" you and i both know that isn't the case. look at what my parents did. they shipped me off and got me married with the most awful man. i didn't quite have a say in it. " esmeray never had shared anything about here former husband. not even that she had hated his guts. it did feel right to share it. although chances were it was the alcohol that made her speak these truths. " and i love you miray. i feel like you are one of the few who truly understands me and cares for me. sometimes i even doubt my parents do anymore. " another harsh truth she has been facing the last few years.

"okay but if you just forget about all of that... it's not so bad." she joked. "you're not in that situation anymore that's what matters. not that our current situation is great." that was the understatement of the century but miray had never been known to be the most comforting person. "of course, you're practically my sister i'll always care for you. you're my favourite human. ignore everyone else especially your parents."

"is that what you want? for more to come out of this?" she's never been shy about going for what she really wants and right now, it seemed like a perfect time to ask for it. "carefree or careless? because i'm so good at doing both." that was a bit surprising to her, she never thought that after this trip (if they even make it alive) anyone would even want to stay in touch, especially with her. "you could definitely come by, i took over my grandmother's estate so there's room for you there if you need a change."

" at this very moment, i want to have it all. who knows what time we have left. we seize the moment while our hearts are still beating. " esmeray had always admired anyone and everyone who had made their decisions based on their passions and desires. she never had had the choice to make any of her own. after a failed marriage and loosing the love of her life, it didn't matter any longer what her parents or anyone's else for that matter might think. " please teach me how. i could use all the guidance. " esmeray had meant any and all of her words, giving the world and all the people she surrounded herself with the kindness they deserved. " honestly, i could use a change. i need to figure things out for myself and no one else. let for once my parents not influence my decisions. i am not their prized possession to do with as they see fit. i have done enough for them, even married a man i did not love ... in fact ... even hated. "

"my life isn't that much better than yours i just have more confidence. if something isn't going my way i make it go my way. i'm sure you can do the same." there was nothing miray wanted more than for her cousin to thrive and have the best life possible, if they made it out of their current situation of course. "first, i need to let you know i love you. you know that right? i can't do this without you so you better keep your ass safe okay?"

" you and i both know that isn't the case. look at what my parents did. they shipped me off and got me married with the most awful man. i didn't quite have a say in it. " esmeray never had shared anything about here former husband. not even that she had hated his guts. it did feel right to share it. although chances were it was the alcohol that made her speak these truths. " and i love you miray. i feel like you are one of the few who truly understands me and cares for me. sometimes i even doubt my parents do anymore. " another harsh truth she has been facing the last few years.

"you know what, the way you just said that sound so fucking hot or maybe the alcohol has finally hit me," arden smirks as she pours herself another shot before taking it. "better than michigan has ever treated me that's for fucking sure but california moves fast, when i first got there, it felt like everyone had things to do. things never felt done because life just took you in direction."

" if that is what the alcohol brings you, i need more of it asap. i could actually use some time being carefree. " the last few years has been nothing but a whirlwind and she honestly had no clue how she was going to rebuild her life from it. "that does sound like a dream. perhaps i should come by some time and experience it for myself. it sounds like everything i currently need."

"i'm unfazed because i don't concern myself with those who don't matter, which is most people. look at me, what would somebody like me ever have to worry about?" she joked with a laugh. "if there's anything i ever teach you let it be that. now, enough talk about him let us get drunk."

" it certainly is the best way to deal with this situation. you certainly have nothing to worry about, nor be concerned with. you got a beautiful life and i love that for you." her life however had many twists and turns and most them weren't for the better, actually for the worst. she is still trying to figure out what she wanted in life. " yes, please, i just want to forget. "

"well, i do love it when people say i'm perfect so i have no choice to give in." she playfully rolled her eyes as if it was drag for her to do so. arden was more than capable of saying no but what would the fun be in that? "to be honest, that kind of makes sense but i'm coming from califorina where they literally still drink like they're back in high school but they just have money to spend on better alcohol.. so maybe i'm a little too used that."

" our big california girl. how has that life been treating you ?? " michigan has always stayed her home, even when she had disappeared from the bottom of the earth to be arranged to marry someone she hated her guts of. somehow she never found her way out. " i can only imagine all the story's you have yet to tell me about."

"it's not a gene you overly want don't worry. it gets boring." it's something she'd likely only ever admit to esmeray but there were a lot of things only her cousin knew about her. many a secret were only known by the two of them. "there's not much tension on my end. i guess it's slightly weird to be trapped in a house where everyone is dying and im surrounded by my exes but what can you do? if they don't like it that's their problem the only one i don't want to see is nate."

" i believe it is always better then acting like a complete fool whenever you have a drink two too much." in her past she didn't have many nights in which she ever drank too much, yet in more recent years with all the tension building up. " how you are always unfazed by all these matter is still a secret i have yet to unravel. although nate is a very tricky one indeed. he always knew how to get the most drama."

"trust me, i'm the last person you need to have a drinking partner with," arden said as she looks down at her glass. she was supposed to take it easy, the last couple days have been a blur but fuck it. she downs the rest of her drink, only to replace it with a shot. "if we're being honest, i'm surprise there's still something left to drink."

" i believe it is the opposite, you are the perfect candidate for this predicament. " emotions were running high and therefore anyone who could relief her from this state of mind was her best friend for that moment. " i am glad you are here to join somehow. i was never quite the type to be too crazy, but perhaps age has shown me a different path."

"someone's going to think i have a serious problem if i keep drinking. that's not a no by the way, pass me a bottle." miray laughs unable to leave her cousin to drink alone. it was the polite thing to do even if miray was rarely known as being polite. "there's way too many reasons to drink in this house and i'm going to need a shot for every single one."

"i never could hold my liquor. you on the other hand, always knew how to party. i believe that gene skipped my part of the family." it was one of the many things esmeray admired about miray. she had always been the niece to look up to and somehow she always saved her ass in the end. " i thought only i was noticing the tension. but please tell me more. "