Paralyzed ||slow updates||

Three

So now there we are standing in what I'm guessing is the living room, Claire trying to make conversation with me while I'm having a stare-off with the self proclaimed heroine, Aiden.

Now I know what you're thinking, childish right? But she started it and I intend to end it. Aiden smirks. I would gladly slap that smug look off her face.

"I'll go make some tea," Claire announces, "...maybe that will ease all this tension..."

Aiden looks away, "Aha!" I say almost too excitedly. "You good, cupcake?" she looks at me up and down with that stupid smirk on her face.

Embarrassed, I clear my throat, "Yeah, you?" and suddenly my hands have absolutely no place on my body. Arms crossed. No, that looks too defensive. Fingers laced. That's just awkward. Hands behind my back. Now I just feel like a school teacher.

"Maybe you wanna take a seat?" Aiden taps the spot on the couch next to her. "Yeah...uhm I was just...ahem yeah" who are you and what have you done with Cassandra?!?!

Instead on sitting next to her on the couch, I scanned the room and my eyes landed on the love seat in the far corner. Perfect.

I made my way to the seat feeling very self satisfied in my little stand for independence. "Oh I wouldn't sit-" as soon as my butt was on that seat the regret came flooding in. It was like sitting on gravel with a layer of cheap cotton wool over it. "There." Aiden muttered something under her breath.

If I wasn't so bothered by how uncomfortable this seat is I would have been more interested to know exactly what she said. Just act natural...where is that damn tea?!

I shift around trying to find at least a small part of this piece of...garbage that is at least half way comfortable. Why do they even own this...thing?!

Giggling pulls me out of my daze of frustration. I look up and see Claire and Aiden trying and failing dismally to mask their laughter.

"Good heavens Cassandra, there are plenty places to sit, why on earth would you pick that lonely seat in the corner?" I look around and she was right besides the two seater Aiden was sitting on there was a three seater next to her, a cute antique recliner and a bean bag chair.

In all honesty this love seat isn't all that pretty anyway. As I'm about to blab out some ridiculous excuse Aiden decides to chip in, "You're not intimidated by me...are you?"

Again with the smirk. I roll my eyes and snort, "Hardly." I cross my arms. I'm starting to think looking defensive wouldn't have be the worst thing after all.

Before Aiden throws whatever snarky remark she had planned Claire walks in between us and holds her hands up.

"Oh my God, you two are like children! Hardly know a thing about each so what is the basis of all this animosity hmm?" Claire looks at us both, waiting for a response.

"Look now you've gone and made me use the Lord's name in vain," Claire closes her eyes as though she's doing a silent prayer for forgiveness then she takes a deep breath, "alright so I've got tea which is probably luke warm by now and macchiato creme filled cookies on one side and ginger biscuits on the other, help yourselves."

Feeling embarrassed, I move to sit next to Aiden. I pour myself a cup of the green tea and pick out two ginger biscuits. Sipping on tea in awkward silence has got to be the worst thing ever.

"So," Claire broke the silence, "how have you been Cass? How's Nichole and the baby, oh my gosh the baby!"

"I've been great actually, I think my interview went well and I'm just really ready for this to all be over. Nichole is as moody as ever, the other day she demanded I get her a McChicken specifically from the McDonald's in Menlin Avenue Mall."

"Wait but didn't the McDonald's in that mall close down?" Aiden looks at me confused and amused. "It did, five weeks ago to be exact and when I told her that she wasn't having it, threw the biggest hissy fit I've ever seen!"

Laughter broke out and the tension melted away, everyone became more and more relaxed. We went from talking about my 15 year old friendship with Claire to Aiden's love for music.

I ended up staying so long we had to order Chinese takeout for dinner and we chatted even more. To be honest I was reluctant to leave.

In the middle of our passionate debate about sleeping with or without underwear, I felt my phone vibrate in my purse next to me. Without looking at the caller ID I answered.

"Hello, Cassandra speaking,"
"Hi, This is Crystal Valley Hospital, is this Cassandra Jones-Carlisle?"
"Oh shit yeah, I know I missed my shot I've just been super busy lately...shouldn't the clinic be calling me about this though?"
"It's not about that Miss Carlisle, your sister came in today and we discovered that she has preeclampsia"
"Oh my gosh, is she okay?" fear starts to bubble inside me.
"Well, we sent her husband home to retrieve her belongings so we could prep her for an induction and...there's no easy way to say this. Miss Carlisle, your sister passed away."
"Woahhh, hold on what did you say your name was?" she obviously had the wrong number or someone was playing some sick prank.
"Becky. Becky Richardson."
"Now tell me Becky, how did my sister go from being prepared for an induction to passing away?!" the living room went silent, I could feel Aiden and Claire both staring at me.
"I...I think it's best that you come to the hospital Miss..."

Pathetic. Hanging up I stand up grab my purse and stuff my phone inside it. "What's going on?" I look up and see Claire's eyebrows etched with worry.

"Someone just told me that Nichole is dead."

Author's note

And the story officially begins.
Chapters in future will be longer as I'm trying to make this story have a limited amount of chapters.

Comment any suggestions or corrections.

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1057 words