What Lay in the Dark

by Casey L. Nash

  ***

  Nerves started to get the better of me as we walked up to Egan’s front door. I worried about what Egan would think when he saw me. What would he do?

  “Stop worrying,” Mikayla told me as she put her fingers on the door handle.

  “What if he doesn’t like it?”

  “He will love it,” Mikayla assured me. “You look amazing. Just act confident,” she advised.

  I nodded.

  Mikayla opened the door and stepped inside. I followed. I heard Egan and Samuel in the dining room. The sound of Egan’s voice made me even more nervous. Mikayla gave an encouraging smile and led me through to them. Egan turned to look at me and his eyes widened.

  “Did you have fun?” Samuel asked, looking from me to her.

  Mikayla nodded. “I think I just took retail therapy to a whole new level.”

  I bit my lip as Egan looked me over, not saying anything. The silence as he took in my appearance was terrifying.

  “Can you run in those shoes?” Egan eventually asked.

  I shrugged.

  “Does that really matter, Egan?” Mikayla asked.

  “I’m just saying, if a demon attacks and she needs to run...”

  “Will you just shut up and admit that she looks hot?” Mikayla asked.

  Egan stared at me. “I think I need a drink,” he decided, getting up and walking to the kitchen.

  “He likes it,” Mikayla mouthed while Egan’s back was turned. I smiled.

  The door opened and a cry, “Ailia,” rang through the lounge room. Brenden crashed into me, nearly knocking me over. “Andy doesn’t hate me!”

  I laughed.

  “Are you kidding?” Andy followed Brenden. “I may not be into guys, but I can tell that Brenden is damn sexy and he thinks I’m sexy. So, I’m feeling pretty good about myself right now. I kind of wish that I was gay, actually. What happened to you?” he asked me, looking me up and down.

  “Mikayla,” I replied.

  Egan walked back into the dining room drinking a glass of water, his eyes occasionally flicking towards me.

  “So I assume you’ve come to some sort of agreement then?” Mikayla asked.

  “I promised not to try anything,” Brenden told her. “And Andy won’t run away from me screaming.”

  “I wouldn’t have done that anyway,” Andy replied. “Hang on,” Andy looked at Brenden. “Can we make out in front of Kieran just to see his face?”

  “I thought you weren’t into guys,” Brenden replied.

  “It’d be funny, though.”

  Brenden shrugged.

  “Aren’t you cold?” Egan suddenly asked me.

  “A little bit,” I admitted.

  “Egan,” Mikayla groaned.

  “I’m just being practical,” Egan defended.

  Mikayla shook her head. “You’re just being difficult.”

  Egan walked back into the kitchen, mumbling under his breath.

  “Is he okay?” Andy asked.

  “I don’t think he can deal with Ailia looking like that,” Mikayla replied.

  “Is this part of your plan to seduce Egan?” Andy asked me.

  “I don’t have a plan to seduce Egan.”

  “This was my attempt to boost Ailia’s self confidence levels. I think it worked,” Mikayla smiled. “Come on,” Mikayla grabbed my arm and pulled me down the hallway. “I have to teach you to do your own makeup now.”