Chapter twenty-one

Although the journey started with Yusa and me fighting like cats and dogs it suddenly felt too quiet for any of us to handle. The air was thickened with tension making Somila constantly shift in her seat. Unable to bear with it any further Erica finally broke the silence.

"U-Um, is anyone gonna say anything or are we gonna keep quiet like this forever?"

Looking at her through the rearview mirror from the back I said in a monotone.

"Weren't you the one who wanted us to keep our mouths shut?"

"I didn't say you shouldn't speak anymore. Just that you should stop arguing."

"Arguing is just how we communicate with one another, not all of us are as fragile as glass and only want peace and calmness."

Yusa chipped in her voice equally as dead as mine leaning against the back of Erica's seat. I nodded my head in agreement.

"Yeah, like Yusa is just way too dumb to have a civilized conversation with so the only way to get it through her thick skull is to hit it"

"Ye-Wait what? I'm not thick skulled you monkey!"

I gasped in fake offence at the insult and held a hand against my chest. With offence laced in my voice, I stared at her with a look of hurt.

"Are you calling me a monkey 'cause I'm black?"

Her eyes widened in horror at the realization of the amount of impact her words could have.

"Wait no, no I didn't mean it that way at all. I just meant you're as dumb as a monkey!"

"Uh! So now you calling me dumb cause I was born darker. And here I thought our society had come far with racial comments. I am utterly baffled!"

"No! That-that's not what I meant."

"So then what did you mean?"

"I-I well, you see when you...I-I mean-"

Fumbling for words I watched in complete amusement as she tried to come up with an excuse. I could not lie, this was rather fun. Watching Yusa scramble like a deer caught in headlights was beyond enjoyable. I could not help but silently smirk.

"That's enough Clover, you've made the girl sweat more than enough"

Erica spoke catching a glimpse of me in the mirror.

"What are you talking about, I haven't done a thing to her"

I said shrugging my shoulders in innocence obviously, she did not buy that and she just kept glaring at me and man could I feel it through the mirror. It felt like her eyes were boring into my soul, transporting me to a forest of green. It felt like vines were constricting me, trapping me from escaping those emerald orbs.

Heaving out a sigh of frustration I gave in and turned to Yusa with a fake apologetic look.

"Yusa, chill it was just a joke I was making fun of you. You don't have to beat yourself over it."

"Ah, y-yeah, sorry you're right."

Why was she apologizing? She was not the one who did anything wrong, I mean I'm not implying that I did anything wrong in particular but...

"Hey, you didn't do anything wrong really. Stop being such a dumb-dumb already"

"Heh, yeah"

Even though she laughed it did not seem genuine at all. It was like she forced it instead.

What is her deal? Usually, she would come up with some retort and we would be back to quarrelling again. Why is she suddenly acting all timid and shit?

Giving her a look of confusion she simply turned away to her window prepping her chin on her hand she looked to the outside in silence.

"Ahh, well at least that is taken care of."

Erica said jokingly. No one said a thing as an awkward silence settled once more.

"H-hey, we're having a sleepover guys. We should be getting crazy and wild. Come on no more gloomy atmosphere!"

Chimed Somila with a hopeful smile and Erica nodded in agreement.

"Yeah, Somila's right. You guys need to relax and just have fun. Come on sleepover, woohoo!"

"Y-Yeah, w-woohoo!"

The two in front cheered trying to lighten the bitter mood. However, their attempt was only in vain as Yusa continued silently watching the passing trees, and I simply kept silent with a look of annoyance. Because I was annoyed.

"Okay, how about we listen to some music instead"

Putting on the radio a song I had not heard of came on and Erica began dancing to it with Somila stuttering along with the lyrics. Again this did not help the atmosphere in the back as Yusa and I continued glooming. This did not stop the others from jamming to the songs though.

While they continued singing and dancing I began to think to myself. Why did Yusa suddenly change like that? She was fine just a while before but then all of a sudden she went all quiet like a mouse, something completely uncommon of her. Don't get me wrong I don't mind her shutting that big mouth of hers but...but did I maybe, just maybe go a little too far?

Looking toward her I quickly looked away and shook my head in denial. Nah, I did not do anything wrong. She is probably just mad like usual or just tired from the drive, yeah. That is probably it.

Time passed and before I knew it we arrived at our destination. Standing before us were two large black gates spiked at the top and a security guard dressed in a black suit stood behind them.

"Uh. Erica, what do you think you're doing?"

"What do you mean?"

She asked genuinely confused at my question like she was not trying to break into some rich person's house.

"I mean what are you trying to do at this place? I would not recommend breaking and entering a place as rich as this, at least go for a middle-class citizen. I can help with that one."

She rolled her eyes at me and proceeded to roll down her window popping her head out she reached her hand out to type in a code in the passcode machine.

"I really do not know why you would think I am trying to rob someone and why you would give advice on it but-"

Just as she backed into the car the gates opened to let us in and I could not help but be impressed at this girl's dedication to robbing some rich people.

"I live here"

"Yeah, right you live here...wait you live here?!"

I asked leaning toward the front not believing a thing this chick was saying.

"Well, you better believe it 'cause that's how it is"

Driving along I could see a large fountain in the distance, rose bushes planted around the large driveway, and not to mention the few security guards standing here and there.

Pulling up in front of the house my mouth fell wide open as I gazed at the mansion before me. What the hell was this? I always suspected it with how her lunch always seemed all posh but this girl really was well off...no not well off she was dripping in money I mean rich as fu-

"Hey, are you getting out or what?"

Erica asked knocking on my window. Snapping out of my hypnotic state I was quick to get out of the car only to be greeted by a tall and handsome man dressed well in a butler suit. He did not look like the old butler dude that always looked like he was nearing death typically in movies, oh no, this guy looked like he belonged in a freaking painting! Handsome as hell!

"Oh, u-uhm thank you"

I stuttered as he lent a helping hand out of the car. I meekly blushed at the act, I could not help it. Could you blame though? The guy was gorgeous with a capital G.

"Clover, hurry up before you get lost with your pathetic excuse of direction!"

"Hey, I am not that bad and you know it!"

"Yeah, yeah whatever"

Running up after them I looked back to the unnamed man, sighed dreamily and turned back to my friends. Ugh, I should not call them that. Leaves a bad taste in my mouth!

"So, when were you gonna tell us you were this loaded?"

I asked with my arms crossed glaring at Erica.

"Actually, Yusa and I already knew"

"What? And you did not think to tell me?"

I cried out looking at Somila in betrayal. How could she not tell me such an important piece of information?

"Would it have made any difference if I did tell you I am rich?"

"Yeah, I could have asked you to buy me lunch instead of doing it myself and becoming friends with you a lot sooner!"

The answer flew out of my mouth before I could even think about it. She sighed at me looking a little glum she said with a soft tone.

"Yeah, that is what most people do.'

She sounded sad after that like what I said really touched her. Well, although I did not mean to phrase it that way it was still the truth. Not like I deliberately became their friend.

Clapping her hands together Erica chimed in a much brighter mood.

"Okay, well our stuff will be taken to my room so in the meantime let's make some popcorn and watch a movie!"

"Yeah, this is gonna be loads of fun!"

An excited Somila jumped in with an even brighter smile.

"What do you say Yusa?"

Erica asked the bob-haired girl, giving her a side hug she proceeded to squeeze her for extra measure. Unwillingly Yusa smiled at her friend and shook her head from side to side.

"Sure, guess so."

"Alright then, to the kitchen,"

Screamed Erica running in the direction of what I think was the kitchen. I looked at the other girls who laughed at their red-haired friend. I smiled and thought to myself, I guess it would not hurt to enjoy myself since I am already here.

Hours later we found ourselves messily laying around the living room floor, heaps of snacks professionally stacked in the middle of us. I say professionally but there is nothing professional about it.

"No, if you ask me it is dumb to date a vampire."

"What, and how is it stupid Somila?"

"Dating a living corpse thousands of years old not to mention a walking mosquito? Talk about a paedophile and literal soul-sucking freak. U-uh, no thank you"

"But they are so hot and gotta admit the whole older than you, thing is kinda hot. I mean I can call him daddy all the time!"

"Ew, more like grandpa. It's just too weird if you ask me"

"Well, no one asked you!"

"Excuse me? You asked me!"

The two continued to bicker back and forth. Yusa and I just sat there snacking on the chips and watching them in entertainment. The movie was long forgotten by then.

"Wow, who would have thought Erica was so sensitive about vampires?"

I asked Yusa popping another chip into my mouth. She simply shrugged her shoulders and dug her hand into the bowl of popcorn. This is what she has been like all night, nodding, shrugging, and the occasional "yeah". What was up with that?

"Okay, what is up with you today? You have been acting weird since we got here, what gives?"

"I have no idea what you're talking about."

She feigned ignorance, but I was not buying it. Against my better judgment which I lacked, I decided to push it further.

"Seriously Yusa, what is wrong? Are you maybe feeling homesick, stomachache, maybe you just need to take a dump?"

"I don't need to take a dump and I am not feeling any of those things."

"Then what?"

"Nothing"

Yeah, still not buying that. She started behaving like this after I made a joke in the car is that maybe it?

"Is it because of what I said in the car?"

She did not answer this time but her silence was more than enough. I rolled my eyes and sighed in relief.

"Gosh, you got me worried for a second there, I thought it was something important but I guess not."

"What the hell do you mean not serious? It is to me!"

"Woah, chill I already said I was just joking. You don't have to be so-"

"So what, what Clover!?"

By now the argument between Erica and Somila had settled and all attention was focused on us now.

"Not everything is about you and not everything you think is a joke is!"

"Hold up, okay first off everything I think is a joke is and second of all I never said everything was about me. Just most of it is"

"See, this is what I am talking about you're just so selfish!"

She proclaimed as she stood up.

"Oh, I'm selfish? That's rich coming from you! You think you're so special but you really are not all you are is just a scared nobody taking her frustrations on me 'cause she wishes to be somebody!"

The gasps from our entourage made me realize just what I said and I immediately regretted it. Before I could apologize Yusa left the room in a fury.

The silence after that was thicker than oil, no one moved from their place and the tension only grew as it felt like hours until someone finally said anything.

"Wow, I knew you were a jerk but I didn't think you were an asshole"

Erica spoke getting up from her spot left the room to what I assumed was to follow after Yusa. Quietly getting up Somila followed after the two as well.

"Somila, I-I didn't mean to"

Merely shaking her head with a saddened expression she also disappeared through the door. A feeling of dread and what felt like my soul shattering came over my chest and I felt a drop of liquid fall onto my arm.

Confused I looked at it wondering where it came from. Reaching up to my face I felt a cold stream of tears roll off my cheeks.

"W-Why am I, wh-what is, why am I crying? It doesn't make any se-"

Unable to keep them from falling I let them continue. Standing there in the middle of the room I cried to myself, alone in the dark room feeling the most terrible I had ever felt.