so he moves over to hear better through the loud chatter. It honest to God seems like everyone retreated here despite the large area, due to the numerous heated discusions and drinks.

"Hey," I find my way over to Tiff, who was resting her head over the table. I cringe when taking note of her occasional shudders. "What happened with Jules?"

"Y-You don't have to wo-worry." She has to repeat herself at least three times for me to properly hear. Raising her head with a crooked grin, she struggles to wipe the sweat off her face. "I-It was... I-It was j-just..."

Grabbing her shoulders, I look around for help. It's Gale who notices, and we both move her onto the couch in the other room.

"Wha-?" Arm moving over her head as she settles herself back, she smiles, eyes weary as they keep fluttering closed. "What t-time is it?"

"It's-" Gale's eyes narrow, "I don't know, almost one? Are you-?"

She wheezes out a laugh, "Ooh, G-Gale, you're missing your pr-precious sleeping time."

"Do you need to go home?" I ask, struggling to form coherent words myself. Shit, who would take her? I don't have a ride myself, Melvin took the keys of the car, the prick.

Gale seems to read my thoughts, "Isn't Ken and Lisa driving you guys?"

"They're completely w-wasted." I say, blushing with embarrassment of my own stupidity as Gale's already shooting an annoyed look. "You're going to bed now, right? C-Can you drive her h-home?" I trusted him enough.

"No can do." He shakes his head, "Julien picked me up and let me here, and I'm spending the night due to his own little tipsy behavior."

"Ju-Jules!" Tiff tries sitting up, only to slump down again. "I can - I wanna spend the n-night, too." She whispers out, turning over to clutch the pillow, giving out another shudder. "I like my g-guest room. C-Carm, you can..." Another softening pause, "St-Stay, too."

I heard it was only for Julien's bestest of friends, which mostly consisted of these two, and I doubted I was in the list. I'm starting to voice my doubts before Gale moves out the room, presumably to find Julien.

"I can't believe you," I don't even look at the weary Tiff as she shuffles around in her spot. Granted, I shouldn't have let the girl drink so much, but I was so ashamed I didn't want to admit it. "You get all sloshed on just a couple of shots."

Gale and Julien return, the latter's steps in a stumble, hand covering his eyes as he keeps mumbling to himself.

It seems to hit me then: I cannot leave Tiff alone here. I have to stay near her.

"You guys a-aren't..." He rubs the palm of his hand, coughing, "G-Going home with Lisa and..." A sudden sneer, "Ken?"

"Don't th-think so." I say, straightening up with a frown. "Don't think they'd be leaving anytime soon-"

"Stupid stupid." He keeps shaking his head. "I'm gonna force them to leave right now, one way or another." At Gale's confused stare, he pushes him aside lightly, "Shut up, you should thank me."

"Either way, it's dangerous." I say, and Julien stifles a chuckle, surely remembering that notorious story of my drunken crash. "Can she-" I clear my throat, body stiffening, "Can the three of us stay over?"

A pause, before a gleeful grin, "O-Of course, of course!" He side steps over to the other side of the room, "You guys already want to go t-to bed?"

Gale nods, and I just look around, "W-Well, I just..." Frowning in annoyance at the sight of Tiff still mumbling, I shrug, "Sure, why not?" Perhaps I could come down real quick every few moments to talk to everyone before they leave.

We begin to follow him out of the room, moving around in the many halls. Gale and I have to help lead Tiff with us, even though I myself am beginning to obtain blurry vision and numb cheeks.

"I keep forgetting, keep forgetting!" Jules slaps the heel of his palm on his forehead, grinning dumbly. "That would have been awful."

"Calm yourself, buddy." Gale sighs in bliss, surely hearing the pounding of the music fade away the deeper we go into different areas of the house. "When are you getting these people out of here? It'll be hard. You usually sleep early."

"No he doesn't." I sigh, "He goes on texting us until almost two in the morning, sometimes."

"No, I don't!" Jules jumps up, almost slamming himself in the mirror in front of him before turning down the hall and up the stairs. He has to grip tightly onto the railings, feet movement sloppy, "I love sleeping."

"Then what's with a-all of this?" I laugh, Gale and I struggling to help Tiff up the steps of stairs. "You know, e-everyone was surprised that you l-let us all here."

"I-I just w-want to..." His voice begins cracking again, body going through shudders of hiccups. He tried coughing them away, "P-Please the team."

Gale frowns, "Julien."

"I'm s-serious!"

I didn't even know we were in this guest wing before Julien opens one of the doors, and stepping back, tries to present it like royalty, "Your room, sir."

"You like like a drunk beggar." Gale says through a tired chuckle, and trying to make sure Tiff would at least stand properly without him, moves over in the room, "Be safe, guys. G'night."

"Good night!" Both Tiff and Jules cry out with sloppy grins. Julien slams the door right on his friend's back, releasing a cry of pain.

We go into the room right across from the hall, and Tiff practically throws herself onto the bed. "Oh," I frown, crossing my arms over my chest, "So now you're admitting to be tired?" I ask, walking further into the room.

Struggling to push the covers off her, she grins sheepishly, "I still haven't a-admitted... H-Hey, are you staying, too?"

I'm just going to say yes when Julien suddenly jumps in, grabbing my arm. He hushes my hisses of curses as he pulls me back, "She's still thi-thinking it through! Anyway, g-good night!"

"Huh?" My eyes narrow as he drags me out. I raise my arm, ready to strike in my fit of anger, "Listen-!"

"You should stay." Tiff cries out sleepily, before curling the blankets around her, "Night."

"But I-!" As soon as Julien forces the door closed, I move over to hit him harshly on the chest, "What the hell was that-?"

He raises his hands up in defense or surrender, I can';t quite tell. "I j-just need to talk to you a-about something!" I'm starting to angrily question what it is, until he says the simple words, "It's about Tiff."

My eyebrows draw together, "... Go on."

Grinning, he turns and continues walking down the hall, hand sliding against the wall and mirrors to steady himself. I frown, going after him. "Soo, I've been thi-thinking about what you said."

"Which part?"

"About sisters."

Well, at least he listened. "Ooh," I smirk, "So, you guys aren't going out, right? At l-least you settled it t-together."

"What are you talking a-about?" He asks, making my eyes narrow. We enter a new wing, and he opens the door at the end. He walks inside the room, and I just peek in suspiciously. It's much more decorated and larger than the others, so I can only assume it was his room. "Yeah, what you said made me think, so... So now I have permission!"

"What are you talking about?" I hiss, stepping in the room after some more suspicious glares around it. "You must be stupid. I never gave you permission."

His voice suddenly grows louder, "Which is why!"

"Why what?"

He reaches over to his desk, and hunching over it with his palms clasped over, he begins to chuckle. "Y-You're just... In th-the way..."

"... What?"

After a shuddering pause, Julien leans further down, rummaging his hand on the side of the desk. Finding the desired object, then, he shakily lifts up the suitcase and sets it over his desk. As he's going through his pockets to pull out a ring of keys, his words are starting to piece more better in my head.

"You..." I snarl, stepping closer, "You fucking idiot-"

His voice cracks, "B-But even if you're in th-the way..." There's a click from the suitcase, and Julien tried cradling the object up through his shudders. "I r-really don't want to see T-Tiff sad with you g-gone..."

"What the h-hell are you ta-talking about!?" I cry out with throbbing anger. As soon as he turns around, revealing the object in his hands, my blood runs cold.

You've got to be shitting me.

Now, I've made my own share of jokes that Julien would turn out as fucked up as his parents, but the experiences of watching him grow up always overpowered those simple jokes. Hell, even as I was having those angered moments with him, he was still nonetheless a kid I grew up with.

So, as imagined, seeing that gun being pointed at me from that very boy surely put me into a shock.

I was still right in front of the door, so the only thing that crossed my mind was: run.

I didn't really have a set goal in mind. Go for help from Gale and Tiff, or the others further down the house? Call them to alert danger? Honestly, millions of ideas ran through my head as I dashed out the room into the hallway.

It really was a stupid shame that I was too intoxicated to focus. That, and Julien was always a fast runner, hell, a fast walker even if disoriented. Right when I make it at the end of the hall with a cry emitting from my throat, I feel the hand tighten harshly on my shoulder. It seemed right then Julien was already tripping himself, so we both skid, hitting the end of the hall. The mirror atop of us fell, and two of us barely made it in time to avoid the glass scraping across our faces, but it did catch our arms and legs.

The shattering glass and cutting of my skin distracted me momentarily, for Julien's hand grasped tight around my hair. It seemed to be a futile struggle, for always as soon as I'd kick or hit him off me, only a few feeble crawls or steps would be made before he grabbed and pulled me back again.

"Stop struggling!" He pulls, beginning to block my kicks. My hands try to grab at his ankles as he pulls me back down the hall. "These walls are thick, you know? Y-You're just w-wasting time!"

It doesn't take long before he throws me back into his room. I'm beginning to raise myself up before he lowers himself, raising up the gun.

Fuck.

Struggling to form coherent words, I cough out, "J-Jules, w-what are you d-doing? Th-This is insane! St-Stop it, it's not f-funny!"

"I-I didn't really want to do this. For a lot of reasons. Oh, God, so m-many reasons." He keeps turning the gun over, teasing me - I can't even concentrate on him himself. Just the gun. That fucking gun. "I really don't want to see Tiffany so d-distressed. I know h-how much you m-mean to her, but I have n-no choice at this point."

"Yes, y-you do." I try standing up, but my leg is killing me. "J-Just calm down-"

"Plus, I-I've been told of your... B-Behavior." He side steps over to one of the closets, gun still aiming perfectly at me, "L-Let me just t-tell you, I h-have the perfect l-little family here. I do-don't want you to mess it up." I lower my head, shaking in confused fear as I hear the slamming of his opening the closet door. "J-Just a little line of w-warning."

"W-What?" I stammer, trembling like crazy. "Ju-Jules, please, do-don't..."

"I promise." He suddenly booms closer to me, gun raising and aiming more securely towards me, "I'll be very respectful to Tiffany."

I wasn't very sure if I would be able to persuade him from hitting me, so when he pulled the trigger I felt a wide range of emotions. Goosebumps were all around on my skin, cheeks very much still numb, and the feeling of that cold blast got painful on those areas. Everything else was freezing tickle that spread around like my body was going to sleep, just like it eventually did.

And, that's the last of the introduction chapters! Next chapters, we get to see how the characters all together, and what they've have been doing. B)