MIO FIORE

THE DEVILS

Something smelled good.

I opened my eyes and then shut them immediately when harsh light flooded into my pupils.

God, why were the curtains open. I groaned turning around in bed stretching, the warmth and coziness made me want to go back to sleep.

My eyes flew open and I sat up in my bed, my head pounding and half my face numb, crap, how am I in his bed again. I flung the covers back looking at all the white cloth, please tell me I didn't bleed all over them.

Nope, thank god.

I fixed the bed making it neat before I went into my room to brush my teeth. I had to get to the bottom of it, why the hell were they fighting like wild animals. Aiden I got, he was pretty much a wild monkey, but Daxton?

What had gotten into him?

I rinsed my mouth looking up at the mirror and choked.

Oh god.

I splashed some cold water on my face hoping it was just some shadows, but no, the whole middle area of my nose was blue.

Dark blue looking like I had a black eye but for my nose.

I lifted my head, well my nose didn't look too bad, my face did. My injuries from the mugging haven't even healed yet and I had more. Frowning at my ugly reflection I turned around walking downstairs. God, I needed a coffee. My head was throbbing like I had a hangover.

I didn't drink, did I?

Aiden was sitting at the kitchen bench reading something intently, his eyebrows knotting, mouth in a pursed line, and nose scrunched, I walked over, “What are you reading?" He nearly jumped in his chair, "Jesus where did you come from?" and I wasn't sure if it was because of my face he got a fright or because he didn't notice me, I self consciously touched my nose.

“What are you reading so intently?" I looked over at the newspaper, but he grabbed it before I could. "Hey," I said looking up into his eyes, "What are you reading?" Now that made me even more curious.

“Krystal stop," he said as he tugged the paper with such force I nearly tripped over again. Nah uh, he wasn't going to get away with it that easily.

"No, let me see." I grabbed it and gave it a tug with just as force, and it ripped, which usually happens when two people pull on a piece of delicate item in opposite directions.

“Oops," I said frowning, but the picture caught my attention and I tilted my head to look at it.

"I told you not to look at it." He said trying to reach for it but I slapped his hand away. I cringed, "At least I look...cute." I said. As cute as someone can be with blood all over their hands and face, I looked like I was at a crime scene.

“What?"

“I think I look cute." I gave him the paperback walking to the fridge, he could keep it, I really didn't want to read what the article said, Brawl at an exhibition opening. I can hardly call two people a brawl.

Stupid journalists.

“Oh yeah, I guess."

“I meant the angle was flattering, they got my dress swinging around my legs, my eyes wide and a pretty brown and bright blood.”

Kodak moments.

God, I'm starving.

I looked through the fridge trying to find something to eat. I better go grocery shopping again. I was running out of food. I looked over my shoulder, "Did you eat all the bread?" man I really wanted some toast.

He was staring at the picture, probably trying to figure out why I thought it was cute and not like a bleeding baboon. You had to look at the positive aspects of life.

"No...there was no bread, to begin with."

Aha, sure there wasn't what a liar. But I shrugged, grabbing the next best thing, a carrot. My stomach was going to eat itself, but at least I had carrots. I grabbed the peeler to get to work.

“What are you eating?" Aiden wrinkled his nose at me as I switched on the coffee machine. Damn it why did he switch it off, now it was going to take forever for it to heat up and get ready.

I washed the carrot, threw away the peels, and took a bite, "There's nothing else in the fridge."

“And who's fault is that?" he asked with a raised eyebrow. I looked at him, "Are you kidding me? It's not my job to go grocery shopping, hell if anyone should go it should be you sitting at home not even doing anything"

Then again if Aiden really did go, it would be a bloodbath when he came home with everything in the store.

"No, I'm not going to go shopping."

“Why, does it hurt your man pride?" I walked around the counter to the lounge room when there was a knock on the door. I sighed, "Really? Your friends come this early?"

"I didn't call them," he yelled back from the kitchen and I could hear the bar stool scraping against the ground. Then who was it?

I walked up to the door peeking through it, "Who is it?”

I jumped squealing not realizing he had crept up on me and spun around, and tried to take a step back when I realized how close he was, but behind me was a door that didn't let me suction into it.

"Huh? Oh, parents, don't open it." I whispered circumventing him.

“Yeah right, like they didn't hear you scream."

You freaked me out!"

"Now we're even," he said ignoring my comment about not opening the door and letting the two sets of devils in.

As soon as both our parents were inside the chaos started, yelling, "What the hell was this behavior last night?"

"Do something to your face that looks hideous, put make-up on." Thanks, mother, how very kind. I reached to touch my face again. Surely it's not that bad if Aiden hasn't said anything yet, right?

And usually, he was the first to make those comments.

Aiden was coping a grilling from his parents but then they turned to look at me like I was the one who caused the fight, "Why didn't you break it up?”

"What? Uh, how did you think I got this nose?"

“You should be controlling your co-workers, are you the CEO or not?"

“Hey! Don't blame me, it wasn't even my fault." I glared at Aiden. Just because everyone was too scared to yell at him and turned to me. I crossed my arms across my chest defensively.

“You both have brought shame upon us, how are we meant to go to the countryball now!"

“Then don't go." Shrugged Aiden like it wasn't a big deal but to both our mothers it was, the way they both gasped and clutched their chests. 

Dramatic.

"No you both need to be taught a lesson, this behavior of yours is not tolerable anymore,"

I turned around rolling my eyes and walking away, which only pissed them off further.

"Where are you going Krystal, get back here now."

"I need to pee." I lied.

"Don't use such crude language in this house!"

I stopped walking "What? I can't say pee now, well newsflash mother everyone needs to do it." I wasn't going to be like, excuse me I need to use the lavatory services. What a waste of oxygen?

"Krystal!"

I didn't usually act like a spoiled brat and ignore my parents well actually when it came to them that was all I did. God, why can't they just leave us-or me, alone?

I walked upstairs taking the stairs two at a time, maybe I'll go to work now. I have nothing else to do. And I really didn't want to spend time with my parents today, and Aiden could handle it.

Walking into the room I quickly got ready grabbing my keys when I realized I didn't have them. Damn it, why didn't the cops get back to me yet.

“Doesn't look like you're peeing."

I jumped hearing the voice and turned around to see Aiden leaning against the door frame, an eyebrow raised with his arms crossed across his chest.

So he came here to check if I was peeing or not? Gross.

“Oh uh, I have things to do. Are they still here?"

He nodded looking annoyed, "And I don't think they'll be leaving soon." Good, I can take the whole day at work to catch up then.

"Can I use your car?

“You're leaving me to face the hounds?"

"Please, it's important." I even said please, but knowing Aiden he probably wasn't. So I was definitely surprised when he gave me a half-hearted shrug, "Yeah it's on the road."