House of Goths

by Maria Bernard

  “Because you still use words like, geez.” He rolled off her, holding his sides, laughing under his breath.

  “Frustrating, self-righteous Goth!” She pouted, turning over onto her side.

  “Ah, you love it,” he said, sneaking a kiss on her shoulder.

  Chapter 41

  With classes wrapping up that very day for Christmas break, Becky practically floated on her way home from the university. Happily, kicking at the recently fallen snow, she was caught off guard by a snowball to the back of her head.

  “What the?”

  “Ah-ha! Got you.” Keegan laughed, catching up to her from behind.

  “Hey, that wasn’t very nice of you,” Becky said, wiping the snow away from her hair.

  “Oh, come on.” He chuckled, helping to dust off the remainder of the snow before it melted and slid down the back of her neck. “Where’s your sense of humour?”

  “Get off!” She playfully swatted him, suppressing a giggle at his look of indignation. Keegan was a strange one, to say the least. They were both still trying to figure each other out. He usually avoided her, but that was mostly because he was afraid he might say the wrong thing which usually resulted with Kell’s fist connecting with his face. But every now and then when Kell was nowhere in sight, he would let his guard down.

  Keegan, fancied himself quite the ladies man, if only in his own mind. Slighter in structure and standing at five-eleven, he wasn’t as imposing as the other three Goths in Becky’s life, yet to her, he was still a force to be reckoned with, especially when he thought nothing of tackling her into a nearby snow bank.

  “There now, what do you think of that, girlie?” He laughed, rolling around so that he absorbed the impact of the fall.

  “I think you’re impossible!” she half-shouted, attempting to right herself.

  “Haha, not so fast!” Grabbing her wrist, he shook the fistful of snow from her hand, laughing when she attempted to shove it down the front of his jacket.

  Becky didn’t know whether to laugh along or cry at Keegan’s steely grip on her body. The problem was, he never quite knew when to quit. Taking what snow she had left on her mitten, he turned it and playfully smacked it against her own face.

  “Keegan!” she cried out indignantly.

  “Oh… stop,” he said with a rueful pout, flashing her a goofy grin. “Hey, you’re the one on top.” He flippantly pointed out with a playful buck of his hips.

  Frustrated, Becky reactively bent his fingers back on his right hand. “Shit, Becky… ah, stop!” he cried out while laughing at the fury in her eyes.

  “Say uncle!” she said, staring him down.

  “Becky, please… I’ll never play guitar again if you don’t let go.”

  “You should have thought of that before you attacked me,” she said with a mocking smile, knowing full well that he was loving this.

  So absorbed in their melee in the snow, they both startled when suddenly a car pulled up by the sidewalk behind them. There were three of them. Three very large guys with baseball caps came barreling towards them with murderous intent in their eyes.

  “Shit, I’m fucked…” Keegan gasped, realizing that they were coming at him like heat-seeking missiles. Before he could manoeuvre Becky out of the way, one of the Neanderthals had her up in the air, flailing away from him.

  “Fucking freak!” said the one that jumped on him first.

  “Hey… no, stop this! Let me go!” Becky shouted, kicking and fighting at the large oaf who held her. “What are you doing?” Twisting around him, she watched in horror as the other two punched and kicked at Keegan.

  “Helping you!” he shouted back, confused. “The freak was attacking you!”

  “No… stop!” she cried out, fighting to free herself. “He’s my friend! My housemate. We were just messing around!”

  Coming in and out of consciousness, hearing her voice, Keegan looked over at Becky and hoped to hell that she was okay. God help these fuckers if they laid a hand on her. In a fleeting attempt to free himself, Keegan grabbed a fistful of snow and pounded it into the face of the guy who held him down.

  “You piece of shit, freaking Goth punk, bastard!” the guy shouted, catching Keegan’s hand and twisting it back. “This will teach you to keep your fucking dirty hands off our women.”

  At the sound of Keegan’s strangled cry of pain, Becky screamed. “Let him go! Let him go!” She kicked and struggled against her self-proclaimed guardian.

  “You’ve got to be kidding me!” he scoffed, releasing her with a shove towards Keegan. “Guys, let’s get the fuck out of here.”

  “What the fuck?” said the guy, holding Keegan down. Without a thought for herself, Becky threw herself on top of him. She pried his meaty mitts away from the Goth’s mangled hand. “Bitch, you deserve everything you get.” Disgusted, he shook her off, got up and kicked snow at the both of them.

  “Come on, let’s get the hell out of here,” the third guy said as they got in their car and sped way.

  They were a right mess, the both of them. Becky and Keegan, lying panting in the snow, his arm around her, holding her safely to him. “Shit, Becky, I’m so sorry you had to see that.”

  “Keegan, your hand?” she said, taking it, watching him wince. “Is it broken?”

  “No, I don’t think so,” he said, tentatively wiggling his fingers. “You okay? Did they touch you? Did they hurt you?”

  “No… but why did they…”

  “Never mind, eh. I suppose they thought they were being chivalrous. They probably assumed I was jumping you. I mean look at me. You can’t blame them, really. Besides, I think I might’ve made out with one of their girlfriends,” he joked, making light of the situation.

  He was trying to make her laugh, but it wasn’t working. All she could see were the bruises on his face, the cut on his already swollen lip. “They didn’t even stop to ask me, though,” she said as her eyes welled up. “You weren’t doing anything wrong. We were just playing around.”

  “Sh… hey, it’s all right,” he soothed her as he helped her up and dusted himself off of snow. “It’s nothing that hasn’t happened before.”

  “What do you mean?” she asked, checking his hand once again.

  “Happens all the time. They call it a hate crime. I call it fear of the unknown,” he said, wrapping his fingers around her hand, limping as he walked with her.

  “It’s not right, whatever it is,” she said, helping him along while thinking back to the day she met Kelley. He had been knocked into her by a similar group of guys on that fateful day.

  Despite Keegan’s reassurances, Becky couldn’t get the distressing incident from her mind. Needing to be alone, she once again, barricaded herself in her room.

  “Becky?” Kelley called, knocking gently on her door. “Love, don’t be sad.” He let himself in and knelt by her side. “Keegan’s none the worse for wear.”

  “I can’t help but feel like it was my fault,” she said, looking into his fathomless black eyes. “They hit him because they thought he…”

  “None of it is your fault. If anything it was a misunderstanding.”

  “They didn’t even stop to let me explain,” she lamented. “They nearly broke his hand, Kelley. What if he can’t play guitar now?”

  “Oh, Becky, he’s fine. Come on downstairs.” He leaned in and kissed her forehead. The poor sweet girl was obviously shaken up. It tore at his heart to see her this way. “Don’t let this event ruin our Christmas.”

  “He wasn’t doing anything wrong…” she sobbed, wracked with guilt. “We were just playing around. It’s just because of the way he looks.”

  “Yes, as unfortunate as that sounds, it’s all very true,” he said with a deep sigh of regret.

  “Just like with you.” She blinked back her tears. “When those guys pushed you into me.”

  “Wow, you still remember that?” he said with a crooked smile. “Aw, trust me, those idiots did me the biggest favour that day.”

&nb
sp; “Really?”

  “Yeah, sure. I met you, didn’t I?” he said, smoothing a hand down her hair. “Other than the fact that I nearly pulverized you, it was the best day of my life.”

  Becky couldn’t help but smile at his words. “Feel free to pulverize me like that anytime you like, Kelley.”

  “Fuck, Becky… you’re killing me,” he groaned as he pulled her in for a ravenous kiss.

  Eventually, joining the Goths downstairs, she went right up to Keegan and stared at his hand, still worried about lingering damage. “What’s that face for?” Keegan asked, quirking an eyebrow at her.

  “Please, put Becky out of her misery and play your guitar for her,” Kell said, gently patting Becky on the head.

  “Aw, you’re worried about my hand, Becky?” Keegan said, looking from Becky to the guys. “I’m fine, really.” He watched as she tentatively stroked the back of his hand yet unconvinced. “Come, let’s all head into the garage and have ourselves a little jam session.”

  Without further encouragement, Kell, Crispin, and Becky put on their coats and boots and headed outside. Lingering behind, Keegan gave his head a shake. “She certainly has a way of growing on you, doesn’t she?” he said when Dorian sat down to put on his boots.

  “That she does, my friend,” Dorian said with a knowing smile. “Once again, our little Becky weaves her magic.”

  Moments later, Becky was blown away by Keegan’s guitar playing. Wow, and what a difference having him play lead, made for Crispin. It was insane how awesome they looked and how amazing they sounded together. What a transformation in Crispin! She hadn’t realized what he had meant before. Now she realized how having Keegan play lead guitar, freed Crispin up to be the true performer that he was. In that moment, Becky had no doubt that the Kingston Quartet were destined for greatness.

  Chapter 42

  “Here you are, dormouse. This will make it all better, I promise,” Crispin said, handing her an ornate goblet, filled to the rim with dark red wine.

  “Easy there, Crisp. She’s only little.” Dorian chuckled as he got ready to go out.

  “So what? It’s not like she’s driving anywhere tonight,” Crispin encouraged with a smile when Becky put the soothing liquid to her mouth and sipped.

  Since it was the start of Christmas break, Becky had declared, that very evening, to her housemates that she wanted to find out what being drunk was all about. She was in university after all!

  Crispin was more than willing to help her out, pouring her glass after glass of wine.

  “Say hello to Heather for me,” Becky said, winking at Dorian.

  “You can tell her yourself, later,” he said as he picked up his car keys and left.

  Stepping into the kitchen, Kell could only shake his head. “Getting my girl tipsy, are you?” He picked her up and placed her on the kitchen counter. She looked so helpless and cute, teetering about the place, goblet in hand, trying very hard to appear worldly and sophisticated.

  “Ah, why not? She may as well get drunk where she’s nice and safe, eh?” Crispin said with a wicked smile and a wink as he walked away into the living room.

  “Easy now,” Kelley said, watching her take a great big gulp of wine.

  “Kelley… it’s Christmastime,” she sputtered with a sloppy smile. “I’m allowed.”

  “Only because it’s your first time.” He chuckled indulgently. “Feel free to go nuts, but just don’t make it a habit.”

  “Can I go nuts on you?” she said, placing the goblet down and wrapping her arms around his neck.

  “Why, you sexy little minx…” he said, dragging her butt closer to him, prying her lips open with his tongue. She tasted lovely with the wine lingering on her breath. He offered her another sip, then quickly claimed her lips, drinking from her, his tongue, circling, exploring her mouth.

  The man was pleasure personified. He could do no wrong as far as Becky was concerned. In fact, everything he did was incredibly hot. She couldn’t help but dig her fingers into his back. “Kelley… please…” she begged, squeezing her thighs around his slim hips, desperately seeking that lovely friction that she’d gotten accustomed to.

  “Sh…” he breathed huskily as he slipped his hand down the back of her pants, sliding his fingers between her cheeks, delving closer and closer to the source of her discomfort. “How about a little finger fucking, eh?” he whispered, glancing furtively over his shoulder to make sure the coast was clear. “Will that help you out?”

  “Yes…”

  “You got it, love,” he said as he circled his fingers, once, twice around that quivering little nub of pleasure, before sinking his middle finger deep within her tight little channel. He couldn’t help but want to go deeper, she felt so good, so warm.

  “Uh huh…” she cried, stifling her voice into his shoulder, her fingers fisting around his hair.

  “Fuck me, Becky. You feel amazing,” he groaned. “So tight, so fucking sexy. Baby, I want to fill you up so badly.” Not resisting, he inserted a second digit. Kell glanced at her often to make sure she was okay. From the looks of her, he quickly surmised that she was just fine. She was practically riding his hand, writhing in ecstasy.

  He nearly came apart right there, just from the look on her beautiful, but inebriated face. He should feel guilty, but he couldn’t care less at that moment. What mattered most was the feel of her shuddering against his hand. Her heavenly moisture pooled around his fingers, wetter than anything he’d ever experienced, so much so that he couldn’t help but wonder…

  “Oh, Becky, my God, what have I done?” he gasped when he withdrew his fingers and inspected his hand. Blood… her blood was all over his hand. “No, say it isn’t so.”

  “What’s the matter, Kelley?” she slurred, completely unaware of anything other than the fact that she felt wonderfully weightless.

  Distraught and guilt-ridden, Kelley panicked. He couldn’t tell her what he’d just done, that he’d robbed her of her virginity with his hand on the kitchen counter of all places, with Crispin just down the hall no less.

  She was obviously under the influence of the wine, and he’d taken advantage of her. God, how could he have done such a thing? Oh, the guilt! She trusted him!

  Quickly rinsing the evidence away in the sink, he grabbed her around her behind and carried her upstairs. “Oh, I love you, Kelley,” she murmured, resting her head on his shoulder, feeling all warm and fuzzy.

  “Ugh… Becky, I don’t deserve… I’m so…”

  Tenderly tucking her in under the sheets, he watched and waited until she fell asleep. He then stealthily undressed her, carefully wiping away all evidence of what he’d done. Taking one of his shirts, he gently put it on her.

  “You take such good care of me.” She sighed languidly.

  “Sleep, love. Get your rest,” he said, stroking her cheek until she relaxed and fell back asleep.

  Wrestling with his conscience, Kelley agonized over how he was going to tell her what he’d done. Unable to stand his own company, he quietly let himself out of his room and closed the door behind him.

  “What the hell happened to you?” Crispin asked, watching Kell skulk into the living room and slump into his chair.

  “I don’t want to talk about it…” Kell grumbled with his hands up over his eyes.

  “Right then, see you both tomorrow. Goodnight,” Keegan said, getting up and limping away, not having the attention span to deal with the obvious drama that was about to unfold.

  The two pensive Goths sat in silence for a few moments before the front door opened. Dorian’s voice along with a feminine giggle jarred them out of their preoccupations. “Heather, let me introduce you to my housemates,” Dorian said, proudly presenting his very pretty, blonde haired friend.

  “Hello,” she said, hesitantly wiggling her fingers at the two brooding Goths.

  “Hey…” Kell grunted, still so lost in his thoughts.

  “Hi there, sweetling,” Crispin said with a raised eyebrow, looking from the
perky little blonde to Dorian. Another mundane looking for a thrill, he quickly surmised. “Got any friends for me?” he all but hissed.

  “Um…” She frowned, looking to Dorian for reassurance.

  “Fuck you, Crispin. Be nice,” Dorian scoffed, making light of the situation. “Don’t mind him, he’s just jealous.”

  “Yeah, that’s it,” Crispin said with a roll of his eyes.

  “Hey, where’s Becky?” Dorian asked, looking around, hoping to introduce her to Heather. She’d get a kick out of knowing that he’d finally gotten up the nerve to approach the girl in the Santa hat. It had taken some rather intensive flirting and a lot of convincing, but the shy girl eventually agreed to come with him.

  “Sleeping…” Kelley muttered.

  “Oh, that sucks, I thought we were going to all stay up and party.” He shrugged, glancing apologetically at Heather. He was pretty sure that she had only agreed to come over because she was expecting another girl to be around. As it was, she looked like she was about ready to bolt. One Steampunk was challenging enough to be around, let alone two more sulking Goths.

  “Come along, sweetheart. Why don’t we go get you something to drink?” Dorian suggested, taking Heather into the kitchen by the hand.

  “Okay…” she said, eager to get away from his two intimidating housemates. “Umm… I don’t know if this is such a good idea,” she said, hesitating as Dorian poured her a glass of wine.

  Unable to sit any longer, Kell got up and followed them on his way into the backyard. “Best to listen to your instincts,” he grumbled, overhearing her as he passed on his way out the back door.

  “What the fuck, man?” Dorian frowned, noticing Heather startle. “Crispin, what’s up with him now?”

  “How the fuck should I know,” Crispin said, pouring himself another glass of wine before following Kelley into the backyard.

  “Aw… come here, sweetheart. You’re all right,” Dorian said, wincing at the look of doubt that came over Heather’s face as her smile turned to a frown. God, what had he been thinking, bringing a nice girl like her back here?