*
Morrigan found Famine sitting on a large tombstone in the yard. She looked up at the sky; the clouds had become much thicker since she had arrived earlier. A tiny drop of rain hit her face. Wiping off the water, she approached her friend. He stared off into the distance, a tear running down his cheek.
“Mind if I have a seat?” The boy waved a hand and said nothing. Morrigan squatted on the ground near the monument. “They mean well, you know.”
“Oh, do they?”
“Yes, they do. Three weeks ago, you would never have stayed out all night, much less get drunk. You’ve started disrespecting them, too. You’re just so different. They’re…I mean…we’re just worried about you.”
“No one asked you to be, Morrigan. I can take care of myself.”
“Is that a fact?”
Famine hopped off the tombstone and looked down at Morrigan. He had stopped crying. “Yeah, that’s a fact. I don’t have to be scared when I’m with Devon like I am when I’m with you or Uncle Ankou. He also makes me feel normal. I don’t know how to act half of the time when I’m here. Everything’s just better with him.”
Morrigan stood up, looking at her friend with disbelief. “I’ve tried my damnedest to be the best friend I can for you. I’ve defied my mother when she said that you or your family wasn’t good enough to associate with us, I overlooked the fact that you lied to me to be your friend in the first place, and I even had to endure an attack by some crazy bitch because I happened to be with you. Did I hold that last part against you? No. I stayed on and tried to help you move on. Now you say some boy you’ve known for only a quarter of the time you’ve known me is a better friend?”
“No one asked you to stay. You could’ve walked anytime you wanted. I didn’t force you to do anything.”
Morrigan let out a small gasp, put up her hand, and turned to walk away. “No. I did it because I truly cared. Now I see what it really means to you.”
“That’s right,” Famine said following her, “Go ahead and walk away because I’m not kissing your ass. Devon doesn’t expect any thanks from me.”
Morrigan stopped dead and spun around on her heels. Her face was glowing white with anger. “Then maybe you should go and be with your precious little boyfriend because my ass won’t be around to be kissed!”
“Maybe I should!”
“Then go!”
“I will!”
Famine gave her one last look of contempt, shot her a middle finger, and quickly floated off down the road. When he was out of sight, the girl sat on the soggy graveyard earth and began to softly cry.
*
Keeping Up with the Deadlanders Page 15
