Commination
I was halfway down the hall when I decided to see what everyone else was doing. I continued past the bathroom and came to a stop at the living room’s entrance. “Hi guys,” I said, catching everyone’s attention. “What’re you doin’?”
“Trying to watch a movie,” Ari said. “For the record, these walls are not soundproof.”
“Eh,” I shrugged, “can’t say I didn’t warn you. I’ll be back. I’m gonna shower.”
“Try not to scream loud enough to break any windows while you’re in there.”
I laughed before practically skipping to the bathroom for a quick shower. Once that was finished, I checked the mirror to assess makeup damage and frowned at what I saw: empty space.
I groaned in annoyance. It’s still so easy to forget about this stupid mirror thing. To make matters worse, I forgot to bring clothes. I wrapped in a towel and pranced into the living room, where all eyes fell on me.
“Sorry!” I ran past the tv to my shopping bags. “Don’t mind me. I forgot clothes,” I explained, kneeling to dig for a brand new outfit. “Just pretend I’m not here.”
“You’re such a mess,” Ari said.
“That’s what good sex does! Skewers the brain. I wish I could give Dennis online reviews. One hundred out of ten. Off the charts! I don’t know if you guys know this,” I pointed to Sean and Mateo, “but holy fuck, is your friend good in bed—”
“Jesus fuck, Emy—”
“Ten stars!” I concluded over Ari. “I’ll be back again.” I straightened up and left.
Back to the bathroom we go! I changed into an outfit that purposely showed off most of my new tattoo before fixing my makeup based on a guess of how a shower would usually ruin it—typical smudging and clumped mascara, easy fix—then went back to the living room barefoot.
I’ll wear shoes if we go somewhere. I continued to the kitchen, then spotted a pizza box and pulled it out. A yummy treat sounds fun.
“Can I have some of this?” I asked, leaning across the bar divider to hold up my prize.
“It’s not mine.” Mateo glanced at me before going back to the movie he was half watching. “I think Dennis got that.”
“Perfect. I’ll take that as a yes.” I opened the box and grabbed a plate. Hmm… there are three pieces left. Meaning one for him and two for me! Yup, that seems fair.
“You’re really gonna eat his food?” Ari asked as I came back with a plate of cold pizza.
“Of course not. This is mine now.” I sat and picked up a slice, trying not to smile at the way she was cuddled up against Sean. He had an arm around her and she wasn’t even acting shy. This is a definite improvement.
I started eating and kind of watching the movie, but quite honestly I’m a bit too hyper to pay attention. I started dancing to the music in my head while I ate. I need to run some laps or something. I have way too much energy. This is a problem. I need to readjust.
“Emy, are you okay?”
“Yes.” I smiled at Ari and turned sideways so my legs were on the couch. “I’m a happy camper.”
“Okay.” She gave me a worried look before turning back to the movie.
I looked around while I ate, still dancing to the music.
A minute passed before I spotted Dennis emerging from the second bathroom between his room and Sean’s.
He ruffled his damp hair, seemingly lost in thought.
I watched as it cutely fell back to the side.
He looked up and right at me, smirking as our eyes caught.
I smiled unsurely, hoping everything between us was still the same, but my heart sank when he quietly laughed and shook his head. He went to his room without a second glance and shut the door.
I fought back tears as I stared at it, praying I hadn’t made a mistake. Please, please, don’t let this ruin everything. I shut my eyes and took a deep breath, trying not to panic. I’m sure it’ll be fine. It has to be fine.
“Are you sure you’re okay?”
“Yeah.” I opened my eyes to see Ari watching me. “I’m fine.”
Minus the fact that I might’ve ruined everything forever. But before I could think about it too much, his door opened and he walked back out. He ignored every other empty seat and came straight to my side.
“Hey.” He kinda smiled as he sat. I barely kept from crying as a wave of relief washed over me. “What’re you eating?” he asked, peering into my lap like an incredibly nosy person.
My fight-or-flight instincts kicked in when he tried to take the plate. “No. This is my snack.” I snatched the pizza off the kidnapped plate and held it close. Maybe he hasn’t noticed yet, but I don’t share food. Ever.
So maybe technically it’s his food. Just a little.
But first come first serve, and I found it first so it’s going in my tummy.
I took another bite and turned back to the movie no one seemed to be watching.
Ari was fidgeting while Sean stared at the wall.
Either that or into space, I couldn’t tell which. And Mateo was texting.
“Okay, I’m tired of this movie,” Sean said. “It’s really bad.”
“Games?” Mateo suggested.
Sean hopped up and went to their console, leaving Ari to almost tip over from the sudden void. He didn’t even notice and started setting up the game. I took another bite of pizza, then made a face at the way Dennis was watching me. His eyes were darker than usual.
“Did your back heal yet?” I asked, trying to distract myself from his unsettling gaze.
“Mostly. I’m thirsty. Do you wanna come?”
“Sure. Gimme a minute.” I took a moment to wash my plate before lacing into a new pair of four-inch boots. They were about the same height as half my other boots but not broken in yet. I figure now is the perfect time to do it! If they start killing my feet I can always make Dennis carry me.
“I’m not carrying you,” he said, heading out the door without me.
I said a quick bye to the others before running to catch up. “When can I hunt on my own?” I hopped to a stop at the complex’s bottom stair, where he was waiting.
“Not anytime soon. You might lose control,” he said. I started to pout, but the second we passed the building’s shade my skin caught on fire. I cried out and sprinted back to the stairs. “What’s wrong with you?” Dennis gave me a questioning look while I checked my arms for melting skin.
“The sun tried to kill me!”
“Stop being dramatic. It’s evening. There’s barely any light.”
“I’m not being dramatic. It feels like my skin is boiling.” I finished squishing my cheeks, finally satisfied that every piece of skin had survived the brutal attack.
“It didn’t hurt when you went shopping this morning?” he asked, coming back to join me in the shade.
“No. It wasn’t sunny yet.”
“It’s literally not sunny. We can’t go out in blaring sun, but you’re gonna have to get used to a little light. Unless you plan to be fully nocturnal, but most of us aren’t.”
“I’m going inside.” I turned to go upstairs but nearly tripped when he grabbed my waist. I snatched the railing with both hands, holding on for dear life. “Stop laughing at my pain!”
“I’m not,” he said cheerfully. “I’m trying to help.”
“By burning me alive?”
“No, by helping you get used to dusk. You can’t only go out at night. That would get boring.” He pried me off the railing and carried me toward the blinding light.
“I’m not supposed to be out right now,” I wailed, catching hold of a tree trunk. I dug my nails in but he kept going. I cursed and let go so they wouldn’t snap off. “It burns!” I shielded my face as we left the shade.
“You’re the most ridiculous person I’ve ever met.” He dumped me on the sidewalk and I somehow landed perfectly.
“This isn’t natural. I should be inside with industrial curtains blocking every trace of this,” I flung my arms around, “this fuckery that’s trying to kill me!”
“And you need a rafter inside all that darkness. You know, so you can take naps hanging upside down.” Dennis smiled, patronizing as always, before walking away.
I stared after him, trying to decide which would be worse: being left for dead or following him and melting.
“You’re not gonna melt and no one’s leaving you for dead. ”
“Fine. Maybe I’m exaggerating a little. Not like you can talk, though. You sleep in a literal coffin.” I caught up and fell into step beside him. He didn’t say anything, just pulled out the lighter and flicked it on. “Can I ask you something?”
“Sure.”
“Why did you laugh and shake your head?” I hesitated before adding, “When I first saw you. You know, after…” I started getting flustered when he laughed exactly the same as before. “You’re doing it again. Why?”
“It’s not bad. I’m laughing because of you.”
“And that’s not bad?”
“It’s not. You’re just…” he trailed off, making me feel even worse than before. “It’s cute,” he finally said, “that you thought sleeping with me would ruin things.”
“It didn’t?”
“No.”
“So you really don’t see me any differently than before?” I pressed, finding it hard to believe. Judging by personal experience, that’s never the case. At least not with men.
“Nope.”
“Okay.” I smiled, relieved. It seemed hard to believe, but so far he wasn’t acting any different. Maybe he wouldn’t turn out to be an asshole, after all. At least not that type of asshole. “You know what? The sun doesn’t feel as bad anymore.”
“Because the sun isn’t out.”
“I guess you’re kinda right. It’s like my skin went numb after a while or something.
” I glanced at the sky as we stepped off the curb and started crossing the street.
I put a hand up to shield my eyes but Dennis snatched it, yanking with calculated force—I toppled into him as a car screeched to a halt.
“How are your reflexes still so bad?” he asked in exasperation, dropping my arm when I swatted him away.
“Hold on.” I was already focused on the guy leaning out the car window.
Mostly because the guy looked pissed, which means I might have to go off. People don’t get to almost hit me and then get mad at me. No, that shit goes the other way around. I’m the one getting mad here, not him.
“Watch where you’re going,” he said loudly.