Sterling’s POV:
“Woah woah woah. What? Did something happen to Eden?” I asked, my eyebrows furrowing in confusion. What had happened between Saturday and today that he was asking me this?
3rd Person:
“No. I want to know why you and Sterling have been hanging out together,” the blonde demanded, her glare unwavering. She should be scared of Eden, but she didn’t really realize what the other girl was known for.
Lucas’s POV:
I furrowed my eyebrows in confusion.
“You don’t know, either?” I huffed in irritation. “She’s been acting really weird ever since she went out on Saturday. It’s worrying.”
Eden’s POV:
I sighed, moving forward and grabbing the girl’s arm, twisting it harshly behind her back.
“Here’s the thing, sweetheart,” I hissed in her ear. “I’m not afraid to break your toothpick of an arm. I’m certainly not afraid of sending you to the hospital. You show your faces to me ever again and I’ll make sure none of you have the courage to get out of your rooms ever again. Are we clear?”
I twisted it a little more just to prove my point. I knew I was being dramatic, but I didn’t care. I was tired and exhausted and I just wanted some peace, and if I had to hurt someone to do it, then so be it.
Sterling’s POV:
I cursed under my breath at the mention of Saturday. “Actually… I might know what happened,” I admitted as I rubbed at the back of my neck. “Care to have a seat?”
3rd Person:
The girl squealed and tried to pull away. “Okay, okay! Ow ow ow! Let me go!”
Lucas's POV:
I sighed.
"What exactly did you do, Sterling?"
Eden's POV:
I let go of the girl's arm with a small push, giving her another look of disdain before adjusting my back. I looked ahead and began walking again without a glance behind.
Those girls must have been new. Otherwise, they would have known the consequences of getting in my way. I wasn't cruel. I wasn't harsh. But to survive in a world filled with cruelty and harshness, you had to have something up your sleeve. I had my fists, Lucas had his brains, Ashley had her quick-wittedness.
Sterling’s POV:
I rubbed at the back of my neck and looked away. He was going to kill me. He was going to flat out kill me.
“I kissed her,” I mumbled, unable to meet his eye.
A sigh came from Ashley’s direction, and I glanced at her out of the corner of my eye. She just had her head in her hands and was leaning against Lucas. What had I done…?
Lucas's POV:
"I kissed her," Sterling mumbled, looking away from me. I first didn't know how to react. What do you do when you find out someone kissed your younger sister?
"You kissed her," I repeated. "You kissed her and she's acting like that."
It didn't make any sense. If Eden didn't want to be kissed, she would have flat out punched him in the face or would have injured him somehow. Yet, he was free of injuries. She wasn't upset because of the kiss…
I suddenly had a thought.
"What… did you say after you kissed her?" I asked, raising an eyebrow. I was going to kill him if he said what I think he said.
Sterling’s POV:
“I apologized and said that I shouldn’t have done it,” I sighed. “Not that I regret it. But it still shouldn’t have done it.”
Lucas’s POV:
“You… didn’t tell her it was a mistake, did you?” I asked slowly. “And you didn’t leave just like that, right?”
Sterling’s POV:
“Tell her it was a mistake? No, I didn’t. I did leave after that, but I promise that I didn’t mean anything by it. I was just confused and flustered,” I explained, giving him a confused look.
Lucas's POV:
I raised an eyebrow.
"Please don't tell me that's why you didn't go to school today," I sighed, hiding my face in my hands. "God, she probably thinks you regretted it." I lifted my face up and glared at Sterling. "Eden may seem like she's strong and she can handle it, but she can't. The second she starts getting attached to something, the more afraid she'll get, and it's more likely that she'll push you away. If you hurt her, Sterling, I swear I will gut you like a fish."
Sterling’s POV:
I cursed under my breath again, rubbing at my forehead with the heal of my hand. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t know… I didn’t realize she would take it that way. I just didn’t want to make her uncomfortable after it, so I thought she wouldn’t want to see me.”
(Heal? :o)
Lucas's POV:
"I have a piece of advice," I leaned forward like I was going to deliver something amazing. "Eden is… very unpredictable. Good luck with her."
(Like, the harder, lower part of the palm.)
Sterling’s POV:
I snorted.
Wow, really? I had no idea. It’s not like I haven’t noticed that just about every time we’ve hung out.
“Thanks, Lucas. I appreciate your help,” I sighed.
(Isn't it heel, though? :o)
Lucas's POV:
I grinned.
"Anytime, Sterling," I knew the information I provided wasn't helpful at all. I didn't care. He seemed genuine enough, but I wanted to mess with him since I probably wouldn't be able to later on. "If you ever need unhelpful advice, come to me. I know Eden like the back of my hand."
I heard Ashley faintly snort, but I ignored it.
(Oh, duh. Lol. I’m really smart…)
Sterling’s POV:
“Will do. Thanks for the offer,” I chuckled. “Anyway… Was that all? And do you think there would be any way that I could make it up to her?”
(xD)
Lucas's POV:
"Um…" That actually was a good question. How could he make it up to her? Knowing Eden, she'd avoid him like her life depended on it. "I think what you should do is tell her that while you didn't mean it, you didn't regret it. She'll probably push you away, but she'll soften up soon. She'll be stubborn, so be patient with her."
Sterling's POV:
I nodded slowly, taking in what Lucas was saying. "Okay… Yeah. I'll do that. Thanks."
Lucas's POV:
I looked at Ashley with an eyebrow raised.
"Do you want to add something to this…?"
Ashley's POV:
I chewed on my lip in thought for a moment. "You could write her notes. She might not read them, but it's always a sweet gesture. We girls love that sort of thing. Most of us, anyway…"
Sterling's POV:
"Notes… Okay, yeah. I think I can do that," I mused, already thinking about what I could write in them.
Lucas's POV:
"Anyway," I stood up. "We'll be going now."
Sterling's POV:
I looked up and gave them a quick grin. "Right. Of course. Thanks for the visit, guys. Even though I totally thought you were going to kill me, Lucas," I chuckled.
Lucas’s POV:
“I wanted to,” I admitted. “Ash stopped me. I’m pretty chill, but if my family gets hurt… well, I don’t like that. So take care of Eden.”
Sterling’s POV:
“Of course. I will. See you guys tomorrow, then?” I said, walking them back to the door.
Lucas’s POV:
I nodded, and soon Ashley and I were driving back to get Ashley’s car.
Eden’s POV:
When I went home that day, it was empty. I was grateful. It meant my parents were at work, and Ashley and Lucas were out on their own. I had the house to myself.
Flopping down on the couch and grabbing the TV remote, I flipped it on and laid back. Unconsciously, I reached up to touch my lips, running my finger over the lower lip before I realized what I was doing.
I sighed, forcing myself to concentrate on show I’d just played.
Ashley’s POV:
“So was he as bad as you thought he was?” I asked Lucas as we reached the school. “Or was I right, and he was pretty chill?”