Odette wanted to confront Grayson about his strange behavior the next day but she couldn’t. She woke up pale, cold, and sweaty and puked outside of her trashcan before she was able to call out to her parents. The rest of the day was a feverish haze, going in and out of consciousness and not being able to keep anything down. She overheard her mother telling her father that she had a high fever, which explained why she felt like a furnace. Her hands and feet kept swelling up and turning a light shade of blue but it wasn’t anything that hadn’t happened before.
Everything ached and her head swam with dizziness and in a fog of uncertainty. She couldn’t tell what time it was, much less how much time had passed since she had last been awake. Her body—after dispelling anything that it could via her mouth—would heat up to an unbearable level with sweat pumping out of every inch of her skin. Ten minutes later, she would be freezing and her teeth chattering while her body shook to keep itself warm.
It was a vicious cycle.
The next day wasn’t much better but she was able to keep down a bagel for almost three hours before she had another bout with the trash can. Her dizziness hadn’t died down and the room was either too warm from her constant retching or too cold because of her sweat. Her room smelled like something died in it. She hadn’t stayed awake for much of that day either.
Pamela stayed with her during the night even though Odette had protested. She knew that this was just a bug that she must have caught and she didn’t want her mother to catch it either, but Pamela didn’t listen. It didn’t help that Odette fell asleep halfway through her own lecture. What she did remember was waking up in the middle of the night. Her mother was asleep at the edge of her bed and it looked very uncomfortable. She would have given her some of her pillows but they had been contaminated by her so it would only make things worse.
“Grayson?” Odette rasped, she wasn’t sure if she was imagining him or not.
The boy was in the corner of her room, standing and watching her. He didn’t even react to her calling out to him. Odette rubbed her eyes. He was gone. Was that a hallucination? It must have been, after all, Grayson wouldn’t just come into her room and not do anything.
Her attention shifted to her mother, who was waking up. “Are you okay, sweetie?”
Truth be told, not really. She was too hot in the sheets and she could feel the need to dry heave rising up inside of her. “I think I just had a strange dream.”
Pamela placed the back of her hand on Odette’s head. Her hands were pretty warm but Odette was warmer. “Do you want some water?”
“Yes please.”
Pamela left the room and went down the stairs quietly. The house was pretty quiet aside from a few creaks and the small clanking noises from the kitchen. Odette shivered, wrapping her arms around her torso. Her window was open.
“I’ve missed you,” Grayson admitted over the phone.
Odette laughed at him, running a hand through her hair. “It’s been—what? Four days? We have been apart for longer.”
“It’s different now,” he said.
“How so?”
Odette pulled her knees to her chest while she waited for his answer. She could hear him sigh and some random background noises.
“Because it is. You’re mine now and I miss you. I’m allowed to miss my girlfriend, especially when she’s you.”
“If you must.” Odette laughed a little to herself. “How are your rehearsals going?”
Grayson grunted. “Same as always. Greer’s taking on the role of a dictator. Everything has to be her way, the things we say, and the way we act. It’s tiring. I would much rather be with you, watching some horror movie and having you hide your face in my arm the whole time.”
“Jokes on you ‘cause I actually like horror movies!” Odette laughed mockingly into the phone. That didn’t bode well for her as, seconds later, she dissolved into a coughing fit.
He gave her a moment to collect herself before he started talking again. “I doubt that. What’s your favorite?”
She pursed her lips. “Sleepy Hollow.”
Grayson chortled. “That is the weakest horror movie out there!”
“Whatever. I like it, it’s a great movie.” Odette crossed an arm over her chest in defense even though he couldn’t see her.
“I should be over there with you. Not only would I be helping you feel better, but I would educate you on horror films.” She could hear the longing in his voice and she knew that, if she told him “yes,” he would be over in an instant.
Odette grimaced. “I don’t think that’s a good idea. I’m almost better, though. I don’t want you to get sick and my mom would turn you away at the door if you came in.”
“And what about the window?”
“Then I would turn you away,” Odette said. “I’ll be better soon and we’ll get together as soon as we can.”
Grayson was quiet. She could hear him moving around in his room. “I guess. Get well soon. Please.”
“I’ll try. I’ve got to go; I’ll talk to you later.”
He mumbled out a quiet bye and hung up. Odette leaned her head back on the couch her eyes burning with the need to sleep.
Pamela entered the living room, carrying a tray of food. Odette longed to eat something but her stomach didn’t want anything at all.
“Do you think you can eat something?” she asked.
Odette eyed some of the salty food. She grabbed a buttered piece of bread and tore it into pieces, popping one of them into her mouth and chewing slowly.
“What did Grayson say?” she asked.
“He was asking how I was feeling, he wants to come over and help … I told him he shouldn’t. Not yet.” Odette didn’t want to talk about him to her mom, she didn’t like him so there was no point. She smoothed the blanket that covered her and her swollen calves, biting back her cringe of disgust.
Pamela sat down on the other side of the couch and nodded. “He seems like he can be a sweet boy. It’s a shame that he and his sister don’t have any parents.”
Odette gagged and dropped her food, taking off to the nearest bathroom or trash can. At least she didn’t have to talk about him with her mom anymore.
“So, do you want to go somewhere today? I could take you out to eat at one of the local diners. I know that you still haven’t been around town all that much and it could be fun? I know I said that you could choose the next date but …” Grayson drew out the last word.
Odette inhaled sharply. This was getting tedious. “I’m sorry, I can’t today. My mom actually wants to take us out as a family. Maybe on Monday or something like that?”
Her fever had finally broke in the middle of the night, but she was still very weak. She hadn’t kept food down for almost five days now and her stomach was trying to murder itself. She missed him too. But, she has also made a promise to her parents.
He was quiet for a long while and Odette could practically hear the cogs working in his mind. The white noise coming in over the speaker felt like knives to her eardrums.
“Odette, have I done something?”
Her eyes widened, “NO! God no. You haven’t done anything
… I’m just busy today and it takes me a while to recover from these things. I don’t want you to have to see me like that.”
“I don’t care about things like that! You’re always beautiful to me even if you are weak or frail at the moment. You just seem like you’re avoiding me and constantly making excuses as to why you can’t see me.”
She wished he was in front of her so she could see his emotion; she was so clueless right now. “I-I’m not. Are you angry?” Odette hated that she stuttered. He would obviously know something was wrong now. She just prayed that he wouldn’t ask.
He took his time before he answered yet again. Odette could hear his ragged breathing through the phone. “No,” he said eventually. “I’m not. I’m upset. I don’t know what to think, honestly. There’s something that you aren’t telling me and I can’t help but thi
nk the worst. Is there another guy?”
She laughed. He wasn’t being serious was he? This guy was probably the world’s most gorgeous nineteen-year-old and he was worried that his sickly, homebound girlfriend had found someone else?
“No. There isn’t, and, even if there was, I wouldn’t just ghost you. That’s awful.” Odette pressed her head against the cool wall. It was sunny again today, the kind of sunny that made you wonder if you were going to melt if you put on a short-sleeved shirt.
“Then what is it? Are you tired of me? Did Greer threaten you?”
“Why would Greer threaten me not to talk to you? I thought she wanted me to be with you?”
Grayson huffed, “This is beside the point, but she has done it before. I’m serious, Odette, what is it?”
Would it be good to tell him? She didn’t want him to take it the wrong way, and she didn’t want to make things awkward between him and her parents. She chewed on her lip and chose her words carefully, looking around the room to make sure she didn’t see her mother or father.
“My … parents … they think that it would be good for me to have some me time. A break from constantly being with you guys. They got a little concerned because of the pool incident … and when I got the concussion,” Odette admitted. “They’re just a little protective sometimes and they thought this was best.”
“Oh.”
“It isn’t forever!” Odette rushed. “They really don’t want me to go to Greer’s party, though. Have some time to myself. But we can meet back up soon!” She pinched the bridge of her nose, a headache building up. “I’m sorry.”
“It isn’t your doing. It’s theirs. You don’t have to be sorry.” He had no inflection in his voice, he just sounded blank.
Odette hated this. “Are you okay?”
“I will be. Don’t worry. I have to go now.”
She nodded her head. “Yeah, okay. Bye—”
But he had already hung up the phone.
XX
On the day of the infamous pool party, Pamela and Jonah took Odette out for pizza. It was a small place in town that was too cold and served their pizzas a little too hot, but the Sinclairs didn’t mind all that much.
Odette had hardly heard anything from Grayson since their phone conversation, which had been almost a full week now. She was worried, picking up her phone and checking it every two seconds in case he had messaged. She had tried to and he would respond, but only with one or two words.
The bell at the diner door tinkled and drew her away from her upsetting thoughts. Zeke was there along with Greer who looked like she wished she was with anyone else.
“Oh hey, dude!” Zeke called over cheerfully.
“Zeke, hey.” Odette stood up from her seat and went over to great the two of them even if Greer was her least favorite person in the world. “Hi, Greer.”
The female twin hugged Odette tightly. “I’m glad to see that you’re up and doing great, Grayson has been so worried about you. He’s actually been very depressed this past week because of it. I hope you come to the party; you’ll be able to cheer him up. Or Nadia, maybe. Or someone else, so long as they have a feminine touch.”
Odette took half a step back. Was she really insinuating what she thought she was? No, she was just doing it to get under her skin. Grayson wouldn’t betray her.
“I’ll try my best.”
Greer smirked. “That’s right, because you have to listen to what Mommy and Daddy say like the good little girl you are.”
She had had enough. “Greer, do we have a problem? ‘Cause if we do, don’t just insult me, say it to my face like a woman.” Odette crossed her arms over her chest, narrowing her eyes.
The girl looked surprised for half of a second, her lips parting slightly. Greer being Greer, however, recovered from it quickly and smiled slyly. “No problem. I hope I see you later. For Grayson’s sake.”
Odette couldn’t believe that was the same girl who had been so excited for Grayson to ask her on a date. The same girl who had dressed her up and paraded her in front of her brother in order to get her to come and chase them down.
Zeke, apparently, had gathered the pizzas in the time it took for Greer to verbally assault Odette, so the two were out the door just as quick as they came in.
“Are you okay, sweetie?” her mother asked, coming over to her side.
Odette didn’t particularly care if she had heard what Greer said. It was over with anyway. “Mom, I need to go to the Mages today. It’s important.”
The argument with her parents lasted the whole way home but she won by saying that she was concerned about Grayson. Odette told them half of what Greer had told her, which had gotten her all fired up and ready to pick a fight with her if the occasion should arise. Her parents didn’t say anything but their faces showed their skepticism of their daughter beating that girl in a fight.
Odette didn’t text Grayson to tell him she was going. She wanted him to be surprised. Plus, if there was even the smallest chance that Grayson would cheat on her, she would catch him. She, however, really doubted it.
Her dad volunteered to drive her over to the Mages’ residence once she changed and had everything she needed.
“I know this isn’t what you guys wanted,” Odette stated, “but thank you.”
Pamela gave her daughter a kiss on the cheek before she left. “I hope everything works out.”
“Let’s get going,” said Jonah.
He led his daughter out the front door and started up the car. Even though it was a short ride to their neighbor’s house, Odette was already too hot. She regretted wearing her zip up hoodie.
The gates were open and there were many cars inside. Odette was shocked; she didn’t know Greer had that many friends. Probably fake ones, though.
“Thanks, Dad.” Odette kissed his cheek and slid out of the car.
Jonah pointed his finger at her. “Be safe. I mean it.”
“Of course. I’ll see you later.”
Jonah didn’t pull out of the driveway until Odette was at the front door. She knocked and squared her shoulders. She could do this; she was only there for her boyfriend anyway. It would be an added bonus if she could shove his sister into the deep end.
Zeke opened the door—as expected by this point. “Oh hey. Fun seeing you two times in a day. You want me to take you to the backyard?”
“Actually,” Odette said with an embarrassed smile. “Could you take me to Grayson? Unless he’s already there.”
The man chuckled, nodding his head. “Yeah, totally. Maybe you can cheer him up. The guy’s been really down lately. I think he’s been worried about you. You’re feeling better, right?”
“Yeah, it was just a bad virus. I tend to hold on to sickness a little longer than most people.” Odette tugged on the sleeves of her hoodie, the chill of the mansion seeping into her skin.
“Sorry to hear about that, dude.”
Zeke led her up what felt like a hundred flights of stairs. She held onto the railing, breathing as quietly through her nose as she could. Any second now, her lungs would explode.
They went past Greer’s room, which was oddly quiet. She was probably already outside anyway. She looked away quickly, that room giving her a bad feeling. At the end of the hall, there was a room with a light on. Zeke stopped at this one, glancing back at Odette to make sure she was okay. He knocked on the door a few times.
“What is it?” Grayson snapped from the other side of the door.
Zeke didn’t take offense to it. “I have someone who is here to see you.”
“Tell them to go away.”
Zeke opened his mouth but Odette put her hand on his arm to stop him. “Mages, is that how you greet your girlfriend?”
She could actually hear him tripping over himself to get to the door. It swung open seconds later and a semi-haggard Grayson was staring at her with wide eyes. She yanked him down to her level, disregarding Zeke, and planted a kiss on his lips.
“Surprise, babe.”
“You didn’t tell me you were coming.” Grayson sounded shaken up. He was still standing by his door, pacing.
Odette was sitting down at his desk, trying to look as casual as possible. “Did you not want me to?”
“No—hey, it’s not like that and you know it. I thought you were still being kept from me.” He ruffled his hair awkwardly. It was odd to see him so flustered. He was always so calm and put together but, in here, he looked like any other teenage boy.
Odette glanced at the deep purple cape that was draped over a hanger. “I ran into your sister at the pizza place in town. Fair warning, I may fight her if she provokes me again.”
Grayson didn’t outwardly doubt Odette but it was obvious in the half second before he processed her words.
“What did she do?” He was by her side in an instant. He knelt to the floor and grabbed her hands. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. She was just … I don’t want to say ‘threatening,’ but she was warning me that, if I didn’t show up tonight, someone else would make a move on you … in a way …”
His concern melted away to something akin to annoyance. “And you believed her? If you hadn’t told me it was you, I wouldn’t have even let you inside. What makes you think that any other girl would be able to get in?”
“Because it was Greer who told me,” Odette fired back. “And despite what you may say about you two not wanting to be family, she still knows you ‘cause she’s your sister.”
Before Odette knew it, he was kissing her. Grayson was rising up from his knees, so he could lean over her even more, pressing her against the back of the chair. She released his hands and locked them around his neck automatically. It was a painful kiss, their noses were bumping against one another roughly, but it didn’t matter.
Odette pulled back, her mouth tasting like iron even though she knew she wasn’t bleeding. “Was that your way of telling me to ‘shut up’?”
“More or less,” he replied. “You think too much and you worry too much. But I am thankful that Greer convinced you to find a way to break out of your house. I was going crazy. Being kept away from you is like a nightmare.”
Violent Delights Page 20