The Diary of a Crazy Teenager

"What the heck happened to you?"

Alice groaned internally when she realized she had been caught. Couldn't a girl have some peace?

Alice stopped climbing the stairs and turned to face her brother, Alex, who seemed displeased for some certain reason.

"And hello to you dearest brother, isn't it just a lovely weather?" Alice smiled sweetly, hoping that he'd leave her alone, she needed to rest. Her leg still hurt from the nasty fall and standing on it, didn't make things any better.

Alex looked at her suspiciously and, was appalled when he took in the state of her appearance.

"Where, were you? And what happened to you? "

"Well I kinda got lost."

"You don't say."

"And I might have crashed into a tree, destroyed a swing and kicked the owner of the swing cause he called me a squirrel. Do you think I have anger issues?" She said in a breathe.

"What?!" Alex's eyes, widened in anger, causing Alice to take a step back.

"Pft, I'm just joking. I'm not that crazy you know "

I'm crazier. She thought, not daring to say it aloud.

"Answer the question, Alice"

"I don't have to. I clearly told you I was going to explore when I left." She said while folding her arms and glaring at him. "So, you can't force anything out of me."

Alex looked at her for some time before, smiling in a sadistic way. "We'll see about that, little sis."

Alice shuddered before she climbed up the stairs. She didn't dare to think about what his statement meant.

For a moment, she regretted her decision to go on a walk, not for her sake, but for the sake of the blue eyed boy who was probably still lying on the dirty ground, with his dignity in ruins.

Alice walked down the corridor and, pushed open the door of the room she was currently staying in.

She shut the door and closed her eyes to catch a breath. What she desired right now was, solitude.

She looked around and, was shocked to see clothes scattered on the floor. She had definitely not left her room in this state. Someone must have invaded her privacy.

She gripped the door handle, on a mission to find the culprit but paused, when she saw a certain red haired step out of her bathroom.

"Hello Alice." Dora smiled. "Did you enjoy your mini adventure?"

"You've got to the kidding me. Just when I thought I'd have peace."

"As much I'd like to make your wish come true, I come with good news." Dora said with a mischievous grin. "I had to give up my bedroom since there are more guests. You know what that means?"

Oh no, God please no.

"... We'll be sharing a room. Aren't you thrilled?"

Alice, cussed under her breathe at whoever was writing her story because they had one hell of a humor.

***

Dora, sipped her fifth cocktail that night. She wasn't exactly a light weight and could hold her drink but, she knew she was stretching her luck and she would have a crazy hangover the next day but, she didn't really care.

She needed the alcohol to help her survive the night.

Normally, she looked forward to family events since it meant some escape but today, she wasn't. She couldn't care less about who came or who was stuck in traffic or what they had been doing since they last saw.

To make matters worse, she had to move out of her room and stay with the one person she couldn't pretend around.

"I think you should slow down."

Dora, looked at her friend and rolled her eyes at her suggestion.

"Shut the hell up. Try minding... your business, it'll do you good." She snarled, as she hiccupped.

"You know you don't have to be rude right? You're acting so weird today." She muttered as she walked away. "Acting like a bitch."

Dora, ignored her. What the hell did she know?

Normally, she would have apologized and claimed that she was joking or something but today, she didn't have the energy to keep up the pretense. She had no desire to act contrary to her true feelings. So if anyone felt bad, they should suck it up for one night.

By tomorrow, she would apologize and blame it on the alcohol. It was the alcohol afterall that made her feel this way.

Or was it really? Was there another reason why she was tensed and agitated?

Dora, glanced to her right and sighted her cousin, Alice. Her dark hair flowed like a waterfall down her back. She seemed to be deep in a conversation, turning slightly to let Dora catch a glance of her face.

Dora, flushed as she realized that she was at staring her. Why was she doing something so ridiculous? It wasn't as though she was worth the stare.

No, she was lying to herself. Alice was worth the stare and the fact that she knew how beautiful she was, made Dora hate her more.

Hate, was a rather strong word but it was the best thing that could best describe how she felt.

"Glaring at her, won't make her disappear you know."

Dora, jumped in surprise as she noticed Alex beside her. "How long have you been here?" She demanded.

"Long enough to see the lasers shooting out of your eyes." Alex, looked at his sister and smiled slightly. "She's beautiful, isn't she?"

Dora, took a step back, guarded at his presence. She cussed under her breathe at the amount of alcohol she had consumed. Normally her senses were impeccable.

Someone as fake as she was needed that. It was a necessity to survive.

"What do you want to say Alex? I'm not interested in hearing though."

"Woah, I'm genuinely surprised at your subtle attack. No sugar coated words or lies today? Don't tell me you're tired of pretending?" Alex chuckled at his words and, her annoyed face. "Seeing this side of you, is refreshing, reminds me that you're slightly human."

"And what did you think I was?" She said cautiously. She knew how cunning Alex could be when he wanted something and the last thing she wanted was to let him have something on her.

Not like he didn't already.

"Below human."

"Ouch." She muttered, slightly offended. "I guess I deserve that, I haven't been the nicest."

"Say that to the person you're glaring at."

"Her? The only thing I have to tell her is how much I loathe her." She quickly said.

"Sure, tell yourself that if it makes you sleep. But the truth is that, your hatred comes from a place of obsession and jealousy."

"No! That's impossible!" She yelled, drawing the attention of people at the party.

Alice, glanced at their direction and frowned when she noticed they were together. She made eye contact with Alex but decided not to approach them when he smiled at her reassuringly.

"Alex." She stared.

"Yes?"

She opened her mouth to say something but she couldn't seem to form any words.

What was she thinking? Why did she even want to say anything to begin with?

"Why?" She whispered so slightly that she barely heard her own self but it seemed as though Alex knew what she wanted to say because he replied.

"Sympathy."

"Sympathy?"

"Yes, I feel sympathy towards you are how pathetic you seem. Honestly, I could care less of your ill feelings towards her but it's becoming quite uncomfortable for her..."

Of course he was only concerned about his sister.

"... plus, I think it's also uncomfortable for you too but, you need someone to give you a reason or conviction to stop. So, I'll take the uncomfortable role."

A strong wind blew and the guests ran around, shouting and trying to get inside to avoid a likely rain. But for the for the first time that night, Dora felt peaceful. As though the roaring sea of confusion that she had been stuck in, stilled.

"Alex." She started but stopped when she caught herself slipping totally out of character. "It seems you have a lot of time on your hand." She said sarcastically, while maintaining a smile.

Alex, smiled at her for the first time in years, pleased at her change in mood.

"I agree."

Dora, looked at the night sky and wondered if she was ready to let go of the resentment that she had held unto for years.

***

"Did you perhaps slip on the terrace?" Alice questioned as she tried to process what Dora was saying the moment she entered the room.

Alice, had stayed longer than she would have liked to at the family gathering, listening to her aunt talking crap about her husband and how he couldn't function properly.

Till now, she was still confused about what she meant.

Alice, had bore all that life trauma and unsolicited advice just so she could avoid Dora. If she was lucky, by the time she came to the room, she would be long asleep. In the worst case scenario, she would have a slight banter then proceed to be ignored.

But, nothing would have prepared her for what Dora had said.

"Can you please repeat that? I think the drinks I had, messed with my brain function."

Dora, rolled her eyes before she crossed her legs. "I said that I hate you."

"Well, I'm well aware of that fact but it's the other thing you said after that, can you please repeat it?"

"Alice, let's call it a truce."

Okay she has clearly heard that.

Alice, studied her cousin and from the way she sat on the bed, her mannerisms, her flushed face, and the way she dragged her words, it waa obvious that she was drunk.

"How much did you drink?" Alice sighed as she turned off the room light and got on the other bed across the room. "You're obviously drunk, you'll regret saying this by the time you wake up."

"I won't."

"You will Dora, this isn't like you."

"And you say this because you think you know me?"

"Well, I might not know you exactly but the person you've shown to be, is different from how you're acting now." Alice responded carefully.

"I'm drunk but not enough to lose my senses or ramble nonsense."

"So what are you trying to say?"

"I'm saying that you should take me seriously." Dora demanded.

Alice, sat up when she realized that she was serious. What had gotten to her? She clicked her tongue and she remembered seeing Dora and Alex talking for quite some time.

"Did Alex say something to you?" She questioned and when Dora hesitated to answer, she knew she was right.

Bingo. That would explain the weird behavior.

"I don't know what's going on but ignore whatever weird thing he said."

Dora, shook her head vehemently. "No. Yes we spoke but I'm talking out of my free will."

"Then be direct Dora."

"We haven't been the closet and I can't deny that I haven't been the most pleasant and for that, I apologize. I don't want to sound more sappy than I already am or sound like I'm self reflecting but, I want us to start from somewhere." Dora rambled in one breathe.

"Wow." Alice gasped, taken aback.

"Don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to say we should hold hands and run to the sunset, I'm just saying that let's get along to an extent."

"Dora —"

Dora, raised her hand, stopping Alice from talking. "Wait, don't answer now because it'll seem like you're obligated to agree. Sleep on it."

Dora thew the covers over herself and muttered a hasty goodnight, leaving Alice to stare at the ceiling for minutes, trying to process what just happened.

It was probably a joke but Alice knew that Dora would never make a joke as candid as that, so she was being legit. But, was she ready to let go of the bad blood they had

all these years?

To err is human, to forgive is divine. She thought to herself.

So as she drifted off to sleep, she addressed the half awake Dora, awaiting her answer.

"Yes, let's call a ceasefire."

***