(edited: 10.01.2025)
IT WAS half past seven, when I turned in my bed and sighed, listening to the pipes creaking as either Carlos or Genevieve was taking a shower. Groaning, I stuck my head under the pillow, just gathering strength to get up and face the day that's ahead of me.
Going back to school was going to be tough, not that it ever was easy for me. Still, I was so used to my studies back in Kaasedera and acting like a sorceress, that I knew that it would take a lot from me to just pretend that I was... well, normal.
How did they do it?
As I was stuck in my head, Carlos's scream came from the bathroom, startling me as I rose up in my bed. Untangling myself from the sheets, I rushed out to the hallway, soon reaching the bathroom. All that just to see Carlos, standing half naked in front of the shower, pointing at Genevieve who calmly washed her teeth.
"Wh-What the hell is going on?!" I demanded, staring at them with wide eyes and flaming cheeks "Why are you naked?!"
Carlos shifted the little hand towel that he must've grabbed to cover himself, at which I tried not to look at "S-She! She just barged in! While I was in the shower!"
"What?" I asked, blinking as my head tried to wrap itself around the scene that was unfolding in front of me.
Genevieve, the calmest in the room, simply rolled her eyes and spat out the toothpaste, saying "Oh, do grow up, Carlos. It's not like I haven't seen a naked man before."
"That's not the point!"
"Then what is?"
"It's weird!"
"Why? Are you ashamed? You shouldn't be, really, it's quite—"
"Yeah. No." I said, covering my eyes and leaving the doorway.
"DORA!" they yelled at the same time, clearly wanting me to pick a side.
I just shook my head and continued forward, just responding "Coffee."
"But—"
"Coffee!" I yelled, heading downstairs, completely ignoring their argument.
As I made my coffee, I just leaned my head against the cabinet and sighed heavily. Only Genevieve and Carlos could find themselves in a situation like this, really they were like siblings. Annoying, loud and ridiculous. Speaking of, as I raised my head to check on my coffee, I heard them heading downstairs.
"—you have a bigger room!" Carlos argued.
"I have more clothes, plus, I found this house. So of course I have a bigger room."
"But, where am I supposed to put my vinyls?! There's already no room in my bedroom!"
"Not my problem, Carl."
"Don't call me that! Chica, say something to her!"
"Babe, shut him up!"
I took a sip of my coffee, got up and held the cup above my head, as I sighed out "Coffee..."
With that out of the way, I walked past the troublesome twins and headed to my room. I honestly just hoped that they'll resolve it themselves, without my input. As I shut the door to my room I just leaned against it and slowly slid down to drink my coffee in peace. Immediately, I sighed in relief as the noise of their ongoing bickering became tuned out. And so, the brief moment of silence made me look up and finally appreciate my new room.
The walls had a dark turquoise wallpaper with golden branches on it, paired with vintage golden frames and golden curtains. The furniture was old and wooden, just like the bed that had beige and dark turquoise covers on it. Actually the room was the same, as when the other owners lived here, aside from the covers and curtains which Vivi chose. Overall the room was old but beautiful, very much in my style.
After taking a few more minutes to gather myself, I stood up and cracked the window open, letting in some fresh, although chilly air inside. Leaving my cup on the windowsill, I turned and started rummaging through my closet, trying to find something to wear.
After, good ten minutes of thinking, I decided to wear some baggy jeans, a blue long sleeve and my black and white leather jacket. I really wasn't feeling like I had to put in more effort than that, they saw me in far worse to be honest.
Once I was dressed, I just shook and fluffed up my purple hair, liking how slightly messy it looked with the curly fringe flopping over my forehead. With one last shake of my head, I just drew around my eyes with a black eye-pencil and smudged it a bit with my finger, with that out of the way I just applied mascara and a cherry lip gloss. It was far from Vivi's masterful art of makeup, or even Alice's. But it served me fine.
At least with the fringe and darker makeup, my face scar didn't seem so prominent. Instead my big eyes stole the attention.
With one last nod, I checked my bag and threw my phone and lip gloss inside, before finally leaving to check on my all too quiet housemates.
Carlos was just finishing making breakfast, as Genevieve sat at the table, reading one of our textbooks. Happy that they were still alive, I plopped down next to Vivi and stuck my head in her book.
Chemistry. Great, I still stuck at that. I really wasn't looking forward to the next few months.
"It's been quite a while since I was in school... well more like in college, never in my immortal life have I considered going through high school." Genevieve commented, pushing my head away, as she continued looking through the textbook.
With a heavy groan I leaned away, saying "Nothing to look forward to Vivi. Believe me."
Carlos came over and placed our plates on the table, saying "I remember my school days quite well, actually. I was very popular."
"As a class clown?" I asked, with a raised brow making Vivi snort.
He huffed and put his hands on his hips "If you're going to be such a smart ass, then I won't be making breakfast for you anymore."
I raised my hands in surrender "Okay, okay I'm sorry."
"I'd kill not to eat your food actually."
"You know what Vivi—!"
"I am begging you both to stop..." I whined, as yet another argument started.
It wasn't long until breakfast ended, along with the much unneeded bickering, and we headed out to Carlos' car. I jumped in the backseat, content to just tune them out if they argued yet again.
"Dora, seatbelt." Carlos spoke up, as we drove away.
I raised my brow at him "It's not like we can die or something..."
"Not up for a debate, mi princesa. I'm in a new town and you never know, injuries are never fun."
"He's right, seatbelt or you're walking." Genevieve added, sending me a look as she searched through the CD's.
I frowned but did as they asked, saying "Geez, okay mom and dad."
Carlos snorted while Genevie just smiled and put on NSYNC.
"Really?" I asked, laughing as she turned up the volume.
Genevive grinned "Yep. You'll get to choose on the drive back."
"What about me?" Carlos whined.
"It's enough that you annoy us at home. Now watch the road, dumbass."
"You are so mean..."
After that, our drive was thankfully peaceful, as the music filled in the silence. Still, as nice and things seemed, you could tell that we were a bit on edge. Well, maybe not Carlos because... well. He's Carlos.
Still, I kept on yawning, which was a weird experience for me since I don't need that much rest anymore. But then again. The last few days were very tiring emotionally, and that's something that even my seidr couldn't fix.
As we made it to the parking lot, I leaned forward and directed Carlos a bit, all while every student stood and gaped at Carlos' black and red mustang. Because of course, he couldn't pick a normal car to bring here. But once again. He's Carlos.
He pulled up in the corner where he wouldn't bother anyone for a while, and all three of us exited the car. With me being the last one, as Carlos folded the red seat and took my hand in his to help me get out.
"Thanks." I said and squeezed his hand with a smile.
Carlos of course being the drama queen he is, bowed slightly saying "Anything for my Lady."
"Stop it, you big idiot." I rolled my eyes and pushed his shoulder lightly, while fixing the strap of my bag.
He laughed and kissed my hand "I humbly apologise, mi princesa."
Before I could roll my eyes yet again, Genevieve spoke up.
"Dora, your friends are here as well."
I looked away from Carlos, far towards the parking spots that I already knew were theirs. And indeed there they were, looking straight at me. I frowned slightly, noticing that neither Bella or Edward were with the group. Instead the two were standing by Bella's truck, trying hard not to look at me or the other Cullens.
Interesting.
As I once again looked their way, my eyes briefly connected with the black eyes of the one and only Jasper Hale.
We held each other's gaze for a few seconds. As it was no secret that we still longed for the times when things were simpler. For a time when we were together...
Thinking about that, I looked away instantly much like he did. Almost in perfect sync.
"Well of course they are. They're back to living here and the humans think that they're also human so you know..." I muttered, twisting the many rings on my fingers.
"Hmm... I do wonder what possessed them to try and pass for high schoolers. Your sister's boy looks the part... but the others don't fit the picture." Genevieve said, her eyes still focused on the vampires "Not a good strategy..."
I rolled my eyes and punched her shoulder lightly "Vivi. It's not a mission, so get out of your head a bit, okay?"
Instantly, Genevieve relaxed and her eyes focused back on us "Oh, yeah. Sorry, I got too occupied, you know how I get."
"We know." me and Carlos said, with deadpanned looks.
Sighing, I looked to Carlos "So, what are you gonna do?"
He grinned and spread out his arms "I'll be your stay at home husband, honey! I'll cook, clean and wash your clothes, sighing and moaning as I await your return!"
Genevieve and I just stared at him, making him slowly lose his grin and pout.
"Fine. I'll also look for a job, since I'm "too old looking" to pass as a student with you. Which is very rude by the way, chica!"
I laughed and ruffled his brown locks "Lose the pout, Carlos. You look very handsome, just not high school handsome."
Right away the man nodded, looking much more confident "Yes, yes you're right. I am handsome."
"For a dumbass." Vivi added.
Before Carlos could open his mouth to start yet another argument, I put my hand over his lips.
"Nope! No more arguing today, kids!"
Genevieve grinned, responding "Of course, babe."
I rolled my eyes and looked at Carlos "I'm gonna take my hand down and you won't start another bickering match. You understand me?"
He nodded and I lifted my hand from his lips.
"Anything for you, mi princesa." he said, before kissing my cheek quickly.
I shook my head and just let him. After all, Carlos was a very physical person, he loved hugging and kissing people close to him. It has to do with how he was raised, not to mention his culture. It was just the way he was, so I got used to it and now even sometimes kissed him in return. As did Vivi on their good day.
"Okay, I'll be going now. I'll pick you up, just text me the time and don't cause trouble girls." Carlos said while getting into his car.
Genevieve laughed "Just don't burn the house down, Carlos."
He gasped, acting offended "Me?! Never! What kind of stay at home husband would I be?!"
"A shitty one, so don't do that or we'll get a divorce." I joked.
Carlos gasped dramatically, saying "You wouldn't!"
"Oh, sweetheart I would. And I would take the kids." I said, trying hard not to crack and laugh.
He gasped again, this time with tears in his eyes "I knew you were trouble the day we got married!"
"And now you gotta deal with it, pretty boy. So hurry home and prepare that dinner." I replied sternly, before bending down and kissing his cheek through the rolled down window.
He smiled brightly and saluted "Right away, honey!"
With that, the three of us just burst out laughing, as Carlos waved and drove away.
None of us noticed the way the Cullens were looking between me and Carlos. Or that Jasper disappeared into the school half way through our theatrics.
"So, if I remember our schedule correctly then... we have chemistry now." I said while trying to find the schedule in my bag.
Genevieve hummed, asking "Are you any good at chemistry?"
My heart panged painfully, as I remember how Jasper was always the one to do everything related to chemistry. I was always bad at it and was scared of any experiment involving fire...
How ironic that my default ability was fire.
"No, I really suck at it. Do you know anything about chemistry?"
"Also no, it was always useless in my life." Genevieve responded, making me frown a bit.
"But aren't you, like... very good at making potions?"
"Yes?"
"Isn't chemistry like making potions?" I asked, still frowning.
Vivi looked confused as she shook her head "No, no it's totally different."
"But you mix things to get a certain reaction, or a certain kind of liquid. Just like in chemistry" I prompted, still looking at her with a dumbfounded look.
"Totally different. I assure you." Genevieve said in the confidence that would make me believe that the sun was blue.
"Okay, then..." I muttered, deciding to drop the subject.
Together we slowly made our way towards the entrance, ignoring all the whispering about us. And as I stared at the door and the hallway behind it, it all suddenly seemed like a bad idea...
Just as some of my anxiety came back, I felt Vivi gently grab my hand and squeeze it.
I looked at her and smiled seeing that she understood exactly what was going on.
"Thanks." I whispered, running my thumb over her knuckles.
She nodded, whispering back "Don't think about them. They're just idiotic teenagers, nothing more."
I chuckled dryly "Well, said teenagers scare the living shit out of me."
Vivi laughed "Oh, please. I would be more worried about the pale squad that's following us."
Reaching out with my seidr, I instantly got an electric shock running down my spine. Signalling that indeed, the Cullens were indeed not too far behind us.
Glancing at Vivi, I just shook my head and tugged on her hand, leading us inside.
When we entered, I thought that everyone would stare at us and whisper some more. But to my surprise everyone seemed to be minding their own business. I don't think that they even noticed us entering.
"Okay, let's head to the office and get your stuff set up. Then we'll head to class." I said, leading Vivi through the corridors.
As Genevieve talked to the secretary, I waited outside looking over the schedule when I noticed someone waking up to me. I glanced up and sighed internally.
"Yes, Bella?"
She awkwardly played with the end of her flannel, while saying "Hi, Thea. I-I'm sorry for yesterday. I really appreciate your help and protection, I shouldn't ask you to remove it. I was wrong."
I just sighed and ran a hand through my bangs "Bella, I'm tired of this. Really. At one moment you're acting like a know-it-all and in the other you're all apologetic and sweet. Please just decide which one you wanna be, cause all of this is making my head spin. I have no idea what to do with you anymore, Bells. What to do with us."
Bella went red and looked down at her shoes "Okay, I'll just... I'm really sorry. You've done so much for me and you always were there and then the cliffs—" she cut herself off, choking on tears "I'm so, so sorry, Thea. I just... I really am and—"
Seeing her tear up like that, made me curse and wrap my arms around her "Shh... it's okay. Fuck, I'm okay and we're fine. Don't sweat it, sis. I'm not dying again anytime soon."
We stayed there, just hugging each other while I glared at anyone who looked at us wrong. Finally, when I noticed Edward stop not far away from us, clearly waiting for Bella, I pulled away.
"Okay, get your shit together, Bells. We're fine, okay? Just don't go and pull any more shit like that. I'm serious. I can't be there to always save you."
She nodded and let me wipe her cheeks, while she said "Okay, I won't. I swear that, I won't. Thank you, really thank you and I'm—"
"Say sorry one more time and I'll kick your skinny ass." I cut in, glaring at her.
"Okay, so— I mean, okay."
I rolled my eyes and ruffled her hair "Okay, now go. We're fine."
Hesitantly she hugged me one more time, before returning to her boyfriend. I watched her go and made sure to take down my mental shield to let Edward know just how much of a fucking asshole he was.
Of course he just looked down like a kicked puppy and avoided my gaze.
"I'm all set, you ready?" Vivi said, as she left the office.
I looked at her and raised a brow, asking "Do I look ready?"
"Hell, no." she responded with a grin.
A few minutes later, we were talking with the Chemistry teacher. He wasn't happy to have me back along with a new student, so close to the graduation, but there was nothing he could do. We convinced him that Genevieve didn't need an introduction and that I would simply sit with her and help her along.
We did use some magic to accomplish this, but nobody needs to know that.
I led Vivi to one of the last desks and sat down, pulling out my textbooks hoping that they would save us.
Spoiler alert, they didn't.
Class started to fill up with students, while Vivi and I tried to understand in what hellish language the Chemistry textbook was written in.
"—this makes no sense!" Genevieve raged, re-reading the same page again and again.
"No, shit Sherlock!" I said, feeling like I was about to rip all my hair out.
Neither of us focused on the fact that a familiar pair sat down in the row next to us.
"Why did you choose Chemistry? Is it possible to change this hellish class?" Vivi asked, annoyed.
I looked up from the book and glared at her "I didn't choose this class! They gave me whatever was available!"
"If you're quite done, Miss Summers, Miss Auclair. I would like for this lesson to begin." the teacher scolded us, gaining our attention along with the whole class.
Fucking great.
Before Genevieve could say something terrible, I gripped her hand squeezing it painfully, as I answered the teacher "Of course, sir. We apologise."
He only nodded and started writing something on the blackboard, while I released Vivi's hand making her hiss.
"Damn, you didn't have to burn me too." she mumbled, while rubbing her slightly burned hand.
Glancing at her hand, I frowned "Shit, sorry, didn't mean to. I slip up, sometimes."
She nodded and suddenly froze while looking at the row next to us.
Confused, I turned just to freeze as well, as I saw Jasper and Alice sitting there. Jasper was stoically looking down at his notebook, but he did look our way as Alice smiled and waved unsurely at us.
Our gaze connected the second time today, but this time he smiled at me. It was small and a bit sad, but still.
It was there...
Vivi waved back, while I just nodded and turned back to stare blankly at the blackboard. My heart was beating fast in my chest, as my cheeks grew hotter.
I didn't know why I reacted this way... I saw them earlier today. I saw him. So why—?
"Dora, don't burn the desk."
Glancing down, I yelped seeing the purple veins on my hands and the smoking desk. Quickly I took my hands away, while Vivi tried to blow out the smoke and smell of burned plastic.
"Girls, what are you doing?" the teacher asked, looking at the surely comedic scene we created.
We both froze and grinned sheepishly, as I responded "Nothing! Sorry. Please continue!"
The teacher rolled his eyes and turned back to the blackboard, making me sigh in relief.
Being human was truly exhausting...
Here we go! I hope that you enjoyed this chapter! Now I want to explain something real quick! I know that some of you don't want Thea to always forgive Bella, but as you all know. One of Thea's flaws as a character is her weakness towards her sister and for now I want to keep that. Because I know how awesome it would be if she'd be perfect and always made all the right decisions. But the truth is that perfect characters aren't realistic. We all have family members, friends or lovers that we have a "soft spot" for, and even if what they're doing is wrong we forgive them. We know it's bad, but we're still gonna do it. Because we're all human. And humans make mistakes. Just like Thea does with Bella. With that out of the way, please tell me how you liked Thea/Vivi/Carlos combo as roommates? Do you want more of that? What would you like to see done with their characters? And what do you wanna see happen in the near future?
Also here! Grab the moodboard I made for Thea! By the way, what do you think about this book's cover and chapter banners?
As always, if you have any questions or ideas please leave a comment ;)
Love y'all!!