When Hell Runs Cold

Chapter Fourteen

Alysia had multiple texts once she checked her phone again. Unfortunately, none of them were from April. The other girl had been unexpectedly swamped with work, and told Alysia to go back to April's place, and she would come later.

From Carstairs: You missed training, again. [5:30 p.m.]

From Carstairs: You dead? [5:45 p.m]

From Carstairs: R.I.P. [6:00 p.m]

Alysia rolled her eyes at the texts Nathan had sent an hour ago, before typing a quick reply.

To Carstairs: Not dead yet. I'll just train extra tomorrow ig

Alysia flopped onto April's couch, groaning when she felt the edge of April's nursing textbook digging into her spine. She sat up, frowning as she pulled the textbook out from under her, flipping through the pages.

She blinked at the bright highlighter marks and colorful sticky notes placed throughout the entirety of the textbook. She smiled at the small doodles which April had probably drawn when she had gotten tired of studying, and her normally pleasant handwriting merging into scribbles.

She shut the textbook, placing it on the coffee table, which was in rough shape, the number of scratches on it overwhelming.

April was a fairly organized and neat person, so her upcoming final must've been overwhelming her. She was basically as neat as Alysia, and that wasn't saying much. April had left to get some popcorn for their weekly movie night.

Alysia stood up before going to April's bedroom, grabbing a tissue on her way, and started to wipe down her dresser. Knowing April, she probably wouldn't clean until after the final, and by then she'd be overwhelmed by the mess.

Once she was done with the dresser, she turned towards the mess that was the floor. She frowned at the number of notebooks on the ground, before picking them up and placing them on the desk.

April, for some reason, had always said that she studied better when she was lying on the floor. So Alysia didn't really understand the point of having a desk, but April claimed that it was for watching Youtube or taking naps so she would actually wake up in time.

Alysia grabbed a few pieces of April's clothing which were scattered throughout the room, tossing them into the hamper. She frowned when she saw her hoodie. "So that's where that went." she muttered, tossing it onto the bed.

When the room was clean, or at least cleaner, Alysia flopped onto the bed, exhausted by the cleaning.

She glanced at her wrist watch, frowning when she saw the time. How was it already 8:30?

To Apes: Where are you?? It's been an hour Apes.

She waited a few minutes before calling her. April was an instant replier. You'd barely have to wait two seconds for a response. So a few minutes?

That was a miracle for April Calvert. Alysia didn't like that.

After a few moments of ringing, April finally picked up, and a wave of relief washed over her. "You will not believe who I just ran into getting groceries!" April exclaimed, and Alysia could practically hear her smile over the phone.

"Who?"

Alysia heard a lot of shuffling over the phone, and April's quiet laughing. Alysia sat up, putting the phone on speaker. "Hello?"

"What's up, Lyss?"

Alysia's jaw dropped at the familiar voice. "Oh my god."

"Well don't seem too happy to hear me, Lyss. Not like we're best friends or anything." Sarcasm was dripping off of Jules' voice, and Alysia laughed.

"It's been a long time hasn't it?"

"It really has."

***

"Thanks for cleaning." April whispered, "I would've died if she came here and saw my mess of an apartment."

Alysia smiled, "You would've done the same." Alysia held the door open for April as she carried the bags of groceries in. "Where is she?"

"She insisted on carrying some of the groceries, even though I told her it was fine."

"Guess that hasn't changed about her." Alysia took a few bags from April, placing them on her kitchen counter.

"I didn't think it was possible for her to get even prettier." April whispered. "But she's like..." she made a gesture with her arms after setting her bags down. "Damn."

Alysia let out a laugh, before turning towards the door as it creaked open. "This is the right apartment, right?"

"Jules!" Alysia exclaimed, rushing towards her and wrapping her arms around Jules' slender figure. "Jeez, you got tall."

Jules Anderson let out a quiet laugh before returning the hug. "Maybe you just got shorter, Lyss."

The last time Alysia had seen Jules, she had been a lot taller than her. The girl had gotten blonde highlights, and had apparently had gotten a whole new wardrobe.

"We have so much to catch up on."

***

"So it turns out that I'm actually Chinese, Korean, and European." Jules said, taking a bite out of her pizza which April had ordered. She casually put an arm over April's shoulder, and Alysia held in a laugh at the way April's cheeks flushed.

"I took one of those DNA test things a few years ago, and that's what it said." Jules continued.

"Well I'm just a hundred percent European. Have some Irish descent." April gestured to her pale skin and curly red hair. "Clearly." she let out a slight laugh. "Did you ever go looking for your birth parents?" April asked Jules.

"No. I got adopted by loving parents, why would I go looking for someone who didn't want me? Did you go looking for your biological parents?"

April shook her head. "Decided it wasn't worth my time."

The pair shared a smile.

Great, she was third-wheeling now.

"How's college going for the both of you?" Jules turned towards Alysia, who laughed dryly.

"Dropped out. But April's currently dying because of her upcoming final for nursing." Alysia smiled. "You should've seen her apartment before I decided to tidy it up a bit."

April frowned, throwing a throw pillow at Alysia, who caught it. "Don't expose me like this, Lyss!"

Alysia laughed, tossing the pillow back at her. "Just did." she stuck her tongue out and April let out a dramatic gasp.

"You two haven't changed a bit, have you? Still bickering like sisters." Jules asked, amusement evident in her eyes.

"Nope. We never do." April agreed. "Now let's watch the movie! It's already midnight!"

Happy Friday! Sorry I didn't update last week, I was just not having the best week! But I'm back this week!

QOTD: What's your spirit animal?

I really don't know what mine would be.... You'd have to ask TheJadeWarrior what it would be, because she knows me better than I know myself...