Darken my love

Chapter 9

"We are home" We both called out entering the living room where Maura was sitting near the fireplace, knitting the sweater. She smiled at both of us as we sat near the fireplace to warm ourselves from the cold temperature outside.

"How was the day?" She asked brushing her hand over my head in a lovely gesture. She was 50 and loved us like her grandchildren, she was our nanny when we were little then she got promoted to housemaid because we weren't ready to let her go, any of us weren't.

"It as good, how was yours?"I asked leaning against the foot of the sofa she was sitting on. She got up and get us both warm milk."It was usual. How about you, little Monster?" she asked giving her glass. Vivian shivered in something between disgust and fear, making Maura chuckled. I remembered her reaction when she came to me, pure fear evident on her face. We both practically sprinted out of school leaving a very baffled Matthew and bewildered Bianca behind. That boy was a piece of bad news; First meeting, he hurt me outside his house; Second meeting, he surprised me in School's parking lot; Third meeting, he had my Dad choked up, I don't know what would he do today, the thought itself made me shiver in fear.

"Thank God, Evelyn saw him, otherwise he would stick to me like a leech and I had to bore him all day. Plus, I wasn't wearing the ring, I am gonna talk to mother he makes me cringe, really, ewh" She shivered dramatically in the end. I laughed out loud at her reaction which she shrugged it off. Wait a minute! Evelyn-Saw-Him? Ring? Talk-To-Mom? He-makes-her-cringe. WHOA! I immediately shifted in my position to face her whose eyes locked with me in a questioning manner.

"Who are you talking about?" I questioned which shifted Maura's attention to us.

"Bra-" before she could utter the doorbell interrupted her. I glanced at her before getting up to see who's on the door. I opened the door to reveal ocean blue eyes grinning back at me. OH MY GOD! I jumped into his arms immediately, he caught me and spun me around laughing. We both were laughing so hard that we didn't notice Vivian behind us until she cleared her throat. He placed me on the floor with his arms stayed around me.

"Are you guys done?" She asked in a bored tone, leaning against the doorway. I chuckled and hugged Bradley hard who hugged me back laughing.

"I missed you, Lily" he chuckled, kissed my cheek and move forward to greet Vivian. Bradley made a beeline to Vivian who had an empty glass in her hand, still leaning against the doorway. She might have thought he would hug her, but he went straight for the kiss which straightened her. Not two seconds later, they were in a heavy makeout session, I rolled my eyes, grabbed the glass from Vivian and made my way inside. No matter how much Vivian found it annoying, she loved her fiancee enough. Maura looked at me questingly from Kitchen, I muttered "Bradley" and went to help her for lunch. The menu was steamed fish curry. The moment curry was finished, Viv came into view with a grinning Brad. Trust me, that boy's cheek doesn't hurt, he always grins. Vivian's face was red when I winked at her she fake glared at me which I shrugged it off. She was always overdramatic but for me, Bradley's arrival was super-excited news these days. My phone rang indicating a call, before me, Viv picked it up and waved at someone excitedly.

"Hey monster, whassup?" By the voice, it was Tom, I ran to Viv.

"Hey buddy! How are you?" I peaked from Vivian's shoulder to see very fresh looking Tom lying on the bed. He waved at me. " I am awesome. How are you guys?" he answered.

"You have no idea who is here. BRADLEY!" I shouted revealing Bradley who had his mouth stuffed with cookies. It looked like we caught him off-guard as he waved lightly to him, smiling sheepishly. Tom chuckled "No wonder why Viv's glowing" Tom teased her, who pushed the phone to me and huffed to sit beside Brad.

"I am glad he is here otherwise, I am not still able to handle Vivian Rain Somerhalder."I shrugged looking at her then placed the phone on counter with the help of jar, for a better view.

"What's the update, Captain?" he asked moving across the house. I tapped my chin, pretending to think.

"Matthew asked about you"

"I feel bad for leaving him just the next day we met, I am sure we won't be friends anymore. He will find someone," he said in a sad tone which made me chuckle.

"No way! We hang out together, I'll make sure he won't go anywhere, after all, he is your first-ever friend" I said in an amused tone.

"Hey! What about me?!" Brad shouted from the living room. I didn't even notice when they moved to live. I mentally face-palmed myself.

"You are our and will be ours, from day one! I know you won't be going anywhere" Tom suppressed a smile and winked at me.

"Exactly, I transferred myself to RRS as Mrs. Somerhalder asked me to. So, I am not going anywhere" Brad broke the news to us as a huge grin made it's way to our face. "And sharing your room" The smile vanished from Tom's face as he protested "No!!!!!!!!!!!!" and at the same time Vivian shrieked running in the kitchen "NO WAY!" she uttered in pure disbelief.

"You are not living with us!" Vivian ordered as well as Tom threatened him " not in my room" Bradley laughed and hit his hand on the counter continuously in amusement.

"I am doing both" he uttered looking at me, we both was the only one enjoying.

"See, that's why I rushed out of school! I didn't want him to notice me" Vivian said to me waving her hands in the air to prove something.

"Brad was the "HE" you panicked about?" I asked looking at her dumbfounded. She looked at me in duh' tone. I mentally choked her for almost giving me a heart attack. Stupid, Overdramatic!

"Then why did you respond to my kiss, huh?" Brad asked with his hands on his hips. Two drama queens.

"IT WAS AN INSTINCT!" She shrieked standing in front of me. I flipped the camera to back camera to let Thomas see the show, live and exclusive.

"You loved every single bit of it!" he shouted at her face coming closer to her with hands still on hips.

"No, I did not!" Vivian muttered glaring at him. Brad gasped putting his hand on his heart, pretended hurt.

"Take that back!" he said in a demanding tone to which Vivian rolled her eyes. Maura came and stood between them.

"OK. Stop" she demanded looking at both f them. "Your parents will be home any minute. Help me with the table, both of you" she ordered, to accent her point, Viv and Brad who was still in the glaring competition. I shifted the cam back to see Tom in his car.

"What are you up to?" I inquired.

"Came for the shower, now going back to the hospital. Although, he is stable but still needed care." He explained shifting gear, focused on driving.

"Who is in the hospital right now? Massori? Don't tell me" I stated in pure disbelief. He chuckled glancing at me. "No way! Their neighbor arrives, so he sent me home to freshen up," he explained. "That boy is legit" he commented stopping the car. "I gotta go, Vi. Take care and love you" he ended the call after listening from me.

I grabbed my bag from the table near the door and made my way to my room, stealing the apple from the basket in the dining room. Entering the room, I sighed seeing the best scene unfolding in front of my eyes. Mr. Blue eyes cuddled in a blanket nest near my bed, curtains aside revealing the backyard of our house, where two little birdies were singing. I opened the full-length window of my room to the side to let the fresh air in. The small veranda outside my window was wet due to rain along with beautiful flower pots, that was mine. There was only my room to this side of the house and one door that opened in the a door near kitchen, along the alley to the side opened in the garage, meaning that I had this side of the house to myself only. The long alley to the side opened in a garage

I flopped down on my bed and stared at the ceiling, turning on the music player on my phone. The melodious rhythm of "A WHOLE NEW WORLD" provided ambient noise while I successfully drifted to sleep.

...

"Violet, Violet" Somebody shook me lightly by my shoulder, I flipped on my back on the bed to adjust to a comfortable position. "Baby, Dinner is ready." Came her sweet voice with a warm hand in my hair, I opened my eyes lazily to see my mother sitting near my pillow smiling warmly at me. I smiled back and sat up to see dark outside in the backyard with two poles failing to illuminate it. Mother got up and closed the window along with curtains, only then I realized the cold temperature of my room.

"Get up, hurry up. We are waiting" she left the room by switching on the light of mines. I got up and took a quick shower to awaken my nerves before going for dinner. I changed into sweatshirt and sweatpants that was my favorite attire of all time, combing my wet hairs and patted Mr. Blue eyes on my way out. Maura smiled at me lightly on her way to the kitchen, I entered a very chatty dining room. Brad and Mother were having a very busy chat with Dad, excitedly while Vivian was busy on her phone, like always.

"Hye" I said kissing Dad's cheek and sat down next to mother, across Vivian who looked up and showed me Tom's picture on i********:. It was a picture of him halfway through the air like he jumped and someone clicked it right on time, behind him was a waterfall and stream with peach trees, our favorite spot to hang out when we were little. I gasped playfully at her. "He did not!". She gave me the same look muttering. "He's dead."

"I showed it to her and she is slumped since then" Brad chuckled beside Vivian who glared at her, punching him in the arm. Mother laughed putting some rice on my plate.

"Dad, how is Karen?" I asked looking at him and I swear I saw Mom's hand trembled for a moment but she covered it up by placing dish back on the table. Dad glanced at Mom then replied casually.

"She is fine. They discharged her in the morning." I nodded my head in understanding and went back to dinner as Mom asked Brad about his parents. I zoned in and out occasionally listening to them. After dinner, Mom and Dad went out to grab a coffee and on a long drive and we kids decided to watch movies. Vivian decided to watch "AVENGERS: Endgame" because they both were Marvel stan so I had to watch it with them. Almost halfway through, they were so engrossed in that time travel part that I got up without notice and went to my room. I searched my brain for homework, Cerebrospinal fluid hormones assignment required to be submitted tomorrow, the Music teacher asked me to bring lyrics on topic "Carefree" and there is an essay that needed to be completed. I sat down on my study table and turned on the computer. My night was ruined because I had to sleep in the day, I face-palmed myself in resentment. I was all ready to work but my phone wanted otherwise, a notification popped up lightening up the screen. I unlocked it to see Bianca's message asking me to open w******p. I went to the app and hundreds of notifications blinged in my phone, all from Bianca asking about my social media usernames, Jeez. I rolled my eyes and replied to her also turning my phone silent when I was about to sign off of my phone, I remembered Matthew so I decided to text him.

"Hey, Matthew. It's Violet Somerhalder, Thomas Somerhalder's sister"

I sent it quickly and went back to my essay. When I finished with it after 20 minutes, my phone vibrated again indicating the arrival of the message.

"If you just wrote 'Hi Matt, it's me' I would have guessed it, it's you." came back his cheeky reply. I shook my head amused and decided to reply.

Me: "How would you guess it right? There must be plenty of messages from unknown wanting your attention." I giggled mentally at my reply.

Matthew: "First, I have no girl in my contacts. Second, are you trying to get out information about my s****l life?"

I could sense his smirk even through his words. Whoa!

Me: "Whoa! Where did that come from?" I felt offended a little by his imaginary accusation. I changed his contact name immediately.

Mad Matt: "I know you, Vi ;0" I couldn't help but laugh because he was joking, indicated by emoji.

Me: "Whatever :" I tried to end the conversation but he called me. I opened my computer and Physiology book to write my assignment before picking up the call.

"Jello Bello" came out his cheerful voice, I chuckled replying with a simple "Yellow" I put the phone on speaker and resumed my work.

"Bianca texted you?" he asked, I got the hint that he was idle and wanted to make conversation.

"A looooooooooooooooot!" I rolled my eyes. "I am sure she has followed me on all social media accounts already, the advance form she is, "I muttered remembering her bubbly figure eager to befriended with anyone.

"Saaaaame! She even made a w******p group with three of us in it," he exclaimed unbelievingly. I opened the app and he was right, there laid a group named "Party All Night", I chuckled "Yeah, Sure".

"What are you doing? You sound busy" he inquired when he noticed that I wasn't responding timely.

"Yeah, actually, Physiology assignment, Sorry..?" I answered sheepishly earning a burst of full heart-throbbing laughter. Oh God! That contagious laugh, a smile made its way on my face without effort. Wait, No! I can't think of him like that, Stupid.

"Who even choose Physiology? Don't you know where heart, lungs are?" he chuckled again, I am sure he was doubling over laughter. I gasped.

"Oh No, you don't. I am going to study medicine, SUCKERR!" I mocked him earning a yelp from him, seemed like someone hit him. "Are you alright?" My attention was diverted to him.

"Yeah!" he replied with a mouthful. "I am sorry, my mother is feeding me" he replied again in a muffled voice.

"Oh, go eat then talk to you later" I tried to act accordingly. He replied with a quick. "No! wait- ouch- okay, see you tomorrow." I was sure that he was being hit with something so I didn't bother lengthening it by asking about it. By the middle of the night, my work was finished, all I had to do was mail them and went to sleep. When I was finished, I brushed my teeth and changed into pajamas before going to bed. When I was about to sleep, my phone dinged with a message from the unknown. I opened it to see something strange:

"Thank you, Princess. I never got to say that earlier. ;*                                                                                                                                                                                        -A"