The Unholy Trinity

Yuletide (Joey's POV)

“Babe, is everything okay?” Marsden whispered, ushering me into the kitchen.

“Tate and Zoey are conspiring against you.” I muttered. “They’re onto you in the most annoying way because they have absolutely no proof.”

“I knew I shouldn’t have stayed.”

“No, Marsden of course you should have. They’re the worst. I have no idea what’s going on with them. ”

“Joey, we can’t pretend that what I’m doing isn’t dangerous. Your sisters have every right to be concerned.”

“Zoey is trying to take me away from you, Marsden. I can’t have that. I need you.”

Marsden sighed. “I need you too, babe.” He kissed me. “More than anything. But I’m scared. I’m scared of losing you. In any way. Whether that’s because you leave me or something else happens. But I will die without you. I know it’s wrong and mad to say that, but I don’t see a point in a life without you.”

“I feel the same way, Marsden. I cannot live without you. I would do anything with and for you. You mean everything to me. I don’t care what anyone says. It’s you and me against everyone else. I love you so much.”

“How romantic.” A voice said dully. It was Zoey. “It’s time for the dinner course love birds.”

“Thanks.” I rolled my eyes.

Maybe I shouldn’t have given Chloey alcohol, considering she’s never had a drink before, but honestly she looked like she’s having fun. She’s very giggly and loving with Cade who was reciprocating. He’s also been in the brandy. 

Just like most of this evening, we’re not saying much. Maybe I could make things a little lighter.

“So Cade, I hear you boys have a game tomorrow?” I asked.

“Just friendly competition.”

“I’m taking you down.” Marsden grinned. “And then we’re taking you girls dancing.”

“Well I’m definitely a better dancer than you guys.” Zander laughed. 

“Please, my moves are legendary.” Cade said confidently

“True.” I laughed. “Chloey you got yourself a keeper.”

“So you can only recognize a keeper for other people and not yourself?” Zoey questioned.

“You know it’s funny, you used to be fine with my relationship with Marsden until Tate over there decided he wanted to stop being an ass and be nice to you because he needs you in order to prove he’s right about something.”

“This isn’t about a rivalry, Joey! I’m worried about you!” Tate exclaimed.

“Well don’t! I don’t need you to worry about me. We’re not friends, Tate. I tolerate you because I have to. If you want to worry about something, worry about your own crumbling relationship! And while you’re at it, stay out of my sister’s relationship!” I added in.

“Thank you Joey.” Zander said. “It’s nice to know someone cares about this relationship.”

“Zander, how can you say I don’t? I do!” Zoey cried.

“Then why did you kiss him?”

“Oh shit.” I whispered. 

“Joey, are you such a cow that you told him?” 

“No, you troll, I didn’t tell him.” I snapped.

“Chloey?” Zoey accused.

“Please, I've been kissing my wonderful boyfriend.” Chloey slurred. “Some of us only kiss the people we’re dating.”

Marsden and I snorted. Drunk Chloey was the best.

“I heard you guys arguing about it in the kitchen.” Zander informed her. “While it hurt to hear, it was nice that your sisters stood up for me.”

“It didn’t mean anything, Zander.”

“How can you say that?” Tate asked. “I know you felt that Zoey, there is something between us. You kissed me back!”

“You’re a prick, Tate!” Raina hissed. “You cheat on me on Yuletide with her of all people. You disgust me.”

“Come on, Raina, you know it's over. It was over even before Zoey showed up. We don’t work.” Tate said.

“We don’t work, but you have no problem f*****g me all the time huh? That’s all I’m good for to you.”

“Maybe Cade was actually right. I do not want to hear about my sister having sex.” Rune muttered.

“Oh shut up, Rune.” Chloey laughed. “No one wants to see you and your girlfriend eat each other’s faces but that’s all we see at school.”

“She’s not wrong.” Raina said. “It’s disgusting.”

“Hey, you’re not supposed to be mad at me, Tate was the one who betrayed you.” Rune said.

“Thanks a lot, mate.” Tate groaned. 

“So who do you choose then Zoey?” Zander asked. “Me or Tate?”

“Zander, is now the time?” Zoey questioned. 

“Well when you kissed Tate was it the time for that?”

“I’m gonna say no.” I muttered.

“Shut up Joey. I will not be judged by someone who f***s a Vampiric Warlock in the making every night. You are slumming it in a way I never thought you could. You really are the stupid one.” Zoey spat. 

“Don’t talk about her like that.” Marsden warned.

“Or what, you’ll kill me? You love my sister Thorton? Then leave her alone. You’re gonna ruin her life.”

“No he’s not. I’m starting to think he’s the only one who even cares about me.” I said.

“I care, Joey.” Chloey insisted. 

“I know you do, sweetie.” 

“How many times do I have to tell you I do care and that’s why I’m worried.” Zoey said. “But god, leave it you f**k so many boys and somehow fall in love with the worst one. You really just fell for the first boy who told you he loved you?”

“And you fell for the first famous boy you met.” I shot back. “At least I know the boy I’m in love with loves me back and not using me to escape a relationship he’s not mature enough to leave correctly.” 

“Marsden doesn’t love you, he’s obsessed with you. But you love that don’t you? You love attention. That’s why you dress the way you do and sleep with so many boys. Because if you’re not the gorgeous Rosaria sister who always has some kind of attention, who are you? I mean Chloey’s the smart one, I’m the nice one and you...you’re pretty one. That’s all you are and this boy...this evil boy who I told you was bad news from the start makes you feel like you’re more than that and that’s why you feel like you need him.”

She must have forgotten that I wasn’t just the pretty one. I was the mean one too.

“I don’t know where the hell this is coming from, Zoey, but I’ve had it. You think you don’t get to be judged by me? No, I don’t get to be judged by you. You are so f*****g self righteous you know that? You think you’re smarter than me? Then why are you risking the best relationship you’ve ever had for a boy who can’t even break up with his girlfriend for you?  Do you like having two guys fight over you, is that it? Makes you feel a little powerful or wanted? I may be stupid but at least I’m not insecure and desperate for love. I don’t have to convince Marsden to love me, he just does. And it drives you crazy that not only have I had a lot of s*x, but I get love too.”

“You think I’m jealous of you?” Zoey snorted. “You’re nothing but a slut!”

“Zoey stop this!” Chloey whined. “You’re being so mean for no reason! Just leave Joey alone. She’s happy and she deserves to be.”

“Oh my god, Chloey. Grow up. Aren’t you tired of being the prissy innocent one? Life is not all rainbows and sunshine love. And I know you look up to Joey for some odd reason, but you really shouldn’t. You’re smarter than her, she should look up to you. Attention from boys means nothing in the grand scheme of things. And once dear Joey’s looks fade she’s going to have nothing but her Vampiric Warlock boyfriend. If he’s not dead or in prison by then. So maybe focus on yourself and your weird relationship instead.”

“My relationship isn’t weird!” Chloey exclaimed. “I don’t know what’s wrong with you, but you’re acting like a total b***h!”

Chloey hated that word. I couldn’t believe she’s using it. I mean I could, since Zoey was acting wildly out of character.  What was causing this attitude?

“You do something to my sister, Highmore?” I questioned. “Did you curse her to get her on your side or something?”

“Me? You should be looking at your boyfriend. He probably cursed her because he knows we’re onto him.”

“You really have no idea what you’re talking about Highmore.” Marsden said. “You need to mind your own business before you get hurt.”

“Is that a threat, Thorton?”

“It’s a promise Highmore. You have spent this entire evening distressing the only girl in the entire world that I love and I’ve had it! Joey doesn’t deserve any of this s**t, she’s a good f*****g person and for some odd reason she loves me. This beautiful, amazing girl wastes her time with me every day. And I get why it’s hard for you guys to comprehend that, I really do, but...I can’t let her go.”

“That is so romantic,” Chloey gushed. “I want what they have.” She informed Cade.

“Date a Dark Vampiric Warlock, I’m sure you’ll find a cute one.” Zoey commented. 

“Zander, you really should dump Zoey, she doesn’t deserve you.” I sighed. “You’re a good f*****g guy and you should not be caught up in all this mess.”

“How do I do that when I love her?” Zander asked. 

I’m shocked when Zoey’s expression doesn’t change. It’s like it meant nothing to her.

“I don’t love you right now.” She stated. “I mean not yet, but I will. You know if I can stop myself from kissing Tate again, who knows? Maybe I can’t.”

“Who are you right now?” Zander asked. 

“Apparently I’m the girl you love, baby.”

“No you’re a maggot, but I’m starting to think right now it’s not of your own accord.” I said.

“And you’re a tramp!”

“I’m the tramp? I’ve slept with one guy at this table and you’ve kissed two of them. You sound like the tramp to me! I guess that’s what you get for always trying to compete with me.”

“Mom, Joey’s drunk!” Zoey announced loudly. The room seemed to go quiet “She’s been drinking brandy all night!”

“The reason Zoey looks so different is because she slept with Zander!”

Zoey gasped loudly. “Joey has shagged like seventeen guys..since starting at Stormine. It’s probably fifty guys before that! How does it feel to be number sixty-eight Marsden, do you feel special? Oh what am I saying, you shagged like sixty-seven girls too! Maybe you are perfect for each other! Are you going to get matching puncture wounds?”

“Shut up!” Chloey shouted, standing up and knocking over her chair. “Zoey, you are being incredibly vile! You have made this night even worse than it already was! All of these people are in our house! Rune is here and I thought I was going to have some freakin space from him, but nope! And all I want to do is kiss my really cute boyfriend and not listen to all this arguing! Is that too much to ask?”

We all stared at her in complete shock. Chloey really should drink more often. I liked this side to her. “Also, I’m drunk too Mother.” She added in. 

Mother groaned, but looked as though she really wanted to understand where this was all coming from. “Why are you girls fighting?”

“Joey is gonna wreck this family. She’s going to betray us just like Dad did.” Zoey proclaimed.

Oh now she's really crossed a line. I threw my napkin down and tackled her on the floor. “You are such a b***h Zoey!”

“And you're a tramp!” She shouted as we wrestled on the floor. Attempts were made to break us apart, but we were determined. 

Finally our boyfriends got a hold of us. “You better hold on tight Marsden because if I get my hands on her I’ll-”

I stopped as Zoey went limp for a moment in Zander’s arms and then perked back up. She looked clammy and very confused. “Wh-what happened to me? I-I was saying all these awful things. Joey I’m so sorry I didn’t mean it.”

Marsden let go of me and ran over and hugged Zoey. “It’s okay, sweetie, I don’t care. It doesn’t matter what you said.” I held her face. “Are you okay? How do you feel?”

“Ashamed.” She answered. “I can’t believe I said that stuff to you and Chloey.”

“Zoey? Are you okay?” Chloey stumbled over to us and joined us in the hug. “I’m sorry I called you a bitch.”

“Oh don’t be, it was deserved. I’m sorry too.” 

I was so relieved that Zoey was back to normal. Fighting with her like that is by far the worst thing that’s ever happened to us. But I didn’t care anymore. She was back.

“What is going on?” Mum asked.

“Someone cursed Zoey.” I said. “That’s why she was being so...mean.”

“Thorton.” Tate accused. “This is what you wanted. For them to fight so Joey would feel isolated and be all in with you.”

“Wrong as always, Highmore, I would never!” Marsden said. “Unlike you, I don’t require so much attention. I want Joey to be close with her sisters.”

“Then who else would do it?” Tate asked. 

“I would.” We all turned and looked at Raina. “No one steals my boyfriend without consequences. Hope you enjoyed your hate curse, Zoey.”