"Just how many women do you have?!" Brittany's crimson eyes landed on Charlotte. The lady was in her twenties, with black hair and equally obsidian eyes similar to Andrew's, as a strange silence clung to her. She was the type of person who could disappear at a party and people wouldn't notice. The more she looked at her, the more it made Brittany think of Andrew. "Why are you throwing a fuss? Last time I checked, you couldn't judge?"
A heavy sigh left Brittany's lips, her eyes landing back on Andrew, who was lounging on the sofa. "When! Seriously, when were you going to tell me about any of this?! And who the fuck is this bitch?!" Charlotte didn't seem offended by Brittany's words as she poured herself a cup of water. "I'm seeing why Charles lost interest in you. Keep running your mouth like this and I'll cut your tongue out."
Drissel's tone dropped, making the casual air dip as well, tension hanging in the air. "Whatever! If this is what I would be involved with, then I don't think that I would have even bothered to come with you!" Drissel rolled her eyes as Charlotte gave her a glass of water. "Thank you., as for you, Brittany, you're not forced into staying. You can leave should you want," Brittany let out a frustrated groan before slamming the front door and leaving.
"Hello Charlotte, it's been a while," Andrew spoke, his eyes connecting with Charlotte's. "It most certainly has." She looked at the door. "Aren't you going to chase after her? She seems rather mad at you." Andrew placed his legs on the table, his air ignorant. "She'll be back."
. . .
Brittany's figure was seated on the stairs, her focus on the car. "Does he think he can just fuck around like this? He's supposed to be mine!" Her words met no one before she tried to calm herself down. "You really want to control him so badly, may I ask why?" Drissel's words echoed behind her, making Brittany's figure tense. "Fuck off!" She shot immediately as Drissel made her way, sitting next to her. "You know Andrew can't love you, not to appear mean, rather he never will. Not because he can get intimate with someone means that he loves them or sees them as someone worth keeping. I'm not his first helper, and I'm sure that I won't be his last."
Brittany looked to the side, avoiding contact with Drissel. "If you think of me as competition for his attention, then you're playing a losing game, Brittany. Charlotte, unlike you, has proven to be far more interesting than you, and it's only a matter of time before they choose to kill you off. It can be right now by me or tomorrow, regardless, you'll die eventually." Drissel did nothing to comfort Brittany, a small smile forming on her lips.
"Who the fuck is Charles? He seems to be the one calling the shots!" Drissel paused, taking in Brittany's figure before letting out a small laugh. "Brittany, he's the one who even bothered with you, and now he's bored with you. Hopefully, you live long enough to see him; if not, then you played poorly on your end. Now get in already, it's getting dark or…" Car keys clattered on the stairs before stopping at the bottom. "You can leave."
A strangling silence followed the sounds of Drissel's fading footsteps. Brittany's eyes fell on the keys, the urge to drive away gnawing at her before reality dawned on her. 'Even if I leave, there's no way that I can go back to my old life. If Lara hasn't spilled everything to the authorities, then they should have realized that I'm with them by now.' Minutes ticked by before she came to her conclusion, grabbing the keys, she made her way back inside where the rest seemed engorged in dinner.
"It's because you've ruined my life that I can't leave is all. If not, then I would have left already." Her words met with silence, the chat going on as if her presence didn't matter. "I was thinking about what to do with them. Of course killing them would just attract more, and with Lara, I doubt that they'll leave us alone after she divulges." Drissel said, her fork lazily aimed at Andrew. "How long until the rift opens?" A sigh left Andrew's lips, his reaction something that Brittany would take in.
'Looks like they do have some history for him to be this lax.' On the table, a dish already waiting for her, which irked her. Still, she sat down and ate with them. "It should be about halfway into the year, three months to go. As for the rogues emerging, it should happen by the start of the third month, a week away." The conversation about topics the two ladies couldn't understand; however, they didn't butt in, letting the two talk away.
"As for these two, it would be best to monitor them. I'll be training Brittany while you take Charlotte," Drissel suddenly shot up as they were clearing their dishes from the dining table. "What do you mean by training?" Brittany asked. "Training is what it means, Britt. I'll be teaching you how to use your weaves in combat and survival. Consider yourself blessed, Charlotte; I'm sure you'll be fine with Andrew."
"Wait, can we switch? I don't want you to be the one teaching me! After all, I barely know you," Brittany's concerns were swiftly ignored. "From what level of authority are you speaking from Brittany? You're in no position to be arguing, so shut up! We'll start tomorrow, so get some sleep; you'll need it. As for your room, sleep in the blood, and don't fucking waste it!" Drissel stated before her figure disappeared, leaving the living room to the three. "I have to ask, but who are you?" Brittany inquired, unnerved by how casual everyone was with Charlotte while she remained in the dark about her.
"I wouldn't say that we met directly, but we saw each other during the cross-school tournaments. You were in tennis while I was on the bleachers, in reserve for our school. I have to say that you were killing it!" Charlotte flashed an innocent smile as Brittany recalled. "I…don't remember any of that." Andrew to the side chimed in. "The day that you were scolding me for taking interest in another lady, does it ring a bell now?"
*Tournament Day*
Andrew had arrived at the school with Kevin, his interest piqued. "One of the good things that happens in this school, Andrew! I know that you're rather shy; however, it would be best for you to look for a girl of your own. It doesn't really have to go anywhere, just talk to someone." His figure disappeared into the mob. Andrew made his way to the tennis bleachers, which were crammed with students cheering for the players on the court.
He took his seat and watched the game, no enthusiasm before his gaze drifted and settled on a figure. "You wouldn't mind if I took a seat here, right?" The girl startled at his presence before calming down. "Oh, my friend is here. She just went to grab a bottle of water, that's all, but you could sit here if you don't have anywhere else to sit." The silence that followed as she stole a weird glance at Andrew baffled the girl, Charlotte.
'Aren't you going to hit on me? After all, it would seem that is what every boy on this campus is doing at the moment." She sounded suspicious. "You don't look like a talker, so why ruin the mood? I don't mind the silence." His words eliciting a raised brow from Charlotte, her eyes scanning his face for something. A confident, smug, his glance but his eyes never left the court. 'What a weird guy. But he isn't bothering me so I don't have to think too much about him.' Minutes ticked by before Charlotte looked around. 'How long will it take for her to come back?'
Her friend had long extended her departure. "Charlotte, could you check on your friend? It's been way too long, and she's not back yet! I hope she hasn't snuck off!" Charlotte rose to her feet, her face puzzled. "I don't know this school well to go looking for her." The coach's gaze landed on Andrew. "You wouldn't mind helping her around? All she needs is to find a player, is all it won't take long." Andrew didn't protest, and the two made their way out of the tennis bleachers.
"Where the fuck could she be? Do you know where could have gone?" Charlotte asked Andrew who had yet to speak. "I have a guess: the fields are far off." She let out a sigh before the two made their way to the school field. Underneath the patches of trees here and there, students could be seen in the shades making Charlotte pleased.
"She has to be here." Looking from one tree to another, her wish of finding her friend melted away. "Can we stop for a minute? This sun is killing me!" The two took a pause under a tree, the silence from before settling in once more. "Do you have any friends? You have talked little since meeting me," Charlotte broke the silence, catching her breath as she looked at Andrew. "No." Charlotte was at a loss for words. 'I didn't think that I would be the one to carry the conversation like this. Is this how he talks? She let out a heavy sigh, ready to stand before Andrew stopped her.
"What is it you wish for?" She raised a brow, her eyes narrowing. "You wouldn't want to know; it's something rather stupid." Andrew flashed a small smile, one that didn't quite fit his unchanging face. "Hit me, I'm sure it's not as absurd as mine." She paused, unsure why he would want to spark a conversation like this. "You go first; I'm shy." He paused before looking around. The wind that blew seemed to calm down, wishing not to disturb the moment. "Pure silence, for the world to fall into a state of unending silence like the vacuum of space. What's yours?"
His gaze locked with hers, black on black. "That's…a very interesting goal you have. Not one I would expect; I just hope that you won't be too disappointed when it doesn't come to be. A little peace would do me some good. Not complete silence, like yours, but peace–a state where all the extraneous noise disappeared, leaving only the sounds of nature. I know it's weird, but some silence, like you say, is what I want." She felt the weight of the air; something felt wrong, and it was now that she realized. The silence around Andrew, the stillness of his eyes.
'It feels like he's not even here, more like a husk taking his place.' He parted his lips, unhurried that Charlotte had other matters to attend to. "How about I grant you your wish? For you to drown in the abyss's melody." His figure now rose and brushed off the grass. He stretched out his hand to her; the air felt far heavier than it should. "I don't think you can do something like that, but surprise me." She accepted his hand, his grip on her palm tight enough so that she felt it but not too overbearing that it felt possessive. "Charlotte! The coach has been looking everywhere for you!" Charlotte's friend spoke from the side; however, Charlotte was entranced by his words.
The simple handshake felt like making a deal with the devil; his still eyes glimmering in hers. "Charlotte, if you were going to flirt around, then do a better job of hiding it."