s*x IN A GLASS HOUSE

APOLOGIES UPON APOLOGIES

0019

LEVI

August was unusually quiet. I knew it was because I snapped at him.

I apologized still, but he wasn't having it.

Even after he drank the juice, he only mumbled a small thank you and said he was tired and went into his room.

I let him go, I didn't bother. No reason.

I could only mutter “I'm sorry.” once more, just to ease my conscience at least.

Lucien had already warned me to keep it professional, Following him might lead to something I would not want.

I cleaned up the kitchen slowly, wiping down the counters as I checked the locks everywhere. He was asleep and we wouldn't want anyone breaking in.

By 10:00, the house was dark except for the low lights in the hallways. I did my final sweep with my tablet in my hands, scrolling through the cameras.

August's room was empty, his bathroom was empty, and the hallway was empty too.

But then I got a motion sensor from the east wing.

August was going to be the end of me.

The same restricted area I warned him about.

The place I explicitly told him to stay the f**k away from.

I hurried to the east wing, He was in the storage room that was supposed to be locked.

He crouched beneath, and the flashlight from his phone was the only light reflecting.

He held an old wooden truck that was charred on the side, the wheels were missing, two of the wheels were missing, one of Lucien”s childhood things.

A buried box that was never touched.

My body went cold. He was not supposed to be here. He wasn't even supposed to touch anything. August never listened, and that was what annoyed me the most.

He always thought it was funny.

I dropped the tablet on the counter as I moved quietly down the hall. The door creaked open slowly.

I pushed through, no sound. He didn't see me coming. He didn't even hear it.

He was sitting there, his legs crossed on the floor, turning the truck over in his hands, rubbing the burnt edge.

His face was tight. His lips were pressed together like he was trying to remember something, like the toy struck a nerve or gave him some type of flashback.

"What the hell are you doing?" I asked, anger filling my body.

He jumped, dropping the truck. It clattered loudly, the sound echoing through the mansion.

His eyes went wide when he saw me. "Oh my God, Levi. s**t, you scared me." He managed.

I stepped forward, my voice low but carrying so much anger.

"This area is off-limits. You know that. I told you that. I warned you."

He scrambled his hands up. "I know- I just couldn't sleep. And the door was open, you know, just a peek, so I looked. I wasn't stealing anything. I live here."

"You touched the things I warned you not to. His things, these are not yours.

I picked them up.

“Whose is this? It's burnt like... from a fire." He frowned.

I felt my jaw tighten. "It doesn't matter. Place it back. It's not yours."

"It matters to me. I had one just like this. When I was a kid, before the fire that killed my parents destroyed it. But there's something about it that reminds me of mine. You know, the same missing wheels." He said, tilting his head backwards like he was holding back tears.

I stared at him. He was putting the pieces together. "Put it back, August," I repeated, my voice colder.

“August, it's just a coincidence. Put it back.” I snapped, my voice coming out louder than intended.

He flinched. “Why are you freaking out? It's just a damn toy. Why is it even hidden here and why are you treating it like some egg?”

“ Because it's not yours. It is private. You don't get to dig through others' stuff because you're bored.” I shut him off.

“I'm not bored. I'm just trying to figure out this place. You don't know what it feels like to be in a place that you know nothing about. Walls, locked doors, restricted areas, and now this. It's like someone's memories are buried here, and I would not live in a place that haunts me,” he shouted. This was the angriest I had ever seen him.

His eyes glistened, tears threatening to fall.

He was tired! Being here was no different from the basement, just good food and space to live. But still the same feeling of being trapped.

“August.” My voice dropped. “Stop it.” He cut me short.

Why do you still care so much? It's not your toy.” He sniffed, rolling his eyes.

“Because some of us don't get to keep memories.” The words slipped out of my mouth.

I grabbed his wrists, pulling him away from the box.

“Some of us get thrown away, forgotten. You think just dealing with some dumb fire scars gives you the right to cry? “ I snapped

He yanked his hands free, scoffing. “You know nothing.” He managed, holding back tears.

Then I realized what I said too much, and I placed the truck back into the box, covering it as it was.

“Go back to your room,” I said, trying to ease the tension.

“ No.” He blocked me.

“You've been mean to me all these days, how dare you think you can talk about my fire incident and call it dumb?” He continued shouting, tears streaming down his cheeks. “What's your deal?” he sniffed.

“My deal?” I laughed bitterly.

“You waltz in here pretty broken, and then you get the job like you're some gold. Then he gets me in charge of you. And who’s here to run the house? Me. I follow orders. Clean up your mess. All you do is create more mess.” I shouted back.

“ I didn't ask for any of this.” He sniffed, his hands trembling.

I scoffed, closing in on the space between us, our faces inches away.

“Oh, but you took the job,” I whispered, causing more tears to run down his cheeks.

“You called me a chef today right? I get treated here like I'm the help.” His face softened immediately.

“Levi, I don't think you're helping. You don't know anything. I'm sorry.” He whispered back.

“Why did you snap over a toy?” He asked, wiping his cheeks.

I moved away from him, stopping myself from doing something drastic.

I looked at the toy.

It was from the old house before. That was the only thing he came with from the house, and he wasn't ready to let it go.

Since I hated Lucian, I wouldn't let him lose his last memory of his parents, but August didn't need to know that. Some things are buried for a reason.

“Leave it buried. Don't wake up what is at rest.” Maria’s voice echoed in the back of my head.

He stared at me. “Okay, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have come here.” He managed.

“Now go back to your room. “ I said, ending the conversation.

“Are you coming?” He asked innocently, giving me those f**k me eyes.

“Just leave,” I said, gritting my teeth.