Chapter 7
Yet another character meets some sudden, gruesome death, and Victoria jumps a little in her seat and then laughs.
“You like being scared,” I observe aloud.
She turns to me, eyes narrowed. “You already knew that.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“I mean, the little games you like to play.”
“I…” I fight down a rush of panic and try to keep my voice level. “During those games you were scared?”
She shrugs. “I mean, I’m not sure fear is the first word I would use to describe it, but it’s really overwhelming. It’s in the same family of emotions.”
“I’m not sure how I feel about that.”
She gives me an incredulous look. “You can’t tell me that you’re shocked to hear that you scared me a little bit.”
“That’s exactly what I’m telling you. If I thought for a second you were afraid for your life, in any of those situations, I?—”
“You what, would’ve made me sign a liability waiver?”
I laugh. She’s got me there. “I mean yes, but no. I don’t want you to be in a situation where you need to sign a waiver. You know what I mean.”
“I know what you mean. But to answer your question, yeah, I think it’s fun to be scared.”
I can’t think of anything to say so I just grind my teeth and worry about where this conversation is going.
“You look like you’re about to cry,” she says, and not in a soothing way.
She’s teasing me, and I can’t decide if I like it.
“I’m just concerned.”
“Concerned about me becoming a liability?” She rolls her eyes. “Don’t worry. I’m not gonna ask you to chase me through the dark house wearing a Jason mask or anything.”
I narrow my eyes at her but say nothing.
She balks. “Please tell me you know who Jason is.”
“I understand it’s some kind of pop-culture reference, but?—”
“Oh my god.” She turns sharply away from me to face the television. “Television, play Friday the Thirteenth.”
I can’t make myself turn away from her to face the screen. “I need you to know that you are never in danger with me.”
Her head whips toward me. “I know.”
“If you’re scared, I need you to tell me.”
“No.”
“What do you mean no?”
“I mean, no. My emotions are my own business. I like the little games we play, and if I decide to let them go far enough that I get a little scared of what’s going to happen next, that’s my own business.”
“That is definitely my business as well.”
“Well, I guess you better type up that liability waiver.”
“We won’t be needing it.”
“That’s that, huh? You’re just gonna walk away because I was honest? Oh, that’s right, you prefer it when I lie, don’t you? Okay, sorry. Oh wait—don’t apologize Victoria, it makes you look weak. Okay, not sorry. Anyway, I was just joking. I’m never scared at all when we’re together. When you grab my skull and fuck my throat like a madman, I feel like I’m skipping through a field of wildflowers. That’s what all girls think when you do that.”
“Cheeky little thing, aren’t you?”
She shrugs.
“Okay, fine. You’re right. You’re allowed to feel scared if you want to. And I’m not going to lie, the idea of scaring you is not completely repulsive to me.”
Her eyes narrow. “Oh, now we’re getting somewhere.”
I shake my head. “I don’t know if I want to go to that place.”
“Why not? It could be so fun.”
The combination of blood rushing to my groin and dread building in my stomach starts to make me feel a little bit crazy. “Let’s just watch the movie.”
“Of course,” she says. “It’s just movie night.”
I make a mental note to draw up a liability waiver.
For all her big talk, Victoria isn’t even awake long enough to see the first blonde-haired, big-bosomed woman get macheted to ribbons by the man in a hockey mask.
I, however, can’t take my eyes off the screen.
During the first movie, all my attention was on Victoria, transfixed watching her reactions to the gore and violence on the screen.
But now, with her sleeping peacefully in my lap, I’m able to let myself experience the film.
And it’s fucking glorious.