Twist in Time

Chapter 3: Liam

“Hurry Up Liam Man!, you walking like a slug, Damn!”, Lucas, My Cousin whined from a distance away from the basket ball court, He swung his back over one shoulder as he took long strides towards the ending of the gated court.

“I am right behind you man!”, I yelled back, for the second time since practice was over. Lucas shrugged, He said nothing more as he walked through the gates, took a left towards the parking lot where our car was. What’s up with his mood today?.

I shrugged as well, He had been edgy all through our little tournament with our friends, I was going to ask him what was up later, maybe at home. I felt a tug at my left shoulder forcing me to turn towards the person.

“Hey!”, I greeted the person with a smile, it was Yvonne, My Team mate and Calculus Group mate. He smiled back, showing of his set of perfect white teeth that glowed through his dark caramel skin. He always had such white teeth, He wasn’t Shiny Yvonne for nothing, everything about the man glowed.

“You are hurrying off again, aren’t you coming for the get together?”, Yyvone asked as he swung his shirt over his shoulder.

“I am man, I wouldn’t miss it for the world, it’s the last party before school resumes”.

“Then why are you heading out early?”. He asked again.

I shrugged, “I’m tired, it was a long practice match, I have to sleep and eat, so I don’t end up falling asleep at the party”. I joked and he smiled, I was truthful though, I wouldn’t live past being the guy that slept at the party.

I turned around, grabbed my Bag and threw it over my shoulder, My back ached, I was worn out.

“You are right Liam!, I will be making a toast for scoring two points today!”, Yvonne Chided and I nodded happily, He wasn’t my friend for nothing. He always made toasts, anything to take a drink though.

“Okay Man!, See you there!”, With that, I moved towards the entrance in long strides, I was there in no time and soon I was out of the court. Thanks to my long legs though.

Lucas was no where to be seen, There were a few cars in the parking lot, and at the extreme end Was our black Tesla, I looked closely at it, Lucas was in it, he was seated at the driver’s seat and apparently he was screaming madly at someone. Who was the Victim this time?, I sighed.

I walked to the car and quickly opened the passenger’s seat to enter, I was thankful that he was at the driver’s seat at first, I was tired and needed rest, but hearing the loud arguments coming from him, I was slowly rethinking my decision.

“You can’t f*****g Do this to me Carla!!, You can’t!!”, He kept screaming at the phone like a mad man, only paying me a small amount of his attention the moment I sat down, which seemed to me like a cautious car owner checking for an intruder rather than a brother.

I waited for the argument to be over, before I asked anything, and I did not have to wait much for that “Don’t hang up on me Carla!!,” He screamed once more before I heard the beep sound, She had done the exact opposite of what he wanted. Typical Carla.

He slammed the phone at the back seat.”Ahh, f**k!”, He had cursed again for the millionth time today. It was my cue however to approach the situation.

“What is up with you and Carla this time?”, I asked, nonchalant but cautious, I wasn’t in the mood or frame of mind to start an argument with Lucas.

“Her usual s**t!”, He hissed out rubbing his temples, “She doesn’t want to come for the party today, And I told her last week, That girl is messing with me!”, He hissed again, I rolled my eyes, it wasn’t even a big deal.

Then why don’t you break up with her?, I wanted to ask but couldn’t, it was a question I have been meaning to ask for two years since their toxic relationship started. Lucas had anger issues, as a family we knew that, and Carla was just the same, some could say they were perfect but I never shared that thought.

Two wrongs never made a right, Carla was hot and Lucas was hotter, they would eventually end up burning each other.

I looked at Lucas and did what I always did, I parted him in the back, “You should try talking to her at the party, there seems to be a whole lot going on in your relationship that only the both of you know”. I said simply.

Lucas gave me a look, like he was angry at first, but when he processed the words, He seemed to calm down a bit. “Maybe you are right cousin”. He said finally agreeing. We said nothing for the most part as he ignited the car and started moving it away from the parking lot to the Road.

“Maybe”, I replied falling back on my head rest, I closed my eyes, slowly drifting to sleep. In the background I heard Harry Styles new song ‘As It was’, play through the radio further helping me relax in the car for the thirty minutes journey we had to undergo to get to our house.

I don’t know how long my sleep was, or how I woke up, or what I woke up to, but I could smell the rain . Something I loved a lot, I opened my eyes immediately, J was seeing the shatters, as it hit the glass and dripped down, it was the most soothing and calming thing ever.

“Not the rain out here to spoil my f*****g mood the more!!”, Lucas angrily honked jolting me awake fully.

“The f**k is wrong with you?”, I half screamed, I was a calm person but I hated being provoked and more importantly, I hated loud unnecessary noises, and Lucas was a clear example of that.

He looked at me with sunken eyes, I drifted to his hand they were pale from how hard he was squeezing them.

“Let us Just focus on the ride”, I said closing my eyes, I knew we were close to home, I just had to sit here for a few minutes.

With My eyes closed I couldn’t tell What was happening outside the car, but then I felt the dip from a pot hole or even road forcing me to jump on my seat, “f**k!!”, Cursed Liam as he kept speeding away, What just happened? I looked at the window immediately and saw the backs of two girls, I couldn’t see their faces, and after some seconds I couldn’t see them again.

My mind could only think of one possible answer. Lucas’ hasty driving had brought the girls a bad day, He had splashed water on them.

“You are an Ass Luke!”, I cursed out shocking him.

“She was walking too close to the pavement, it’s not my fault”, He threw his left hand up defensively, I shook my head removing my seat belt, we were pulling into our house and I was done with his s**t.

“That isn’t even an argument”, I sighed, The car came to a stop, I didn’t need to talk any more with this brick wall who couldn’t help but be right all the time. I opened the door and jumped out, My parent’s car was there, they were home too. I rushed into the house, half soaked. I heard Lucas follow behind but I couldn’t care less.

The house was way warmer, than the outside. I heard Lucas lock the door behind himself, and I pried my eyes forward looking at the sitting room that empty, Dad wasn’t around, Mum?, She was probably in the kitchen, I heard the sound of utensils, I walked towards the sound.

“Hey Mum, I’m back!”, Lucas shouted before Bolting up the stairs and into his room which he closed shut. I sauntered into the kitchen.

I took a whiff of the soothing scent of apple pie which I figured mum was making, and my stomach grumbled, I was hungry.

“Liam!”, My younger sister greeted once I came into sight.

“Mabel, I see you’re helping mum!”. I made my way over to the kitchen counter, and sat on one of the free stools facing them. My mum gave me a bright smile as she settled the two pans of apple pie on the kitchen top. She pulled away her gloves and gave me another lazy smile.

“How was practice Li?”, She asked

“It was okay, a little bit stressful but it’s part of it , and a little stress can’t hurt anyone”. I defended, I was tired, but I wasn’t going to tell her that.

“It Can Li, I don’t want you over working yourself”, She threw me a worried look and I sighed.

“I’ll be fine”. I said confidently, Hoping she took the hint.

She had a whole lot more to say, but she kept it at that and decided to switch the topic.

“Have you eaten?”, I shook my head.

“No, just the sandwich from breakfast”.

“Liam Woods!!, it’s past four in the evening, what’s wrong with you!?”.

“I am sorry,”.

“Bet you are!!”, She was still fuming, I hid my face away. “Mabel, cut a slice for him from this, the other is for the neighbours”. Mabel who was my mother’s twin did as she was told, She cut a generous slice for me and placed it on a white ceramic, She placed s fork and poured me some orange juice as well. I accepted it happily

“Thanks Mabs, you are the best”. She gave me a hearty smile, before cutting a slice for herself. I took a bite and smiled more, it was just as good as it smelled.

I was halfway through the pie when I remembered what she had said, “Neighbours, Have new persons moved into Mr Hatridges house?”.

My mom took my fork and took a small piece, she nodded motioning to the house on our side, “They moved in a week ago, A family from India”. My mum said with a mouth full of pie.

I looked curiously at the window, I met a pair of brown eyes that stared at me, She was beautiful but she looked angry and seeing her clothes I could guess who she was upset with.