Caged In

Chapter 36: Celia

I feel something nudge me and I groan as I slowly open my eyes," What ?" I rasp.

" What'd you dream about princess, something exciting ?" Evan asked.

" I can't really remember." I say as I rub my eyes. I never really remembered any of my dreams, it was nothing new.

" We're here." Varian says as he turns to face me," You sweat a lot when you sleep." He says with a scrunched up nose.

" Crap." I hiss as I sit up in my seat and reach to my seat belt to unbuckle myself.

" Sleeping beauty's finally up and moving." Evan remarks.

" What did I say about that happy disposition of yours ?" I turn to see him leaning towards me, and I throw my hand forward to slap him," And stop comparing me to princesses, it makes me uncomfortable."

" Fine, I'll stop." He says with a smirk." But you owe me."

" No I don't." I growl.

" Come on, you don't even know what I was gonna ask you for." Evan whined.

" You were going to ask me to make you brownies or something else sweet."

" Oh come on, you used to love baking." Even continued to whine.

" I don't wanna bake anything for you." I hiss.

I still haven't forgiven you for snitching on me.

" Oh, and you'd rather waste your time doing what? Sulking around in your room?" He asks," Come on out of the car." He grabs my arms and begins to drag me out of the passenger's seat.

" I don't wanna - oof!" I yell as my body slips out of the car.

" Sorry, I didn't mean to hurt you." Evan says.

I rub my butt and look at Evan," No, no, it's fitting that this is how my time back here starts."

" Ollie . . . "

I glance to the left of Evan to see Mia. Not only Mia, but Corine, Finn, and Benjamin as well. All of my siblings were bearing witness to me landing on my ass upon arrival.

" I see some things never change."

I turn around to see Celia.

" Celia." I said her name with a clenched jaw.

I narrowed my eyes to scrutinize her. The damned woman was still as perfect as the last time I remembered seeing her. Not a curled red hair out of place. She also stood at least two inches taller than me, and had the audacity to only wear heels which added at least another two inches to her imposing frame. Her long red hair was curled and styled so that it was draped off of her left shoulder, and it glistened under the dull lights in the drive way.

Although she still looked like a runway model, her blue eyes now looked much more tired and dull. There were many adjectives - and profanities - that I've used to describe this woman during my youth, but tired was never one of them. It almost made me sad when I looked into her eyes to see almost nothing but pure exhaustion. I wondered for a brief moment how many things Varian hadn't yet explained to me about the past couple of years.

I offered a bitter smile," The past few years must have been pretty stressful for you, looking at those deep crows feet you've developed."

Celia narrowed her beautiful blue eyes, a flash of anger overtook the tiredness," I suppose it is getting harder to hide the effects of stress from my position, I'm sure I'd look a few decades younger if I simply ran away from my responsibilities." She gave me a pointed glare," But not all of us have that luxury."