The Sins of Our Fathers

Don't put that there

“Astra.” A voice called making Astra groan in protest.

“Astra.” The voice called again.

“Go away!” Astra shouted rolling onto her stomach shoving her face into her pillow.

Sleep began to overtake her again pulling her back into her blissful dreams. Just as she was about to fall back into a deep sleep, fingers began tickling her rib cage. Jumping up she squealed in protest.

“STOP THAT!” Astra shouted trying to crawl away from whoever it was as she clumsily crawled across the bed.

Before she could escape the assailant jumped on her resuming the tickle assault on her ribs. Spinning around she froze to see it was Nicole on top of her with a big grin on her face. Shocked to see Nicole she didn’t have time to react when Nicole shot down pinning her arms above her head.

“Stoooopppp.” Astra whined wiggling around trying to free her arms.

“I will if you promise to wake up its two in the afternoon.”

“Fine.” Astra groaned now frowning up at Nicole.

“Good. Go shower, get dressed and come out I have food waiting for you.” Nicole said climbing off Astra and out of the bed.

Not waiting for a response Nicole walked out of the room leaving Astra alone to get out of bed and go shower.

It had been a week since they had found Nicole, and it seems like almost every night they partied. Astra doesn’t know how they kept finding alcohol in this town, she figured the way Nicole and Oliver drank that they had drank the town dry already.

They would drink until Astra passed out, and then would be up the next morning like it didn’t affect them at all. Astra on the other hand felt like the dead. Her body ached like she had been run over by a transport truck multiple times.

She couldn’t keep this up for much longer. Her body couldn’t handle the constant drinking. Slowly fumbling through her room, she grabbed a pair of ripped black jeans, a white tank top, and a towel. It was time to crawl herself into a hot shower to wash away all last night’s partying away and hopefully work out some of her aches and pains.

Astra’s hands and forehead pressed against the cold tile wall hot water cascaded down her head and body. Every part of her ached in protest as she attempted to wash herself. This couldn’t keep going on, she couldn’t handle this.

She needed to set some sort of boundaries with Oliver and Nicole especially regarding the partying. Maybe it was time for Oliver and Nicole to find their own apartments, living together was proving difficult, but how was she to bring it up.

Astra needed her space, but she feared being all alone again. Could she risk being all alone again? Could she risk killing her liver drinking like a fish every night just so she wouldn’t be alone?

Stepping out of the bathroom Astra stumbled down the hall into the kitchen to find Nicole humming to herself washing dirty dishes in the sink. Looking around Oliver seemed to be nowhere in sight which wasn’t surprising considering his odd distain toward Nicole.

“How are you this chipper after all the booze you consumed last night?” Astra groaned flopping down on a stool at the island.

“High tolerance I guess.”

“Lucky you.” Astra rolled her eyes in irritation before looking down at the plate of food that sat before her.

She knew she needed to eat, but her stomach churned at the thought of even trying. She lifted a forkful of pancake up inhaling its sweet aroma only to drop the fork back down on the plate.

“I’m going to go for a walk.” Pushing the plate away she stood up walking through the living room to the front door.

“I’ll come with you.”

“No, it’s okay I won’t be gone long just need some fresh air.” Astra said looking back at Nicole with the best fake smile she could attempt.

Turning away from Nicole she grabbed her leather jacket tossing it on while shoving her feet into her combat boots. Exiting out of the apartment she didn’t waste any time darting down the hall and down the stairwell.

It didn’t take her long before she was bursting out of the building. A cool breeze brushed passed her blowing her hair from her face. Leaning on the brick wall of the building she closed her eyes taking in a deep breath then letting it out with a big sigh of relief.

Astra was happy to not be alone anymore but spending time with them twenty-four seven was becoming too much. She needed her own space. How do you tell someone that you enjoy their company, but you need your own space?

She was grateful for them, but she also wanted to push them out of the apartment lock the door and go hide in her room. What she would give to be able to burrito herself in her blanket and read a good book.

Since meeting Oliver and Nicole, it was like a constant battle between the two for her attention. They didn’t seem to like each other even though they really didn’t know one another, and something in the back of her head screamed that something was not right with them.

A pulling at her gut told her to dig deeper into them. To be careful, and not so trusting, but why? Why did she feel this way? They both have been nothing but kind to her, and yet she had this annoying feeling like something wasn’t as it seemed.

Maybe she was just being paranoid? She had spent fourteen days all alone, having people in her life was going to take some getting used to. Either way she knew for sure she needed to find a way to get them to find their own places.

She also needed to find a way to stop the nightly parties. Or at the very least she needed to stop letting them peer pressure her into drinking. Maybe she could just stick to pop and water instead of alcohol. That way Oliver and Nicole could party, and she wouldn’t be some mean party pooper.

“What are you doing?” Oliver asked walking into Astra’s bedroom to find Nicole rummaging through the nightstand.

“Oh ah…I was just looking for something for my headache.”

“In Astra’s nightstand?”

“I looked all over and couldn’t find any so I thought it might be in here.” Nicole stood up from the nightstand crossing her arms a scowl on her face.

“Bullshit.”

“Excuse me?” Nicole asked in disbelief at his boldness.

“You heard me. I said bullshit.”

“How dare you. You don’t even know me; how can you stand there and judge me?”

“That’s the thing I don’t know you. Not the real you. You might have Astra fooled with this goody good routine you have going, but I don’t buy it.”

Nicole stomped over to Oliver stopping right in front of him. He may be a lot taller than her, but she was not in the least bit intimidated by his size.

“You listen here…” Before she could finish her sentence, he stepped forward showing just how much bigger and taller her was to her.

“No, you listen. I am watching you. Sooner or later, you will slip up and when you do Astra will see you for the liar you are.”

“Stay out of my way Oliver.” Nicole said through gritted teeth.

Not waiting to hear his response she moved around him shoving him as she stormed out of the bedroom. How dare he try to intimidate her. Who does he think he is? Something is not right with this guy, and she was determined now more than ever to figure it out.

Oliver turned watching Nicole storm away, something was off about her, and he was going to figure it out. Astra had been nothing but kind to him since he met her, and he wasn’t going to allow Nicole to hurt her.

It was only a matter of time before she slipped up and revealed her true colours to Astra. Oliver would be there to pick up the pieces. He would protect Astra and keep her from the deceiving clutches of Nicole.

After a few hours of walking around aimlessly Astra finally headed back to the apartment. Walking into the apartment she was greeted only by Oliver laying on the couch reading a book.

“Whatcha reading over there?” Astra asked walking toward him.

“It by Stephen King.” Oliver peeked over his book a mischievous look in his eyes.

“Good taste.”

“Thank you.” Oliver said with a big grin watching as Astra lifted his legs up before sitting down near him before dropping his legs down on her lap.

“Have you read it before?”

“Yes, I found it on day three and had finished reading it on day seven.” Astra looked over at him a cocky grin curling the corner of her lips. “Speed reader I guess.” She shrugged as if trying to play off like it was no big deal.

“You read this whole book in four days?” Oliver’s dropped the book down on his chest his eyebrows raised in shock.

“Yup.” Astra said popping the p at the end. “You could call it my superpower.” She said with a playful wink.

“Amazing.”

“Why thank you Ollie ole boy.” Astra teased smacking her hand on his arm playfully. “Your superpower is clearly drinking. You can really put it away.” Astra added with a big laugh at her own comment.

Oliver couldn’t help but join in with her as the two began to loudly laugh. It was nice to have this moment alone with her. For it to be just the two of them. With Astra it was always easy. She brought out the best in him and calmed his scattered brain.

She was his life preserver, his hope. An angel sent from the heavens to guide him keeping him safe. Everything was perfect and then Nicole had to show up and ruin everything. The thought of Nicole made him internally grimace, he needed to find a way to expose her for the fraud she was.