3.
1165 Words
I don’t understand his sudden change in mood, but the intensity in his eyes makes me nod.
Levi doesn’t say anything else. He just turns and walks back toward the house, leaving me standing there, confused and uneasy.
I glance back at the woods one last time before following him.
Something tells me I won’t be able to stay away.
The house is quiet. Too quiet.
I lean against the kitchen counter, rolling a cigarette between my fingers. I haven’t lit it yet. Not sure if I really need it or just want something to do with my hands. Edward’s in his office, buried in paperwork like always, and Skye’s upstairs, probably unpacking or hiding from the world. I can’t blame her. This house can feel suffocating, like the walls are closing in.
The sound of footsteps on the stairs pulls me out of my thoughts. I glance toward the doorway just as Skye appears, her hair tied back and her eyes scanning the room like she’s looking for an escape route.
“Morning, princess,” I say, smirking. It’s too easy to get under her skin.
She glares at me, her lips pressing into a thin line. “Stop calling me that.”
I chuckle, tucking the cigarette behind my ear. “Whatever you say, princess.”
She rolls her eyes and heads to the fridge, pulling out a bottle of water. Her movements are stiff, like she’s trying too hard not to look at me.
“You settling in okay?” I ask, leaning against the counter.
She shrugs, twisting the cap off the bottle. “It’s fine.”
“Fine?” I raise an eyebrow. “That’s not exactly glowing praise.”
She takes a sip of water, her eyes darting to the floor. “I didn’t ask to be here, you know.”
“Yeah, well, neither did I,” I say, the words slipping out before I can stop them.
She looks up at me, her brow furrowing. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
I shake my head, pushing off the counter. “Nothing. Forget it.”
Before she can press me, the back door creaks open, and Edward steps into the kitchen. His tie is loose, and he looks more tired than usual.
“Levi,” he says, his tone sharp. “I need you to run into town and pick up a few things.”
I nod, grabbing the keys off the counter. “Sure. Anything else?”
He hands me a list, his gaze shifting to Skye. “Take your stepsister with you. She could use some fresh air.”
Skye opens her mouth to protest, but Edward cuts her off. “No arguments. You need to get out of the house, Skye.”
She glares at him, then at me, before crossing her arms. “Fine.”
Great. This is going to be fun.
The drive into town is awkward, to say the least. Skye sits in the passenger seat, staring out the window like the scenery is the most fascinating thing she’s ever seen. I keep my eyes on the road, the silence between us growing heavier with each passing mile.
“So,” I say finally, trying to break the tension. “What do you think of the place so far?”
She shrugs, not looking at me. “It’s fine.”
“Fine,” I repeat, shaking my head. “You really like that word, don’t you?”
She doesn’t respond, and I let out a frustrated sigh. “Look, I know this isn’t exactly your dream scenario, but it’s not mine either. So maybe we could at least try to get along.”
She finally looks at me, her eyes narrowing. “You think I’m the problem here?”
“No,” I say quickly. “I just think—”
“You don’t know anything about me,” she snaps, cutting me off.
I grip the steering wheel tighter, biting back the urge to say something I’ll regret. “You’re right. I don’t. But maybe if you’d stop acting like the world’s out to get you, I could.”
Her jaw tightens, and she turns back to the window, effectively ending the conversation.
The grocery store is small, tucked away on the edge of town. It’s the kind of place where everyone knows everyone, and strangers stick out like sore thumbs. As soon as we walk in, I can feel the eyes on us.
Skye stays close to me, her shoulders tense as she scans the shelves. I grab a basket and start checking items off the list, trying to ignore the whispers that follow us.
“Hey, Levi!”
I turn to see a guy I know from school, Nate, standing by the produce section. He’s grinning, his hands stuffed in the pockets of his hoodie.
“What’s up, man?” I say, walking over to him.
“Not much,” he says, his eyes flicking to Skye. “Who’s this?”
“My stepsister,” I say, my tone making it clear I’m not in the mood for his usual crap.
Nate raises an eyebrow, his grin widening. “Stepsister, huh? She’s cute.”
Skye shoots him a withering glare, and I step between them, my jaw tightening. “Back off, Nate.”
“Relax,” he says, holding up his hands. “I was just joking.”
I don’t respond, turning back to the basket. “Come on, Skye. Let’s finish up.”
We make it through the rest of the store without any more interruptions, but the tension between us is palpable.
The drive back is just as quiet as the ride into town, but there’s something different now. Skye seems more on edge, her fingers tapping against her knee as she stares out the window.
“You okay?” I ask, glancing at her.
She nods, but I don’t believe her.
When we pull into the driveway, she’s out of the car before I can say anything else. She heads straight for the house, leaving me to carry the bags inside.
I set the groceries on the counter and head to my room, needing a break from everything. But as I pass by Skye’s room, I hear her voice.
“No, Mom,” she says, her tone sharp. “I don’t care what he says. He doesn’t get to tell me how to feel.”
I pause, my hand hovering over the doorknob. I know I shouldn’t eavesdrop, but something about the way she sounds makes me stop.
“I didn’t ask to be here,” she continues. “And I didn’t ask for him to be part of my life. So stop trying to force it.”
Her words hit harder than I expect, and I step back, my chest tightening.
I head to my room, shutting the door behind me. For the first time, I wonder if maybe I’m the problem after all.
- Writer
