24 December 2013

The Boy Next Door, Chapter 16

After breakfast I decide to go home for a bit. Jackie's at some summer camp type thing, dad and Brenda are at work today, so I have the entire house to myself. I shower in the down stairs bathroom and walk around in a towel, turning on the tv to listen to while I boot up the computer. I'm not really paying attention to the tv until I hear something that makes me turn it up to max volume.

"Police are looking for this man. He is 6'3", approximately 180 lbs, brown hair, goes by the name of Zeke, last seen wearing blue shorts and a brown shirt. Statements have been made of physical assault and rape. If anyone has any information, please contact your local police station."

There's a picture on the screen with the information. Just then my cell rings from where I left it on the counter when I got home. I run over to it, somehow knowing it would be Lyssa. "Did you see the news?" I run back to the living room but it's gone on to something else.

"Yes, I just saw it! Are you going to call them?"

"I don't know. This scares the shit out of me, Em. It just happened like, yesterday. I don't even remember that much."

"That doesn't matter. Anything you can tell them will help."

"You'll be with me the whole time?"

"Of course. Where are you right now?"

"Home. My mom took the week off work but she just went out to the store. I was able to find my phone but I don't know when she'll be back."

"How are we going to call if she's hanging around all day?"

"I don't know. I wasn't going to call them, remember?" I sit on a chair and try to think.

"Is there any reason she'd go out for more than say, 20 minutes?"

"I have no idea. I could ask her if she'd rent us a movie or think of something I want for supper that I know she doesn't have everything for."

"Okay, that's fine. We shouldn't need that long." I look at the clock. It's just after 12. "I'll come by around like, 2?"

"Shit, I have to go. 2 is fine, I'll think of something. Bye." I hang up and close my phone, exhaling deeply. I turn the tv off and go back to my phone, suddenly wanting Adrian's company. Before I can send him a text there's a knock at the door. I get up and almost answer before I realize I'm still in my towel. I go to the door, clutching the towel.

"Who's there?"

"It's Adrian." I blink and then open the door. He looks down at my towel before looking at my face. His is full of concern. "I heard on the radio about-" I cut him off and pull him inside, shutting the door and pressing my lips against his. He hesitates at first but then wraps his arms around my back, pulling me close to him. We stand in my kitchen, kissing until the need in me subsides. I pull away as far as his arms will allow.

"I should.. put on some clothes." Adrian laughs and lets me go. I go up to my room and shut my door, leaning against it while closing my eyes. What was that about. I dress in shorts and a flowy top that's not too hot and head back downstairs. Adrian is sitting at the kitchen table looking at Bren's bathroom choices. "Want a drink?"

"Sure." I grab two bottles of water from the fridge and sit at the table with him. He's about to open his mouth but I stop him.

"If it's about the news, please don't." He shuts it and we sit in silence for a bit until I decide I'm hungry. I get up and look in the fridge but don't find anything to my liking. I decide I have enough time before going to Lyssa's. "Want to walk down to Miss Muppet's with me?" He agrees so I grab my keys, phone and wallet and lock the door behind us.

It's quiet on the way to the cafe and I feel kind of bad for cutting him off, but I just don't want to hear his sympathy. And it's not even for me, which somehow just makes it that much worse. "Lunch is on me." I get a ham and cheese wrap and he gets an egg salad sandwich. "Hey, I'm sorry for cutting you off back at the house. I didn't go through it so I don't feel like I should get any of your sympathy, you know?" Adrian nods.

"I know. I wasn't actually going to give you any. Would you like to hear what I was going to say?" I feel a blush creep its way up my neck.

"Ah, sure."

"I was going to say that if Lyssa wants anyone to talk to, let her know I don't mind listening. I won't go into detail, but I've been through a similar experience myself. No one really knows until they know." I'm kind of stunned. Now I feel even more stupid.

"Oh. Shit, I'm sorry." He shakes his head slightly.

"No, don't be. It was a long time ago, I've moved on. Lyssa should know that someday she will, too."

"I'll relay that. Thank you." He smiles and moves his hand across the table toward me, palm up. Clearly intending for me to bridge that gap and so I do.

23 December 2013

The Boy Next Door, Chapter 15

I wake up slightly groggy and disoriented, forgetting for a second that I spent the night with Adrian. I try to sit up but am stopped by an arm draped over my stomach. I turn my head to see Adrian asleep beside me, his body quite close to mine. I shiver from the air conditioning, trying to grab the blanket at the end of the bed with my foot without waking Adrian. We were up late and it's still early. He shifts in his sleep, closer to me if possible, so I stop trying to get the blanket and instead turn my phone on.

It loads up and lets me know I have 2 missed calls and 4 new text messages. Both calls are from my dad. Two texts are from Brax, one from my dad, and the other from Lyssa. I frown. Last I knew she'd lost her phone. I open the text from my dad.

Went to say good morning and you weren't here. Please leave a note next time you don't come home for the night. Love you, dad.

I sigh. Next are the two from Brax.

Good morning baby sister. Call me when you wake up.

Scratch that, I'll call you around 10.

I hesitate before opening the text from Lyssa. Our last conversation had not gone well. Before I can decide what to do my phone vibrates with an incoming call from Brax. "It's not 10 yet."

"I did say around 10."

"It's not even 9."

"Whatever. Listen. Lyss called me late last night. She told me what happened and said that she made a mistake in telling you to bug off. She asked if I'd talk to you." I look up at the ceiling. "She's sorry, Em."

"She called me a liar. We've been friends our entire lives and she believes Brenda over me? Then tells me to fess up or we're not friends anymore."

"I know, Em. We talked for almost 3 hours. Half the time I could barely understand her she was crying so much. You know her, she doesn't cry." I huff and glance at Adrian. Still asleep. "Just talk to her, all right?"

"Why did she call you?"

"Because she knows I wouldn't talk to you unless I believed her." I close my eyes and pinch the bridge of my nose between my fingers.

"She sent me a text last night. Should I read it?"

"I'd say yes. I've got to go though. Kieran just knocked, we're going to brunch." I smile.

"Oooh, brunch huh. Well call me later with the dirty details."

"Gross, Em. Love you, sister."

"You too. Bye." I hang up and open Lyssa's text message.

im sry im sry im sry. so sry. i did sum digging. can u meet me 2mrw pls??

I inhale and exhale deeply. I close my phone, deciding to respond to her later, and look over at Adrian. His eyes are open.

"How long have you been awake?" He grins.

"Not long. You seem to be having a busy morning." I turn onto my stomach and stretch.

"Seems that way."

"Want to talk about it?" I smile. The gesture is sweet.

"Not right now. Right now I'd rather talk about breakfast. What are you making me?" Adrian chuckles and snakes his other arm under me, hugging me close to him. My face now an inch from his.

"Who says I'm making breakfast?"

"I just did. I am a guest." Just then I realize something. "Didn't you say you had a job or something?"

"Yeah, they called me and said they didn't need me afterall. I work tonight at some restaurant."

"Convenient." He smiles and nods.

"Means you get to spend more time with me."

"Who says I want to do that?" There's a moment of silence in which I feel like he's going to kiss me, but instead he gets up.

"What would you like for breakfast?"

"What do you make best?"

"I know my way around a toaster pretty well." I laugh, get up and follow him down to the kitchen.