Chapter 7 And Then There Were Three #3
Dennis stared at me and I stared back. When neither of us said a word, we started walking again. A couple of blocks later, we arrived at the park where we’d first met. We crossed the grass and I plopped down in the same swing I had been in on Halloween night.
“So this is what you do?” he asked, leaning against the pole beside me.
“What do you mean?”
“You whine and cry every time someone upsets you?”
“I’m not whining and I’m not crying.” I quickly wiped the falling tears.
“So what’s the story, then?”
“What’re you talking about?” I watched while he sat on the neighboring swing.
“Why are you so upset? Besides the bipolar disorder. I already know that’s why you’re having a sudden breakdown, but what triggered it?” He turned in the swing to face me, one leg resting on either side.
“Are you asking ‘cause you think it’s funny?”
“It is funny,” he smiled as I scowled, “but I’m curious. From what I can tell so far, you never care about anything. It’s weird to see you upset.”
“You’ve only known me for four days.”
He shrugged. “Long enough. So what’s the story?” He leaned against the chain, watching me intently.
“I don’t wanna talk about it.”
“I could just get it from your mind, you know.”
“How? I’m not even thinking about you.”
“Did I not mention your guard goes down when you’re upset, too? And drunk.” He pulled out his lighter and flicked it on. “Or sleeping,” he added. “I might sense your dreams sometimes.”
“So you can pretty much read my mind all the time. Great. That’s exactly what I need. A sadistic know-it-all vampire who won’t leave me alone.”
“That’s good,” he encouraged. “Get it out. Let’s talk about it.”
“Are you being sarcastic?” I asked. He grinned, which was answer enough. “Fuck off. I’m not in the mood right now.” I got up and stormed off. Much to my dismay, he followed. “Go away!” I could hear him a few steps behind.
“No.”
“Why?” I whirled around to glare through blurred vision.
“Why won’t you leave me alone? You know I have mental issues, just leave me the fuck alone!
Everyone else does. My dad decided to murder someone and go to prison when I was seven fuckin’ years old, my mom loves her drugs more than me and didn’t give a shit when they took me away, my aunt doesn’t want me anymore, Ari doesn’t even know who I am.
Why are you following me? You don’t even know me! ”
“Ari’s drunk,” he said quietly.
“Go away!” I pulled a heel off and chucked it at his head, then snatched the other and threw it even harder.
I let out a scream of frustration when it missed too.
“Why won’t you just leave me alone? I suck as a person, I’m not even doing anything with my life.
Maybe I just shouldn’t have one.” I sank to my knees as the tears began to flow. “That’s what I’m gonna do.”
“Kill yourself?” Dennis crouched in front of me.
“No,” I muttered, refusing to look at him. “I can’t even do that right.”
“Is that why you were institutionalized before?”
“No. That was because I tried to hit some asshole with my car. They said I was a danger to society and myself. I was on a three-day watch and then my aunt shipped me here. I wish I’d killed her.”
“Your aunt?” Dennis was appalled for once, and I couldn’t help but laugh.
“The asshole from school. I love my aunt. That girl was evil, though. If her boyfriend hadn’t saved her in time I would’ve run her over.”
“I see why they locked you up,” he mused, taking a seat across from me.
“That’s why I had to go to anger management for a while. Not anymore since I moved here. I’m supposed to get a new therapist for weekly sessions, but whatever. I’ve been fine so far and I’ve finished the court ordered sessions, so who cares.”
“You don’t seem fine to me.”
I was silent for a moment before looking at him. “I’ll get over it. I always do.”
“Do we need to put you on suicide watch until then?” he said it jokingly, but I could tell he was serious.
“No. That’s what the mood stabilizers are for.” I ripped some blades of grass and dropped them near my foot. I was starting to feel better. “Where are my shoes?” I asked, suddenly realizing they weren’t on my feet.
“You really are crazy.” Dennis laughed as I grabbed a handful of grass and threw it at him. He was gone and back before it even reached the ground.
“Thanks.” I half smiled as he dropped both shoes in my hands.
“So your dad murdered someone?” he asked, retaking his seat in the grass.
“Yeah.” I pulled my hair to the side and lay back.
“How long is he in prison for?”
“Life.” I closed my eyes as a fresh wave of emotion hit. “Death row. I haven’t seen him since I was nine.”
“How come?”
“He disowned me for testifying against him. Even though I don’t know what else I was supposed to do. I was a child and a material witness. It’s not like I had a choice.” I opened my eyes to make the memory less real. “Anyway, I don’t wanna talk about it.”
We settled into a silence that might’ve lasted five minutes or twenty—I couldn’t tell. The party was raging down the street. I glanced over, wondering if we should go back or call it a night. My mood might be okay now, but it was probably risky.
“Your cousin’s here.” Dennis stood and nodded toward the sidewalk, where Sean and Ari were approaching.
“I wonder how drunk she is now.” I fixed my smeared makeup before standing to brush the grass off my shorts and legs. I strapped my heels on and followed him to the sidewalk.
“Emery! I missed you.” Ari threw her arms up, running to meet me halfway. She tripped over an untied converse and I caught her. “How’d that happen?”
“I don’t know.” I helped her back to the sidewalk. “I don’t think the grass likes you. And I missed you too, drunkie. And you,” I gave Sean an accusatory look, “I thought you were keeping her with friends?”
“I didn’t do it.” He held his hands up. “She ran off when they weren’t looking. I found her outside coming this way so I followed.”
“Huh. Okay.” I didn’t argue because that was one hundred percent a drunk Ari thing to do.
“So who’s driving?” Sean asked. Both he and Dennis turned to me with adorable smiles.
I unhooked the keys from my shorts and pushed Ari into Sean’s waiting arms. “She wanders off while drunk. Don’t lose her.”
“Wait,” she grabbed onto my arm in distress, “don’t go alone. You can’t go alone. What if Dennis kills you?”
“…what?” I glanced at Dennis, who was equally bewildered.
“I said what if Sean kills you,” she repeated. Or so she thought.
“You’re such a ditzy drunk.” I laughed and patted her cheek. “I’ll be back.”
“You really shouldn’t go alone,” Sean said.
“It’s literally half a block away. We can see each other the entire way there. And if I die it’s okay because everyone will remember me in a cute outfit.” I dismissed their concern and sang all the way to the car.
It was deserted along the street, but I could still hear the party going four blocks down and Ari’s drunken ramblings from the way I’d come. I slid into the car and screamed.
“Your screaming is even worse than your singing,” Dennis said, shutting the passenger door.
“You followed me?”
“You didn’t think I’d let you walk alone, did you? Someone might kill you.”
“You’re right. You never know when Dennis might find me.” I pulled away from the curb and started down the block.
“Actually, I take it back.”
“Take what back? You didn’t give me anything.”
“Your singing is way worse than your screaming.”
“Stop being mean. My singing is great.” I came to a stop beside Ari and Sean.
“You’re alive.” Ari squealed as she climbed in back.
“She really does try to wander off a lot.” Sean got in after and shut the door.
“Told you.” I fiddled with my phone until a favorite band of mine came on.
“Emy, what is this? It’s so bad.” Ari pressed against her ears. “Why are people screaming at me? Oh my god, it sounds like your singing—”
“My singing is gorgeous.”
“No, I’m pretty sure you’re tone deaf,” Dennis said.
“Is she really? I wanna hear.”
I pushed Sean away as he leaned forward. “Screw you all.” I turned the music up to drown out their insults the entire way home.
When we arrived, I waited for everyone to get out before leading the way inside. I caught Ari as she fell through the doorway, laughing when we both almost tumbled to the ground.
“She should get drunk more often. She acts almost as ditzy as you are sober.” Dennis chuckled as I playfully flipped him off.
“Why are you guys coming inside? Go home.”
“I’m good here.” Sean shut and locked the door before heading upstairs.
“You’re lucky my uncle’s not home,” I called after him.
“Where is he?” Dennis asked. “Is he ever home?”
“I dunno.” I caught Ari again as she tipped sideways. “He’s probably out with friends. Ari said he usually stays out with them Saturday nights. Okay, hun,” I grabbed Ari as she tipped once again, “we’re going upstairs. Can you walk up the stairs?”
“I dunno,” she looked at the ceiling, “where are we?”
I shot Dennis a dirty look when he laughed at us almost falling again. “Can you carry her upstairs? You’re being a waste of space. Make yourself useful.”
“Sure.” He grabbed her and effortlessly draped her over a shoulder. She giggled and waved at me. “Where’s her room?”
“You can put her in mine.” I brushed past them and headed upstairs.
“Who’s Dr. Kelsey?” Sean looked up from a business card as I entered.
“My psychiatrist. Move.” I took off my stilettos and kicked them aside, then nudged Sean off the bed as Dennis walked in.
“Here?” Dennis waited for me to nod, then dumped Ari where Sean had just been.
“That was a fun roller coaster.” She sat up, beaming. “Where are my pajamas? I’m tired of jeans.”
“Never fear, Emy’s here!” I thrust a fist in the air, causing her to laugh hysterically. I went to fetch a set of her pajamas, then came back and tossed them at her face. She thanked me and started to pull her shirt off. “Hold on.” I pushed her hands down and turned to the guys. “Get out.”
“You’re just kicking us out? No goodbye or anything?” Dennis placed a hand over his heart, like he was offended. Offended my ass.
“Get out while we change. You can come back after, if you really have to.” I waited for them to leave before shutting and locking the door. “Kay, you can change now.”
Ari pulled her clothes off and dropped them on the floor while I searched through drawers for my own pajamas. Once we’d both changed I opened the door.
“Where’d they go?” She pouted.
I shrugged. “Who knows, who cares. Are you hungry? ‘Cause I’m hungry.” I waited for an answer, but she only yawned. “Goodnight, Ari. Love you.” I tucked her in as her eyes fell shut.
“Night good, love you, too.” She barely managed the words before falling asleep.
I turned off the light and gently closed the door, then quietly went downstairs. “What’re you doing?” I froze in the kitchen doorway. Again, both guys were making themselves way too comfortable.
“Mateo’s right,” Dennis was sifting through the fridge, “there’s no good food in here.”
“Can you cook us something? You live here, make us some steak.” Sean sat on a stool, watching me expectantly.
“You guys are obsessed with steak. Are you even supposed to eat?” I bumped Dennis aside to reach for something specific.
“Is that cheesecake?” Sean asked, eyeing the container.
“My cheesecake.” I maneuvered past both vampires and went to the living room couch, kicking my feet up. “You guys can go home now,” I added. I took a bite and closed my eyes in contentment.
“Or I could just…” Dennis stole the plate and fork right from my hands.
I hopped up but he was already gone. “Dennis!” I spun in a circle.
As expected, he was nowhere to be found.
“Sean?” I searched the entire downstairs to no avail.
“If you eat my cheesecake, I’m gonna kill you.
I know you can hear me.” I gave up and waited near the kitchen counter.
They’d have to come back at some point, otherwise I’d find my knife and hunt them down.
“It’s not nice to threaten people.” Dennis appeared and backed me against the counter, his hands resting atop it on either side of me. He was so close our bodies were nearly touching. And of course, my kidnapped cheesecake was back like it had never left.
“Well it’s not nice to steal hungry people’s food.” My heart skipped a beat as he smirked.
“I’m not a nice person.” His hazel eyes were intently on mine. “You’ll figure it out eventually.” He ran a hand through my hair and leaned forward to smell it. I shivered as his fingers grazed my skin.
“Why are you sniffing me?” I forced myself to stay calm, though my heartbeat was running wild.
“No reason.” He laughed and pushed away from the counter.
“You’re so creepy,” I muttered, following him from the kitchen. I didn’t even want the cheesecake anymore.
He stopped at the foot of the stairs to say, “We’re leaving.”
“Bye, Emy.” Sean was down the stairs and walking past me before I could blink.
“Bye, Vixen.” Dennis pulled the door open, and then they were gone.
I locked it behind them before looking at the stairs.
What had Sean been doing up there? I rushed upstairs and pushed my door open to see Ari fast asleep.
She was sprawled beneath the middle of my covers exactly how I’d left her, pillow in one arm and Frankie snug in the other.
Everything seemed fine. I carefully rolled her over so there was room for me too, then slid Frankie from her arm and turned off the bedside lamp.