Author's note: Sometimes, I just can't sit on a chapter until it's time to update. This is one of those times... And since this chapter starts directly where the last one left off, and the radio is still on, song lyrics are once again written *like this*.
*What will I do when I don't have you, when I finally get what I deserve?*
Cedric sat in stunned silence on the bed, rubbing his injured cheek as he stared at the door Sofia had run out of just a minute ago. "Serves me right." He muttered out loud, even though there was no one around to hear it.
I wanted to tell her. He wanted her to know the truth, about the kiss, about his feelings, everything. She was the one who said they shouldn't keep secrets from each other, and the idea of not having to hide from her anymore proved incredibly tempting. But when she stared at him wide-eyed, too appalled with his confession to even muster a response, he lost his nerve, forcing a smile and inventing a lame excuse about it being a joke.
To make matters worse, when his cover story seemed to make things worse instead of better, he actually convinved himself that maybe, just maybe, he'd misread his sister, and she'd wanted the kiss to be real. Stupid. How could I even think that? He flopped back down on the mattress, groaning in frustration.
*Yeah, sing for the damage we've done, and the worse things that we'll do.*
Cedric hurled a pillow at his stereo, knocking it off the dresser, and the room went deathly silent.
"Shit!" He seethed, pressing his palms to his eyes as a bitter laugh escaped him. I really do ruin everything.
Sofia would forgive him, though. He was sure of it. When it was time to go to sleep, she'd come sneaking into his bed, and all would be forgiven, just like every other time he pissed her off. She's never been mad enough to hit me before, though.
Outside, thunder rumbled as a storm threatened to break, and Cedric flipped around in time to see the first fat rain drops beginning to hit his window. Sofia hates thunderstorms. She'd said something really weird about it once, that they reminded her of death, or... He couldn't recall exactly what, because they were pretty little at the time, and she used to say a lot of things that didn't make any sense. She'll come back because she's scared, and I'll make her feel better. No way she won't forgive me, then.
When a few more minutes of rain passed without his twin returning, Cedric climbed out of bed. I'll bet she's standing in the hall, being stubborn. She wasn't there, either, so he trudged down the stairs and went back into the den. The glares he got from his cousins could level an entire skyline, but what stood out most was the person who was absent from the room.
"Have you guys seen Sofia?" He ventured, trying to ignore the hostile atmosphere. How much did she tell them?
"She went out a while ago." James answered, returning to the workbook in his lap. Amber's eyes never left Cedric as he processed this information.
"But it's raining..." He mumbled weakly, scratching the back of his head in irritation when his words went unnoticed. "Where-?"
"She was pretty upset about something, maybe you should just leave her alone." Amber insisted. Cedric suppressed the urge to roll his eyes at the blonde, instead retrieving an umbrella from the stand next to the front door and running out into the storm.
"Sofia!" He tried to yell her name, but between the sound of the rain pounding against the pavement, and the way the wind whipped the word back into his face, he wasn't sure there was any way she could hear him even if she was nearby.
He tried the school, the ice cream shop, everywhere he could possibly think of. Ready to give up, he headed in the direction of their home, passing a park where their mother used to bring them when they were little, before she took a job with their father's firm and was gone all the time.
There, he caught a glimpse of his sister, in her soaking wet school uniform, sitting on the swings staring glumly off into space.
"You'll catch a cold if you sit out in the rain like that." He grumbled, coming up behind her and curling his hands around the chains. Sofia glanced back at him, but didn't respond. "I used to push you on this swing, remember?"
He placed his feet on the sides of the seat, using his body weight to propel the swing forward. Surprised by the sudden movement, Sofia reached up and held on tight to keep from falling, tucking her legs up so they wouldn't drag on the ground. As they swung backwards, Cedric leaned forward and peeked down at her, watching as she tried to stifle a soft smile.
"Only because I begged you, and even then mom had to make you do it." She griped while he leaned as far back as he could without falling, sending them high in the air ahead. "You're going too high! Stop!"
"No." He replied simply, pressing his weight to the front again. "If I stop, you'll run away again. This way, you have to stay here with me." Sofia shook her head, signalling that she wouldn't try to run off, but he kept going, using his whole body to steer the swing to dizzying heights while Sofia squeaked out protests.
"I'm still mad at you!" Cedric nodded, not surprised in the least.
"I don't know what you want from me." He admitted. She didn't give him any answer, and he frowned down at the back of her head. "Sofia, look up."
She arched her back, turning her face up to him, and he bent down, bringing his mouth just a breath away from hers. The swing lurched from the sudden movement and his fingers slipped on the wet chains, the force of his body flying forward knocking Sofia loose, too. They both landed roughly in the pit of soggy wood chips below.
"Shit. I really thought that would work." Beside him, Sofia burst out into laughter, and Cedric found it infectious, joining in despite his wounded pride.
"That was so awkward!" Sofia hiccuped, clutching her stomach. Cedric flipped over onto his back, closing his eyes to keep the pouring rain out. Once you're already this wet, it doesn't seem so bad. "You're seriously uncool."
"Hey... Weren't you scared?" He questioned, stretching out his arm so Sofia could rest her head on his shoulder.
"It wasn't that bad. I hurt my knee a little, though." Cedric squeezed her arm as she settled against him.
"I meant the thunder." He explained, peering down at her curiously. It was so unlike her to be this calm during a storm, after all.
"You know, I was, but I totally forgot about it when you found me. Isn't that weird?" She turned towards him, waiting for his answer, but he ducked his head to quickly capture her lips. "What was that for?" She pressed her finger to the spot when he pulled away, and Cedric grinned to himself, dropping his head back down on the mulch.
"So you don't have to keep wondering if I did or didn't." He offered, shrugging slightly. "Are we okay, now?" Sofia buried her face into his chest, sighing against him.
"Yeah, we're okay." She agreed, and a wave of relief flooded over him.
"Good. I was afraid you were gonna slap me again." He joked it off, but the possibility had actually crossed his mind.
"I'm sorry about that." She whispered, pouting up at him. Cedric waved the apology away. I'm the one who should be saying sorry.
"Don't be. I was being a dick." He conceded. He was dying to kiss her again, to keep doing so until their lips were bruised and swollen from the contact, and they were left gasping for air, but decided it was better not to push his luck.
Cedric nudged her up so they could get home, but after a few steps it became clear that she was understating her injury.
"Come on." He insisted, crouching down in front of her. "I'll carry you back. You can hold the umbrella."
"You'll drop me." He shot her a pained look, but still she hesitated.
"I will not, just trust me."
...
"Think Amber and James are still here?" Sofia queried as they approached their front walk. Cedric eyed the house, tempted to find some excuse not to go in.
"Knowing those guys? Definitely." They reached the door, and he let go of her right leg, forcing her to cling tightly to his neck to keep from falling, so he could try the handle. The door swung open, and Sofia ducked to avoid hitting her head as they crossed the threshold.
"You can let me down, now." Sofia squeaked, maintaining a death grip on him as he kicked his shoes off in the entryway. Cedric ignored her, carrying her up the stairs and depositing her next to the door to the wash room.
"Here, take the first bath, and I'll go see if anyone's home." As Sofia vanished into the next room, Cedric took the steps to the first floor two at a time, anxious to find out whether or not they were alone. He came skidding to a halt at the bottom when he spotted Amber leaning against the doorway to the den, arms crossed and staring daggers at him.
"I guess you two are getting along again." The contempt in the statement was palpable, and Cedric decided he'd had more than enough of her attitude towards him lately.
"What is your problem with me?" He demanded, matching her icy stare. "You used to follow me around all the time, telling me how cool I was. You practically worshiped me, for Christ's sake." Her cheeks flamed with indignation as she flipped her long, blonde hair behind her shoulder.
"That was before I knew." She's lying. She might have a hunch, but she doesn't know anything for sure. He tried to calm his racing pulse, convinced that she could hear his heart hammering as he closed the distance between them, not wanting James or Sofia to overhear the conversation. "I'm not stupid, Cedric. I saw the two of you, at the bowling alley." She held up her phone, clicking a button to turn on the screen so he could see the proof, an incriminating picture of him and Sofia making out against the vending machine.
"You can't tell anyone about that." He warned her, cringing at the shrill tone his voice took on of it's own accord. "If you show that to anyone, I'll-"
"Don't worry, I haven't. And it'll stay that way, but only if you do one teensy little thing for me." Cedric couldn't believe his ears. His own cousin was trying to blackmail him. He nodded reluctantly, not seeing any better options than to play along with her game, at least temporarily. "You have to accept Cleo's confession and be her boyfriend. Do that, and your dirty little secret is safe forever."
"Tell everyone. See if I care." He bluffed, one final, desperate attempt to dig his way out of the mess he'd created. Amber quirked a thin eyebrow at him, not the least bit deterred by his acting.
"I wonder what Uncle Goody would do if he found out. How far would he go to protect 'daddy's little princess'? I bet he'd send you to live with Cordelia." Amber smirked as Cedric's face fell, partly because he had already considered that as something his father might do if he ever found out about his feelings. "Have you thought about how it would feel? If you were never allowed to see Sofia again? If-"
"I'll do it." Cedric cut her off, hanging his head as he agreed to her terms. I won't lose Sofia, no matter what.
"Oh, and Cedric... I'm sure it goes without saying, but if you breath a word of this to your sister, the deal is off."
