CHAPTER 33 – OPEN ARMS


Arora carelessly threw the belongings of her draws into the new looking black suitcase that sat surrounded by bags on her bed. She sighed softly as she slumped down onto the floor, leaning up against the bed she let her head fall into her hands as she wept softly.

Somewhere deep down she knew this would happen, she knew Bianca would find out and she knew that she would be angry and upset, but the realization that years of friendship could come crashing down with one stupid mistake was a feeling that cut her deep. They’d grown up together, seen the world change around them, Arora still remembered vividly the times the shared.
She wiped the tears from her eyes harshly and stood up.

“You deserve everything you get” she mumbled to herself as she continued to pack

~ AT THE SAME TIME ~

Bianca stepped outside the house and closed the door behind her. She couldn’t bare to be in the house anymore, she didn’t know what she was doing or where she was going but she had to get out, she just needed to go.

She sighed bitterly as Brian’s car pulled up to the house. He hoped out of the car, closing the door behind him. The BMW beeped loudly as it armed itself and Brian walked toward Bianca.
“Is Arora inside?” he questioned, standing only a matter of a few meters away.
Bianca swerved off the park and down the tract that led along the house and down to the beach. Brian annoyed her, not because of anything he’d done, but because of what he hadn’t. He hadn’t reacted like she had, he hadn’t cursed and screamed and thrown away years of friendship over what happened, it was like he’d shrugged it off, she hated him for that, she hated him because she couldn’t just bring herself to do that.

“Bianca?” Brian called again, following her down the path. He reached out and grabbed her arm, spinning her around to face him.
“What’s wrong?” he inquired. It was obvious to see she’d been crying, wet trails were still present on her face
“What do you think is wrong?” she snapped yanking her arm back “Look just leave me alone” she announced turning around and running down the path.
“Is this how you’re going to live the rest of your life?” Brian called, refusing to give chase
Bianca spun around, her long curly hair whipping around her face. She pulled it back and starred at him.
“And what’s that supposed to mean?” she huffed
“It means” Brian spoke stepping forward “Are you going to go through life pushing people that care about you away?”
Bianca chuckled to herself, as if his statement made her laugh.
“People that care about me? Fuck them, I don’t need anyone” she hissed before turning back around and disappearing down the bank.
Brian turned around and walked back the way he came, Bianca was so much like Nick it was scary, they both shut people out, simply because it was easier than dealing with them.

~AT THE SAME TIME~

“You think I'm crazy don’t you?” Tatum stammered as she sat across the table from two Orlando detectives, in the downtown police station
“We understand what you’re saying Miss Lee, but we’ve done the checks, your stalker died that night”
Tatum sighed annoyed. Maybe they were right, she had shot him, she had seen his blood and smelt its awful stench in the cold night air. She remembered that night clearly, her nightmares wouldn’t let her forget it. And this time the eerie feeling was close again, it was so similar, so frighteningly parallel.

She ran the tips of her fingers through her blond hair, and looked up at the two detectives, hoping they would just believe her.
“We’re looking into it been a copycat stalker, but as far as we can tell this watcher was a loner, he had no close friends or family, but we can assure you we will try every aspect”
Tatum nodded slowly, they would never understand, she couldn’t expect them to feel what she was feeling, if this was someone else, then that person had taken a page straight from “The watchers” guidebook, because everything, right down to the voice were the same.

~ AT THE SAME TIME ~

“Isn’t there 3 of you?” Justin laughed as he sat down on a brown plastic chair that lined the edge of the dance studio. He laughed stupidly as he stretched his legs out.
“Yeah there is dumbass” Chastity smirked staring down at her watch again.
They had about a week and a half before the tour would start, something she was sure none of them were looking forward to, but even if they weren’t they would still have shown up at the rehearsal.
Joey and JC strolled into the studio, dumping their bags in one of the corners. Lance and Chris were over to the other side of the room, chatting idly about something.

Chastity dialed Arora’s and Bianca’s number again, and listened to it ring. It rung 3 times then switched onto the answering machine.
“Bianca! RO! God, one of you pick up this damn phone, remember the rehearsals we’re supposed to have? Well gee I'm here and you’re not, god, where are you?” she wined before hanging up

“Don’t worry sexy, you’re more than welcome to stay with me” Joey grinned stupidly
“Up yours asshole” Chastity scathed as she flicked him the finger

~ AT THE SAME TIME ~

Arora heard the phone ringing, but she didn’t want to answer it, she didn’t want to speak to anyone, it didn’t matter who was on the other line. She heard it beep, but couldn’t really make out the message, then again it wouldn’t have mattered, she still would have ignored it.

“Arora?” Brian questioned down the hall as he closed the door behind him.
Arora looked up from the floor, where she’d placed herself again. She just sat there staring into the empty draws in front of her, tears streaming down her face.

Brian heard her weeping as he walked closer to her door. He knocked lightly before opening the door. She didn’t even look up as he walked in.
“Rose?” he spoke softly as he knelt beside her
It was only then she acknowledged his presence. She looked up, her vision blurred with tears.
He sat down beside her and wrapped his arms around her, pulling her gently into an embrace. He stroked the back of her head softly as he kissed her cheek and rocked her gently. He couldn’t help but notice the room was covered in bags and suitcases.
“You’re leaving?” he questioned as she broke free from his embrace
“I think it’s best” she whispered pushing the tears to the side of her face with the back of her hand
“You don’t have to” Brian remarked
“I do. This is all my fault, look what I did, I nearly killed Bianca, I nearly killed my best friend” she wept angrily
“Then come stay with me” Brian offered sweetly
Arora looked up at him oddly as she swooped her hand across her face pushing back another set of tears.
“But what about –“
“Please don’t say no. Say yes”
Arora didn’t know what to say, he was accepting her back after everything with open arms, a feeling that still didn’t feel right.




Chapter 34
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