“Hey,” he said.
“Hi,” I said shyly. I couldn’t help it. It was good to hear his voice.
“What have you been up to?” he asked. I wondered if he’d spoken to Flynn. No matter, honesty was the best policy.
“Flynn took me to a creepy camp where surprisingly there was a party,” I said.
He laughed. “I heard you got drunk.” So Flynn had already told him. I wondered how much detail. But his voice seemed light and happy. He certainly didn’t seem angry with me.
“It wasn’t on purpose,” I said trying to defend myself.
“Flynn was pretty vague on how you managed to get drunk with your unbreakable no drinking policy. You want to share,” he said.
I didn’t expect Flynn to spare any details, yet I had a feeling Flynn didn’t mention Sebastian. I wasn’t sure if I should either. What were the rules when you were dating? With no experience and with Maggie out of reach, I didn’t know what to do. Honesty.
“Someone offered to get me a drink. Extremely thirsty I took what I thought was water. Foolishly, I drank it l before I realized it was beer. Next thing I know I was drunk which didn’t take much.”
“I guess you’ll know better next time,” he said. “Wish I could have seen it. I imagine it won’t happen again.” Well, he had that right. But I moved on.
“What’d you do last night?” I asked quickly wanting to change the subject before he asked me more questions.
“I hung out over Brent’s,” he said. “Brent actually had time to hang out with Maggie busy last night.” Maggie had been out doing something for me but I didn’t tell him that.
“What are you going to do tonight?” I asked.
Without hesitation he said, “Dreaming about you?” His voice was softer than it had been when he spoke.
I smiled then giggled. “Yeah, right. I bet you say that to all the girls.”
I couldn’t see his facial expressions through the phone but the tone of his voice made everything crystal clear. It was low and full of meaning. “I never dreamed of any girl before you.”
I licked my lips knowing he couldn’t see. I cleared my throat before saying, “I doubt that,” I said huskily.
“You’d be surprised,” he mused.
Feeling more flirtatious I added, “Would I?”
He breath the word, “Yes,” and it sent tingles through me.
With my phone held to my ear, the pillow around my head, it wasn’t a substitute for his arms being around me. I felt the loss of his physical presence just hearing his voice. I could almost see his face and wished I had his picture. “You know what I don’t have?” I asked.
“What is that?” he questioned back.
“Your picture,” I said using my own softer playful tone.
“Your pretty face is all I see when I close my eyes,” he responded.
He had all the words that I didn’t. “A picture is worth a thousand words.”
“What about the real thing?” he asked.
“Priceless,” I breathed.
He laughed. “God, I wish you were here.”
“Me too,” I said. “But you don’t have to be alone tonight.”
“Are you offering to come back?”
“I would, but I don’t have a car,” I said. Not giving him a chance to reply I added. “Really, you should hanging out with Brent again?”
With Maggie out of town I was sure Brent would hang out with him again. “Brent went upstate to New York. Jay is having a get together but Nina might come. So most likely I’ll stay home.”
I didn’t feel at that moment that I deserved him. He didn’t say it, but I was sure he was avoiding her because of me. Considering what I almost did with Sebastian last night. “You should go. I trust you,” I said quickly, before I could stop myself. Despite my dark monster that lived inside me, I did.
Silence on the other end had me question my words. Was he going to take me up on my offer? “I wish I could be with you at this very moment,” he said.
I didn’t question it. I simply said, “Me too.”
I needed air after my chat with Luke. Remembering a bit of my conversation with Flynn last night regarding love when it came to people like us, I hoped it wasn’t true. Deep down, I knew love would come at a price though.
Stepping out on the front deck, I turned to see Flynn was in the hot tub. At first I was about to go talk to him. I didn’t see the blond and thought she’d probably gone home. For some weird reason I hoped he’d be the friend I needed like I used to have in Paul. I felt our relationship had made a turn like brother and sister with the exception of last night. He of all people would understand my troubles. I needed to learn more about what I was. He could get me the real answers I needed.
Before I could take a step forward, the blond broke the surface from beneath the water. Flynn’s eyes opened at that moment. All I could think was ‘what an ass’. He saw me before I could flee again. His eyes locked with mine with utter satisfaction. Was he trying to pay me back somehow for last night? I turned on my heels and stormed in the house. Didn’t he have a girlfriend? Just when I could see through that façade of his, he did something to remind me of the arrogant ass he was. I slammed the door behind me. Ok, closing the door like that was a bit childish. But I’d needed him and he was busy up to no good as usual. He’d even thrown it in my face with the look he’d given me.
Upstairs in my bathroom, I got ready to go out. I was going somewhere. Why I was so mad? It wasn’t like Flynn was my boyfriend. He never pretended to be anything but what he was. Truthfully, it was purely selfish. I just thought he could be a friend. How could I trust him with my secrets based on how he treated others?
I walked downstairs dressed to go out. Feeling like I had something to proved, I dressed to kill. Wearing a scoop neck top that gave a view of peaks and valleys with super tight jeans, I was sure to get attention tonight. Vaguely I was aware that I hadn’t really seen my mom and David in twenty four hours. They’d apparently been having themselves a vacation that didn’t really include us. I guess I was ok with that.
I looked up when I heard Flynn’s door open. I watched him exit his room with the blond. I turned my head determined not to be mad. It wasn’t my business.
“Hey Mary,” the blond said.
I wanted to hit her. Unmistakably, she was getting in a dig by messing up my name. I didn’t think she was that dumb to forget so quickly. I had to focus. A part of me wanted to slap the smile off her overconfident face. But, I wasn’t a violent person by nature. I almost used my SAT words on her like I did Flynn. But I was certain she wouldn’t have a clue what I was accomplishing by doing so. “It’s Mercy,” I said curtly.
“Mercy, this is Bridgette,” Flynn said. I had to give him points for first looking at me in my eye before slipping south to my normally covered cleavage. Bridgette’s face turned to a frown. So, she knew we weren’t blood relatives. His eyes came back to my face when he said, “I didn’t get a chance to introduce you earlier.”
“Hi,” I was able to choke out. Although I was pleased that my outfit got the response I was looking for, I was still pissed at the girl’s total disrespect for me.
“So are you going with us?” Bridgette
“Yeah, when are you planning to leave?” I asked, so it wouldn’t seem like I was waiting even though I was.
“Well, actually I am a bit hungry after our swim,” she said, giving me the eye to tell me she meant more than just the swim. All I could hear in my head was the word bitch. “So maybe we should eat first. I heard you were a great cook,” Bridgette continued.
I had to pause before I could tell her there was no way in hell I was going to cook for her. “I’m sure Flynn could put something together for you,” I said through a gritted teeth smile. I met Flynn’s eyes. He had a grace to seem embarrassed by her comment. He’d better have felt that way.
“Well that’s ok. I really shouldn’t eat much, I am on a diet,” she said. My first thought was that she looke
d like she could really use a milkshake before she blew away in a light wind. My second thought was the simple word bitch. She was testing me. I had an urgent desire to claw her eyes out. But thankfully I kept my hands to myself. I also managed to hold my tongue. Her comment for food was just to see if she could get me to jump hadn’t worked. I didn’t know this girl but I disliked her with every fiber of my being.
“Are you ready Flynn?” she asked. Not bothering to look at me. I could only imagine the fluttering lashes she gave him. I’d seen too many girls at school do the same thing when it came to him.
Instead of answering her he turned to me and said, “Mercy, are you ready?”
I couldn’t help feeling a victory in that. “Yeah,” I said with more enthusiasm that I should have.
“Alright then, let’s get a move on.” Bridgette said dryly, trying to take back the control.
Flynn opened the door for us. Bridgette walked out and he held it while I made my way through. He whispered softly to me, “Ignore her.”
Bridgette parents were obviously high rollers. She drove us to the abandoned camp in her red Mercedes Roadster. I had to be impressed. She wasn’t very smart though. Her car only sat two. Therefore, I ended up sitting in Flynn’s lap for the ride over. She and both weren’t please. But we’d both agreed that was better than the alternative of us sitting in each other lap. Flynn stuck between a rock and a hard place in more ways than one, kept his hands at his sides not touching me. It was clear, he was very unsure of how to handle this situation. I’d left my hair down tonight and laughed to myself. Bridgette’s convertible top was down. The wind kept whipping my hair in his face.
Walking through the door of the abandoned mess hall, I wanted to get away from the Barbie queen. Boldly, I scanned the room for a familiar friendly face and came up with only one. Enthusiastically, I walked over to Chris and his friends. All smiles showing lots of teeth,
Baring my pearly whites, I said “Hi.”
In turn, they greeted me in wonderment except, Chris. We’re He didn’t seem taken aback by my sudden friendliness. Instead, he eyed me up and down before he spoke. “I hope you like Jason. Be prepared for a movie marathon.
“Jason Voorhees the Friday the 13th serial killer,” I said.
“That be the one,” Chris said raising the remote to start the movie.
“Hey, have they named the killer of those girls yet,” some said to my right. I did see who but the voice was male.
“I’m not sure, I think,” a girl’s voice began. I didn’t hear the rest because I needed to find a seat and she’d was speaking softly. My movements as well as the movie credits drowned her voice out. The shifters occupied the single sofa in the place. It was a huge sofa that held the lot of them. It located in firmly front of a large flat screen. I moved to sit on the adjacent empty love seat. Not as many were here tonight at least not yet. I didn’t remember seeing either piece of furniture yesterday.
Other of people had chosen to sit on the floor in front of the shifters. I leaned back hoping I could have this seat by myself. To ensure this possibility, I’d rested my legs across the open space. I come but not really because I wanted to be here. The pretty in pink mannequin had unwittingly started a fight with me and I wouldn’t back down.
“Let’s get the movie started.” Chris announced. I smelled popcorn with melted butter but I didn’t make a move to get any. I was afraid I might lose my seat. The lights went out and I had no idea where Flynn was until he came over to me.
He leaned over the side of the loveseat to whisper in my ear. “Hey, I’m going to head out for a moment. I’ll be back but if you want to go home before then, Chris will take you.”
I wouldn’t have come if he was just going to drop me off. I was about to ask him where he was going when Bridgette and another girl moved in my line of vision. When he stood they followed him. Damn it, two girls and Flynn leaving together. My imagination wasn’t up to thinking what they were going to do. I rolled my eyes and slightly shook my head.
Sebastian wasn’t around either. A familiar melody began to play so I tuned to the television to see a classic slasher movie fitting for our surroundings. Maybe not movie etiquette but I pulled my phone out so see if I’d gotten any calls. I hadn’t.
“Beautiful, Kayla,” a voice called me from behind. Turning like I had whiplash, I leaned back immediately drowned into unbelievable blue eyes of Sebastian.
There was an unmistakable wickedness in his eye. My mouth went dry. He was a temptation I’d hoped to avoid tonight. “I have popcorn and drinks,” he said.
Alarm must have registered on my face because he added, “Soda tonight.” Handing me a can of Coke, he moved to sit next to me. After a very brief moment, I moved my legs giving him room. This definitely wasn’t a good idea. He smelled of vanilla of all things making my mouth water. Sitting, he handed me the bowl of popcorn. I took it and placed it between us drawing the invisible line he shouldn’t cross.
The first up was a Jason kill-kill-die-die movie. Apparently the plan was to watch several sequels in marathon fashion. As a group we laughed at some parts and the girls squealed at others. It’s always classic how the next victim calls out in the silence announcing their present to the monster that lurks in the darkness. But other parts showed just how demented Jason was. Girls screamed while boys snickering and high fiving other guys. Jason liked to kill unlucky couples when their pants down. Sex wasn’t something I needed a reminder of sitting next to the guy who calls himself Rat.
By the end of the movie I had my head in the arm resting with my eyes closed tight. Not for the reasons one might think. I was fighting an internal battle with my unseen demon. Between all the kissing on screen and the paired off couples in the room, the succubus wanted nothing more than to jump the guy that sat next to me. He certainly was fabulous eye candy, but honestly I wasn’t interested. The battle for control was on.
It only took Sebastian’s hand on my arm for me to lose control. The heat from it branded me. I was surprised by the warmth I felt through my clothes. Looking up into his eyes, I watched a smile cross his face as if he was pleased with my demon’s victory over me. But that was impossible.
“Are you ready to go home,” he said. There was just the hint of a twinkle like a shooting star in his eyes.
The succubus nodded despite my clawing at the mist like creature that controlled my movements like a robot. I found my body following him silently out of the room. No one even noticed us leaving. As we neared the exit, my heart dropped. I’d hoped maybe Chris would have seen me leaving. Maybe somehow he would have said something so I could gain control. But he and Melody were quite involved in seeking each other’s tonsils at the moment. Shaking my head on the inside, I really didn’t understand that relationship.
Outside in the crisp night air when Sebastian let go of my arm, I felt some of my control return. Was it coincidence that my clawing at the vapor beast inside had worked? Back in the driver’s seat for the moment, I didn’t take any chances. I would avoid any more skin to skin connection between us.
“I saw your brother leave with company,” he said giving me a wink letting me know that he still didn’t believe Flynn was my brother.
I smiled at him. “So you believe me now?” I asked only based on his use of the word brother.
“No, but I thought I could walk you home, if you’re ready to go” he said.
“Thanks,” I said. To keep my control, I kept a few small paces to the side of him. There was something teasingly magnetic about him besides his good looks.
The only sounds of the night were an owl hooting in the background, I struck up a conversation about the movie we just watched. Lightening the mood might help ease the temptation he was for me or rather the beast inside me. Maybe not the best topic, but it was the obvious one. I asked him who he thought would win in a battle between Jason Voorhees and Michael Myers. This should certainly be a mood killer, right? I led off with my total support for Jason. I backed up my choice with
a rundown of Jason’s victory over Freddy Krueger.
“Jason, hands down,” I said after giving him a quick assessment of his crimes.
He laughed. “You are so wrong. Michael Myers would totally best him.”
“Jason so beat Freddy Krueger, a demon from hell,” I reiterated. Then I realized the comment I made. I felt like an idiot. I stared straight ahead not sure what to say other than I was sorry.
“Freddy was way to impulsive which made him weak,” he chimed in not missing a beat. He hadn’t noticed my faux pas. “Jason’s mind is that of a child in a man’s body with red-hot vengeance that courses through his very blood. With his undeveloped brain, he only fights with blind rage.”
“That’s what makes him a formable opponent,” I argued, happy he’d let my comment slide.
“It what makes him weak,” he said. “Michael however is psychopath and is completely insane with no moral compass. His crimes aren’t of passion but are born from pure evil which makes him unbeatable. He would eclipse Jason in the first scene of the movie.”
He surprised me with his classic horror knowledge. His arguments were finely tuned and almost scary that he could understand the mind of a killer.
“Ok, so they both have major points in their favor. Jason has twelve movies to his credit including one in space. Michael only has nine.”
“It only took nine to get it right. They severely went wrong with that space movie,” he said.
We laughed and sided stepped declaring a winner. “Well, I think they both could go in alone and wipe out the Texas Chainsaw family.”
He laughed. “Agreed. They were a bunch of yahoos that used their remote location as means for victory.”
“Jason has proved adaptable to his environment. He survived space.”
“Yeah, only because he doesn’t have a brain,” he said.
We laughed some more. We’d stopped for a moment laughing at our conclusion, when he looked at me. I mean he really looked at me to the point the smiling and laughter died. The heat between us was back in an instant. His hand lifted and I took a few steps back in retreat. If I had one, I would have waved a white flag for mercy. Damn, even I can’t get away from the many uses of my name.
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