Chapter 5 Indi
FIVE
INDI
“I should just throw all this shit away!” I kicked a box of Haze’s things, pissed that I was back at Mary-Jane’s dealing with all of our boxes.
Thanksgiving was only a few days away and I was running out of time, moving everything all by myself.
It wouldn’t have been so miserable, had Haze not left. Or rather, had I not told him to leave.
“Fuck,” I groaned. “What is wrong with me?” I fell to the floor of my old room and cried.
Haze did exactly as I asked and didn’t come back.
I spent the whole night wandering our new apartment, unable to sleep.
Eventually, I sent him a text, apologizing, but he never responded.
I told him I was sorry and didn’t mean any of it, but no matter how many times I messaged him, he never replied.
Where are you, Haze?
I pulled the burner phone from my bag and opened it up to our texts. I had sent so many messages since last night, ranging from desperation to anger. Anything to get a response from him. He said nothing. “Uhh!” I threw the phone across the room.
“Wow.” I looked up to see Mary-Jane standing in my doorway. “I really thought you'd have your shit out by now.” She made a face. “Do you not have anyone who can help you move faster?”
My brows furrowed at her attitude. “You know, you could always help.”
She laughed. “Pass. I’m already going to have to hire someone to deep clean this place once you leave. It’s going to take hours to get that fucking weed smell out of the carpet.”
I had no fucking patience for this bitch today. “If you’re not going to help me,” I said as I rose to my feet and picked up the burner phone, tucking it in my pocket, “then you should fucking leave.” She made a face. “You hovering is the last thing I need right now.”
Mary-Jane seemed taken aback by my temper. “Jeez. Someone’s grumpy. What’s wrong, Indigo? Wake up on the wrong side of the bed? Although, I guess there is no wrong side when you’re lonely and single, is there?” I froze. “Oh calm down, it’s just a joke.”
“It’s not fucking funny!” I snapped as I spun to face her.
She raised a brow. “Oh no. Don’t tell me you’re still all fucked up from your brother? Indi, it’s been months. The man is gone. Move the fuck on.”
Without any thought, I charged at her and pushed her into the bedroom door.
“He’s not fucking gone!” Her eyes widened as she stared back at me, frightened by my aggression.
“And I’m so goddamn sick of you running your mouth, saying whatever the fuck you want!
” She stared at me with wide eyes. “When will you realize you are no one, Mary-Jane? Every breath you take, every word you speak…it’s all a waste.
Just like you.” I leaned in closer. “You think you’re really something, don’t you?
Well, news flash, bitch. You’re not.” She flinched at my hissed words.
“No one fucking wants you. Carter, Haze, they both used you because they couldn’t have what they really wanted.
Me. How does it feel to know you’ll always be second best?
To know you’ll never be me, no matter how hard you try.
You’re nothing more than a cheap knock-off.
” She didn’t speak, just stared at me with her hate-filled eyes.
“No wonder you hate me so much. It has nothing to do with what Haze did, but rather, what he didn’t do.
And he didn’t choose you.” I smiled. “That must sting. I bet you’re just burning with anger, knowing that after all those years of pretending, he really never wanted you.
” Her face hardened at the truth. “Keep your fucking mouth shut about my brother, or I’ll happily silence you myself. ”
Mary-Jane trembled at my threats. I roughly released her, daring her to say another word. But what she did say shook me to my core. “You really are twins.”
“What?”
Her head rested against the door as she stared straight at me with malcontent. “You and Haze are more alike than you know, Indi. Just now? I saw him in you. His anger, all that pent-up rage. And for a moment, I wasn’t looking at you, but your brother.”
The unexpected statement reeled me back as I stepped away from her. “No, I’m not like him.”
She nodded. “Yes, you are.” Mary-Jane stepped from the bedroom door, cleared her throat, and adjusted her clothing.
“You’re just like him, Indi. That raging anger inside him?
That violence and hatred he has? You possess it too.
The only difference is Haze isn’t afraid to let it show.
But you have it too, it’s just buried deep inside your rotten soul.
” She scoffed, returning to her usual demeanor.
“And I don’t feel safe with you here. Not after everything you just fucking said. You need to leave.”
I scoffed. “I’ll leave once I finish packing. Then you’ll never see me again.”
She shook her head. “No. You need to get out of my apartment. You can send someone to get your shit—or, truthfully—I don’t fucking care what you do, but you need to leave. Get out of my apartment. Now!”
“Are you fucking serious?” She didn’t answer.
She just pointed to the front door and gave me a look.
“Fine.” I grabbed what I could and walked past her.
Mary-Jane backed away from me as if I were an immediate threat as I scooted by.
I scoffed and shook my head as I walked toward the front door of the apartment.
“Your key, Indi.” I stopped and looked back at her, unsure if she was joking or being serious. “I said, leave your key.”
“Mary-Jane.”
She held her hand up. “Leave it. This is my apartment, and you don’t need access to it. I don’t trust you not to try some shit when I’m not here. Leave it or I’m calling the cops. And I’m sure they won’t hesitate to lock your ass up, being an Osvaldo.”
This fucking bitch.
I struggled to hold the boxes as I searched my pocket for the apartment key. “Here.” I threw it down at her feet. “But if you touch my shit, you’ll fucking regret it.”
Mary-Jane kept quiet as I left, slamming the door behind me.
“Fucking bitch!” I walked to the car and threw everything in the trunk before slamming it shut. “Uh!” I opened the driver’s side door and plopped down inside, fuming. “Fuck! Fuck, fuck, fuck! Now what am I supposed to do?” I had no one to help me move and no way to get my shit.
I screamed and hit the steering wheel, fed up with everything.
Just then, the burner phone chimed. I pulled it from my pocket to see a text from Haze.
I left something for you at the apartment.
“That’s it?” I did a double take, reading his text again. There was no other text, just the one. And there was no way to tell his emotion from it.
Fuck, what if Haze didn’t forgive me? What if it is really over? Then what?
I felt sick.
“Aiden?” I slammed the car door shut to see the silver-haired man leaning against his bike outside my new apartment. He smiled and waved as I walked over to him. “You know, I’m beginning to think you’re stalking me,” I teased.
Aiden blew raspberries. “I’m only here as—”
“As a favor to Haze. Yeah, I had a feeling. You know, he’s going to really owe you after everything.”
He laughed and made a face. “Don’t worry, I fully plan to collect. Hey, how are you holding up? Things seemed a bit…tense yesterday when we left.”
I shrugged. “Yeah, well…you know how it is.” I couldn’t bring myself to say anything else about the matter. “So, where is it? Where is my surprise?”
Aiden smiled. “I left it inside on the pool table, per Haze’s request.” Of course he left it on the pool table. “And don’t worry, I left the key inside as well.”
Key? Haze’s key?
Aiden noticed the fear on my face. “I have a feeling your entire mood is going to change when you see it. Trust me.” He placed his helmet over his head and revved his bike.
“Oh!” He lifted the face guard. “I almost forgot! While I was dropping everything off, I fed your cat. He’s a cutie!
But boy, does he sure have an appetite!” I tried to not laugh at the idea of Kush begging Aiden for food as he lowered his face shield and revved the engine again.
“Check the pool table!” he shouted before driving away.
I waved him off and stood there, hesitant to go inside.
If Aiden said this surprise will make me feel better, then it must help…whatever it is.
With a deep breath, I unlocked the front door and walked into the apartment.
The entire place was dead silent. There was no sign of Haze anywhere, and it made me sad.
I walked over to the pool table and spotted a black garment bag with a giant red bow.
Next to it was a small white card. “Well this is not what I was expecting.” I unzipped the garment bag to find a deep emerald green formal evening gown.
“Woah.” I admired the delicate material and accents, in awe of just how glamorous it truly was.
“But…what is this for?” I looked back down at the card and picked it up, noticing Haze’s handwriting.
I hope you like it. Be ready by seven, little sis. And try not to spoil your appetite.
“Appetite?” I dropped the card and looked back at the formal evening gown. “What the fuck are you planning, Haze?”
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