Strings of Fate

58–Distraction and denial

Without missing a beat Bellamy hops out the car and runs around to open my door for me. Before I can so much as blink he’s leaning down over me and pressing his lips against mine. Just for a moment but I’m not expecting it and I freeze in shock.

“For luck.” He states calmly, a click at my side tells me he’s undone my seatbelt. I flush red as I scramble out of my seat and take the arm Bellamy is holding out for me. There’s a smirk on his face and I can tell he’s enjoying how flustered I am.

I take a few deep breaths as we approach the front door and try and relax. Megan is the one who has the right to be freaking out, not me. Things are actually looking up for me, I really have no right to complain. Bellamy unlocks the door, I did plan to head straight up to Megan’s room but I can hear noise coming from the kitchen. Is she… humming? I glance at Bellamy who shrugs and gives a confused expression which tells me he doesn’t know what’s going on either. I peer around the doorway and see Megan pulling stuff out of the fridge

while humming an upbeat tune. Darrien is sitting on the other side of the counter. His expression is serious and he meets my eyes and nods at me to come in. I enter with Bellamy trailing behind me. Megan turns to face us holding a block of chocolate.

“Hello sleepy heads.” She greets us. Her smile is bright but her golden eyes are ringed with

red and the whole expression looks forced. She continues speaking before either of us can

answer.

“You are right on time Ryann. I’ve decided to bake some brownies. Are you any good at baking? I could use the company. I keep telling Darrien that he should go home and rest but he refuses to leave me alone. Now that you’re here he can head off.”

I open my mouth to speak but before I can get a single work out Megan interrupts.

“No. If you ask how I’m feeling I’ll cry, and I am so sick of crying. We aren’t talking about it right now. I need a break from sad things. All I want is chocolate and to think about good things. Now PLEASE tell me you guys have sorted your shit out because I am sick of all the moping and I need someone to make brownies with me.” She says all of this in one breath like she’s worried that someone will stop her if she pauses to breathe. Bellamy steps in close to me and Megan eyes us with a mixture of anticipation and concern. He places a hand on my hip lightly and presses his lips into my hair causing me to blush furiously and drop my gaze

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58–Distraction and denial

to the floor. He gives a small smile to his sister then releases me.

“Darrien can head home if he wants as long as you are both happy to stay in the house while 1…” he trails off. He must have realised that he shouldn’t talk about his upcoming meeting

with Tristan’s mother.

have brownies to make. I’ll… see you a

comes out as a question.

footsteps heading away down the hall. I turn and Megan looks genuinely pleased, although

am going to

and not emerge until you have entirely forgotten who I am.” My tone

expression. Darrien’s smirk only

manage to forget even one hair

him needing to rest. I make eye contact with her and I can see she is exhausted too, I’m starting to wonder if this false cheer is an attempt to get some space from Darrien. I approach Darrien and grab his arm dragging him

go home. Get some rest, shower, whatever. It’s girl time now and as you have clearly just identified yourself as a man you are not invited. You can come back later for dinner and maybe if we feel like it we will save you a brownie. Now get out, go.” I open the

then nods.

in a while, take care of… yourselves.” He says with a pointed look towards

I nod and close the

and the false smile falls from her face. She looks exhausted and is staring at a mixing bowl not moving. I take

brownies? Do you have a recipie?” I see her phone is lit up

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Distraction

online. I grab it and glance at it. Doesn’t look too hard. I start reading out directions and we get to work. We eat almost as much brownie mix as we end up putting in the oven. While it bakes I start washing dishes and Megan dries since I

“So you an

Bellamy, hey?” Megan starts. I flush red

not telling people right now. I’m not ready for… well,

I get it, people are

pressure.” I see my

her meeting in about 30 minutes. Any chance you could take

almost done,

over as she dries the last

to respond and when my phone goes off again I grab it as a way

Thanks, I’m so glad

Ryann

blush red and

it back, if you’re that embarrassed, I don’t want to know.” I mock