The Misadventures of Daria Pigwidgeon

by Amy Lunderman

  He leans back into the cushions, all tense, not looking at me.

  “But what about what I saw in my dream? Doesn’t that make you not want to go through with it? It does for me…”

  “Chance. Look at me please.” I wait until he does so. “We don’t know enough from what you saw for it to mean anything useful. Not that it or you are useless, because having some warning or another is better than not…but…I can’t just hide out here avoiding the colors red and white forever. Right?”

  His gaze holds mine. “Would be it wrong of me to wish you could avoid that forever? I mean what if something goes wrong? What if-”

  I hold out my free hand to quiet him.

  “We can’t play the ‘what if’ game, it’ll drive us crazy if we do that. There is always a risk in anything we do good or bad, we can’t let that stop us from getting answers. I, we, need this. You and me right?”

  He nods enthusiastically, his signature beautiful smile parting his lips. “Well…you know…if something does in fact go wrong, I can always be on standby. There is this thing where I like to rescue damsels. And rabbit, you qualify.”

  I smile. “That sounds nice and all, but I don’t think you should. You kind of lack the abilities that require a suitable backup under the most dire extremes when dealing with demon type folk. Or you know my family. So, thank you, but I don’t think so.”

  He mocks being hurt, with a hand over his heart. “Hey I have plenty of abilities thank you very much. Besides, yours doesn’t work on me. So that’s something right?”

  “I meant power ding dong, not other type of abilities that have nothing to do with demons.” I don’t stop the laugh that slips out as I lightly smack him on the arm. “And, we don’t know for sure if it’s just mine or all of their powers yet. It’s better safe than sorry and by that I mean, it’s better you safe than not.”

  “Oh come now rabbit. I do have some things going for me, I’m not completely useless. I want to help. Let me help. Please?”

  Maybe it was the please or it could just be the way he wants to help me. In the end, I’d be grateful to have someone that cares enough to stick their pretty boy neck out there for me even if they don’t have the right juice to really be of use. Or maybe I’m just stupid. I’d probably go with the latter.

  “Fine. You can help.” I pause to glare at his rising grin. “But, only as the getaway car. And, at a safe distance away that I’ll call for backup if it’s needed. Can you do that? If not, then it’s no game. I won’t risk you Chance. I’m sorry but I won’t.”

  “Aw rabbit, you going to make me think you falling for me or something…”

  I scoff. “No…absolutely not.”

  A blush rises in my cheeks and I glance away. Chance laughs softly causing warmth to spread through my chest. I’m thinking he might not be wrong about that little fact. Not that I’d ever admit it to him though. To avoid further admission on either his or my part, I walk him to the door. This really consists with me hurrying over to it on my own, and holding it out to him, while trying to avoid his eyes. I almost succeed too, that is until he is standing a breath away and gently forces my face up to meet his by a light touch on my chin.

  He’s close enough to kiss and yet the space between is too far away.

  “What are you doing tomorrow?” He asks so softly, I almost don’t hear it.

  My mind draws a blank and I have to guess. “Working?”

  He smirks. “No dummy. I meant after work. Any plans?”

  “Oh. Well, you know the usual. Probably just crashing on the couch with a cheesy horror movie.” I pause, skeptically. “Why?”

  “So you’re not busy then.”

  “Um…” I pause in confusion. “No?”

  “Good. I think we should hang out for a bit. I’m aiming for something normal, like no talking about powers or nightmares. Just us being, well us, maybe I could join in on that movie or something?”

  “You want to watch a movie with me?” Gulp and yippee. “Like as in a date?”

  He smiles. “Yes. I mean a date. What do you say?”

  Now I smile. “I say yes. A movie sounds like the right amount of distraction needed.”

  He leans in closer to me, so close that I can feel the light stubble along his jaw as his cheek just barely grazes mine. I swear I could melt into a puddle right at this very moment. Even more so, when he turns just so, bringing his lips in the hollow between my ear and neck and whispers.

  “Then I offer my power of distraction to you.”

  Talk about your innuendos… A sigh slips past my lips and my shoulders sag in delight. Then he steps back, his lips just barely grazing my cheek. The need to lean into him is so strong, that I have to close my eyes. I don’t get the opportunity though, because he moves away, leaving me wanting. My eyes reopen quickly when I hear him opening the door to leave. I didn’t even realize he moved away that far.

  Man, I really need to get a freaking grip.

  I stay frozen in spot, with a completely dumbfounded expression I’m sure, and watch as he steps through the door. Before he disappears, he softly calls out to me. Then before I know it he’s gone without so much as a backward glance. It’s not until I’m cuddled in bed with the dream of sleep pulling onto me, that I realize what he said. I’ll give you a hint. It definitely wasn’t elephant shoe rabbit. Get it?

  Man, I am so not going to be able to fall asleep now. Or maybe I will.

  I can just bet that the dreams will be off the charts…and yet the morning dawns all too quickly leaving no trace of a remembered dream in sight. Typical. The plus side? It brings me closer to my date night with Chance. I’m practically a giddy school girl when I race into work, and even still as I get through a boring Saturday shift making sandwiches. The cranky customers and screaming toddlers can’t bring me down today. And neither can the funny looks Toby would give me every so often.

  Nope.

  No one can penetrate the bright and shiny feeling that is me today.

  The feeling lingers all through the day and into the evening. It even stays when I bounce around and help Toby close the store. Oddly, it swells to an all new high when I step outside to find Chance in the same intoxicatingly position he’s taken up the past two nights. Everything but him fades away as I’m guided to the car. Somehow I manage to climb inside without decking my head on the roof. There is a momentary breathlessness until Chance climbs in beside me. He holds my hand the whole way home.

  We climb the garage stairs hand in hand, not once falling down even though we don’t watch where we are going. We separate once inside though as I command him with the responsibility of making the popcorn and the picking of the movie so I can take a lightening quick shower. The entire time I’m under the scalding hot spray, I can’t stop myself from thinking that he is just in the other room while I am undressed. It makes my fast movements rather jerky. I soon finish and try to dress myself up in something comfortable and still slightly attractive without coming off as I’m trying. Basically I settle for tight-ish grey comfy pants and a light pink camisole. I even leave my hair down, which I never do by the way.

  Sheesh, being a girl is tricky.

  When I finally walk out into the living room, the scent of heated butter is strong in the air. My mouth waters, but that has less to do with the popcorn, and all to do with the stretched out six foot form of Chance Harris on my sofa. Just like I asked of him, he got everything all ready for us, including a warm throw blanket. My heart swells to the max with every step I take that brings me closer to him. I sit down beside him and we position ourselves until he’s all but holding me in his arms.

  My face presses into the firmness of his chest. He starts the movie. I forget the popcorn.

  About twenty minutes into the remake of Dawn of the Dead, I somehow find myself lying on my side with Chance behind me. His strong arms gently hold me close, his breath tickling the hair at my nape. My eyes have long since closed. For new entertainment, I play with the fine hairs of his arm that d
rapes over my hip. The longer I play, the more I notice little things. Like the fact that every time I pass my fingertips over one tiny freckle, he shivers. And when I don’t wait for the shiver to pass, goosebumps rise up on his skin and his breath hitches just the slightest bit.

  The knowledge that I’m causing him to feel something, anything, is intoxicating, overwhelming really. It must be for him to, because after a few minutes of this, he sits up so that his other arm can trap mine to his chest. This causes me to get turned around so that I’m half facing him. My eyes flutter open in surprise. They narrow down to his half-closed lids, and it fascinates me how dark the blue of his eyes are at the moment. It doesn’t take me long to figure out why.

  Time slips to a slow crawl, yet too fast at the same time. I watch as Chance brings his face much closer to mine than it was a second ago. His breath becomes my breath. Our noses gently bump as the closeness becomes closer still. Then there is a pause, lips barely touching. Pure agony and joy surge up inside me in one violent storm tearing a gasp from my parted lips. I ache to close the distance between us, to make us one, but I don’t have to worry. Chance is the cure to my ailments.

  He closes the distance, completing us.

  I surrender to the mixture of strength and tenderness of his lips. My free hand takes a life of its own, wrapping itself into the soft silken waves of his hair, while the other remains tightly held in his. My body clings to the warmth of his. Needing no guidance from the hold his free arm has around it. I’m alive with heat and chills all at the same time, like my body can’t comprehend the degree of something that could be happiness and pleasure all rolled into one.

  Time eventually snaps back into reality. Our breaths become our own once more. Space and closeness is varied as we both continue to cling to one another. I open my eyes to his brilliant shade of bright blue, but he’s looking at something over my shoulder. I turn to check it out, and notice that the movie has long since ended. Oops. Shutting my eyes again, I snuggle back into his warmth, laughter spilling over the surface of my heated cheeks and swollen lips.

  Chance removes one of his hands from me and reaches for something fallen into the couch cushions. He pulls something free and in a matter of seconds the movie is started up from the beginning. A clattering on the floor sounds from where he tosses the found object no longer needed. Then his arm resumes its hold on me, kneading at the soft flesh just between my shifted comfy pants and risen camisole. He curls himself around me so that his cheek is resting against mine and our breaths are almost one.

  He nuzzles me, his stubble tickling. “There, now we have more time. Where were we?”

  A smile forms on my lips mere seconds before his lips cover mine.

  Chapter Twenty One

  Come Sunday morning, I still can’t get my mind off of the night I shared with Chance. It was like nothing I’ve ever experienced before. And all we did was kiss for the length of a movie! I am such a sap. What a poor excuse for a demon huh? Well, in any case, I suppose my soul is good for some things. Being consumed by pretty boy kisses fits the bill for me. Sleep definitely came easier, regardless of what had me waking up super early. Today is the day I voluntarily go visit my family and hope for the best.

  It’s a complete one-eighty from the last time.

  What helps though, is the fact that Chance met up with me before I had even begun to start to freak out. Clearly, he must have suspected that my cool no problem demeanor was all a front. Not going to lie, it really was. So in any case, in an attempt to calm my frazzled nerves, he did something surprising. No, not kiss me senseless, not much anyways. He took me to breakfast at this little hole in the wall diner. It was all you can eat, and let me tell you, I totally took advantage. Eggs and bacon never tasted so good, last meal envy perhaps?

  Too soon for my liking found us creeping up like creepers in Chance’s mustang about a mile from my family’s motel sometime after noon. My pulse quickens with every move that brings us closer. I cling to the warm hand that is wrapped in both of mine. I wish it steadied me more. I could use all the strength I can get right about now. Then before I can even try to calm myself, Chance is pulling up to the curb and coming to a stop. I can feel his eyes on me as we wait, as I wait…but I can’t risk a glance at him. My eyes are all for my surroundings.

  It’s eerie how this once bustling side street is now nothing but a ghost town. That’s not completely true I know, there are people, just not out on the street. Their humanity steers them clear, even if they don’t realize it happening. From what I can gather, it’s all the demonic power usage that does it, or a constant usage to be exact. I can feel it as I sit here. The sickly tendrils reach out beyond their stretch trying to consume any and all things that it can. The flavor is unrecognizable, so I don’t know which of my family is charging it. Could be all of them for all I know. What I do know…is that it’s too strong.

  Letting go of Chance’s hand, I turn to him. “I changed my mind. I don’t think you should wait here for me.”

  At his surprised look, I push on before he can come up with an excuse to stay.

  “Don’t even try Chance Harris, because I’m not falling for what you can come up with. I know I agreed with you staying, but we don’t know the extent to your immunity. The power here is too strong.” I pause as his eyes widen. “I don’t want you affected by it. So…I’m thinking you should wait by the phone at your house. Or heck, just a couple more blocks over, it’s clear there.”

  He nods. “So that’s what I’m feeling?” Shocked, my eyes widen. Not good. “Since we pulled up here, pins and needles have been running all over me. It feels like my entire body was asleep and is trying to wake up.”

  Dammit.

  “Yeah…that’s what your feeling…to an extent.” Do I tell him normal humans don’t even feel anything? What is he? “So you’ll leave then? Wait until I call you for a ride?”

  He nods again. I sigh in relief.

  With a quick kiss goodbye and promises to call him as soon as I am able, I slip from the safety of the car. I don’t watch as Chance pulls away, but I feel his eyes on me. They follow me as I take that first hesitant step closer to my family. I stumble to a stop when his presence disappears. I am officially on my own now, but strangely I’m not terrified. This is due to the fact that my inner Taser lies quiet inside me. If it’s fine with me walking into the lions den, then I guess I can put on my big girl panties and get too it.

  Picking up my pace again, I soon find myself entering the abandoned building of the motel. I make my way down the empty halls until I’m standing before the waiting closed door to where I know my family linger. I’ve barely raised my hand up to knock, when it’s pulled open. It reveals my smiling mother.

  She takes a step back and holds the door open for me. “Won’t you come inside…daughter?”

  I do as she asks, but when I brush past her my inner Taser thrums to life inside me. The scent of ozone rises in the air. My skin tingles with a charge that leaves all the hair standing on end. I hurry past her as fast as I can and step into the room. She closes the door behind me. Then when she turns to face me, the sudden electrical feeling is gone. And I’m alone once again.

  Well, not really alone. There is my mother to take into account…and my sister.

  The similarities between the three of us are really striking. It’s like we’re the same person in various ages rather than mother and daughters. I for one think I’m the only one that has something akin to humanity, it softens my expressions, the lack of makes theirs hard. Mother urges me over to a sitting area they have set up in the suit. Ignoring Riana smirking at me from the sofa, I aim for the recliner. Once seated, kind of stiffly, mother joins my sister as they watch me expectantly.

  Silence and curiosity is thick all around me.

  They wait. I panic.

  Irritated at being here, I glare at them. “So you got me here, now what? Should we go into fake pleasantries? Or just get right into the nitty-gritty of it all?”

 
Riana grits her teeth as she glances away, while my mother looks visibly hurt by my words. I’m…I don’t know. Shocked at my lack of control I guess. Obviously I have some things to work out on the damaged front. Maybe when all is said and done I’ll look into a therapist who doesn’t mind a little weird in her tea.

  I sigh and shake my head. “Look…I, I’m just…this is new for me. You guys get that right? I mean, you haven’t exactly been welcoming in the past. So forgive me for being a little leery in trusting you. But I’m here…so that’s a start right?”

  Oh for goodness sakes. I’m practically groveling.

  My mother beams, with tears in her eyes. “Yes Daria dear, you have every right to be leery of us, me in particular. We have not been very welcoming to you at all. Us being here and you as well, means we are open to change. Can you let us have this opportunity? I for one will try in the upmost promising way to make it up to you, if you’ll let me.”

  Hesitantly, I nod. This was what I was waiting for, an in. Then why am I afraid? Please don’t let me screw this up.

  “Then daughters let us get to know one another again, hmm?” Mother glances between Riana and I. “Who would like to go first?”

  I do, duh. “So…does this mean you’ll all be staying for a while? Permanently I mean.”

  “If that pleases you then yes, but for now I’d like to think we’re merely visiting for a duration.”

  Um, okay? Now what? This is harder than I thought. It would be different and easier to jump in with all the questions I have if they weren’t watching me so intently. Why are they watching me this way? It’s weird.

  “Is it strange having us in school together?” Riana starts with a blush staining her cheeks. “What I mean is I think it’s strange, in a good way. It’s a first for us. Doing something so mundane together…”

  My mother and I both stare at her in shock. Who knew cranky pants Riana would like something so normal. Heck, who knew she liked anything at all.