[Kristen's POV]
Of all the things I would have never seen myself doing, would be carrying or comforting Jade after what happened two hours ago.
She was about to have a panic attack, she might have not have seen it but the way her eyes widened and her body shook as she puked in the paper bag I gave her told me everything.
"I don't get it, at the sports event you didn't have a problem with shooting the bad guys, so what happened here?" I asked as I carried her to our home.
Home, the word felt bitter on my tongue. Whatever world I'm in, whether I'm Kristen or Lin no house has ever been my home. Back in the actual world, my parents divorced after my dad had an affair. Unfortunately for me, my dad won custody of me when I was eleven and it has been six years since I lived with him and his mistress. I don't really have an opinion about Trisha, she did try bonding with me but she stopped after she realized I would never forgive her for destroying my family.
Well not her, my dad. He was the one having Tinder on his phone, I doubt that Trisha knew he was married, let alone had a son. Her expression showed it when she first met me. But she is a nice person, if I had met her under different circumstances. I would have loved her.
But the actual Kristen's mom? Nora Harper? Oh I hated her as soon as I got Kristen's memories. She was the typical example of the evil stepmother but she even disliked her own children. It started with something small when it came to Christopher, making him wear red eye contacts to hide his grey eyes (which I personally like), making snide remarks about his dead mother, then it got extreme like when she tries to guilt trip him when he refused to give into her whims which used to work but when he hit teenage he started retaliating which led to a lot of fights between them.
There was a time she actually threw him out of the house when he yelled at her for touching his mother's favourite dress. It was a orange halter with yellow sun designs at its hem that seemed to sparkle in the light, I know this because it was always on a mannequin that was completed with orange strap on shoes and a yellow fedora. It looked like it belonged to the 90's. Christopher told me it was part of a famous fashion designer's Mythical collection.
So basically, my mother in this game threw her stepson out of the house for trying to stop her from stealing his deceased mother's prized dress.
And where was his father? Watching his new wife throw his actual son out with a helpless expression. He was basically wrapped around my mother's finger, and I hated every second of it.
"Shooting doesn't draw out a lot of blood and I only shot them once, I killed an animal by beating it to death. That terrifies me." Jade replied to my much forgotten question. "Also I did feel a bit nauseous when you threw the scissors into the guy's eye. How did you manage to do that without flinching?" Jade asked looking genuinely interested.
"My mom, she's a detective. Before my parents split she used to show me some of the murder scenes she had snapped with her camera." I explained as I managed to open the door to the mansion. Jade's mouth formed into a tiny "o" as her eyes gleamed with understanding as she seemed to be processing what I just said.
I ignored how Jayden was staring at us like we just walked out of a horror movie.
"What happened to you guys?" Jayden asked the slightest bit of concern colouring his voice.
"Nothing that serious." We were attacked by a bunch of wolves from nowhere and Jade beat the life out of one. That was the statement at the tip of my tongue, but no one would believe me honestly and pretty sure Jayden would call an asylum on me.
"Where's everyone else?" I asked as I stared at Kristen.
"Luke has a DJ gig, dad had an important meeting and had to go, mom has gone out for girls' night out or something like that and Chris said something about taking a walk while looking for more healthy foods to eat." Jayden said as he stared at me, we both know what that meant, Chris was looking for ways to lose weight without eating basically starving himself.
"Christopher came for some of his stuff when mom left." Jayden said, I felt Jade tense at the mention of Christopher. He had been hanging out with one of his friends at his college's hostel but then he got into a fight with our mom again and he stormed off. I guess he's tired of her bullshit.
"What did he take?" I asked Jayden.
"Some of his clothes, his guitar, his chokers, some video games and his teddy bear." Jayden replied before focusing on his phone again.
Jade suddenly nudged me with her elbow, shit I had been carrying her in my arms for a long time. I'm pretty sure she wanted to go to the room she shares with Luke and Jayden.
I don't know why I decided to send her to my room instead, maybe it's because I didn't trust her by herself or something crappy like that.
"I need to take a shower." Jade said as I put her on my bed. "I don't know where your shower is." She said in frustration when I gave her an unconcerned look.
"Oh right." I said as I led her to the bathroom. Only two rooms have two bathrooms. Luke and Jayden's room and my room which I share with Chris.
The bathroom looked like any fancy bathroom nothing specific, a shower at the left, a Jacuzzi tub at the right. For some reason there was a stool by the Jacuzzi, I turned my back to leave as I heard a dress fall to the ground and a splash of water.
"Stay please." Jade suddenly said. I froze, now of all the creepy requests I've heard (like that time a creep asked me if I like having fun while staring at me like a predator) Jade's request would be at number five.
"Why?" I asked as I slowly turned, her body had submerged into the water only showing her face, slender neck and shoulders. She tilted her head as she stared at me, her black hair falling over her shoulder like a curtain. Her green eyes showing no sort of deceptive emotion but there was some sort of mischief in her smile.
"Didn't you say you'll take care of me?" She asked using my earlier statement against me, I felt myself swallow a huge gulp and my cheeks burning at her reminder.
"I didn't mean it like that. Stop saying with a suggestive tone." I replied, my voice even as my eyes darted around the room to avoid her gaze. Jade laughed, not mockingly but amused. I think, I'm not good at detecting mockery in anyone's tone of laughter.
"Not my fault you didn't pick your sentence well." She teased before staring at me again. "I just want company, your company to be honest." She added softly, her eyes showing sincerity.
"Why here? Why now?" I asked confused.
"Because, I might not be in the mood to talk to you after now." She replied as she made puppy eyes and pouted her lips adorably "Please Kristen, pretty please~~~" she said trying to imitate a cute child. I hated those types of faces and voices, made me want to punch whoever was doing it regardless of their gender.
And yet I sat on the stool by the Jacuzzi as she clapped her hands together.
"So what do you want to talk about while you relax or whatever you're doing?" I asked while allowed herself to float on the water.
"Anything. And I'm trying to clear my mind from everything that has happened since last year." She replied as she kicked her leg out of the water causing water to splashing around.
"Really? What are you thinking about?" I asked.
"About how my life has turned upside down." Jade replied as she sighed.
"Tell me about your life." I said as I absent-mindly trailed my fingers on the Jacuzzi.
"My life is pretty normal, my parents are together, I go to school, hang out with friends, play some few games and that's the cycle." She replied, "And I do chores as a hobby. I'm pretty sure Luke told you already." She added, I remembered how Luke was telling everyone how he'd teach Jade archery since the only hobby she has is house chores.
"What's with that face?" Jade asked me as she leaned against the Jacuzzi and stared at me with squinted eyes.
"Your life isn't normal, it's freakishly boring." I said as I poked her forehead playfully. "Who does chores as a hobby?" I teased, her cheeks went red as she threw water at me.
"Well since you're such a hobby expert maybe you can help me get a hobby." She stuttered with embarrassment and challenge in her voice. I grinned at her words as I got up and left, leaving her confused.
Some few minutes later I came back with my old t-shirts and shorts as I threw it to her, she barely caught it.
"Get dressed, I'm teaching you how to draw." I said before leaving the bathroom again.
If there's anything that the actual Kristen and I share in common, it would be our love for art. Whether it's drawing,painting or making woodwork and I loved it, I started teaching Jade how to draw simple things like flowers, bandages and facial expressions. At first she refused but I forced her after she showed a scribble that seemed to be a rectangle with claws.
It was a cat she had been attempting to draw.
"See, it's really simple." I concluded as I showed her the steps to draw a water lily, all I heard was a sleepy reply before Jade's head fell on my shoulder, her hand on top of mind.
I sighed as I carried her from my study table to my bed and tucked her in. I sat back at my study table as I stared at her resting in a peaceful slumber, some few strands of her hair fell on her forehead and face. I couldn't help but tuck it in place, then a strange idea struck.
I took my drawing pad and began sketching her, from her closed eyes to her parted lips and the occasional scrunch of her nose. After that, I added the pillows and a cover. The drawing looked...cute.
[This is creepy]
I stared at the green screen in front of me, if it had a voice. It would probably sound like a disappointed headmaster.
"How is this creepy?" I asked annoyed at its statement.
[Drawing a girl while she sleeps, do you have somnophilia?]
I felt my jaw clench in disgust. I really hate this system when it talks.
[Well nevermind, the tint of green on your face suggests you don't.]
"Why would I even have a kink? Do I look like a kinky person to you?" I asked annoyed, the system kept quiet this time obvious stating that I didn't want to hear its answer. I rolled my eyes in annoyance.
[You've really got to stop rolling your eyes like that, it makes your eyes disappear]
"I only roll my eyes like that when I've heard enough of someone's bullshit. Like yours." I replied coldly.
[Do you roll your eyes like that at Jade when she's saying bullshit?]
"You bet I do."
[This is why you barely speak to her. I bet either Chris or Luke would beat you up.]
I yawned as I stretched my arms, arching my back forward. I checked my phone to see the time. 10:09pm.
"Look, I would love to keep this banter up, as it is really entertaining. But I need to sleep." I said as I went to change into my nightwear. I collapsed on the ending side of my bed, ensuring that I didn't come into contact with Jade's body. I was about to doze off into sleep when I felt a leg over ny waist and an arm around my neck, I turned over to see Jade right by me already asleep, she buried her face in my chest.
Well.....this is bad.
I wanted to remove her arm and leg but I was afraid of waking her up so I caved in an wrapped my arm around her waist as my head rested on her head as I also dozed off.
It oddly felt relaxing.