Garden of Sins

30. Alayna, do not bore me

Caden

Alayna, I still feel like playing with you, but I have to say that when I’m in my room changing and my second cell phone vibrates, I pause. My brother texts me that I should stop whatever I am doing and that he’ll be right over. But I can’t stop right now, Alayna. Do you understand? I’m totally immersed in my psycho mode; I’m out to destroy, hurt, and confuse.

My father storms into my room while I’m standing there in boxers and I turn my a

“Where is Alayna?” he barks and I groan.

“I locked her in the basement, Dad,” I reply sarcastically. His eyes narrow and he stares at me, examining me. He believes me, Alayna.

“Caden, where’s Alayna?”

“At home. I don’t want to fuck her now.”

Dad exhales with relief. “Your mother and I have to leave.” Oh, Alayna, I like that. It’s always good to have my peace on days like this. I suppress a neck crack and calmly walk to my closet.

“Dad, please don’t worry. I know where the line is and I know I exaggerated last time. It’ll never happen again, I swear. I won’t bring her here. I understand!”

He continues scrutinizing me before he takes a step towards me. “If you cross the fucking line, I’ll lock you in the basement.”

“I’m not going to do it, Dad.” I sound so reasonable, Alayna, I’d even believe myself if I were in my right mind.

“Carter will be along shortly,” he says. “Your mom spoke to him.”

“I know, he’s already checked in with me, so I’m going to wait for him in the garage...so we can hang out together.” And do fun things.

Dad doesn’t seem convinced since he continues staring at me.

“MASON! COME ON!” Mom shouts and I grin at Dad again.

With a snort, he turns and storms off, Alayna. He would love to chain me up somewhere with his handcuffs again, like when I was supposedly out of control. Bullshit, I’ve never truly been out of control, otherwise, this house wouldn’t still be standing.

Although, handcuffs are a good idea. I should use them on you. For example, the next time I tell you to stop and you just keep walking.

I continue dressing because you really made me sweat.

Finally, I sigh contentedly, look at myself in the mirror again, and stroll off. Out of my room, down the stairs, and right into my little sister, who is trying to sneak out of her room.

“CARTER? OH!” Oh, Ava is confused. She even mistook me for Carter. What’s going on? What’s messing with her head?

My sister takes a step back and unintentionally presents her whole stylish appearance: Lolita lipstick and sweet curls. Mom and Dad left the house a minute ago and she’s already trying to sneak out. That is so stupid. You wait at least half an hour. Everyone knows that.

I tilt my head. “Well, little birdie? On your way out?” I ask with a gentle smile. She tries to get past me with eyes wide open in terror, but there is no getting around me if I don’t move. Tsk, tsk, tsk, tsk. I build myself up a little in front of her because I love the panic in her eyes. At the moment, I feed on it.

“Oh, please, Caden, just let me by. You always let me do whatever I want,” she sighs exhaustedly and brushes back her golden blonde hair.

“But I’m not in the mood to let anyone do anything they want, Ava. Where are you going?” I lean against the railing with my arms crossed and she moans.

“Please.”

“I just asked you a question. Am I not allowed to talk to my little sister?” Honestly, Alayna. What’s wrong with all of you? You try to have a nice conversation and everyone freaks out.

“I’m meeting my friend A

“You don’t have a friend named A

“Shit, you stalker!” Irritated, she rubs her forehead and glances at her watch.

“Try again. You know you only have three.”

“Oh, my God, okay, I’m meeting a guy. Please don’t tell Dad.” I am a

“I wasn’t going to.”

“Fine. Can I go now?” she asks, pointing to the stairs.

“I’d like to meet him sometime, Ava. Your guy.” She turns as pale as the wall, and of course, I already know everything about him.

“Caden, please, not again.” She’s probably remembering what Carter did to her last lover after I told him about it. It was a short vacation romance with a truly ugly ending.

“What are you willing to do to keep me from telling on you?”

“Jesus Christ,” she mumbles and her cell phone vibrates in her pocket. Uh, someone’s getting impatient. She gets nervous. “Anything!” she mumbles frantically and digs in her purse for her cell phone.

“Then make sure Alayna becomes your girlfriend and tells you everything.” Because trust is a bitch, but control isn’t.

Ava stares at me, her mouth open and her hand stuck in her pocket. “Caden, even for you...” I pull out my cell phone and pretend to call Dad or Carter. They are both equally bad.

“Yes, yes, yes, I’ll do it, you fucking psycho. But you have to give me time. Such a friendship, where you tell each other things, takes time.” She looks at me forcefully with her hand still in her pocket.

“You have one week or I’m telling either Carter or Dad.”

I leave her with that. She screams behind me in frustration, stamping her foot. I have to admit, she’s so cute when she’s angry.

“You are a plague!” she yells after me, but by then I’m down the hall. I love it when I have brilliant, spontaneous ideas.

Before unlocking the garage door, I crack my neck. I will now sit here and wait.

That or I will drive over to you and drag you back by your hair, Alayna.

* * *

I am still lying on the couch and I don’t know what will happen if Carter doesn’t show up soon. Slowly, I lose my patience with him.

I let the cigarette smoke flow from between my fingers towards the ceiling and move as little as possible so as not to do anything stupid, Alayna.

When I finally hear Carter’s car drive up, I relax a little and breathe out quietly.

Relief floods me as his car door slams and he rushes into the garage. His gaze lands on me immediately. I raise my hand and wave to him, and then notice how he looks.

Shit!

All of a sudden, I’m on my feet and immediately with him.

“What happened?” I ask breathlessly. He has a black and blue eye, a split eyebrow, and a busted lip. All in all, he seems anything but amused. He only relaxes after briefly glancing around and realizes I am alone.

“Nothing, bro. What’s going on with you,” he asks and I shrug.

“Nothing special, why?”

“Oh, no reason.” Carter strolls past me and with difficulty, collapses into his beanbag chair. You were just sitting there too and Carter slides around, a bit a

“Where were you?” I ask. He seems so exhausted and yawns.

“I was gone,” he answers, yawning.

“So you were gone. Did you go to Miss Blue Eyes? I wanted to bring her closer to Alayna, but do you know what she did? She threw my phone against the wall and told me to go fuck myself. And then she stormed off even though I told her to stop. Can you believe that?”

Irritated, his eyes widen. “What do you mean, Caden?” he asks hoarsely because he probably fucked for two days.

“I wanted to show her our photos and videos,” I explain. “In folder M.”