Chapter Three: freeze

I sat in a crisscross, a serious frown on my face as I watched Amabel and Blake play. Drake, their last friend, and my ex were with his fiancée, Sharia. Iso was with her husband, Lake. Guess who's the seventh wheel? Me. Who's Drake? My high school to college boyfriend, also my last boyfriend and best friend to my sisters' husbands. I became famous, had less time for him and then he cheated on me. Unfortunately, I couldn't fuck his homeboys because clearly, they were my sisters' men, so I screwed his cousin and we became even.

"Blake, stop tickling me," Ama said, giggling uncontrollably.

"Apologize," Blake singsonged.

"Never," she giggled. He tickled her tummy, increasing her already serious laugh. Iso walked into the living room carrying a bowl of cheese.

"Seriously, babe, cheese again!" Lake asked shockingly. She eyed him. "Pregnant women," he muttered

"Don't insult me," she snapped.

"Or rather, us," Sharia added folding her arms. Yea, she's pregnant too, and loves showing me that Drake is hers. Apparently, bitch still thought I was a threat and she was right to be scared because if I really wanted Drake back, I could make him mine in minutes. The guy's not the most committed guy on the planet.

"Yes, us," Drake said folding his arms too. Sharia chuckled.

Oh brother.

"Okay I give," Lake said in defeat. I hissed but to myself. Yes, I was a little jealous but not because of Drake and Sharia but because I didn't have a guy of my own and so much for girls' night.

"Arabel, help me!" Ama shouted laughingly. I averted my eyes from her and rolled them away in annoyance. I think she sensed that I wasn't happy. "Okay I'm sorry," she said calmly. He smirked victoriously and let her go. She sat down, wiping some tears out from her cheeks.

"So is this game night or what?" I asked scornfully.

"Yes, that. I was thinking we can see a movie instead, not in the mood for games," Ama said staring at me calmly. Of course, she would notice my disdain, she's the smart one. "How about that movie we saw at the premiere last month?" She asked excitedly, turning her eyes to Blake. And of course, she would ignore me. The boys groaned. "What?"

"Ama, you have seen that movie a million times already, don't you get tired?" Blake complained.

"I say we watch Titanic!" Iso shrieked.

"Birds of a feather," Lake hissed.

"No, this is my house so I get to pick," Ama said, folding her arms. "Sharia?"

"I'm in, as long as I can hug my Drake," she said, hugging him and sending me an evil smirk. I used to hold him like… Whatever. I don't care. I arched a brow at her.

"I will do whatever, my princess wants," Drake smiled. Oh, wow.

"Do I have the right to object," Lake said grumpily.

"They say pregnant women are mostly grumpy and always have mood swings but you are the one in this case," Iso said mockingly.

"I say not," Blake stubbornly protested.

"Movie it is, because the majority, my dear Blake, wins the vote," Ama said smirkingly. "Now be a good husband and go turn on the TV."

"The remote is beside you," he said upsettingly. She picked it up and flung it to the other chair.

"Whoops! Now, it's too far," she said innocently. He glared dagger at her but still went to get it. Iso chuckled.

Wow, so funny. I'm totally rolling my eyes.

My phone rang and I looked at who called. The caller was the last person I wanted to speak with but for the moment, he was my favorite. I answered my phone, placing my foot on the sofa and swinging them side to side as if I was happy to hear from the person. “If it isn't Mason Mamoa,” I said teasingly, “you finally decided to call,” Sharia gasped from where she sat. I was all so aware of Mason being her biggest crush, so it gave me extra joy to rub it on her face.

“Ara, you actually sound happy to hear from me?” He asked, surprised. I rolled my eyes. Don't get it wrong, the guy was secretly gay and had a huge, mega crush on my father. He kept bothering me to link them up and was talkative. “Does this mean you'll give me a chance?!” He literally shrieked loud enough for everyone to hear.

“Easy there, Casanova, don't move too fast. You know what I will always say, right?” He whimpered childishly.

“But I love you,” he whined. “And I'll make a great dad,” I snorted and burst into laughter, imagining Mason being my stepdad. My mom would end him before that ever happens. “Why don't we talk about it in person? There's this huge party going on in Seattle, at Reece's. Wanna hang? I'll save you a dance.” I wasn't in the mood for it, but I will rather be there than here as an unwanted seventh wheel. “Are you doing anything right now?” I looked around, seeing my sisters, Sharia and Drake looking at me. I rolled my eyes away.

“Nay, nothing of importance. I'll be there in thirty to fifty minutes, wait for me at the door. See you soon.” I hung up and stood up, grabbing my bag.

“You are just going to leave? Just like that?” Ama asked sadly. Instead of answering her, I put my phone in my bag and waved dismissively to the air, and headed for the door. “Arabel, seriously?”

“Ɣebubuɣi si mia dometɔ aɖe akpem ava kpekpe sia si ŋu viɖe aɖeke mele o la, MAtso mi ɖa le nye agbe me keŋkeŋ. Eye megatsi dzi o, nyemagawɔ ɖoɖo ɖe kpekpe bubu aɖeke ŋu na mí o.” I said in ewe, a language I know only my sisters understood. Iso's eyes widened and Ama's lips formed into a thin line. I walked out of the house, slamming the door shut. I finally told them what I felt.

I've been so pushed to be alone that I talked to myself every time. I missed when it was just us.

After the party, I had to drag Mason's motionless body to his house and then took a cab to my house in Seattle. I slammed the door shut making my house vibrate. Maybe I should stay with mom and dad but their love was worse. Screw the love, mom would kill me with marriage shit. Ever since Drake, I just couldn't fall for any guy, as if my heart was frozen cold. It certainly wasn't hot like this house.

This house is hot!

I went to turn on the temperature to cold but it was already at its lowest, that's funny. I shrugged and walked to my room. I stripped off my clothes and went to bathe with annoyance.

How could they do this to me?

Am I not their sister?

Ara, why can't you just fall in love?

I turned on the shower and frowned at the warmness of the water. Why is everywhere so hot?! I turned the shower to cold but it still wasn't cold enough. What is wrong with me!!! I sighed and took my sponge and soap, after sponging, I placed my hands on the wall and let the water rinse me. I closed my eyes and sighed heavily again. The temperature finally suits me. It was cold enough. I smiled and ran my fingers through my hair. I opened my eyes and saw myself covered by fog… what happened? The fog was everywhere.

I turned off the shower and searched blindly for my towel. My hands touched my bathroom robe so I picked it up and walked out with careful steps so I wouldn't fall. Was the water that cold?

"That was weird," I muttered. I came to a halt when I caught my reflection in the mirror. Who is that girl in my mirror? I closed my eyes and opened them again. "This can't be happening!" I exclaimed. "This is me! When did I dye my hair?" I ran over to my vanity. If I was living with the quad, I would have thought they pranked me but they didn't. I lived alone.

My hair had white streaks all over and my lips were blue. One of my eyes was blue instead of violet. I had two different colored eyes! That is impossible! I closed my eyes and breathed heavily. "This is a dream, I'll wake up. Everything will go away," I said convincing myself. I opened my eyes and sighed with relief. I must be sick and hallucinating. But deep inside, I knew it wasn't a hallucination

_____

"If our love was a fairytale

I will charge in and rescue you

On a yacht baby will would sail

To an island where we'd say I do

And if we had babies they would look like you

It'd be so beautiful if that came true…" Mom sang as she chopped the onions. She was wearing goggles to prevent the onions from getting into her eyes. I went to see them after that weird hallucination five days earlier and so far, so good. She didn't bother me for a husband—yet. My days were numbered.

Dad walked in humming the song and I knew another love nonsense was about to begin. I rolled my eyes with annoyance and Bevin who was washing the dishes giggled. Sure, mock the single one.

"Not again! Aren't you both too old for this?" Kevin grumbled. Tell me about it.

"And if our love was a storybook

We would meet on the very first page

The last chapter would be about…" Dad sang out to annoy him.

"Here it comes," he grumbled again. Dad held mom as they sang to irritate Kevin. Just like me, he feels the sharp blade of singledom whenever he's with couples. No one asked him to be a playboy and no one told my heart to be frozen.

"You guys stop it! There's a kid here!" He shouted, slamming the knife in his hand on the chopping board. Bevin threw a cup at his head.

"Ignore that jealous loser and continue,"

"My beautiful Mabel, give me some sugar," Kevin pouted and closed his eyes so he wouldn't see.

"Are they done?" He whispered.

"Yup," I popped. He opened his eyes and whimpered still seeing them kissing.

"You are a traitor too. I'm too young to see such things," so says the playboy. I'm out of here," he stood up.

"Don't move, Kev, better cut that thing before I cut you," Declan said threateningly, pointing the butcher at me. Kevin has been trying to cut one meat for over an hour but alas! He hasn't even succeeded in cutting one slice out.

"Oh come on! I'm yet to even cut one out," he cried.

"Lazy dummy. Yet your appetite is the widest. You can't boil a single water without burning it," Bevin said mockingly.

"Shut up, Be… hey stop kissing! Why is life so cruel?!"

"Just because Evaron dumped you," Bevin scoffed.

"Her name is not Evaron, it's Avalon and I dumped her," he said defensively.

"Are you sure? Because you cried all night," Declan said chucklingly.

"I did not cry! I had something in my eyes and I watched a sad movie," Kev lied.

"Is that so?" I smirked.

"I don't like her,"

"He so does. He hugged her picture too while crying because he got dumped by Nevaron,"

"Her name is Avalon!!!" He yelled. "Treat her with respect."

"Oooooh! Kevin is in love," I cooed teasingly. They laughed as his face turned red.

"Okay meat, listen up," he said seriously, staring at the meat fiercely. "I'm going to cut you now so I can get the hell out of here,"

"The beginning of an already known madness," Bevin laughed. He eyed her and faced the meat again.

"I wasn't talking to you, poodle,"

"Yea, you were communicating with the gods of madness," she said tauntingly.

"Kevin just cut the damn meat," Declan huffed tiredly. Kev huffed and focused on the meat, he cut it slowly, wiping off his sweat at intervals.

"I did it!" He exclaimed excitedly.

"One out of what?" Declan laughed.

"It's not like you can do better,"

"Challenge accepted," he smirked. He dropped the butcher and walked to Kev. He took the knife. "Watch the master and learn," he chopped the meat in thirty seconds. He has always been the kitchen type. "You owe me your credit card," he said giving the knife back to gaping Kevin.

"That was so cool! You just did my job for me!"

"Loser," Declan kicked his stomach.

"Mom," Kev groaned falling on the floor while holding his stomach. "Declan has killed me, I'm dead."

"Kevin, will you stop being dramatic?" I laughed.

"I can't work again, Declan has killed me… Wait! If I die, she will come back," he mused excitedly. He stood up and kissed Declan on the lips.

"God! Yuck!" Declan spat out coughing. "Are you crazy man!"

"I so much love you, big brother," he chirped and kissed Declan again. We were laughing.

"What's your shit man!"

"If Avalon thinks I'm sick, she will come to me. Declan, you are a genius!" Declan moved back immediately.

"Kiss me again and I will iron your lips," he threatened seriously. I laughed and went to Bevin.

"Go get ready for your date, I will handle this," I smiled. She blushed and kissed my cheek.

"Thank you, sis. When will you meet Lucas?"

"Kevin says the dude is great so no need."

"But he wants to meet you, he's a fan," she said shyly. I nodded. Of course.

"Soon," I murmured. She nodded, kissed my cheek again, and ran out after kicking Kevin and knocking Declan's head.

"Stupid girl!" Dec shouted.

"Hey, Dec!" Kev shouted. Immediately Declan turned, crazy Kevin kissed him and ran away. Declan screamed with disgust.

"I swear, we gave birth to mad children," mom laughed sitting on the floor. I smiled and turned on the tap.

"Ara has even matured, she's one of my crazy psychos. Just like her mother," dad said smilingly. Mom, I wonder what she is like. She died after I was born so I never got to meet her and dad never talked about her.

I shook the thought off and reached forward to touch the water, but it froze. I gasped and looked around immediately, Declan was scrubbing his lips with ice, and mom and dad were still laughing. With a pounding heart, I touched the frozen tap water again and it returned to normal. What is going on?! What am I turning into?