POV: Darleen

When I unlock the door the lights are off and the house is quiet. Ace runs up to me in excitement, I smile and pet him. The Countess and Cloud meow in grumpiness, they want food. Where is Skylar?

She's been acting off for the past few days now. Ever since I told her how I feel I haven't seen her around.

With a heavy sigh, I walk inside and shut the door behind me.

That's when I hear laughing.

I pause and listen.

"Shut up," I hear Skylar's laugh.

I scrunch my brows together and walk to her room which is shut, the cats beg to get in.

I listen.

"I'm just saying," Vida says.

Ugh, her again.

What's that smell? Smells like a skunk died in here or something.

"Skylar?" I knock on the door.

They go quiet.

"I'm coming in," I call.

"Just a second!" I hear rustling around.

I open the door and see her and Vida acting causal on the bed, but the room sticks. Weed. The window is open. The cats run in, ready for food.

"Um, did you smoke in here?" I cough.

Neither of them says anything.

Skylar's eyes are red and watery, she's high as a kite right now. I'd know that look anywhere. Vida is just as high as she is.

"Hello? Anyone home?" I ask.

"Don't be a party pooper, the smell will fade," Vida speaks up.

"You do realize this is my house, right?" I narrow my eyes at her.

Vida rolls her eyes.

"Don't be mad Darleen, it was just a little bit," Skylar says.

"I didn't know you did that stuff," I say.

"I don't, this was my first time actually."

"Oh."

"Anyways, can we help you with something?" Vida asks.

"I called you on my break," I say to Skylar.

"She was busy," Vida pulls Skylar into her arms.

I clench my jaw.

"The cats are hungry," I say.

"Oh shit, right," Skylar gets up to feed them.

"I want you out of my house," I say to Vida.

"She can't leave, she's high. Don't make her drive high." Skylar says.

"Yeah Snorleen. Boring Darleen, always ruining the fun." Vida lays out on the bed. "But at least you'll be gone soon." She reminds me.

"I'm sorry, I guess I lost track of time. We'll put it up. Promise." Skylar pushes me back out of the room.

"Skylar, what's going on? This isn't like you." I say.

"We'll talk later," she pushes me out and shuts the door in my face.

I sigh.

I guess that's a no on Christmas decorations. I bought some stuff to decorate the house with, I was going to get Skylar to help me. Make a thing out of it. But I guess she's busy. With her. Ugh.

I go to my room and slam the door.

What the fuck? I thought Skylar would give me a chance but she's been acting weird and avoiding me at all costs. Now she's bringing that stupid blonde bimbo around here? And they're doing weed now? Fantastic.

Just perfect.

I told myself I'd give her space, let her come to me, but fuck she makes it so hard for me not to march in there right now and grab that bitch by her hair and throw her out. I know Skylar told her I still have feelings for her, I know she knows I love Skylar. She's just rubbing it in my face now.

The doorbell rings and I sigh and walk over to get it, probably some pizza for their munchies. When I open the door it's Kenzie. I blink at her in surprise. She has a huge bruise on her face.

"Whoa, what happened? Are you okay?" I pull her inside.

"Jean hit me," she sobs.

"What!? Where is she?" I demand.

"I left her, I didn't know where else to go. Please you have to help me." she sobs.

"Come here," I pull Kenzie into my arms.

She sobs and sobs. I sigh and rub her back.

"I thought Skylar was here with you?" Kenzie pulls back to say.

"She's busy at the moment," I say through gritted teeth.

Just then loud laughter comes from the room.

I sigh.

"Come on, let's get you cleaned up." I usher Kenzie to my room.

She sits down on my bed while I get a warm washcloth and dab small traces of blood off her swollen face. Jean really didn't hold back. I'll kill her.

"You should go to the hospital and file a report on her."

"No! Please, no, just... let me cool off." She says.

"Kenzie."

"No, please."

I sigh.

"What happened?" I ask.

"We were out getting something to eat, and she went to the bathroom. This girl started talking to me about her soap product, I don't fucking know. Jean thought she was flirting with me and when we got home just exploded on me. I had to get out of there."

"Has she done this before?" I ask.

Kenzie looks down in shame, telling me all I need to know.

"We have to go to the police," I demand.

"No." she shakes her head and says softly.

"Kenzie,"

"No Darleen. Just let me crash here for a few days. Let her cool off."

"You are going back with her!? Mackenzie—"

"Just shut up! You don't know the first thing about me or her. She loves me."

I sigh.

"Just wait here, do you want something to eat?" I ask.

She nods.

I walk out of the room and back to Skylar's room. When I open the door I find her and Vida lip-locked. They quickly break apart.

"Uh, rude! Knock." Vida says.

"Come on, you have to go." I march over to Vida.

"What the hell!?"

"Darleen!" Skylar says.

"We have something to take care of and she can't be here right now," I say sternly.

"What?" Skylar asks.

"Come on, I'll drive you home." I grab Vida's arm.

"Don't fucking touch me," she yanks her arms free.

"Darleen what are you—" Skylar shuts up when she sees Kenzie poke her head into the room.

Vida shuts up too.

"Hey," Kenzie forces a smile.

I see this look in Vida's eyes. She's triggered in some way. Fear and terror written all over her face.

"Vida you have to go home," Skylar says suddenly sober.

"Okay." Vida doesn't fight her.

"Come on, I'll drive you," I say.

She quickly follows me.

The car ride is quiet. Vida is in some kind of daze, lost in her own mind. She gets out of my car without a word to me, I wait for her to get into her apartment before leaving. I pick up some food on the way home and brace myself to deal with all this.

When I get home Kenzie is crying to Skylar now too. Telling her what she told me. Skylar holds her and comforts her. I sit with them and hand out the food.

"You took a bus all the way here?" Skylar says.

"Every time that bus stopped so did my heart," Kenzie says.

"Kenz, this isn't right. You have to tell someone." Skylar urges.

She shakes her head no.

"Jean just needs to calm down, that's all." Kenzie tries to reason out loud.

Skylar and I share a look.

The doorbell rings again and once again I get up to get it.

It's Jean.

I freeze in place.

"Is Mackenzie here?" she asks nicely like I don't know her dirty secret.

"You have until the count of three until I call the police," I warn her.

She burst inside and runs over to Kenzie.

"Get out of my house!" I shout.

"Mac, I'm sorry, okay? Please, that was dumb."

Kenzie cowers on the couch.

"Get away from her," Skylar growls.

I've never seen Skylar look like that before, actually scary and intimidating. The red eyes help make it even scarier.

"Or what?" Jean challenges.

"Or I'll fucking kill you," Skylar says.

Even I blink in surprise at those words. Since when is Skylar capable of killing anyone, much less a fly?

"Jean just go. I'll call you when we both calm down." Kenzie says.

"Mac, I'm not leaving until you come with me."

"I'm not going with you," Kenzie says.

"Mac," Jean grabs her arm.

That was it, the moment Skylar was waiting for. She bops Jean right in the nose.

"Agh!" Jean jumps back, covering her face.

"Skylar," I go to her side.

"Don't fucking touch her," Skylar says.

Skylar has that look on her face, similar to Vida's some trauma she's experienced that I don't know about. She's triggered, enraged even. She's ready to fight.

"You fucking bitch!" Jean tries to come at her but Skylar is ready.

She grabs Jean's fist and twists her arm, punching her in the face two more times. Then she flips Jean to the ground and gets on top of her, hitting her over and over and over.

"Stop it!" Mackenzie cries.

"Skylar!" I pull her off.

She's breathing heavily, her fist covered in Jean's blood.

Holy hell, where did this side of her come from?

Jean groans and lies on the floor.

"Not so fun when you're the one getting hit now is it!" Skylar screams at her.

"Skylar calm down!" I shout.

"If you ever touch her again, I'll kill you!" Skylar screams.

"Leave her alone!" Kenzie moves to Jean's side.

"Mac," Jean sobs.

Kenzie helps her sit up.

I get a sick feeling in my gut watching the whole thing as Kenzie uses the same washcloth, I used on her, to clean Jean up. Skylar lurches in my arms, trying to get at Jean again but I have to hold her back.

"Stop it! Enough, to the room, come on," I drag Skylar away.

She jerks free of my grasp and marches to the room to cool off.

"What the hell was that?" I follow Skylar to the bathroom where she washes her hands.

Skylar says nothing, but I can see her hands shaking as she taints the water red with her bloody fist.

"Skylar!" I demand.

"Now she'll think twice before laying a hand on her," Skylar says, there is this darkness on her face. It scares me.

"When did you learn to do that?" I ask.

"Doesn't matter, go check on Kenzie," Skylar says.

"This isn't over," I say before walking out to check on Kenzie.

Kenzie is helping Jean off the floor, Jean looks just as bad if not worse than Kenzie does now.

"I'm sorry, sometimes I can't control myself. I'm sorry." Jean says to Kenzie.

"I know Jean, I know," Kenzie caresses her cheek.

"I want to get help, I want to be better for you." Jean sobs.

"I think you need to leave." I walk over to them.

"I'll go with her," Kenzie says.

"Mackenzie no, you don't need to be with her." I plea.

"It's okay Darleen. Jean and I are going to work it out. We'll get some counseling."

"We will! I promise I can be better." Jean says. "I won't ever hurt you again. I love you, Mac."

"Kenzie, this is absurd. You can't go back with her," I try.

"It's okay, coming here was a mistake. I'm sorry I brought you into this. We'll go."

"Mackenzie," I grab her arm.

Jean looks like she's about to snap off at me but cowers back. When I turn around I see Skylar standing in the hall, her arms crossed as she leans against the wall, narrowing her eyes at Jean.

"Mackenzie please, let me help you."

"You're a good friend Darleen, but I shouldn't have come here. You don't have to worry about me, I'll figure it out. Promise. Jean's going to behave herself now, right Jean?"

"I will, promise," Jean says.

"Mackenzie I still think you should stay here for a day at least. Cool off, please."

She shakes her head no and yanks her arm free.

"Please," I beg.

"Goodbye Darleen," she turns to leave.

"But—"

"Come on Mac," Jean interlocks their fingers.

I watch helplessly as she walks out the door. They don't even bother to say goodbye to Skylar. I sigh in defeat.

"I'll call her mom, don't worry. I'll handle it." Skylar says.

"I could have handled it if you hadn't... what is going on with you lately!?" I whirl around to face her.

"Nothing! This is who I am now! Don't like it? Then fuck off!" she shouts.

"Skylar," I walk over to her.

She turns around and marches to her room. I see Ace lingering in the corner his tail tucked, scared from all the violence and shouting. It makes me feel bad.

"Skylar," I catch her arm.

"I need to go see Vida," she yanks free.

"What!? What does Vida have to do with anything? You need to calm down, you just beat the snot out of Jean. She could press charges on you."

"I wish she would." Skylar scoffs.

"Will you just stop!" I grab her by the shoulders and force her to face me. "Talk to me," I beg.

Her sky-blue eyes search my face. She is both pissed and high. Not a good combination. Her short orange hair is messy and unkempt. I run my fingers through it, slicking it down and back. Her eyes soften on me.

"Talk to me," I say softer, calmer.

She grabs my hands in hers, squeezing them.

"I'm falling apart Darleen, and I don't want you to try and put me back together. That's why I've been avoiding you. I'm going through something right now, trying to get Jade out of my head. I'm so angry at myself, at Jade, at the world. And I don't want you to get caught up in all this mess. There is still a lot about me you don't know. Just like you've grown and changed, so have I, and I'm scared you're not going to like who I am now." She says.

"How can I when you haven't given me a chance to get to know this you? You just keep pushing me away, expecting me to go quietly into the night. But I'm not! I love you, and I'm not just going to go away Skylar. We can get through all this together, one step at a time. You don't have to do it alone." I assure her.

"I'm not alone, I'm sorry if this isn't what you want to hear but Vida is who I want to be around right now. You're going to go away again in just a couple of weeks, and I'll be all alone again. I'm not going to start a relationship neither of us can finish."

I feel gutted, stabbed in the heart. I want to cry.

"Skylar," my voice cracks.

She kisses me softly on the lips before pulling away.

"I didn't belong in your world before, and I still don't belong there now. I'm sorry Darleen."

With that, she grabs Vida's car keys and leaves.

I collapse where I stand completely defeated. Ace slowly walks over to me and lays his head on my lap. I sniffle and pet him.