Harper enters his house and throws his equipment bag by the piano. A coat of gray overlays the glossy black piano top. Harper locks the door behind him, staring at the object in thought and pondering on.
It's been long since anyone has really played their family piano. His father was the only one to ever touch it and even when he didn't play, he'd simply sit to stare at the keys, thinking for hours at a time. Praying for the time he was never able to abuse. But even when his visits were minimal, they always meant the world to Bryn.
Now, they would no longer come and even thinking about it stung. There was nothing neither could do but they were stable and would be alright.
His brows raise at a flash of mahogany. His eyes pilot to where a leather-bound journal is positioned against a piano leg. Whose could that be? Even though he didn't like to look through others' belongings without permission, what harm could really be done by checking inside? It was his house.
He peers over his shoulder, looking like a fugitive with his huge eyes and raised brows. He crouches and lifts the book, his fingers curving around it as he straightens up. He was about to flip to the first page before he noticed the inscription on the front.
The words were Italian and from listening to his father's tales of meeting his first and "forever love," Luciana, were what swept her off her feet.
Tu sei la mia aria.
The distinct translation: You are my air.
It was once one of his father's most featured stories though he and Bryn heard it a lot, they never declined to rehear it because he was always so passionate and animated when speaking on about his youngest years.
He unclicks the lock and turns to the first page, blinks, and narrows his eyes precisely. His father's words were written, the handwriting was neat and in Italian. Each page was dated and smelt of cinnamon incense, every next page was torn and the ink was smudged.
Some entries weren't exactly important since they simply mentioned casual days in his Switzerland office, organizing paperwork and his assistant bringing late-night cocoa to his study during the frostiest nights.
Each entry lengthened to become more serious and longer. These happened before his passing and were filled with familiar words like deception and indignation, which he used to hear his father use when he spoke with his mother.
Prescription drugs were mentioned and remorse and regret. Though Harper felt a slight upset his father did drugs, knowing he regretted his actions eased some frustration.
There wasn't only guilt and fear, also fondness and gratefulness.
He wrote on how he was glad for his children and proud of their achievements, Harper's winning championship game and Bryn's musical abilities, admiring their talents and warm hearts. Even writing on how they overcame –
And before he knew it he'd reached the most recent entry.
It was barely a day before his death and there wasn't much but a smeared blue sentence.
I have nothing else to say.
Harper read it over a few times before shutting the book. He didn't have anything else to say either.
Talk about the man of no words.
He's thankful when Bryn arrives home at that, her fingers snapping the lock shut as she looks to him. A frown on her forehead, her mouth in a scowl, and her glittery eyelids flickering in exhaustion. She looks inches from collapsing on the piano.
But Harper knew better than to ask.
He notices some odd things about her today and that was what brought worsening confusion.
Her jaw was clenched and he notices her hand linger on the knob an extra second before their eyes met in a collision of arty blue. Her jaw slackens in a smile.
"Hey, Harper," she murmurs, her usual bellowing voice is raspy. "Band practice, sorry, out late –" She coughs into her palm and the frown on her forehead thickens. "It was too intense."
Harper strides over to her and lowers his hand onto her shoulder. "Don't worry about it. I know your practices are usually ... wild, but your voice shouldn't be that bad."
She winces to speak. "I know …" she whispers, shoulders low. "My throat's just real sore." Her voice cracks on the last word as she spun a tuft of brown around her index finger. Seconds later, he notices a stripe of peroxide-blonde in her hairline.
"Why don't you go upstairs to rest? I'll get a maid to bring up some tea and lemon."
After a minute, Bryn nods. "Okay, I think I need it."
She rotates on her heel and drags herself up the stairs. He looks away and withdraws his father's journal into his jacket.
He looks back and watches as she disappears into her room, slamming the door with a thrum.
Her skirt was on wrong.
He didn't want to know what band practice was, anyway.
X
"And she ditched?" Steven asks Javier, tossing his head back to laugh. He doesn't necessarily like Steven but since he's the only one of Bryn's friends he managed to find around this time. He's still confused on why Bryn ditched him. He could only wonder what Vena had said about their past schemes and love-making. "That's some hilarious shit. But, really, doesn't seem like her."
"I found it odd as well." Javier agreed, almost distastefully to the likes of him. "But I haven't seen her all day and Vena's been surprisingly secluded lately, especially since she spoke to Bryn earlier." Steven nods and watches a group of punks smoke joints from afar.
He continues watching until Javier makes a movement to leave. Steven startles, eyes wide and lips parted. "Wait, wait, wait!" he cries, waving his palms frantically. "Vena's the girl that looks like a coked-up Megan Fox, right?"
Javier takes a moment to respond. "I guess you could say that." he replies, getting over Steven's attention-span as he returns to look at the rebels, who leave into an alleyway.
He was only human. And it's not easy to recover when you were once an addict that got wasted in broad daylight.
"Yeah, I remember her ... sorta." Steven adds. "Stradlin and her been hangin'. By that, I mean too much. Every damn second she shows up lookin' just as stoned as me. She's bipolar, too. She was smiling this morning and when Stradlin turned his back she gave me the dirtiest look."
Javier arches a brow but says nothing. Ever since she had gotten back to Constance she's been nothing but brutal to those around her – well, she always been that way but was never as bad. She used to actually be reasonable until she became what she is today.
One hell of a bitch.
"In some sick way that almost sounds like her," Javier admits and receives confusion from Steven. "She once went to Constance a few years back but many don't really remember."
Actually many do but Steven just forgot due to the drugs he's snorted over the years.
"I feel stupid for sayin' I don't remember and I've been here since I was nearly five." Steven advises, biting his nails. "I just don't want my best friend to fall in love with her because I don't trust her. Especially since Bryn is so suspicious of her."
It wasn't a secret Steven once had an insane crush on Bryn and she accepted his love with pride but never returned his feelings. But who knew Adler had such a friendship with her?
Javier quiets and with a deep breath, Steven continues. "That's just the thing. She usually isn't this suspicious of people since –" He stops abruptly and swings his backpack over his shoulder, slicking his fingers through his hair, they quiver. Bryn always yelled when he mentioned David to anyone. She never liked to be reminded of that monster. "Look, I said a lot. I gotta go."
He was glad when Javier didn't attempt to stop him. He only watches Steven run into an alleyway, presumably to the music store, where sober friends worked. That place was probably his only sanctuary other than school which was also second worse to stay drug-free.
A close thump led him to look for the noise. Claire has her Gucci bag on the empty seat beside him, mouth twisted and dents on her forehead. She looks stressed and irritated, that expression was almost permanent on her face, nowadays.
Unless she was around Dean.
She dabs her clammy forehead with her fingertips and inhales exhaustedly. "Why the hell do you have to be in this damn courtyard all the time? Do you know how long it takes to get down here in heels?"
"Technically, Claire, it's barely across the street from yours." Javier points out and digs in the pocket of his trousers, pulling out a cigarette. Claire's eyes narrow at his casualty. She came to help him and he couldn't show her the slightest kindness? Two can play at that game.
"Fine," she says and shrugs, reclaiming her bag. "I was wondering if you were curious on what happened to Bryn this morning." She manages to shroud her amusement when she sees him raise eyebrows. "I guess I'll just be going since you don't care about Bryn all that much."
She hears an irritated sigh and turns, muffling her laughter with the look on his face.
He had something she hasn't seen in a while. There was a sort of frustration swimming through the light in his eyes, his brows furrowed and indents ruined them. He scowls and she's sure he was keeping his jaw tight. He would never raise his voice in public.
She looks away to unzip her bag for her phone, punches keys, and directs it out. He accepts it and notices a tiny video screen.
Bryn and Vena stood in an alleyway, his blazer on her shoulders. A deep frown mars her thin brows. She looks embarrassed and ashamed, a face royalty wears if they break laws or are forced into an engagement. Her gape and Vena's venomous smirk never stray.
If you don't do what I say when I say it, this picture of the mourning Blackwell on top of New York's playboy isn't going to Gossip Bee but the media. I'll be glad to give it to the tabloids. They'll eat me alive for this. Vena's smirk broadens and the realization shocks Bryn. Her normal unafraid face shatters and her eyes film over as she slumps against the wall.
Was this even Vena anymore? Why would she do something so cruel? It was almost hard to believe.
Though they all knew she would do the right thing, Bryn wouldn't want to embarrass herself and just send her blade in another direction. Vena's words could plunge deeply like a twisting knife and evading them was never easy.
I'll do whatever you want. Bryn surrenders and clenches a shaking fist. Just don't get J-Javier involved in this. Her voice cracks on his name and he'd be happier if not for this. Who would've ever thought she'd give in to Vena? But what stunned him was that she begged Vena to leave him alone.
But it didn't end there.
Gladly, now come. Vena's arm links with Bryn's enthusiastically while she startles into the seductress's flank. Since you are officially my maid – Javier scoffs – for the time, we're going off to Constance and I'll be able to flaunt my new minion, this will surely be a day to remember.
Javier returns Claire's phone and shuts his eyes, keeping his temper controlled despite the emotions dwelling within him.
Claire smiles.
"How should we begin?"
X
"Thanks for walking with me." Tinsley tells Dean as they walk saunter through Central Park. A group of sparrows hop to a crumpled Burger King bag, ketchup packets and fries spill out as they begin to flutter all around. "Everyone has been pretty wild over Vena's reign and how she's gonna knock the crown off Claire's head, the works."
"I'm still surprised that she's even back in the first place. I thought she would've learned her lesson after she was kicked out of Constance." Dean admits and kicks stones, nearly tripping over his own feet. That's real charm, way to go, he thinks sarcastically and is glad when she doesn't notice.
"I think she only came back because –" Tinsley begins and her words trail. She wants to say revenge because Vena and she hadn't separated on the best of terms when she fled New York awhile back. Boarding school was her escape to but it'd gotten better when she returned to visit a friend and met Harper within the first minutes, almost wishing she had a clean slate when their eyes met.
Hers an inquiring green, his an enthusiastic blue. A collision of beautiful watercolors.
"Because of Javier." she finishes before Dean can question. "She broke up with him before she ran off to England, I think it was ... rude but she's probably trying to get him back now."
Honestly, she knew that wasn't it but wouldn't let any know. She didn't want to be suspicious of Vena because they were once best friends but considering what she's been doing rumor-wise. She's had her doubts but decided to listen to Bryn and not pay attention to her schemes and lies.
"I hate to disagree but I don't think that's it." Dean says and she thought he'd read her mind. "Vena hasn't always been nice even though she portrays it ... I always found you nicer than her. Even in the past. The difference was you had a heart and she didn't."
Tinsley took his words to mind. She never liked her past-self. It sickened her. Sometimes, she couldn't believe how she acted in the first place. She was repulsive and conniving. Not to mention the rudest in Constance with the exception of Vena.
They weren't exactly Duchess Catherines.
Knowing Dean probably meant what he said, she couldn't not smile. "Thanks, that's sweet. You're probably the only one who thinks that. Even Matthew admitted he used to hate me."
Which was true and though he never said it to her, he practically told everyone else.
He didn't talk to her for two weeks when she revealed their kiss to Vena.
It wasn't that he was particularly flustered by locking lips. It was more embarrassing at how suddenly it happened. You're supposed to feel fireworks when you kiss or sleep with someone but there was nothing when they ... kissed.
Nothing's shocking, huh?
"You think more than me," Dean jokes and Tinsley laughs. He wants to make her smile. She was still his first love after all. He did still feel something. "I blank out in the middle of conversations with Claire, sometimes."
Tinsley giggles and tosses her hair over her shoulders. "I think everyone of Claire's friends has done that once."
Yeah, Claire could talk and I mean talk.
Dean chuckles and when he's about to speak –
"Tinsley, get over here now!"
They turn to find Claire and Javier standing down the block, Claire seething and Javier frowning. Those two expressions were never a good thing.
Tinsley turns to Dean with hopeful eyes, almost sad. He shakes his head understandingly. "Go, I don't want you getting in trouble now."
She nods and hurries off.
The friends she has never been so glad to have.
X
"Hmm, who should we make miserable today?" Vena croons as she walks down Park Avenue. Bryn's forced arm linked tight with Vena's. Beaten combat boots and pretty heels click down the concrete. Bryn looks away to hide her eye roll. "Especially since we haven't been able to find anyone decent."
Bryn's crimson mouth poises in a mocking pout. She's glad Vena isn't using any of her witty comments against her or else she'd be caged in media hell. "Oh, hell," she says and Vena looks to her, mimicking her frown. "That sucks ass, doesn't it?"
"It does." Vena agrees, voice chirping with fake somber. "That means I have to keep you longer, darling."
An indifferent smile comes to Bryn's face and she shifts her arm in Vena's. "Oh, that sucks harder, doesn't it?"
"Yes, so find someone quick to embarrass." She directs to the sea of people, many passing unknowingly. "Or like I said." She pats her coat pocket with her free hand. "Blackmail, Blackwell."
"I don't know why you used me." Bryn stats, flexing her fingers. "I'm the worse when it comes to embarrassing people. You'd be better off with Javier or Claire. The best I could do is this." She halts her and Vena and extends a leg, tripping a random patron. The person looks around with a glare before heading away. "A rebel isn't the same as a bitch."
Vena looks back to Bryn and they continue stride. "They can be. You see Claire ... even though she doesn't exactly count as a rebel. She's clearly a bitch. Don't you spend time with her?"
"Only when I'm forced to." She shrugs. "My brother dated her once and she's ... ugh."
"We seem to have something in common after all." she muses, looking to Bryn.
"I won't hurt her so you better chill." Bryn murmurs, focusing with a glare on Vena, who smirks away pleasantly. "I hate her but I won't risk my brother killing me."
"It's not whether he'll be upset or not, it's whether you want to keep your reputation good." She smirks and laughs. "Or in your case, bad. So it's either make someone you know and love miserable or else ..."
It takes all Bryn's might to not shove her heel into Vena's.
She sighs and slides her arm from Vena's and hurries across the street. She doesn't know where she's heading but all she wants is to get away. Why was she being bothered? She hadn't done anything wrong in the first place.
She looks back and sees Vena, staring at her with a look of frost.
Then she lets her hand touch her chest, feeling for her heartbeat as she listens to it thrum in her ears.
She sighs, slicks a hand through her hair and runs.
She didn't need this.
X
"They're not going to do anything to you, Javier."
"I don't talk to them for a reason, they know enough about me."
Tinsley pushes Javier's shoulders, leading him in the direction of the rebels. They're at their usual table, dining on cigarettes and McDonald's. Steven sits between some girls and the evil-kid, who yelled at him when he asked about the Blackwells during the funeral-era.
She smiles and directs him closer. "Trust me, I know them! They're really nice." Her eyes widen when she sees one attempt to light a soda can on fire. They burst into wild laughter and crunch the can. "Well, most of them …"
Steven blinks and waves at Tinsley, he smiles gladly and offers her a cigarette, which she declines as they ease into friendly conversation. Javier glares at her. Traitor.
"I haven't seen Bryn." The dark-haired guy advises. "You can leave now."
Javier tucks his knuckles in his coat. "I wasn't going to ask that, I just wanted –"
"To fuck Bryn? She got better things to do. I'm sure her life doesn't revolve around you." Oh, yeah, his name was Matt. "You can go claim a new Constance girl. I hear the count of them is lowering. So I'd be quick. Especially since a good –"
"CAN YOU SHUT UP?"
Matt quiets, his eyebrows knitted, and he sits back. He uses this to get his words across. "I just want to talk about Bryn. It's important, actually. And involves more than one person and not in the way you're thinking. I swear."
Tinsley and Steven smile and return to their conversation. Everyone else does, too.
Matt arises and grabs a cigarette, his eyes are narrow and he's not smiling. "This better be good."
X
It's the next day when Bryn rushes through St. Jude's empty courtyard after a conversation with Harper on seasonal lacrosse. He knew nothing of what went on behind the Constance doors. He wouldn't either because he didn't need to get involved in her problems. She had to try to keep his life normal. She'd already massacred their year once when –
"Bryn!"
She doesn't bother spinning around because she recognizes the voice. She spent the whole day yesterday avoiding Claire, Tinsley, and Javier. And it isn't easy when you live in walking-distance of them and your brother's life also revolves around them. Her heart thunders and she shakes in her boots, speeding up before they could manage to catch her. She didn't like hiding because it wasn't her. She was supposed to be fearless.
She would be if Vena hadn't shoveled dirt up to her chin.
She hears frantic footsteps behind her and when she's ready to curb the corner, someone catches her forearm and yanks her back, their grip unyielding. It was like Harper's but she knew otherwise.
She could recognize the cigarettes and cologne anywhere.
Bryn turns to her supposed captor with wide eyes, lashes glistening. She attempts to wrench from the steely grip but prevails. She wouldn't cry. "Javier, let go." she says and narrows her eyes. His fingers on her arm, not once quivering in the glare she gives. "I'm not kidding. I have to get to class."
"Class will have to wait, then." he assures and raises a hand to touch her face, she startles back and he retreats. "Listen, Bryn, I know what Vena has –"
"Bryn." They look to find Vena's eyes on them. Which would surely devise another scheme of torture, Javier knew by feeling Bryn stiffening under his hand like she was electrocuted. "What are you doing with him?"
"Uh ... nothing?" she answers and her voice rises in a forming question. "I was just leaving to come see you after I left my brother in the field." She reaches to rip her arm from Javier's but he still doesn't let go. His own glare blazes into her like an open flame. He didn't want to see her suffer at Vena's hand. No one deserved that. Especially not her.
"No, Bryn," he stats and loosens his grip to encircle her waist. Her eyebrows raise in indefinite silence as she looks back at Vena, who silently bids to control herself. "Leave her alone, Vena. She didn't do anything to you."
"Shut up!" she screeches, channeling a banshee. Bryn shivers and buries her face in her hair. "You can't tell me what to do! If you want to think that, fine. As long as I have what I have, I'm untouchable!" She snatches her phone out her bag, clicking it on. "Why don't I send this picture to the tabloids right now?"
Bryn cries out and fights Javier furiously. He swings another arm over her to keep her still. "No!" she yells, her voice rising to fearful octaves. She whips the hair out of her eyes and turns to Javier in growing anger. "Lemme go! I can't let her –"
Javier's mouth is on her ear and he releases a hand to tuck a short strand behind her ear. "Shh." he whispers tenderly, his warmth tickles her earlobe. "I've got this."
She slumps against him and sighs. She believes him to a limit.
Vena looks away from them to browse the icons of her phone. "Where is that damn picture?" she demands of herself, searching every article, eyes skimming each icon. "Where the hell is it?"
A sigh of relief escapes Bryn and Javier smiles and leads his fingers around Bryn's collarbone. "If you're wondering where that went, let's just say someone had gotten hold of your phone." He narrows his eyes and his smile turns into a smirk. "That was a nice try at attempting to embarrass Bryn and I but you failed. Which is unlike you, Ven." Vena's growls and Bryn cracks her own smile. "And if you attempt to start up a story on us being together, it'd better be good next time because I'm sure we will be."
Bryn whips back in surprise. Vena simply glares.
His brows raise in amusement. "But before I finish off with you, let me just say if you try it again I haven't forgotten about what you concurred in the past and I wouldn't be afraid to give that to the media."
Vena's brows furrow and dents form upon her forehead. "If you do that you will officially start war between Tinsley, Claire, me, you, and –" Her eyes darken at Bryn. "Her."
He shakes his head and chuckles, releasing the harsh grip he kept at Bryn. His smirk widens and he swings Bryn under his arm, ducking her low and enjoying the gasp he heard from both girls. Talk about satisfying. "Not yet I haven't –"
His lips silence Bryn's and their isn't reluctance in either of them as their mouths open against one another, tongues entering strongly. Hearing the fleeing clip of Vena's heels, he breaks the kiss and smiles when he doesn't find Bryn's hesitancy.
She smiles gratefully and caresses his jaw. "Thank you."
His smirk weakens but doesn't entirely vanish. "Anytime. Now, are you ready for war, Blackwell?"
She laughs as she reaches to kiss him again, mouths caught in spontaneous fever.
"As long as you're on my side, I'm ready for anything."
"You're damn right."
X
And that finishes that and finally the war is official and Bryn is back to the good side. :) I hope you all liked this one, I worked for a while on this and this last scene was a bit hard to work on.
I also decided on the official theme song for the story and I decided it'd be "Make Me Wanna Die" by The Pretty Reckless. You all should check it out, it's one of the greatest songs and plus it's by GG's very own, Taylor Momsen.
