I buried my head in my knees with a groan. We had already been driving for over an hour and a half from the airport and the car sickness had well and truly set in.
"Hang in there Kiddo; we'll be there in a few minutes." I lifted my flushed face and sent a deep scowl towards my cheerful uncle.
"Ben, I swear to God, if you're lying to me heads will roll." He chuckles and takes a hand off the steering wheel to ruffle my shaggy chestnut hair causing my scowl to deepen. "Seriously Ben, how many times do I have to tell you not to do that? I'm not a kid anymore." Ben's hand retreated as he let out another thunderous laugh.
"You're trying to tell me that you're not a child when I'm easily twenty years older than you? Good try buddy. I still remember you and Vi playing in the sandpit in your diapers." I groaned again loudly, my insides churning vigorously. "The house is just up here."
It was immediate relief when the cool breeze hit my feverish skin as I opened the car door. My long legs stretched out the door and I stood, staring in absolute awe of the gothic-like mansion that was placed before me.
"Wow, Uncle Ben. I didn't know that you were running a funeral home now! Where's the cemetery? Just out back? I'm going to go and check it out." He laughed.
"I know it's a bit creepy at first, but trust me, you'll love it." The audible squeak of a door opening and light footsteps sounded before I saw Vivian's smiling face.
"Noah! It's been so long." Her slender arms wrapped around my frame as she hugged me tightly.
"Hey Viv, how have you been?" I asked, my face muffled by her shoulder. Vivian always gave bone crushing hugs, but they were oddly comforting.
"I've been alright, how about you?" I nodded my reply as she ran her fingers through my hair. I swear, what was with this family and hair?
"Hey Shithead." A new voice entered the conversation and I held up my middle finger to the petite blonde walking towards us. Noticing the scruffy white dog in her arms, I screwed my nose up.
"What the hell is that Vi? Another one of your evil minions?" She sneered and threw a punch at my arm causing me to stumble back with a pitchy laugh.
"Play nice you two." She turned to Ben with a smile. "Honey, your next appointment is here." He nodded.
"So you see your psych patients inside the house? Well, that makes it much more comforting." Violet let out a snort.
"I know right."
That's when I noticed him. The boy with the smouldering black eyes staring over at us with a look of intrigue and what looked like annoyance. His shaggy, dirty blonde hair swayed slightly as he stared into the back of Violet's head. I glared at him. There was no way this creep would be dating my baby cousin while I was around to prevent it.
"Uh guys. I don't mean to alarm you, but there is a strange looking boy brooding on your doorstep." Vivian and Ben immediately swivelled their heads towards the boy.
"That's Tate, he's my next patient. I'd better head in." He handed my suitcase to me and jogged over to the boy.
So this would be my room for the next year? I looked around the mostly empty space with a sigh. I was already homesick. As I flopped back on the feathery mattress I let out a single, almost inaudible sob. I couldn't forgive my Mum for sending me away; what a coward. Is that how things are for her: as soon as things get tough eliminate the problem? I opened the box of matches in my hand, carefully took one out and lit it. After letting it burn for a few seconds, I blew the flame out and brought the slowly dying ember to my wrist. A whimper left my lips which quickly dissipated into a groan of relief as the burning stick dug through my frail skin.
"You know," my heart hammered quickly into my ribcage as the unfamiliar voice entered the room. I sat up swiftly and stared at the intruder standing in the doorway. "Cutting is a lot easier, and more discrete. I can smell the burning flesh from here." I recovered from my shock and glared at the boy, even though my heart was still trouncing violently in my chest.
"Uh – Tate was it? Would you kindly get the fuck out of my room?" Tate responded with a shit eating smirk as he traipsed further into the room.
"That's not very nice. After all, I just brought myself up all of those stairs to come and meet you. It's good to finally get a name to all the photos in Doctor Harman's office." I inwardly groaned. He kept photos of me? Ugh, what a geek. I stood to forcefully escort Tate out when he continued his spiel. "Oh you're embarrassed? That's too bad. What I would like to know is why you are here, I tried to coax it out of Doctor Harman but his lips were tightly sealed. Though I get the feeling he has shrink'd you more than once." Before I knew what was happening my hands collided with his body as I forcefully shoved him back. He stumbled but quickly regained composure with a grin.
"Shut the fuck up! You don't know anything about me." Suddenly my back was slammed against the wall and Tate's face was in mine.
"I know your type. A parent dies and you think that gives you a right to punish the people around you." His face got millimetres closer with every word until I could feel his breath mingling with mine. "I like it."
"What are you, gay? Get the fuck off me!" I shoved him again, effectively loosening his grip on my hand enough for me to rip it away and make me way to the door to leave. Before I left completely, I turned back to the boy standing in the middle of the room.
"Oh, and if you so much as touch Violet, I will personally rip your tongue out your asshole. Is that clear?" The shit eating smirk returned to his face as he smugly replied.
"Crystal."
I hope you enjoyed the first chapter. I am very sorry if it takes a while to update because I am currently writing for my online writing course and making a portfolio to hopefully get into another one: Professional Writing and Editing :D.
I feel compelled to tell you guys that I borrowed the analogy 'shit eating smirk' from Pheromones in her story 'Limp'. A VioletXTate story that I simply adore, and you guys should definitely check out! Even though I'm not usually into Hetro/Canon pairings, I simply adore Violet and Tate and actually feel like a real little shit writing this and taking Tate away from her ;3; FORGIVE ME!
Please review! I love getting feedback and it will inspire and motivate me to write more and faster xDD
Thanks for reading guys! 3