"You and I drink the poison from the same vine.
Oh, I love it and I hate it at the same time."

[POV: Nova]

THE AIR FELT HEAVY, pregnant with a sense of unease, as Conrad and I mustered the courage to break the devastating news to Jeremiah. We knew that this conversation would forever alter the course of our lives, further deepening the wounds already inflicted by our mother's passing.

We all continued to look at each other as we stood on the living room. Our hearts beating in tandem, palms sweaty with nerves.

Jeremiah: "Hello? Is anyone going to speak?"

Nova: "Jeremiah." -I began, my voice trembling despite my attempts to steady it.

Jeremiah: "Nova?"

I took a big breath once I realized Conrad didn't found the courage to speak, everyone else just listened attentively.

Nova: "Look, we need to talk about something important. For that...I'm going to need you to stay calm."

Jeremiah, engrossed in the surroundings of the living room, looked over to me, curiosity mingling with a glimmer of apprehension in his eyes.

Jeremiah: "Okay, what is it? All I want to know is that everything's fine."

I exchanged a glance with Conrad, searching for solace in our shared determination. Clearing my throat, I continued, my voice firmer.

Nova: "It's about the house, Jeremiah."

He frowned, the lines of confusion etching themselves on his usually jovial face.

Jeremiah: "What about the house? Is something wrong?" -he questioned, exchanging a worried glance with Belly.

Taking a deep breath, Conrad stepped forward, his voice laden with the weight of sorrow.

Conrad: "Jere, the house has been put up for sale."

Belly: "What do you mean, the house is up for sale?" -the brunette one questioned, an immense amount of fear already showing.

Conrad glanced towards Belly's way, almost realizing the girl's presence right there and then. She had been standing there for too long already, even talking, but Conrad hadn't realized somehow.

Conrad: "What is she doing here?" -he asked, an annoyed tone coming out in between question.

I could see how hurt Belly looked by Conrad's question, my eyes darted towards Jeremiah and then back to Conrad nervously. Jeremiah's brows had knitted themselves together, as if trying to unravel a complex puzzle. His voice trembled as he spoke, a flicker of fear swimming in his eyes.

Jeremiah: "So this is why you haven't answered any of my phone calls and texts?"

Conrad: "Jere, did you not hear what I just said? We're going to lose this house. Mom's house." -Conrad spoke while ignoring Jeremiah's words, holding his hands together.

I crossed my arms as I heard the boys talking, eyeing Pearl and Ethan who awkwardly stared at everyone. I felt so embarrassed to have them seeing us in the current situation we were in.

Belly: "Why would your dad sell this house?"

Conrad: "He's not. Our Aunt Julia is." -he mentioned, rolling his eyes in the process.

Belly's eyes widened with surprise, glancing my way while speaking once more.

Belly: "Susannah's sister?"

Nova: "Unfortunately." -I mumbled, scratching my neck uncomfortably.

Conrad: "Half sister."

Conrad spoke once more, eyeing me after my comment with nervousness clearly showing on his face.

Ethan: "I'm sorry to ask but...how does she even own the house now?" -the pink haired boy questioned, adjusting his glasses carefully.

Conrad: "Apparently, the house belonged to the both of them. And then when Mom...Now Aunt Julia owns the whole thing, so..."

I closed my eyes shut after seeing how angry Jeremiah still seemed, he kept glancing at Belly and then back at me.

Jeremiah: "Okay, we'll just call Dad and figure something out, that's it." -he spoke with confidence, shrugging his shoulders once he finished.

Conrad: "You think I haven't already done that? He says legally the house is hers."

Nova: "He can't buy it?" -I asked, letting my hair down over the headache I was starting to get.

Jeremiah: "Exactly, can't he buy it?"

Conrad: "He doesn't have the money to buy it. Between Brown and the medical bills and the-"

Jeremiah: "Yeah, I know how much the medical bills cost...because I was there." -he firmly spoke, his teeth gritting in between words.

Everyone stayed shocked after his sentence, looking at one another for reassurance possibly.

Nova: "Jeremiah, stop it." -I quickly said, stepping closer to the boy before he could continue speaking.

The curly head turned to face me, pointing his finger at me.

Jeremiah: "None of you were there."

Nova: "Okay, now you are just talking shit cause I was there too. I decided not to go to college for her, Jeremiah." -I argued, slapping his hand away from my face.

Nova: "Did you forgot about that?"

Jeremiah: "Shut up." -he whispered, stepping away from me.

Now came the moment I least wanted, arguments happening with us throughout this situation. The air in the room seemed to thicken, suffocating and threatening to choke our very words. My voice, heavy with grief, quivered as the truth slipped from my lips after Jeremiah's hurtful accusation.

Nova: "Jeremiah, I'm so sorry that you think I wasn't there, but...I was there throughout it all."

Jeremiah's face contorted, his eyes wide with sadness and anger at all once. It was as if time stood still, his breath caught in his chest. The silence grew heavier, punctuated only by the sounds of our shattered hopes and dreams crashing into the abyss.

Tears welled up in my eyes as I continued, my voice barely a whisper.

Nova: "There were debts we didn't know about, Jere. We can't save the house. It's beyond our control now. I wish there was something more we could do."

Jeremiah's fists clenched at his sides, his body trembling with a mixture of anger, disbelief, and a profound sense of loss. His voice, filled with anguish, burst forth, barely contained.

Jeremiah: "But...but that's all we have left of Mom. How could this happen? It's not fair!"

I reached out, desperation lacing my touch, as if trying to bridge the chasm of despair that had engulfed us.

Nova: "Jeremiah, I know it feels unbearable right now. It's not fair, you're right. But we'll get through this together. Our family is stronger than the walls of this house."

The boy slightly pushed me away as he stared at Conrad with anger, I could feel how everyone feared at that point for my twin's life.

Jeremiah's gaze darted between us, his emotions flickering like a raging storm. Slowly, he nodded, a flicker of more anger mingling with his pain.

Jeremiah: "How long did you know about this and not tell me?" -he questioned as he glared at Conrad and I.

Conrad: "Jere, this was all happening so fast. I was going to tell you after I'd taken care of it."

Jeremiah let out a loud chuckle in front of Conrad, glaring his way later on with even more anger flashing through him.

Jeremiah: "And this is you taking care of it? Going AWOL, ditching school, not talking to us-"

Conrad: "Fuck school! I don't care!" -he snapped, raising his arms up.

I flinched by the sudden shout, stepping away from the pair while my shoulders started being held by Pearl.

Jeremiah: "Connie, you have to go back or you'll fail your class." -he mentioned, worry showing by the way he spoke.

I stared at Ethan, practically begging for help. He nodded in agreement, stepping forward while grabbing my shoulder.

Ethan: "Guys, maybe you two should talk about this later and focus on what's more important...the house."

Belly: "How are you going to become a doctor if you fail out of college, Conrad?" -Belly suddenly questioned, a disappointed expression tinting her freckled face.

I sighed hearing Conrad do the same while pointing at the brunette one, staring aside with anger.

Conrad: "You have no idea what you're talking about."

Jeremiah and Belly eyed each other with betrayal, staring at Conrad then in complete disbelief.

Jeremiah: "Seriously?"

The curly head stared at Ethan and Pearl, pointing at Belly at the same time. He grunted before speaking, stepping closer to our brother.

Jeremiah: "We all went to Brown to check on your ass. And, Nova, if you were with him this whole time why didn't you call?"

Nova: "I tried calling you but Conrad told me not to, Jere. We thought it was for the better at that time, now we know it was a mistake." -I spoke nervously, rubbing my arm already done with the whole argument happening.

The boy rolled his eyes after my reply, shrugging his shoulders.

Jeremiah: "You know what? I didn't think you two would pull this shit again. But you guys don't give a shit about anyone but yourselves."

I quickly walked towards Jeremiah, stepping in front of him with anger boiling my veins. His eyebrows furrowed with confusion, eyes eyeing me from top to bottom. My hand quickly then made contact with his cheek, loud gasps echoing through the room.

Belly: "Nova!"

Pearl: "Oh my, God." -the short hair girl mumbled, trying to pull me away from Jeremiah but I held myself in place.

Jeremiah stared at me with complete surprise showing on his face, eyes beginning to get teary.

Nova: "Fuck you." -I firmly said, walking away from everyone and heading outside through the backyard door.

I knew what I had done was way too far, but the sadness and betrayal I felt from Jeremiah when he said that to me hurt my feelings a lot.

He saw me struggling with everything while mom was sick. I lost myself, I lost her, I lost everyone I cared for and he was the only one that saw me in that horrible situation.

I told him everything and he did the same, him saying that after I apologized for hiding mom's sickness at first, it literally slapped me hard right across the face.

I only hoped that the tension in the room eased slightly when I exited, only replaced by a shared determination to navigate the uncertain path that lay ahead.

In that fragile moment, we should be fortifying ourselves with the strength of family, even vowing to protect our mother's legacy and rebuild our lives, brick by brick.

Minutes after walking at the beach for some time, I took a seat on the sand and looked at the distance. I realized I had slept for hours even if it didn't felt like it at all, the sunset was already happening around me. The moment sent comfort to me throughout the hurtful moment, it was beautifully comforting.

Voice: "Hey, Beautiful."

My eyes widened by the familiar voice behind me, sending instant shivers of nerves all around my back. The sentence the voice had said brought back a memory, it all happened right here, this same exact spot.

Flashback.

Steven: "Hey, Beautiful."

I turned around by the sudden voice behind me, instantly holding eye contact with Steven, who approached me with a cup of hot chocolate on his hands. I grabbed the cup as soon as he handled it to me, smiling faintly his way.

Nova: "Hey, Steven." -I mumbled, seeing how fast his expression changed after my tone.

My eyes darted to the sand beneath us, avoiding to eye him since I knew where the conversation would go if I kept looking at him.

But that didn't work.

Steven: "Let's go for a walk, okay?"

I nodded in agreement, standing up from the ground and following the boy through the shore.

The sun dipped below the horizon, setting the beach ablaze with hues of fiery orange and soothing purples. Steven and I walked hand in hand, our footsteps sinking into the warm sand beneath us. It was a picturesque evening, yet the weight of my mother's illness hung heavy in the air, casting a shadow over our joy.

As we found a secluded spot on the shoreline, my heart tremored with nervousness. I knew that this conversation would shatter the idyllic moment, but I also knew that I couldn't bear the burden alone any longer. With a deep breath, I turned to Steven, my voice laced with vulnerability.

Nova: "Steven, there's something I need to tell you." -my voice wavered, betraying the fear and sadness that swirled within me.

Steven squeezed my hand, offering silent support.

My gaze lingered on the crashing waves, gathering my thoughts before mustering the strength to continue.

Nova: "Okay, well, It's about my mom." -I began, noticing his worried expression instantly.

Steven: "What's wrong with Susannah?"

Nova: "Uh, the doctors...they found something... something more serious." -my voice cracked under the weight of the words, tears filling my eyes.

Steven's eyes widened with a mix of concern and disbelief. He tightened his grip on my hand, grounding me in our shared connection.

Steven: "No, no, Nova. I'm so sorry." -he whispered, his voice laced with the ache of understanding.

The vulnerability between us deepened as my emotions spilled forth. I spoke of mom's diagnosis, the cancer...it had gotten worse. My words unleashed a torrent of fears and hopes, mixing with the gentle breeze that whispered through our hair.

With each tremor in my voice, Steven's gaze never wavered. He listened intently, absorbing my pain, his unwavering presence bringing a sense of solace even in the face of such despair. In that moment, I realized that I wasn't alone in this battle...but this was also destroying, Steven.

Steven: "Do Conrad and Jere know already?" -he asked, moving my hair aside as the breeze hit my cheek.

Nova: "They do. Jeremiah said he won't give up, but Conrad...his losing hope."

We stood there on the beach, the world around us fading into insignificance. The crashing waves became a distant roar, replaced by the unspoken sadness we both were feeling. The sand clung to our feet, anchoring us in the present, as we vowed to be there for one another through the storms to come.

As the sky darkened and the stars timidly emerged from their hiding places, Steven and I found strength in each other's embrace. We knew that our journey would be arduous, that nights would be filled with worry and days with fleeting moments of respite. But as long as we faced it together, we felt a flicker of hope amidst the darkness. Though we couldn't change the circumstances, we could offer unwavering support, love, and a shoulder to lean on.

I like to think that for Steven, that evening on the beach etched itself deep within our souls. It was like a testament to our unwavering bond and the resilience of love even in the face of life's toughest battles. The nervousness that had once gripped me...dissolved, even though it was for a very short time. It was thankfully replaced by a sense of unity and determination to navigate the stormy sea ahead, hand in hand, hearts intertwined.

Forever.

End of flashback.

I finally turned around to see who the voice belonged to, revealing the voice to belong to Ethan. He had stopped his tracks behind me, awaiting for me to speak to him. Ethan has been such an understanding friend to me, it's surreal how patient and caring he is with everyone he loves.

My hand darted to the sand, patting the empty spot beside me. He smiled shyly, walking carefully towards me. I watched him take a seat without saying anything at first, but eventually he did.

Ethan: "Jeremiah is not inside the house right now, okay? You don't have to worry about stumbling with him again." -he mentioned, glancing my way.

Nova: "I'm sorry you had to see all of that with Pearl, we aren't usually like this but a lot has changed."

Ethan: "I understand, Nova. Stuff like that happens with a lot of families, it's normal unfortunately."

I nodded in acknowledgment, staring into the distance right after.

Nova: "Do you think we can gain the house back?"

The silence that grew on the space said it all to me, there was a lot worries about this whole situation. Specifically, Aun Julia not being here to speak to about this.

Ethan: "I think you guys have a chance, but it's hard when it comes with all the debts with the hospital and bank. But, there's always a possibility, Nova."

Nova: "I knew I should've used the money I saved for college to pay the medical bills." -I mumbled, covering my face with frustration.

I felt the boy's hand rubbing my back gently, allowing myself to rest on his shoulder for more reassurance. The more I thought about the situation, the more angry and frustrated I felt.

Ethan: "What happened to that money?"

I chuckled out of disappointment in myself, glancing at the sky for peace in me before I could speak again.

Nova: "A couple of days after I decided not to go to college, Mom told me I should use that money to buy myself something I needed. I told her it wasn't worth it and that I was going to use that money to pay for her stuff."

Ethan: "Then what happened?"

I sighed with teary eyes, fidgeting with my necklace as I tried to find the strength to speak again.

Nova: "You knew mom, she was a bowl of light that managed to convince everyone to do something brighter than light itself."

The boy chuckled softly after my sentence, nodding in agreement as tears flooded his eyes as well.

Nova: "She practically begged me to buy something for myself, managing to convince me somehow."

Ethan: "Your car, right?" -he questioned, eyeing me with certainty.

I nodded with disappointment in myself, moving my hair aside with anger.

Nova: "I genuinely can't believe how stupid I was, karma even thought itself I was stupid and made me crash."

Yes, crash.

I wasn't at the house when mom passed away, I actually found out about the news while staying at Ethan's house as I helped him pack his stuff for college. Hours passed and I had told Jeremiah to keep me updated with mom before I got back to the house.

On my way back, he had called me, his voice breaking continuously as loud sobs echoed in the call. I knew it had happened, I knew it deep inside. I didn't told Ethan about it, he was so excited for college that night that I just told him I needed to leave cause Jeremiah was heading out and needed my help with mom.

Ethan knew I was lying...of course he did. He told me he was not leaving me alone and headed inside of my car with me. I hadn't told him yet what was going on, but he could see how distraught I was as I cried my eyes out.

He begged me throughout the whole drive to let him drive instead but I wasn't listening. So, as I was driving immensely fast through the dark streets that led to our home, tears didn't allow me to see well and I hit a curve extremely bad. My brand new car did not survive, Ethan and I almost didn't as well.

I missed half of the preparations for mom's funeral. Thankfully, I was able to say goodbye to her, but unfortunately also never get to see her again.

Nova: "I'm sorry I didn't listened to you that night." -I quickly said, looking at the boy with tears falling down my face.

He frowned his eyebrows, wiping my tears away.

Ethan: "You've apologized way too many times to me already, Nova. There's no need for you to continue, I understand."

I quickly embraced him into a tight hug, taking in the smell of his strong cologne. Continuing to feel extremely thankful to have someone like him in life, always and forever.

I love and hate to have Ethan helping me throughout all of this, he recently stopped attending college just for me. I told him not to but he keeps arguing about it with me, Pearl as well. She follows the both of us everywhere we go, bringing different stuff to distract us at hard times. I'm glad Ethan has her, she understands him far too well and cares for his happiness.

Nova: "Where's Pearl?" -I asked, nudging the boy's arm as I pulled away from the hug.

Ethan: "She's somewhere around the beach, Belly also came here so I told her to look for her while I looked for you."

We both looked around the large beach, not being able to spot the pair anywhere near. He glanced my way and smiled, pinching my cheek.

Ethan: "Feeling a little better?" -he questioned, forcing me to smile at him.

Nova: "A little."

Ethan: "Good, now, let's go back inside. It's getting dark already."

I nodded and held onto the boy's hand as he helped me stand, continuing to walk towards the house hand in hand.

Hours later, I was now sitting in my childhood bedroom. I opened my eyes as I had closed them to try and gain motivation on my desk as I painted. A bittersweet smile played on my lips, as I realized what I could do.

The memories of different moments with my mother, my guidance and encouragement, fueled my determination to explore my own artistic potential at literally late hours. Ethan and Pearl had decided to sleep downstairs in the living room, as for everyone else in their respective rooms.

Jeremiah and I never talked again for the rest of the night, he just went to his room and locked himself inside.

I shook the reminders of the bad day I had today, paying attention to the different paints in front of me again.

Inspired, I picked up a blank canvas and a paintbrush, ready to breathe life into my own emotions and experiences. The weight of mom's words, "let your emotions guide your brush," resonated within me, propelling myself forward as I embraced both the joy and the vulnerability that artistic expression held.

With every brushstroke, I felt my spirit intertwining with mom's, creating a deep well of solace, love, and a continued journey of self-discovery. I knew that in my own artwork, I could possibly carry the legacy of mom's passion, forever connected to the beauty we had once shared.

Tomorrow was going to be day filled with struggles but also determination to make things right. I won't give up, for her, for this house and for everyone else...even if they are the ones that lose hope.

I am allowed to be nervous yet still act with courage.

Am I right or am I wrong?

[End of chapter]

Sofia's notes:
New chapter cuties!!! I revealed some big details on this chapter so I'm kinda relieved by that. I wasn't exactly sure in what chapters to add those details but here they are<3

This chapter was mainly focused in Ethan and Nova's friendship cause they hold a strong beautiful grip on me.

I hope you all enjoyed!!

ALSO!! sorry if this chapter has writing errors, sooner or later I'll try to edit whatever error I'm able to find. Remember English is not my first language, so there's probably a lot of writing errors in there.

That's it, see you all soon!! Don't forget to vote and please don't be a silent reader 🫶🏼

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