These Violent Delights Have Violent Ends [h.s.]

Chapter 8

Present-day

"Ethan, come on we have to go before we're late for school!" I scream.

God, I hate having a little brother sometimes. I swear he does this on purpose just out of spite. Luckily for him, Aunt Jo is on a business trip, or else he wouldn't get away with this shitty behavior.

"I'm coming, Jesus!" He says while screaming from the top of the stairs. All of a sudden, my doorbell rings. Who would be up at this hour?

After hearing a familiar rhythmic knocking on my door, I realize exactly who it was. I rush to the door excited to see the one person I've been missing since the beginning of summer. As I rip it open, I practically fall back on the ground with Bella on top of me.

"I'm back! Oh my god, I have so much to tell you I can't wait. Did you grow your hair because it's longer than I remember? Where's Ethan and Aunt Jo I want to say hi. Wait, I took some pictures on the way here and I need your help on deciding which one I should post-"

"Bella!" I scream while cutting her off.

"Alex!" She screams in the same tone as me.

"What's with the rambling questions? I know I haven't seen you for months, but fuck, give me a chance to answer them." I couldn't stop laughing not only because I loved Bella but because I truly missed her a whole bunch.

"I'm sorry, I just have so much to say and I've missed you so much. This is why I didn't want to leave, I can't be separated from you," she says while hugging me intensely.

"We'll catch up on the way to school, but first I have to drag Ethan down the stairs because he's taking forever," I grown while rolling my eyes.

"Yeah, I can fucking hear you by the way," Ethan says in annoyance. He finally walks down the stairs with a sulky demeanor. At times, he can really piss me off but he's been through so much for a boy who's only sixteen. It's understandable why he does what he does.

"Guess who's back," I say in a childish tone.

"Surprise!" Bella screams.

For the first time in a while, I see Ethan smile. He rushes to give Bella a hug so grand that her feet are dangling from the ground.

"Woah, Ethan did you get hot or something over the summer?" Bella asks. My tone from playfulness quickly shifts to utter disgust and humiliation.

Ethan blushes at Bella's compliment, not knowing exactly how to respond. "I'm just messing with you. C'mon guys, let's go. I don't want to be late on my first day back."

We all leave the house and I drive us off onto the main road. "Oh shit, I should pick up Cassie." After hanging out with Dean last night, I felt incredibly guilty. I know Cassie wanted him yet I wasn't sure if it was for the purest of reasons.

"Don't bother, I already stopped by her house since it's down the street from me. I asked her if she wanted to come with me to surprise you, but she said she was going to catch a ride with her Dad," Bella said from the passenger seat.

"Really? I always pick her up though?" Bella shrugs unsure of what to say. An ounce of guilt fills my body at a rapid pace. Did she know what happened last night?

"Maybe she just doesn't fucking like you," says Ethan from the back seat.

"Woah, chill out Ethan," Bella says, coming to my defense.

"What the fuck is your problem?" I ask in anger.

Ethan responds in the only way he can by rolling his eyes. "Keep up this attitude and you'll be walking to school for the rest of the year," I hiss back.