I needed to find out what happened in my house and I knew I’d never get the story out of Jaden. I probably should’ve hammered that guy for more information but there was plenty of time for that later on if I couldn’t find anything pertinent. I mean, if this town was so infamous, most of the people living here had to know something about it. But why were they all silent about the details? Was it so horrid that they couldn’t repeat the tales or were they not allowed to? Were they all sworn to secrecy like some kind of twisted fraternity?
I pulled up in front of their house and saw that both Jaden’s and Ryan’s cars were parked in the driveway. Despite them both being home, I was glad that no one else was visiting. I wasn’t ready for all of that activity and I wanted to spend some alone time with him. It was hard to do when there were so many distractions around to bother him. I started walking up to the house, soaking in the sweet florals around me, when I heard a voice coming from the backyard. I headed that way and when I reached the back porch, I could see Ryan's blonde hair peaking over the porch swing. He was singing out loud, a Doors song, and hadn’t noticed me walking up. I stifled a laugh as he belted out some high notes, his voice cracking along the way.
I snuck up behind him, carefully placing my steps in preparation for a good scare. I got a few inches away and tapped him on the shoulder. His body jumped into the air while he screamed with a girlish twinge. He nearly knocked the swing over in the process, clutching his chest with his palm. I couldn't help but laugh with delight even though it was deviant to take pleasure in another's plight.
“What the hell is going on?” Jaden shouted crossly from inside. He appeared at the backdoor and looked out. I waved and tried to hide my laughter since he was so agitated.
“Damn,” Ryan said loudly as he recovered and I brought my attention back to him. “You got me good.” He ran toward me but I screamed and ran away from his grasp. He chased me across the yard until I blocked myself behind his old Toyota which was badly in need of a paint job. He became winded and gave up. I taunted him further with a smile.
“You’re just mean,” he joked. I laughed and I could tell he enjoyed the occasional joust between friends. We walked back to the porch and he sat down on the swing and lit a cigarette. I looked over at the screen door, eying it for any movements to see if Jaden was watching us, but couldn't see anything. I sat down next to Ryan and the swing moved underneath of me.
“All things aside, you can sing very well,” I commented as I regained my balance.
“Thanks.” He took a drink of his beer.
I looked behind me to see if the windows were closed and they were. I leaned over to Ryan and spoke quietly. “Is Jaden mad at me?”
“Didn’t mention anything about it to me,” he said with a loose smile.
“Huh.” Ryan continued to stare at me and I felt that it was a good opportunity to ask him about Jaden's past. “Um...did something terrible happen between Jaden and his dad?”
He didn’t answer and looked past me at the neighbors leaving their house, waving at them as they looked over.
“He doesn’t want me to tell you anything.” I took that as a “yes”. I pleaded with my eyes at him but it failed. “Sorry Mina. You’re gonna have to wait until he is ready to tell you himself.”
“But he told you what happened?” He shrugged his shoulders.
“Once, when we were younger but not everything.” He took a drink of his beer and a strange expression came across his face. “Wait, how do you know about his dad? Did he mention him to you?”
“No. Actually, somebody in town was talking to me about my house and mentioned that his father was a town legend.”
“Ah.” He raised his eyebrows. “People talk too much. I wouldn’t pay much attention to it.” I could see the sweat roll off his beer and it looked rather appetizing on a hot summer day.
“Can I get one of those?” I asked.
“Yeah. Go right ahead.”
“Thanks. I'll see ya.” I went inside and grabbed a beer from the fridge. It was ice cold and felt revitalizing after being in the heat. I couldn't find Jaden anywhere on the ground floor so I decided to go upstairs to check on him.
I hesitated and then knocked lightly three times. He didn’t respond with words but a few seconds later, he unlocked the door and let me in. He took my hand and led me inside. He closed the door and locked it behind him. I took a few steps forward and noticed a bunch of pictures laid out on his bed.
“What’s all this?” He sat down on the bed where they lay, staring up at the ceiling.
“Just some family pictures. Being at the house today made me think of them.” I neared myself closer and sat down on the opposite side of him. Was this a weird coincidence? Or did coincidences no longer exist here?
“Can I see?”
“Go ahead.” I pulled up a picture of him when he was little, probably around age five. I could easily tell that it was him. He was so adorable in his overalls. I flipped to a different picture of a young girl with long black hair. He said it was his sister Melinda, the one living in California. I knew there was some relation because she had the same bright blue eyes and dark hair. My eyes spotted a family portrait and from what I could tell from the picture, they appeared to be a happy family but I knew pictures could be deceiving. I looked at it more closely, paying particular attention to his rather handsome father. He looked very much like Jaden did at the present time. I looked back and forth from Jaden to the photo of his dad and except for a few minor details, they were almost identical.
“You look just like your dad,” I commented while picking up a few other shots.
“I know,” he said hastily. “Every time I look in the mirror, I see him.” He continued to stare up at the ceiling, focusing on the fan blades swirling overhead. I sat the pictures down and crawled across the bed to be near him.
“Do you and your dad get along?”
“Yes and no.” He swallowed hard and crossed his arms against his chest. “We had our moments, like any father and son.” His eyes wandered to mine and I saw they were fighting off a strong thrust of emotions. “What did you do to Ryan outside?” I assumed he was attempting to change the subject, anything to block that flood of feeling rising up his body.
“Nothing. I just snuck up behind him and I guess it caught him by surprise.” He chuckled and his mood seemed to elevate at the blink of an eye.
“I’m sorry I ruined your afternoon.” He touched the side of my face and tugged at the ends of my hair.
“You didn’t. Jaden—” He stopped me with his lips and I surrendered to his persuasion. Who was I to deny him when I wanted it just as badly?
It was his usual kiss. His strong lips, the force of his mouth against mine, his soft yet probing tongue. I loved it all. I moved my hand under his shirt and grazed my nails across his lean back while he moved his tongue around in my mouth in ways I never felt before and I failed to match him.
His long hair was completely messed up by the time our kiss had ended but yet he was still irresistible. He raised his hand above his face to move the hair from his eyes while I ran my fingers down his neck. He leaned into me with his mouth ready to attack when there was a knock at the door. He stopped an inch short of my flesh and growled sharply.
“What?” he asked angrily near my face which caused me to jump.
“Let’s smoke some,” Ryan yelled from the other side of the door. He snarled while pressing his lips into my neck.
“All right,” he huffed. I kissed him with speed as he tried to leave the bed. “Give me a second,” he yelled back to Ryan. He pulled at my collar, exposing my chest, and inhaled the scent radiating from my skin. “Mina,” he said, sliding his nose across my chest, his lips grazing me with a slight electric charge.
He stood up and head banged a few times until his hair fell perfectly in place. I sat up, fixed myself and sat on the side of the bed while he went to unlock the door. Ryan soon entered with a joint in his mouth. He closed the door and lit the en
d on fire, finding a comfy spot on the edge of the bed. Halfway through the joint, Ryan finally spoke.
“You look a little roughed up man.” I smiled shyly. Ryan saw my reaction, made the connection, and turned back to Jaden. “Oh shit. Did I interrupt something? I can leave.” Jaden lifted his hand and moved it quickly through the air, a gesture Ryan recognized as “quit speaking”. It seemed they had an entire system of communication that only they understood.
“What are your plans tonight?” I asked Ryan in an effort to keep the mood cheery. He hit the joint and passed it over.
“I’m going on a date.”
“Is it a first date?” I asked.
“Yeah it is actually,” he replied while exhaling a cloud of smoke. “I ran into her at a bar last week and asked her out.”
“Well, I hope you have a good time.”
“Thanks.” He took the joint from Jaden’s hand.
“Who is she again?” Jaden asked.
“Amanda Butler. You remember, from high school.” He searched his mind and nodded.
“She was such a bitch dude,” Jaden replied.
“I know. That’s why I always wanted her.” Jaden rolled his eyes and laughed.
“Well, just remember you get what you pay for.” Ryan snubbed out the joint since it was too small to hold any longer.
“I’ll see you guys later. I’m gonna go kill me some Nazis. Feel free to join me.”
“Don’t bother us for a while,” Jaden said while walking to the door to unlock it. He joined Ryan in the hall, leaving the door ajar behind him. I sorted through his pictures and put them into a neat pile on his dresser so they didn’t get damaged.
My cell phone started vibrating inside my purse and I hurried to find it. I pulled it out and saw GREG on the plasma screen. Jaden was still talking with Ryan in the hallway so I decided to answer and get it over with quickly.
“Hi,” I answered quietly.
“Mina,” his greeting was cheerful. “What are you doing tonight?”
“I don’t know. My parents are out for the night and I don’t have any plans as of yet.”
“What would you say to me coming up?”
“Okay. That could be fun.”
“Well, I’m gonna leave soon so I’ll see you in a couple hours.”
“You’re really coming up?”
“Yeah. It’s perfect timing because you’re starting school in a couple days and we’re both gonna be busy after that.” I nodded to myself in agreement.
“Okay. Well, I’ll meet you at my house.”
“Sounds good. See ya.” I ended the call and saw Jaden staring at me from the doorway with questionable discernment. I put my phone in my purse as he walked back into his room, shutting the door behind him.
“Who are you meeting?”
“Uh,” I cleared my throat, “a friend.” Good going Mina. Like that doesn’t sound suspicious. Why am I even acting like this—it’s not like I have something to hide.
“Is it the guy I saw you with before?” His eyes were threatening. Maybe he had been listening to my conversation.
“Yes, it is actually.” I looked down at his blanket like a coward, afraid to look him in the eye with the truth. “His name is Greg and he's a friend I've had for the longest time.”
“Are you sure there’s nothing going on between the two of you?” He crossed his arms at his chest and I finally looked up after his distrust changed the stakes.
“Yes, I’m sure. You have no reason to feel threatened.”
“I'm not threatened,” he insisted while pulling the hair from his face. “You’re just not very reassuring. I think I want to meet this guy and see for myself.”
“There’s no reason for you to meet him yet. It’s too early for me to be introducing you to everyone I know. He just wants to hang out one more time before I start school.”
He walked over to his dresser and rested his hands on its frame. He stared into the mirror for a long moment without uttering a word. I didn't know what to do so I just stayed quiet, staring at his celestial reflection. “I can’t help but be territorial with you. You have a hold over me that no one ever has. I can't just sit idle while you're spending time with another guy.” His jaw tightened and he spun himself around to face me. “How do I know I can trust you?”
He grabbed my back with a strong hand and shoved me to him while I struggled for breath. His body heat warmed my entire front side and I began to tremble. He searched my eyes skeptically for answers and I was slightly afraid as his strength overpowered me.
“You can't. You just have to believe me.”
“I hope you never lie to me.”
“I won’t.” He relaxed his grasp, which eased my anxiety.
“I’m sorry,” he whispered after calming down. “I don't know why I'm acting this way. I've never behaved like a jealous ass. A fucking juvenile.” Before I could stop him, he scooped my legs up from off the floor. I screamed quietly at this unexpected move. He held me in his arms and I wrapped my hands securely behind his neck, afraid that at any moment he would let go just to scare me. “I’m so sorry Mina.” He leaned his face toward me, laying his lips on mine.
As good as his kisses always felt, this one didn’t feel fitting and I withdrew. He just blew up at me and I didn’t feel he deserved my affections. I cupped his face with my hand as he gazed into my eyes, yearning for my affection which I was unwilling to give. After a quiet pause, he surrendered his advances and set me on my feet.
We went downstairs and watched Ryan play a military shooting game to pass the time. I sat next to Jaden, two cushions apart, and finished the rest of my beer. After his explosion, we distanced ourselves from one another for the rest of the afternoon. His frustration was probably from me denying him but I was upset for other reasons. He looked over at me occasionally to make sure I was still there and that I was all right. I could tell he felt guilty about the way he acted but I wasn't ready to forgive him so quickly. There was nothing I could do; I had already explained the situation. He’d have to deal with his own thoughts, whatever they were.
I left a short time later but not without difficulty. Jaden protested my leaving but he said he trusted me on my word, but...I didn’t really believe him. There was something in the way of his behavior that told me this wasn't the end of it.
Chapter Fourteen
After arriving home and realizing how hungry I was, I decided to make dinner for us. I knew Greg liked my vegetarian lasagna and I had all of the ingredients to make it so I started cooking. He once tried the vegetarian lifestyle after much persistence from me, but he couldn’t do it. “I’m a man,” he defended classically. “I like my meat.” I praised him for at least trying. I didn’t care if people were that way; I just chose not to be.
While the pasta boiled, I cut up some onion, fresh garlic, bell pepper, and zucchini. I sautéed them in olive oil and added them to my tomato sauce. I went into the living room and turned on the TV while it simmered on the stove. I watched the local news and it was pretty uninteresting but I liked to be informed about things around me.
As I spaced out from the annoyingly chipper reporter, I thought of the man I saw in the bathroom. Why did he finally choose to appear to me at that moment? There had to be a significance. He had to be the one making all that noise in the attic. Why was he targeting me? Why not Caylie or Dad? I got a chill and felt troubled being alone in a house that frightened me. I was hoping Greg would get here sooner than expected for a little added protection.
I went back into the kitchen to finish preparing dinner, layering the lasagna with its various ingredients. I put two handfuls of shredded mozzarella on top and slid it in the oven, setting the timer for 45 minutes. I looked at the clock on the wall and it was about time for him to be here. I anxiously looked out the window hoping to see his car fly up but after about five minutes, I grew bored and went outside to replenish my nicotine levels.
It was still hot as a volcano outside but the roof above me now cloaked m
e in its shade, blocking out the sun’s harsh rays. I looked around the grounds at the neatly trimmed grass and bushes. My dad did a pretty good job. The flowers my mom planted a week before were starting to bloom and the colors set my eyes into a daydream.
I was sitting underneath a wooden lattice porch, looking at bugs with a magnifying glass. A flower bed was next to me, colorful petals were strewn about on the ground below as if a strong wind had blown them off their stems. I stared at my hands, which were not my own but a child’s. They were small in size and lacked the aging of my own. There was a layer of dirt under my nails and my knuckles were badly scraped and bruised.
I crawled out from underneath the porch and sat in the dirt. I looked behind me and saw my own house but it was slightly different from the home I remembered. It was a lighter shade of gray. Perhaps the sun had made it fade.
I stood up and found myself peering out from a level of four feet high. It made me feel unbalanced, unnatural to be so low to the ground. This feeling of unstableness made me realize I was not inside my own body but someone else entirely. Disturbed by this recollection, I looked down at myself to see how this was possible. I was wearing boys clothing and shoes that were covered in a thick layer of dirt. I touched my hair and it felt short and greasy between my fingers. Who knew how long it had been since it was washed? What is happening? I can still hear my own voice in my head, it was my voice. I looked around searching for an answer.
I searched the yard and saw two young girls digging in a garden. Their clothes were tattered and covered in filth like mine. They both had their hair up in a tight bun. Their faces were reddened from the sun, almost blistered.
I heard commotion coming from the house and footsteps clambered above me on the stairs. I looked up and saw a man and woman, middle-aged, running down the steps.
The woman walked over to the girls who were busy digging in the garden, pulling out weeds. The well-dressed man peered around the yard with his hand blocking out the sun and stopped when he spotted me. I felt the urge to flee as he stomped over to me at a quickened pace but why was I reacting this way? I didn't even know him.
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