CHAPTER THIRTY: Disaster
RILEY'S POV
It had been a few days.
And somehow, the house felt… empty.
Not actually empty—people still lived here—but it felt like it.
Mr and Mrs Natalie are mostly out for work.
Kai and Kayla were always out for classes.
Mason and Jason? Barely around. Probably off doing something chaotic.
And Xander…
I frowned slightly.
He's barely seen.
You never really knew if he was around.
No sound. No warning.
Just… silence.
—
"I'm bored," I muttered, staring at the ceiling.
Bad decision.
Because a few minutes later, I was sitting in front of the mirror with my phone propped up, following some random makeup tutorial.
"This better be worth it."
—
Twenty minutes later…
I leaned closer to the mirror.
"…Oh."
I tilted my head.
"…Oh no."
My eyeliner was uneven. My brows didn't match. And my lipstick—
I sighed.
"It's not that bad."
It was that bad.
But I had already started, so removing it immediately felt like defeat.
"I just need snacks," I decided, standing up.
—
The house was quiet as I walked into the kitchen, already reaching for the cabinet.
"Nice makeup, Rachel."
I froze.
Slowly, I turned.
Xander.
Of course.
Standing there like he had been there the whole time.
I narrowed my eyes. "You're lying."
"I'm not."
"You are."
He shrugged lightly, completely unfazed. "I barely noticed it."
…
I stared at him.
"That's worse."
A pause.
Then, simply—
"Yeah."
…
Wow
"Wow."
I grabbed my snacks, shaking my head.
"You're actually unbelievable."
"Mm."
That was it.
No argument.
Just that.
I turned to leave, then stopped, glancing back at him.
"For your information," I muttered, "I don't need makeup."
"I know."
I blinked.
That… was not what I expected.
I frowned slightly, studying him, but he had already looked away like the conversation was over.
Like it didn't matter.
I turned away from the kitchen, already heading for the stairs.
"I'm washing this off," I muttered to myself.
Immediately.
Before anyone else sees me.
I had barely taken a few steps when—
Ding-dong.
I paused and looked towards the kitchen.
"…Who is that?"
No one answered.
Of course.
I sighed and walked to the door, pulling it open.
Amber and Harleen looked at me.
Paused.
Then—
"…What happened to your face?" they both exclaimed at the same time.
I closed my eyes briefly. "I knew it."
Harleen stepped closer, studying me carefully.
"…Is that intentional?"
"It's a trend," I said, already tired.
Amber blinked.
Then burst out laughing.
"Who lied to you?!"
"No one lied to me!"
"They definitely did."
I stepped aside, letting them in. "Why are you here?"
Amber walked in like she lived there, dropping onto the couch in the living room.
"We heard you're staying here now."
"And?" I asked.
"And we had to see it," she said, looking around. "You, in this house I mean since I already know this place like the back of my palm"
Oh right, she's related to them.
Harleen's lips twitched slightly. "Interesting."
I rolled my eyes. "You both are so annoying."
"And you look like a failed art project,"
Amber said.
"AMBER!"
She laughed, dodging as I tried to hit her.
"Okay, okay—relax."
Harleen crossed her arms lightly. "We didn't just come to laugh at you."
"Could've fooled me."
Amber leaned forward slightly. "We came to save you."
"That sounds suspicious."
"It's not," she said. "Come shopping with us so you can escape boredom."
I blinked. "…What?"
"Shopping," Harleen repeated calmly. "We need a few things."
"And you need help," Amber added, glancing at my face again.
"I don't need help!"
"You do."
"I don't!"
Amber tilted her head. "We'll pay."
…
I paused.
Who says no to free stuff.
"That's how you get her," she muttered.
"I heard that."
Harleen sighed. "Just come with us, Riley."
I hesitated… then rolled my eyes.
"Fine."
Amber grinned. "Good decision."
"I'm only going because you're paying."
"Of course you are."
—
"I'm going upstairs," I said, already turning away. "Give me a minute."
"Take your time," Harleen said.
"And fix that face," Amber added.
"I hate you!"
"No, you don't!.
—
A while later, I stepped out of the bathroom, drying my hands.
The makeup was gone.
Finally.
I changed into something simple, letting my hair fall freely down my shoulders.
I paused in front of the mirror.
Better.
Definitely better.
Without thinking too much about it, I turned and headed downstairs.
Halfway down—
I stopped.
Xander.
He was coming up.
Of course.
We both paused.
His gaze lifted—and settled on me.
Not quick.
Not careless.
He actually looked.
I frowned slightly. "What?"
A brief pause.
Then—
"Tie your hair up."
"…Why?"
"It'll fit you more."
…
Oh.
Before I could respond, he walked past me.
Just like that.