Originally, I was going to have the Clarisse and Reyna rematch be the halfway point of the story, but it was also supposed to be sooner in the story. Now, it's going to be past the halfway point, but there is still plenty to go. Let me know your thoughts on the story and how you like it.
I also wanted to drop this chapter today because it would be rather cruel to make everyone wait a week for the chapter after this one. I hope you enjoy.
Reyna carefully got out of her car and zipped her jacket up completely. She shivered as another torrent of cold infected her body. Her gaze moved to the large building in front of her. Reyna grabbed the two containers of food from her car and started to walk inside.
Reyna was doing her best to not only open up, but to show that she was trying her best. That was why she was here. Her plan was to surprise Kinzie with dinner and get to know her better. After all, Hylla was going to be getting married soon.
As Reyna sighed, she watched her breathe billow out of her mouth. She tried to remember when her sister was supposed to propose. Hylla never mentioned a date, but Reyna was sure it had passed. Granted, she could just look for a ring on Kinzie's finger.
Another shiver told Reyna she needed to get away from the cold. She hurried towards the front door and stepped inside. Reyna looked around the brightly lit lobby that she was in. The floor was so polished that she could quite literally see her reflection in it. The walls were made of something like gold.
Wearing her Wolves hoodie and blue jeans made her feel totally out of place, especially since she had spent so long at the gym that day. Reyna trekked down the long hall and towards the mahogany counter. Reyna stopped in front of it and saw a woman that wasn't Kinzie. The receptionist looked up at her, "Do you have an appointment?"
"I was looking for Kinzie," Reyna began. The receptionist studied her for a moment. "I'm her girlfriend's sister. I was just bringing her food."
"She's on her lunch break," the receptionist said, standing from her chair. "Follow me."
Reyna silently followed the receptionist down the marbled halls. Her gaze kept moving behind her to make sure that her shoes weren't leaving a mess behind. They stopped at a door, and the receptionist spoke, "She's in here."
"Thanks," Reyna said. She watched the receptionist walk away. Then, Reyna rolled her shoulders and felt like she was about to step into a fight. Reyna cracked open the door, and before she even stepped in, she heard raised voices, like two people were arguing. Reyna finished her entry and slowly closed the door behind her.
Hylla and Kinzie were standing face to face with each other. They both had very upset looks on their faces. Neither of them seemed to notice her, and Reyna just watched them with bated breath. Kinzie shook her head and looked to be mid-rant, "Why can't you just let her help us?"
"Reyna is just trying to make up for running away. I don't need her to give me money to make it up to me. I just want my sister to spend time with me," Hylla snapped. Kinzie turned her head to the side and froze. Hylla followed her gaze and froze as well.
"...Hey," Reyna said after a moment. She rubbed the back of her neck awkwardly and raised the bag. "I brought food."
"How did you know I was here?" Hylla asked after a moment.
"I didn't. I was going to have dinner with Kinzie, actually," Reyna confessed. Hylla nodded slightly. "To get to know her."
"That sounds nice," Kinzie said. She looked at Hylla and gave her a look that Reyna couldn't read. Anger? A warning? "Take a seat. I'll grab silverware."
"There are plastic ones inside," Reyna began. She sat the bag down and pulled out the two containers. Her gaze moved to her sister. Reyna had only seen Hylla a few times since Thanksgiving, but she had called her every day. "And um, Thalia was wondering if you wanted to do a double date sometime."
"Really?" Hylla asked with a look of surprise. She looked at Kinzie and nudged her with a small smirk. Kinzie didn't seem as amused
"That would be nice," Kinzie said. There was a way that she spoke that indicated she was pissed. Her lips were pursed together, and there was a look of anger on her face.
"I would have gotten meals for both of you if I knew," Reyna began. Hylla waved it off. Reyna quietly handed Kinzie her food. She watched her sister and Kinzie sit down together, but they looked pissed at each other. Reyna felt like there was more going on.
"Is it something I did?" Reyna asked after a moment. She hated the awkward tension between the two of them. It was so bad even Reyna was picking up on it.
"No," Hylla said.
"Yes," Kinzie said at the same time.
"So, which one is it?" Reyna slowly asked confused.
"You need to stop being a stubborn fool," Kinzie spat as she turned on Hylla. "You didn't want me to meet Reyna because you were scared of letting Reyna back in your life and getting hurt again. Now here she is, trying her best, and you won't let her."
"I am not going to let her give me money," Hylla snapped, raising her voice.
"It's not about the money, and we both know it," Kinzie snapped back. "If it was about the money, you would have torn up your mother's check!"
"Wait, what?" Reyna began.
"You can't admit how much it tore you up and destroyed you that Reyna didn't come back," Kinzie continued. She stabbed her finger into Hylla's chest.
"What do you me-"
"I've already admitted how badly it tore me up," Hylla almost yelled as she stood.
"Hey!" Reyna yelled at the top of her lungs. The fighting couple finally gave her their attention. "What the hell do you mean by mother's check?"
"You know how mother is. Always sending us checks to bribe us into loving her," Hylla said with a wave of her hand.
"What the hell do you mean?" Reyna questioned again. Her eyebrows knitted together in angry confusion. Hylla turned to look at her. "You talk to our mother?"
"No," Hylla dismissed with a shake of her head. "Asshole got my address somehow and sends me checks every month. No letter. No return address either. The address on the check is for our old residence, so I don't have any way to track her. I know she sends them to you too."
"I received only one. Years ago," Reyna began. It was Hylla's turn to look confused. Kinzie exhaled and seemed to release some of her anger. "But, I tore it up."
"I did the same thing," Hylla said after a moment. Reyna sat down and wasn't sure how to feel. She tore up her mother's check and was left alone after that. Hylla did the same and was given check after check. That didn't make any sense to Reyna. Why would their mother give money to Hylla but not her? Did she care about Hylla more?
"Reyna," Hylla began. Reyna stared up at her sister numbly. Her mother kept sending checks to Hylla, but not Reyna. She just gave up on her. Two hands suddenly wrapped around her, but she didn't move. "I'm sorry."
Reyna finally closed her eyes and buried her face in Hylla's shoulder. Hylla spoke, "Screw it. I won't take that bitch's money. Especially if she isn't going to try and help you."
A hand rubbed Reyna's back, and it took her a few moments to pull away from her sister. Hylla gently wiped a tear from Reyna's eyes, and Kinzie turned the back rub into a shoulder massage. Hylla watched her in concern.
Reyna hung her head and refused to cry. Why did she even care if her mother sent Hylla money? It wasn't like Reyna needed it. She made a career for herself out of nothing. And she wouldn't be bribed by her mother.
"It's okay," Reyna muttered. She rubbed her forehead and wiped her eyes.
"It's not okay," Hylla argued. She started to pace. "What the hell is wrong with her? You needed the money more than I did."
"Is it possible she put money together for both of you?" Kinzie asked. Hylla shook her head.
"No. Around the time that Reyna emancipated herself, the amount on the checks was cut in half," Hylla explained.
"How did your mother even know that?" Kinzie asked. Hylla didn't answer. Reyna stared down at the table and finally opened her carton of food.
"We should eat before the food gets cold," Reyna muttered. Hylla looked like she wanted to say more. Instead, she rubbed Reyna's shoulder and then sat down at the opposite end of the table. Kinzie sat next to her.
Minutes passed in silence. Reyna nibbled at her fries and tried to swallow back the anger that was boiling inside. She doubted her day could get any worse. Kinzie and Hylla split the sandwich and fries in half.
Reyna finally broke the silence, "Were you scared for me to meet Kinzie?"
"I was," Hylla admitted. Reyna watched Kinzie squeeze Hylla's hand.
"When Thalia and I were first dating, she wanted to meet you as well. It was the reason we broke up in the first place. I was just scared to let you back into my life and let you meet her," Reyna explained. Her sister remained silent. "Tear up the check from mother and take the money from me."
"It can be a bunch of makeup gifts for Christmas and missed birthdays. And it can be an engagement gift," Reyna said. She knew that she said the wrong thing as Hylla froze. Kinzie's eyes widened, and she slowly looked at Hylla.
"What does she mean by engagement gift?" Kinzie asked. Reyna froze in place, and the fry in her mouth tasted like ash. She swallowed painfully and felt her face heat up. Hylla stared like a deer in the headlights. "Hylla?"
"I was going to propose," Hylla began. Her eyes moved to Kinzie then Reyna. "Tomorrow."
Reyna felt like the world was frozen. Hylla had an unreadable expression on her face. Anger? Sadness? Betrayal? Kinzie was staring at Hylla in shock. Reyna found it hard to breathe, and she felt terrible. She quickly stood.
"I'm sorry," Reyna said. She backed up and almost tripped over the chair. "I'm so sorry. I thought you asked. I'm so sorry, Hylla."
"Reyna," Hylla began as she pushed herself out of her chair.
"I'm sorry," Reyna repeated. She turned and fled from the room. Shame burned in her chest as her quick walk turned into a jog. Reyna made it outside in a few seconds and ran towards her car. How could she just ruin Hylla's proposal like that?! One day before Hylla was going to propose!
Proposals were supposed to be a special moment in someone's life. Hylla probably had this elaborate plan, and Reyna just blurted it out. Reyna climbed into her car and jammed her keys into the ignition. Anger and shame burned in her chest, making it hard to breathe.
Reyna pulled out of the parking space and sped out of the lot, almost hitting another car. She gripped her steering wheel and felt her heart beating out of her chest. How could she ruin everything? Reyna tried to open up. Instead, she caused an argument between Hylla and Kinzie and ruined Hylla's proposal.
Tears of anger at herself burned in Reyna's eyes. She sped all the way home, not caring about the bad weather or the fact that cops would be roaming the streets. When she pulled into her apartment complex, she didn't feel any better. Reyna just wanted to go one day without ruining anything.
Reyna felt her phone vibrate and glanced at it. She saw a few missed calls from Hylla, along with a text from Nico. Before she read the text, she stepped into the apartment. Reyna froze at the scene in front of her.
Nico was laying back on the couch, but he wasn't wearing a shirt. His pants were around his knees, and two hands were holding onto his boxers. Reyna traced the hands that held onto Nico's boxers all the way up to the person's head, and he stared at the team's doctor.
Will's head shot to the side, and his eyes widened. He scrambled backward but tripped over his own discarded pants and boxers, falling to the ground. Will quickly covered himself, and Nico just stared at Reyna. His face had turned a tomato shade red.
Reyna stepped outside and closed the front door. She stared down at the handle. Nico wasn't even comfortable telling her who he was dating. For her to just walk in on that meant Nico would be mortified. Not to mention poor Will who had accidentally exposed himself when he fell to the ground.
Reyna slowly walked back to her car. She hated herself for no doubt traumatizing Nico. He would retreat into his shell now. Reyna sat in her car and started it. She drove aimlessly, anger still burning in her chest. One day didn't go by that she didn't screw something up.
Why did Reyna mess up everything that she tried to do? Hell, she couldn't even go home without messing something up! Reyna found herself mindlessly driving, panicking at what she had done. There was an agreement between her and Nico. If they brought home a date, the other would leave the apartment.
Even though she was driving, Reyna glanced at her phone. Thirty minutes ago she received a text from Nico asking her to stay out of the house for a few hours. Reyna felt tears of rage and anger in her eyes. She threw her phone to the side and stared at where it fell. Then, her eyes moved back to the road.
The car hit a patch of ice, and Reyna tried to straighten the wheel. She never even saw the pole she slammed into.