Braxten High

Chapter 32

Ayden's POV:

After a tedious argument about the fact that parsley and coriander were different herbs, Azriel and I managed to drive back home without killing or seriously harming the other, as the disagreement had gotten more heated than you'd expect for being about herbs.

We were now back in the kitchen, extremely pleased with ourselves as we'd managed to get everything on the list and put it away in their rightful places.

I was trying to brainstorm an idea for dinner and calling Azriel, only to notice him staring out into the distance, not listening to me. "Hey, what's up? You're zoned out," I nudged him out of his trance.

Azriel just blinked a few times and looked at me, smiling. "I zoned out because hearing you talk makes me sleepy. Seriously, how can someone be so boring?" He sniggered.

"You're just mad because I won the argument. How stupid could you be, thinking they both are the same herbs. Honestly you need a-" I was cut off by the sound of the door clicking open and then shut, and a shrill voice calling out "I'm home!"

A few minutes later, Zara entered the kitchen and Azriel kissed her softly, while I felt a pair of arms wrap around me from behind excitedly. "Missed me?" Scar whispered and pressed a kiss on my shoulder.

"I did," I smiled and pulled her in front of me, being careful of her arm, and pressed a kiss to her forehead before hugging her.

"Where did you guys go anyway? It was kind of random," Azriel asked Zara as they pulled away and took a seat at the breakfast bar. "Why don't you ask Scar here about her crazy little theory?" Zara said, putting away her coat and bag. "And Ayden, how does lasagna sound for dinner? I'll help."

Scar pulled away and jumped on the kitchen island. "My theory is that my mom is behind all the weird things that have been happening, or atleast behind the murder of Mr. Murray."

Azriel responded to this by straight up laughing in her face, stopping only to realize she wasn't joking. "Seriously? Are you high? That's literally the craziest thing I've heard all of this week and we had a school shooting that made the school shut down," he said, still laughing.

"It makes sense to me, you asshole. And we found useful clues too that could prove my theory right," Scar said, punching Azriel in the shoulder with her good arm as hard as she could.

"All I found were bonbons," Zara said, pulling out the ingredients we'd need for making the lasagna and giggling. This made Azriel smirk tauntingly at Scar. "See? I told you your theory is stupid."

"Shut up. Zara is being so rude," Scar pouted. "She actually found financial records that were pretty sketchy and I found Email correspondence between her and Mr. Murray. Besides, my mom is kind of a psychopath, especially since my dad passed away. Who knows what she's capable of?"

"We'll look into it after dinner," I chuckled and pulled Scar's cheeks. She smiled and hopped off the counter. "As you say. But at least you believe in me, unlike your asshole of a best friend," she replied.

"It does make a little sense but I don't think your mom would do it. I mean she is your mother," I said while putting the dish into the oven.

____________________

Azriel's POV:

As Scarlett continued talking throughout the time taken by the lasagna to bake and all the way to the end of dinner, my mind seemed to wander off anywhere but the topic at hand.

My 'mom' was getting married. She had informed me, through text, that they had decided that 'it was the right time to take the next step in their relationship.'

Right time, my ass. The bitch was waiting for my dad to die so she could run off with a rich asshole. And she expects me to be grateful that she informed me before the word got out. Through text.

"You've barely touched your food. Is everything alright?" Zara said from beside me and placed her hand over mine, lightly brushing her thumb over it. 

"No, Zara. Everything is not fucking alright. And you'd know that if you and your little group were not so fucking busy playing police with whatever's been going on. I'm fucking done here," I growled and stood up, pushing the chair back so harshly, it fell.

I needed fresh air. I needed to get out. I stormed out the door and slammed it shut, getting in the car and driving away. I needed a distraction from all the bullshit that's been happening.

As I drove, my phone flooded with calls and texts from both Ayden and Zara. Even Scar called a couple of times, and after sending fifteen calls to voicemail, I was about to switch it off and throw it out the window in annoyance when the next caller ID caught my eye. It was Isa.

"What do you want?" I asked, putting the phone on speakerphone.

"Just calling to check in on you; it's been a while since we last? talked," Isa answered, and I could hear his slimy voice reeking of bad intentions even through the phone.

"If you must know, I'm having a shitty day and trying to escape."

"Ooh, trouble in paradise?" I could almost hear his taunting smile.

"If you don't have anything better to say. I'm cutting the call," I said, my voice cold.

"I'm only joking. Anyway, I could make you feel better...you know, how we used to when you had your bad days back then," he offered.

It won't hurt to go back to that place for just one day, right? I was just going to go for a distraction and a little bit of fun, it's not like I'll fall back into old habits. I have more self-control than that.

I heard Zara's voice in my head, telling me to say no.

My dad's voice, telling me to say no.

"I'll see you there."

Fuck everyone. They don't control me. 

-zoie and dawn