She fell silent for a while and looked at me, awkward with a small smile.
"My parents are nothing to write about. When my father got arrested, it was the worst thing ever. We get letters and emails saying that... Dad was a their. He was all over the television and newspaper. We felt so ashamed and had to hide. My mum was waitress but somehow got involved in drugs because of my dad's so called business partners. She got arrested as well. My elder brother, Jacob, got shot while trying to expose my dad's counterparts. He was five years older than I am."

"Then how do you live? What about your parents? How are they coping?" I asked, pretending to have forgotten what she told me about her parents being late.

"A report came from the prison last year that they got executed. I had to stay with my mum's aunt, Anna who owns several houses at Luna's street. She helped me with an apartment where I stay for the main time until I'm able to earn a job and probably pay her house rents. But my Aunt is a caring woman... She's like my second mum but she's also, a pump and druggie." She faked a smile that died immediately. She looked nervous explaining to me. I felt kind of sad for her. Here I am thinking my life was the worst.

"But you know what? When my parents were alive, I lived the life of a princess. I had everything without any knowledge of they and their dark secrets. My happy, fairytale life turned into a nightmare, overnight, Sylvie. Uptil now, I feel embarrassed by the thought of knowing the truth about who I am, truly. About who my parents were and how they died. About who is left for me as family. It's funny how we live without any knowledge of tomorrow but somehow, I want to correct the mistakes. I want to have a friend. A gist mate and partner that I can study with. I want to be the better version of myself and my family. I don't know what tomorrow holds for me but, I want to make it better."

"That's a lot, Amber. You've been through so much at such a young age. Now I see the similarities between us."

With this, I caught her wiping the tears away from the corner of her eyes. I stopped a taxi and turned to Amber.

"Thanks once again for being my friend." A smile covered my lips as I gave her a soft hug.

"Thanks for spending time with me." He said before pulling away from the hug. "See you tomorrow at school."

"Bye." I bade her before seating at the passanger's seat.

She waved back at me as the taxi driver zoomed off.

The evening sun cast long shadows on the ground. The slanting rays of the setting sun gave a warm orange tinge to the sky. Getting home, it was already 5:00 p.m. A nervous chill climbed up my skin as I thought Collins would be at home. He always scolds me for coming home late once in a while whenever he's drunk. Well, Collins is always drunk. I pulled the gaint door knob and noticed that it was locked. I took out the key from the window and unlocked it.

Back home with the whole house as tattered as 'Bombay Island'. I had to start with the cleaning. Going to Collins room, my jaw dropped. There were broken pieces of beer bottles scattered on the floor. I had to move back not to step on it. Putting on my sleepers, I started with cleaning his room, cleaning other rooms, feeding Northie the left overs, preparing dinner before studying.

***

It was 11:30 p.m. The sky was as dark as coal-hole. The wide moonless night felt really cold and cloudy. Although, I was about to sleep, the fact that the house was grave-silent made my eyes glow in the darkness like two naked pears. I held Northie tight into my blanket and switched off the lights with my table lamp, on.

It was past bed time already. As it is, Collins doesn't sleep home everyday. He could skip a day or two in only God knows where. Closing my books and joining my first best friend in bed, I couldn't help but to think about Amber.

'So, the she-devil isn't really a devil afterall.' I thought with a smile as I laid in bed, about to sleep.

A loud noice banged against the wooden door. I felt scared, thinking about a lot of thing. Who could that be? What if it was Benjamin Talker coming to attack me again. A frown formed on my face as I jumped out of bed. The knocks hit the door again, louder and violently.

"Who's that?!" I asked, hoping to get a reply. I listened to the silence and managed to reach for the door.

"Open the door, Syl!" My uncle's drunken voice yelled.

"I'm coming!" I rushed to open the door for him, and was surprised to see Brim along side. She brought him home. She staggered and managed to push him on the sofa. I went straight into my room without telling them welcome.

'The both of them had a hell of a fight yesterday. I thought they broke up. Ugh! This relationship would never end, will it?' I hissed mentally and jumped back to bed.

"Fuck! Can't you treat me any better?" He demanded, looking weak and faded.

"I hate you, Collins! I fucking picked you from the street and brought you home. Despite everything I've done for you. Shouldn't you be saying things to please me?!"

"I love you, Brim but you put me through a lot too you see. I have the girls and the drink and the... Whatever. You left me last night didn't you? Why are you here? Are you ready to abort the baby?"

"What if I am?" She folded her hend at him frankly.

"Well, I've got no fucking money. I'm over with you already. Just get the fuck out of my house!" He yelled at her in spite.

"I helped you home and you're pushing me out already? Do know what time it is? It's fucking midnight, you bastard!" She hit him hard on the the chest, making him stagger and mistakenly hit his face on the table.

"Ungh!" Collins fell down in a thud.

"Get up!" She commanded, while he spits blood out of his mouth.

"Why would you hit me now, my love..." Collins grunted.

"Never mind, darling. Defend yourself!" She throw him another heavy punch against his jaw. He hunts and gave her a dirty, hot slap.

"How dare you! You slept with a fucking slut!" She grunted while throwing a knife at him cut her jerked off. "Am I not good enough for you?"

She walked towards him to but Collins grabbed her by the jaw and forcefully placed his lips on hers. She tried to pull away but he pinned her down on the he soft sofa bitting a kiss on her lips. She kissed him back, passionately as he trailed his lips down her soft body.

Her hand reached for the mirror hanged on the wall. She took it off and smatched it on his head, forcefully. Making him bleed. With this, he struggled to lift himself up but the wetness of his blood poured around his ears.
"You left me, Brim. You left me no choice. Y...you know how much I love you but you left me."

Collins attacked in fury, hitting her hard on the face as he suddenly twist her arm to the back. Then both arms.

Brim let out a loud cry as her bones cracked... I had to rush out of my room to separate them. Collins let go immediately he saw me.

"Stop! Both of you are fighting again, do you want to kill yourselves!"

"Come on, Syl. We're just having a small argument." My uncle replied in a low voice.

"Well never argue like that again. It's 1: 25 a.m already, can't you sleep?! If you want to stay together then get married. I'm tired of this already, I can't even study!" I hissed and went back to my room. Hanging the door at their annoying faces.

The both of them pant at each other, as brim wiped off the blood dripping from her nose and mouth.

"Honestly, I don't even know why I'm here. You wouldn't even marry me." With tears, Brim rolled her eyes at him and picked up her remaining stuff in a rush."Good night, Collins. It's over, anyway."

***

Do you love this update? Don't forget to hit the vote button and share your thoughts and opinions on this story. I don't know if things are going wrong or right, but I'm excited that Amber and Sylvia are getting along. Hopefully, Noah apologizes. If not, it's his lost.

Read on, lovelies. Have a pleasant day ahead.