Come on... pick up. This is the third time I'm calling. I'm standing outside by the pool, following a floating flower with my eyes. Why isn't he picking up?

I called again, and after two rings, he finally answered. "Jace?" I whispered, holding the phone close to my ear.

"Yeah, they're here. we just got home." he replied, and the sound of rattling keys came shortly after.

I sighed in relief, smiling widely at his words. They're not dead, which is great news.

"I'm sorry I didn't answer, they're- hey, stop punching each other!" He yelled, causing me to jump a little.

"We have a situation, I tried to- don't sit on him! Olive, I need help. Get your ass over here before I kill them both."

The call ended.

I stood there, completely shocked, looking at the phone with furrowed eyebrows.

What the hell?

I looked around frantically, not knowing what to do. The only ones here are the twins, and I would rather stab myself in the eye than ask them for a favor.

Ugh, I can't believe I'm wishing to play 'fly or die' right now. Okay, think.

Theoretically, I could just go there by myself. It's not that far, but Alessandro did say I've got to have someone with me if leave.

Ugh, screw that.

And please, I know for a fact that at least one of the guards will follow me. The big bad Alessandro is so fucking predictable.

°°°

They didn't even try to be subtle.

On my way to Jace, I could see very clearly a black car driving right behind me. Alessandro is definitely joining Santo on my hit list.

Like, i get it. I really do. I was kidnapped once because of the buissnes they still own, and they just don't want it to happen again.

Don't get me wrong, I don't want to get kidnapped as well, but it's really annoying.

At least they didn't follow me inside Jace's home. The closer I got to his front door, the louder I heard the shouts. "Get off me, you sick motherfu-"

I yanked the door open, and I was definitely not expecting to see... That.

"What the fuck is even going on?" I exclaimed, looking dumbfounded at my two best friends on the floor.

Ares was lying on his stomach, head pressed to the floor by Theo's bare feet. Theo sat on Ares' back, holding his arms as tight as he can.

To the sound of my voice, they both turned their heads towards me. Well, Ares tried his best.

"Oh, hey Ollie." Theo waved with a smile, but soon realized his mistake. Ares used his now free arm to blindly punch him, using enough force to completely knock Theo off him.

"Disgusting creature. Not so funny now, huh?" he jumped to his feet and watched Theo roll on the floor painfully.

"I swear, Olive. I can't live with him without you, he thinks he's smart." Ares hissed the last part, kicking Theo in the stomach.

"I'm dying." he groaned, rolling away from Ares. I pulled him up by his left arm, ignoring his protests.

"Stop whining, you giant baby. Why were you even sitting on him?" I asked while brushing the dust off from his shoulders a little harder than necessary.

"Stop victim blaming!" Theo smacked my hands away and narrowed his eyes at me and Ares. "You don't even understand what I've been through these past few days. It's a miracle I'm still alive!"

Ares snorted and sat on the couch with a grunt. "Yeah, that's what it is. A miracle."

I chuckled and caught Theo by his shirt's collar, preventing him from starting another fight.

"The both of you need to shut up and explain what took you so long! I almost gone crazy without you here." I crushed down the couch beside Ares, taking Theo down with me.

"Aw, you missed me?" Ares' arms engulfed me in a side hug. His voice was teasing, but I really did miss him.

"She meant 'you' in plural, but whatever." Theo murmured from next to me, and I laughed before pushing him into our hug. "Come here."

"We missed you too." Ares whispered after a few peaceful moments. I closed my eyes and hugged them even tighter.

I can't believe I have them back. We've been by each other's side for such a long time, that even a week apart feels like hell.

"I try to separate you and you kick me, but she tries to separate you and you hug her?" Jace's angry voice broke the serene silence.

He stood by the living room's entrance, looking really pissed. I rolled my eyes and stuck my tongue out. "Go away, we're having a moment."

"Unbelievable." he muttered, turning around to leave the room. "So much for sixteen years old."

Almost seventeen, actually.

Theo chuckled and sat straight, looking at his brother's retreating figure with a smile. "It's so weird that he's here. But a good weird, you know?"

"Everything is weird, dude!" Ares exclaimed, rising up from his seat in a hurry. He must've forgotten that I was leaning against him, because I came crashing down the cushions. Theo found it to be the perfect opportunity to jump on top of me, putting his entire weight on my body.

"Ow."

"Are you even listening to me?" Ares hissed, bending down so he could see my mushed face. "I physically can't." I mumbled, trying to get enough air into my lungs.

He pulled Theo off me, and gave us both a serious look. "I haven't slept for days." he raised one finger up. "I haven't smoked." two fingers. "And I definitely haven't fucked anyone." three fingers up.

Theo and I groaned in disgust, looking at him with a grimace. "We do not care about you sex life, man." He threw a pillow at him. Ares scoffed and threw it back harder, hitting him straight in the face.

"My point is," he raised his voice, pointing at the two of us. "I don't like the whole prude vibe this place has. So I'm going to take a nap." he took his shoes off and made some room between Theo and I, squashing us completely.

We tried to move, but one glare was enough to keep us both in check. "And unless you want to fuck, we're going to smoke some of the good shit I brought."

I slapped his head.

°°°

"So?" I asked, rolling three blunts on my knee.

We told Jace we're going for a walk to explore town, but actually stopped at the first park we saw. We left through the back door of the house, so the guards are still thinking I'm there.

"What do you mean, so?" Ares raised his eyebrow, turning his head so he could see me from his lying position on the grass.

"What took you guys so long?" I passed Theo the first blunt I finished wrapping. "Why haven't you slept?" I returned my eyes to Ares with a taunting smirk. "Why haven't you smoked? Why haven't you fu-"

"No need to make fun of my nervous breakdown, chill." he cut me off with a scowl. I laughed and continued to roll.

"Stop being mean, Ollie. Here," Theo nudged him by the shoulder and held out his blunt. "Take mine."

Ares smiled gratefully and reached out to grab it, only for Theo to move it away. He looked at him with a teasing smile. "Unless you'd rather fuck."

"I hate you guys so much." He groaned and hid his face inside the grass.

"Come on, big boy. Your's ready." I ignored Theo's loud laughter and placed the other blunt next to Ares, watching him give me an eye roll before putting it in his mouth and searching for a lighter in his pockets.

"Answer my question, I'm dying of curiosity." I pushed. Theo threw his lighter on Ares before inhaling sharply.

"These were the most hideous days of my life, and I say it fully aware of the days when we used to get beaten up." The smoke that surrounded him reached my nose, and I closed my eyes in pleasure.

I love weed.

"I agree. I'd rather have a permanent black eye than go through that again." Ares nodded, throwing his head back and exhaling slowly. Soon enough, my blunt was ready too. Without words, Ares took Theo's lighter and opened its lid for me.

I brought it to my lips, inhaling heavily with my eyes closed. The smoke trailed out of my mouth, and just then did I realize how much I missed it.

"Shit, hearing your story high feels like a great afternoon to me."

Yooo chapter 23!!

I had so much fun writing it! (although it took me awhile to decide what to write.) I missed my triplets <3

Long chapters gang ;)

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We actually reached 10k reads! Feels insane. It makes me so happy to know that you enjoy my book<3

See ya soon.....