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Oh, I suck. I really suck. I took forever and this is crap. I'm sorry.
Chapter Eighteen
Damn it. I wanted to sleep, not stand around in some bookstore wondering where the heck the books I was looking for were. Of course, I can’t find a stupid clerk at all to help me out. They’re hiding from me goddamn it. I tried looking on my own but I can’t figure out the order of these freaking books. Why the heck did I put off buying Aza’s present till now? I probably wouldn’t have even remembered if not for my mom, who was in some shop across the street.
I peered down another aisle and saw someone shelving books. I practically ran to her. Damn, I think I’m getting scared of being in a bookstore. They’re unfamiliar territory. I think the last time I was in one was the middle of last school year to get some book for English class that I didn’t even read. It’s not that I don’t like books, I just don’t like buying them since I don’t exactly have tons of money to spend.
The girl in the aisle actually didn’t seem to be shelving the books, more like reading the backs of them and then putting them on the shelf somewhat randomly. She was wearing what I had noticed were the bookstore’s colors though so that was good enough for me. I hesitated by her and waited to see if she would notice me. She didn’t.
“Um…Excuse me?”
Whoa, dirty look. The girl looked ready to bite me. Come on man I was actually being polite. “What?”
“Uh, could you tell me where to find these books?” I held the list out to her but she didn’t bother to look.
“No, ask someone else.”
“But…”
“Ask someone else.”
Well that went well. I stared at her for a minute in surprise before backing out of the aisle. I should have made Amy write down what the books were about too. Titles weren’t all that helpful sometimes.
Time to go in search of bookstore people again. The next clerkish person I find, I’m clinging to till they find me my damn books and if they try to bite me, I’m biting back.
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I am a useless book buyer. That however is what a lot of moms are good at. I didn’t get my books till she came in to see what was taking me so long. Then however it was a piece of cake. She got the vicious shelving girl to find the books, actually had her hurrying to do it.
Sometimes you think your parents are weird, mean, insane creatures and sometimes they scare clerks. Yes, I was embarrassed (little baby ran to his mommy to buy his friend’s birthday present and blahdy blah blah. God I hate my mind sometimes, always fucking with me.) but I got my books. Which also meant I got to go home, pig out on the takeout that was dinner, and fall asleep.
I was working on the pigging out part at the moment, I’d already shoveled half a large pizza my mom got me down my throat, sans the onions and peppers that were on the pizza my mom, dad, and even sister were eating. I’m an aberration; I will not allow such disgusting things near my perfect pepperoni pizzas.
This peaceful little time was of course right when someone felt like interrupting. It’s not as pleasant to shove a piece of pizza down your throat while someone rings the stupid doorbell three times in a row. I knew who it was though, Raquel. It was a weird OCD habit of hers; she always rings doorbells three times. I had gotten used to it, so had my family. They only looked up from their food when it first started but as soon as they heard the triple ring starting they went back to the pizza and TV.
I opened the door with my mouth full, chewing while Raquel looked at me waiting for a greeting. “Chico, eso es justo bruto. ¿no podría haber tragado tú antes tú abrió la puerta?”
I swallowed. “What?”
She shook her head at me. “Nada, chico,” she eyed me. “You have more bruises. Salem still?”
“Actually no, not this round. Do you remember that idiot Will?”
“That moron?”
“Yeah, he got a hold of me at lunch the other day.”
“Then maybe they’re as bad as they’ll get, Chico.”
“Thanks,” she smiled and went to sit on my steps. “So, what’s up?”
“Lynn told me you had come by and it’s been a while since I’ve come to see you. So,” she shrugged. “I thought I’d come see what was up.”
I thought about it. “…I’m going to Salem’s house for a dinner thing,” her eyebrows shot up. “For Aza’s birthday,” I added quickly.
“Oh, sí, I remembered it was around now.”
“I never asked, how do you even know them?” I hadn’t really thought over it much. Might be an interesting story.
“You remember my father used to work out of town, sí? His padre was a friend of my padre, they used to work together. My padre took us over there a few times; it was around when all the bad happened.”
“Oh,” not so interesting I guess.
“Is that all you came by for earlier?”
I shrugged. “I was sort of escaping Danny. He’s weird. Bugged out over a girl and now he’s bugging out over the fact that Salem is going out of his way to bruise me up lately.”
“Our Danny is an odd one. Everything just keeps throwing him off.”
I wasn’t sure what she meant so I shrugged again. “Okay.”
“Well, then I think I’ll head home, I have a report I need to finish for my statistics class.”
I started to lock the door behind her only to have her ring he bell again three times when I was a few steps away.
She tossed a gift bag in at me when I opened it. “I forgot I got that for you. Don’t worry, I didn’t get it when I was with anyone.”
I frowned at her and tried to get a question out but she was already halfway to the sidewalk and her car. I turned my frown on the bag.
“Mom, I’m going to head upstairs. Put my pizza away for me? Please?”
“You could do it yourself.” We were silent for a beat. “Fine.”
“Thanks!”
I waited till I was upstairs and had shut the door to pull the gift out of the bag. I sighed at it when I pulled it out. It was a bright pink shirt with a rainbow arrow point up towards the neck hole, beneath that it said “I think he’s gay”.
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I hid the shirt in the scariest place in my room before I left for school, under my bed. It was unlikely anyone would go in there anyway but if they did they wouldn’t dare go near my bed and what was beneath it. Anyone who had not built up my immunity to the biohazard that it was would probably die within two feet of it. I wasn’t worried, and I had decided it would be a good place to hide other presents she would give me, and she would give me more.
It was lunch time now, and once again I was suffering through my boredom. Danny seemed to have decided he had paid his dues and was forgiven because he had to do his usual lunch thing and Marie had been called to an “emergency” meeting of the science club. Geek. What could be so important? Did they run out of things to dissect?
I was enjoying my boredom today. Instead of wondering around like I was lost I had settled by the shed we had sat by yesterday and was enjoying the sun. It wouldn’t be long before it was turning cold out and I wanted to enjoy the last bit of warmth before it was gone. Plus it was easy to let my mind drift and not worry in the sun. No worrying that the dinner party would turn into a disaster, no worrying at all…yeah right. I lied. I’m buzzing with nerves and worry.
“Well, if it isn’t Mr. Purple,” a dry voice interrupted and I looked around to find a smiling Delia nearby. “So what happened after that guy pulled you into the room the other day? I would have stayed but I had to catch my ride and she didn’t have time to wait, had to go to work after she got me. You looked fine yesterday, even if he was manhandling you a bit.”
“Yeah, I’m good. No more bruises were added because of him,” I smiled back at her, ignoring the twinge of my bruise.
“Alright, good,” it looked like that was all she wanted to say and was ready to walk away when I thought of something.
A plan to get Danny back, sort of. If it went how I hoped it wouldn’t be revenge at all. I was going to set him up on a blind date. With Delia, that is if she’d agree.
“Wait, Delia, do you know Danny? Super tall, red headed guy?” she shook her head at me. “Well, would you like to go on a blind date with someone like that?”
She shook her head again, an odd smile on her face. “Not my type.”
“Why not?” the look she gave me was half exasperated, half annoyed.
“ ‘Cause he’s a guy.” She said blandly.
I just blinked at her, confused for a moment before my brain went “Oh!”. She was a lesbian. Heh, hadn’t expected that. I think I’m missing the all important gaydar I’ve heard so much about.
“Oh, sorry then,” I shrugged and smiled at her. I’d have to find someone else for Danny. That sucks, she would have been good for him.
She looked surprised by my reaction. “Sorry?”
“For bugging you about it.”
“Oh, no problem…Look, I have to go…”
“Bye!” I waved at her back.
I really hadn’t guessed she was a lesbian. I wonder if that had anything to do with why she beat Lane’s ass? Might be interesting to find out. Maybe Lane was a closet case and…No, sort of cliché. Whatever. Not my business really. I should be trying to think of who to set Danny up with instead. Maybe that brainy sophomore in my math class…No, she wouldn’t work she was pretty but Danny would still say no. Hmm…
“So the little fairy is all on his own,” Will’s voice interrupted my thoughts.
He stood smiling nastily at me with Salem frowning at the back of his head. Why is he always with Will now? Damn it, Will better not be a bad influence on him and make him go back to his old ways! Maybe he would find a way to help me out and not let Will lead today. It wouldn’t be nice to help beat me up the day I’m supposed to come to his house for dinner. I was already going to make a rather bad impression on his parents with my colorful face. Not that it really mattered what kind of impression I left them with.
“Where’s you boyfriend?” Will sneered.
I felt like messing with him and saying “Well right here sweetie” or something like it but then I might as well insult myself. No way was I going to even joke about dating him, I’d rather kiss the shower floor in the locker room. Really, and that floor is nasty. Worse than mine.
“Will, “Salem interrupted. “Why don’t you give me a chance at some fun? Besides, isn’t Lane waiting for you?”
Will went bright eyed and let out a chuckle that made me shudder in disgust. Ew, bet I know what they plan to do. “Oh, yeah.” He frowned at me and then shrugged. “Leave some for me later.”
“Of course,” Salem nodded agreement.
Will walked off and I waited till he was out of sight to look up at Salem from where I still sat. “He’s really stupid.”
Salem let out a sigh and leaned against the shed, looking down at me. “I know, but being friends with the football team’s meat heads does have its benefits,” he smirked slightly as though laughing at some joke.
“I’m sure,” I watched him for a minute. “You’re not planning to actually add any more bruises are you?”
He glared at me. “No.”
“Good.”
We both let silence reign for a moment, me still watching him for any sudden moves or signs that he was changing his mind, him watching for the sudden appearance of anyone he knew. He shifted on his feet, curving one leg over the other, kicking me lightly on the arm. He looked at me and muttered a slightly distracted apology. “So, do you just want to come home with me today?”
I blinked in surprise. Huh? Home with…? Oh. “No, why…I mean I’d be like three hours early.”
He shrugged. “No one would mind.”
I thought about it before I shook my head no. “I need to stop home and get his present and all that. Oh, this isn’t like a fancy dinner is it? Do I need to dress up?”
“What? No, just wear what you have on now. I’m not changing,” he rolled his shoulders back. “So, you’re come over on your own then?”
“Yeah…”
“When?”
“About five, that’s when…I was told to,” I had to remind myself not to mention Amy.
“Dinner starts at five-thirty,” he told me. “Or at least it’s supposed to. Mom wants it early so Aza has time to hang out with his friends,” he snorted. “More like get ignored by Amy’s friends. Come around four-thirty.”
“Okay. Uh, see you then?” I asked awkwardly.
He nodded down at me. “Sure. I better go before someone misses me.” He meant before someone saw him with me.
I nodded back. It took me a minute to realize what I was doing then. I was watching him walk away. Not him exactly, his well…his ass. Shit, I’m stupid. I need to be hit over the head with a baseball bat or something. Or I just really need a boyfriend.
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“So, are we going to do anything tonight? Try and catch Raquel again?” Danny asked as he tried to find the neck hole to his shirt. We had finished with gym and were getting dressed for our next classes. Thankfully he had his pants on so I could look at him without really any problem.
“Hmm? Oh, no, Raquel dropped by on me last night.”
“Oh, what’d she want?” his head popped out of the neck hole.
“To see what I wanted.” I tied my shoe. “Which was,” I started before he could ask. “To find out how she knew Salem, apparently their fathers worked together.” That should be a bit of a distraction from making plans. Let it drop there, let it drop there…
“Oh,” he searched around for shoes. “So, wait, are we doing anything?”
Damn it.
“I can’t, I sort of have something to do,” I said a little lamely. I was half hoping he wouldn’t ask why. Like that would work.
“Like what?”
“A dinner thing,” I shrugged. “Not a big deal really. I just sort of have to go. We can do something tomorrow,” I offered.
He nodded, seeming to accept it all. “Alright, I call you tomorrow with ideas.”
“Sure.”
He was finally fully dressed. I however had realized I put my shoes on before my socks. Actually where…Oh, I found them.
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I shifted back and forth on my feet as I knocked on the door to Salem’s house. I was earlier than he had said but only by a few minutes. The small gift bag with Aza’s present hung from my other hand and I glared at it. I didn’t want to give it to him. I hate giving anyone a present. It’s always embarrassing for me, I always worry that people won’t like the present.
The door opened just as I was thinking of knocking again. The woman who answered had to be Aza’s mom. She had the same black hair as all of her kids and the same pale complexion as him, even the same blue eyes as Aza. She smiled brightly at me.
“Hello, you must be Salem and Aza’s friend. Jeremy, right?”
“Yes, ma’am,” I answered as politely as I could. I think my mom just had a heart attack somewhere.
“Salem told me you would be here around now. Come on in,” she moved back already starting to turn away. “Shut the door behind you and follow me. The boys are in the living room.” The inside of their house was much the same as mine. Just, sort of reversed I guess. The stairs were on the wrong side and it just made it seem odd. The woman pointed me towards one of the rooms but stopped me before walking into it. “If you don’t mind Jeremy, how did you get all those bruises?”
Shit. “Oh, just a problem with another boy at school. It wasn’t my fault,” I added hastily but I doubted she believed me.
She just nodded, eyed my face and walked off into what I assumed was the kitchen. In the living room Salem and Aza were just staring blankly at a TV show. Neither noticed me when I walked in and I watched them uneasily. Aza was laying sideways in a chair, while Salem was spread out on the blue couch. He was waving bony bare feet in the air and I suppressed the urge to see if he was ticklish.
I cleared my throat and watched as the two jumped and turned to look at me. Salem was the first to relax. “We didn’t hear the doorbell.” There was a doorbell there?
“I knocked. Sorry?” I came around the side of the couch.
He waved a hand at me, “Don’t worry about it. Sit,” he added when I stayed standing beside him. He saw the bag on swinging from my hand then. “And give that to Aza.”
I obeyed, handing the bag to Aza before perching nervously on the seat beside Salem. He was for some reason, sitting on the middle cushion and that caused us to sit a little closer than was comfortable.
“You didn’t have to get me a present,” Aza protested after a moment. He seemed to have just recovered from the surprise of having me wander in. Guess he’s a little slower than I thought.
“I wanted to,” I muttered. I hadn’t but it had seemed necessary. I doubted Amy’s friends would bring him one and what fun is it to only get presents from just your mom and dad? Well, Salem and Amy probably got him something too. That wasn’t really the point.
He pulled the book I had got him out and I watched the look of surprise play across his features, his blue eyes going wide. He turned after a moment to glare at Salem. “You told him what to get me,” he accused.
“No, I didn’t!”
Shit, I hadn’t really thought he would realize that. I couldn’t tell them Amy told me. “He didn’t, I’m just really good at knowing what people want.” Even I wanted to make a sarcastic reply to myself.
They were polite. They completely ignored hat I said. “If you didn’t then Amy did.”
I said nothing. I wasn’t going to lie to the boy. Not on his birthday…er, not I mean not on the day of his birthday dinner. If I remember right yesterday had been his birthday. Oh, “Happy Birthday,” I told him. It was delayed but at least I remembered, and maybe it would make them forget Amy told me the present to get.
He gave me an odd look. “Thanks Shorty.”
I glared. “No problem, Kid.”
We were so not starting this now. “So Shorty,” fuck. We were. “How’s the week been? Worn anymore dresses?”
Dumb ass little boy. “Kid…Shut up,” I had no other come back. I didn’t know anything embarrassing about him.
He laughed at me. “Wow, you’re good. I’ve never been so insulted in my life.”
I did the only thing I could think of. I stuck my tongue out at him. Childish, I know and stupid. All it did was send him and Salem into a fit of laughter. I pulled my tongue back into my mouth and glared. Assholes.
Salem’s laughter slowed and he grinned at me. I glared and turned to watch their TV. I wasn’t talking to them anymore, until we talked about something where I wasn’t going to be made the fool. Aza was still snorting to himself over in the chair. Could a new dummy please arrive? Like, now?
“Shorty, don’t go all grumpy on us,” Aza came over to sit on the arm of the couch after only two minutes of ignoring him. Glad to see it had an effect on someone. He poked me. “Come on. Wanna play a game?” he crooned, poking me again.
I was tempted to shove him off the arm but let out a sigh of defeat instead. “What game?”
He grinned and I had the feeling Salem was doing the same behind me. Why do I feel like I just stepped into a trap? I think I’m beginning to learn that the Nighte brothers together are worse than just one. What the hell am I going to do around a whole family of them?
“How about Catch the…” Salem started.
“Shorty,” Aza finished the sentence.
Oh, fucking shit. The doorbell stopped them before they could start chasing me. If that was what they were planning. We looked over our shoulders and saw Mrs. Nighte walking past the doorway. She walked back by and dropped a boy off in the living room a moment later. One of those Amy had invited probably. They had said she was inviting a friend and a guy.
He looked around at us nervously. “Hi, I’m Laurence,” he waved from his place at the door. “Uh, I’m a…friend of Amy’s.”
I was right, but by friend did he perhaps mean boyfriend? As in the one who was hopefully filling the space Danny had tried to put me in. It seemed likely with the way Aza and Salem were glaring at him. Should I glare to? I didn’t feel angry towards this boy, sort of pitying because I think he had actually taking all of the attention of the brothers from me. They might kill the poor boy.
“Is she…here?” he asked plaintively. He buried a hand in his own blonde hair, staring at his feet.
I watched Aza and Salem exchange a look before Aza nodded and got up. I’m assuming to go get her. The boy followed him with his eyes before moving to go sit in the chair opposite Aza’s. Salem stayed silent and continued to glare at the boy, watching him and I shrugged to myself. I started to watch the TV. A soap opera show was on. I hate those but…it was oddly hypnotizing.
I was paying so much attention to it I nearly let out a shriek when Salem set his feet in my lap. He had lain down, head on the arm of the couch facing away from Laurence to stare at me. He wiggled his toes at me and grinned. I guess glaring at Laurence had got boring for him. Damn, I had hoped it would entertain him for the rest of the night. He seemed to like playing the protective older brother.
“Can you get your nasty feet off my lap?” I prodded at them. He only wiggled them again.
“Make me.” He challenged.
I frowned at him but decided to just ignore him. After I said one last thing… “Your feet stink.”
“Do not!” he glared at me now before grinning. “Smell them again,” he lifted them closer to my face.
“Gross!” he laughed at me while I tried to shove his feet back down. “Stop! They don’t stink; now get them out of my freaking face!”
He kept laughing until Aza walked by and hit him on the head. “Hey!”
“Leave Shorty alone,” Aza flopped into his seat as a smiling and perky Amy walked in.
Salem twisted his head to watch as she walked in, ignoring everyone else to go over and hug the boy. I could practically hear Salem’s growl. She didn’t seem to notice anything wrong.
“Laurie,” she squealed happily before letting him go to sit in his lap.
“Amy,” Salem snarled her name. He had sat up again, pulling his feet from my lap. Good, I don’t like having his feet in a sensitive place like that. What if he got mad? “Do you mind?”
She gave him an innocent look. “Mind what?”
He was opening his mouth to go on when another person walked in. They stared at him in something like surprise and Amy slowly slid away from Laurence until she was standing beside him instead of sitting in his lap. I guessed from that the older man was their dad. He didn’t really look like any of them. What ever color his hair might have been it had turned a pale gray now and his eyes were a light brown. Despite the gray hair he looked young for a dad. I wonder if Salem’s hair would turn gray like his. It was sort of hot…Shit, did I just think that? God, I really need a boyfriend.
“Hello,” he said slowly, glancing around at us all. I met his eyes for only a moment before turning away. “Is anyone going to tell me who our guests are?”
“Dad,” Amy fluttered her hands slightly. “This is Laurence, a friend of mine,” she smiled at her dad. Laurence squirmed in his chair when the man’s eyes focused on him. “And the boy over there is Jeremy, Salem and Aza’s friend.” At least she didn’t elaborate by saying the guy she went on a date with. Though I do object to be called ‘Salem’s friend’.
He nodded and looked around at us again before walking back out. I wonder if he only came in to check on us. If we were at my house my mom would have done that five minutes ago, then again five minutes after that. She apparently doesn’t trust me and my friends alone; which is why even Danny comes over rarely.
Amy let out a sigh that I could hear where I sat and settled onto a seat on the floor. “We have almost an hour till dinner don’t we?”
“Less,” their mom had appeared in the doorway now. “Twenty to thirty minutes maybe. Where’s Jessica? You said you invited her?”
“She should be here in like, fifteen minutes,” Amy nodded along to her own words. “Should I call her and make sure?” Mrs. Nighte shook her head before disappearing from the door. “Well…Okay, twenty minutes till dinner. What should we do?”
“Watch TV?” Aza suggested. He was already back to doing just that. Why the hell were we watching another soap opera? Wait, was it a different one?
“That’s boring!” Amy pouted at us.
“I think it’s a great idea,” Salem announced. He was still eyeing her boyfriend like he might attack.
“Then you three can do that, Laurie and I will…”
“Not move one goddamn inch from where you are and watch TV with us,” Salem interrupted.
“You have no right to…”
“Tell mom what your doing.” Aza finished. Vicious brothers. Glad I don’t have any…Oh, wait, I have Sarah. She’s probably just as bad, or will be when she gets older.
Amy hummed angrily at them and folded her arms over her chest. I guess she gave up. She was still angry when another person was let in. Her friend Jessica. I think that’s what Mrs. Nighte said her name was.
“What’s up all?” the girl sang as she plopped onto the floor beside Amy.
“My brother’s are being evil,” Amy snapped, glaring at them.
“Oh?” the blonde tilted her head. “What’d they do now?”
“They wouldn’t let me or Laurie leave the room,” she pouted and looked to her friend, obviously expecting pity. Laurie…Laurence just looked scared.
The Jessica girl shrugged. “My brother doesn’t let me go anywhere with my boyfriends when I bring them over either.”
Amy let out a hissing sigh. Poor girl, not a single understanding person in the room. I know the feeling.
“Smart boys,” Aza muttered from his chair. Both girls were glaring at him now. He looked away from the TV show and flinched slightly. I agree. Girls are scary. Immensely scary.
“Everyone here?” their dad had wandered back into the room. He waited for a nod before going on. “Good, dinner is ready.”
We were ushered to a table set up in the kitchen. I stood back, uncertain were I was supposed to sit. Aza noticed me and pointed to a seat between him and Salem. Amy and her friends sat opposite us with her parents at the ends.
No one spoke much as food was passed around. No one even offered a happy birthday to Aza. How was this a special dinner for him? It seemed more like a normal kind of dinner with a few extra people thrown in. This was bull, and like I had thought earlier not a single one of Amy’s friends had brought a present for him.
People did start talking after everyone had their plates full. Mostly I was silent listening to them. Aza and Salem talked to each other around me while Amy and her friends talked on the other side. The parents were silent until a break in both of the other conversations fell at once.
“So,” Mr. Nighte’s eyes roamed the table till they fell on me. “Jeremy, correct?” I nodded, confused. Why did he have to choose to pick on me? “I’m sorry, I’m a bit confused. Which of my sons is it that you’re dating?”
I choked on the chicken I had just taken a bite of. I wasn’t the only one who sounded like he was dying. Aza was spluttering on one side of me and Salem echoed my own choking noises on the other. Dear freaking god! Which of his sons was I dating?
“Neither!” it was practically a yell that slipped out of my mouth when I finally got the chicken down.
He lowered his eyebrows and frowned at me. “Neither?”
Aza had gone from spluttering to laughing. This was not at all funny. I glanced over to Salem. He was blushing. Jeez, what other embarrassing things were going to be asked? Shouldn’t we be embarrassing Aza? Have his parents tell silly and cute stories about how when he was a baby he did this and that? I had come expecting that. Not to have their dad ask which fucking son I was dating! What had these two been saying to make anyone have the impression I was dating either? Their dad can’t have pulled that out of his ass.
I took another bite of chicken and glared at Aza and Salem alternately. I blame them.
“You really don’t have to be embarrassed if you are,” Mrs. Nighte smiled at me. “Really you don’t.”
“Mom…” Salem groaned. “I’m not dating him and neither is Aza!”
She frowned at him. “Really, I thought for sure…”
“No, mom. Really, just no,” he looked ready to stab the fork he was holding into his eye. I guess this was probably just as embarrassing and traumatizing for him as it was for me…But why the fuck was Aza still laughing his ass off? Shouldn’t he be embarrassed too?
I watched as the parents shared a look across the table before looking at me and then at Salem.
“Well if you say so darling,” his mother continued to smile.
No one talked for a few minutes after that conversation stopped until Amy finally broke the silence with a joke to her friends. Please let us go on with the night and forget this conversation ever happened.
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After dinner we had all been pushed back into the living room while Aza’s parents cleaned up. I was thinking maybe it was time to go when the blonde girl (what was her name again?) decided to talk to me.
“You went on a date with Amy didn’t you?” she peered up from where she sat on the floor with Amy. Somehow we all had chose the same seats as before dinner. Salem had, thankfully, chosen to sit further down the couch from me this time.
“Yeah,” why did she have to bring that up?
“Well, why did you? I mean since you’re gay and all.”
I tried to talk and only managed a squawk. What the fuck? Was this mess with Jeremy night? I could feel my face turning red. Christ, why were people asking me crap like this?
“Can everyone just leave him alone?” Aza saved me.
“That’s not your business Jessica.”
I hate Salem’s house. People get too curious about me here. “I think I should head home…”
“No!” I blinked at Salem.
“Why not?”
“Let’s just go upstairs,” he suggested, standing.
“But,” Amy started to protest. “You didn’t let me and my boyfriend go…”
“Salem is not my boyfriend!” I shouted.
“I am not dating Jeremy!” Salem yelled at the same time.
Aza was, of course, giggling in his chair. “Oh my god,” he gasped. “I love today!” he snorted in the midst of laughing but that didn’t stop him any.
“Shut up,” Salem snapped. “And move your ass. You’re coming upstairs with us.”
I spared a glare for the last three in the room before following Salem and the still laughing Aza out of the room. I hate the Nighte house. It is cursed with a destroy Jeremy With Embarrassment Spell. I know it is.
We ended up in what Salem claimed was his room. It was too freaking clean to be the room of a teenage boy. You could even see the soft dark blue carpet beneath your feet. I had tried tidying up in my room but that feat was still impossible. It’s unnatural for his room to be like this. It has to be, my dirty ass room is not the anomaly.
I did notice things other than his carpet. Like the band posters stuck on the white walls, the TV set sitting on a table across from his bed and, well, the bed. A big wooden sleigh bed.
I think I love his bed.
I didn’t just think that…I guess I did. I meant it. It’s a nice bed; I only have my own little one and I’ve had it for years. I’m allowed to like it, in a “maybe I want one like it” sort of way.
Aza sat on a rolling chair from Salem’s empty desk and Salem on the bed. I was going to sit on the floor until Salem did the same as he had during detention yesterday. He used my wrist to pull me onto the bed beside him. This was awkward…
“Does anyone want to play a video game?” he asked leaning against the footboard.
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I dropped the toy guitar as I lost yet another game of Guitar Hero to Aza. He was amazing at the game. This was the first time I had ever played it. I didn’t fell bad about losing, Salem wasn’t doing much better. He had lost the games he played too.
I sat down on the bed and ignored Salem sitting in the middle of it. I glanced towards the grinning Aza. “I hate you.”
He snorted and shrugged at me. “Oh well,” he set his guitar down. “I’ll be back in a minute.”
I laid my head against the footboard and eyed the paused game. I continued to ignore Salem despite his hand tapping at my ankle. Then he made it impossible to ignore grabbed my shoulder to turn me to face him. He was half crawling over me his hands now both on my shoulder, pinning me against the bed.
“Wha…”
He kissed me, his mouth covering mine completely before he shifts and focuses on my bottom lip, nibbling on it slightly and darting his tongue out to brush over it.I started to pull away only to have his mouth follow. I gave in and kissed him back. Nipping a his own lips in return for what he was doing to mine. Shit, I made him promise he wouldn’t kiss me…
The creak of the door sent us shooting apart. Aza looked oblivious to anything that had been happening before he returned. “Hey, mom wanted me to ask you if you wanted to stay the night,” uh… “Apparently Jessica is staying and she thought that to be fair since it’s my birthday dinner I should get to have someone stay and there is no way I’m having that Laurie freak stay.”
Cue nervous laugh. “Oh, ah,” I looked at Salem but he was staring at his blanket like it was the most interesting thing in the world. “Where…”
“Mom said that we can set up a cot thing we have in my room for you,” thank god he’s a mind reader. “So, please?” He had to say please.
I’d stay. Aza’s room had to be safe. . I doubt Salem would sneak in there to maul me in the middle of the night. “I just need to call my mom.”
He nodded and bounced out of the room smiling. “I’ll go get the phone.”
I slide of the bed and take his chair before Salem can try to return to what we were doing. “You promised, no kissing,” I tried to glare at him or even look him in the eyes but as soon as I did my cheeks started to burn. The floor was more interesting anyway.
“I didn’t hear you saying stop,” his voice was ragged. “I think you actually joined in a bit there.”
“Fuck you,” I snapped. I made a mistake, sue me. I’m a teenage boy who hasn’t had sex in…ever.
“I was thinking it would go the other way around,” I jerked my head up from staring at the desk to look at him. He was smiling. “But if you want to try it that way…”
“No fucking way,” if there had been anything but paper at hand I think I’d have thrown it at him. Maybe I’ll just strangle him.
“What’s wrong?” Aza had come back in, cordless phone in hand. He looked back and forth between us with a frown on his face.
“Nothing,” I held my hand out for the phone. “Thanks.” Maybe I shouldn’t stay the night but Aza had seemed happy at the idea. I know I’m going to regret this.
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We’re losers. It was only eleven o’clock on a Friday and we were already in our beds. Video games hadn’t been interesting enough for us to keep playing them, especially when most games Salem had were for one player. We hadn’t really been able to think of anything else to do. My idea to trash someone’s house hadn’t gone over well but neither had Aza’s corny idea to play hide and seek or tag. I think he was joking. Salem hadn’t even tried to come up with and idea.
So we had just given up and decided on sleep. This was why now I was listening to Aza snore away in his bed while trying to get comfortable in my own cot like thingy. I could move to the floor if I wanted. Aza’s room was as clean as Salem’s. Am I the only teenager in the world with a dirty room? I know I’m probably the only one who needs a DANGER sign on the door. Seriously though, this guys didn’t have a scrap of clothing out of place.
I snuggled closer to pillow, frowning as the cot creaked at me. That was loud. I tried laying still for awhile, ignoring the odd little noises of the Nighte house, until my legs started screaming at me to move. Hissing at myself I flipped around and winced as the bed let out a sound close to a scream. Maybe I should just switch to floor or else this damn bed is going to wake everyone in the house up.
“No…” say what? I looked around, squinting to see by the street light coming through the window. Aza was moving around in his bed. “Stop…” he was outright thrashing now.
“Aza?” I called across. There was no response from him except for more thrashing. Should I wake him? He let out a muffled yell. I wasn’t going to let him go on sleeping if he was going to make noises like that. I crawled out of bed; half hoping the squeaks would wake him for me. No such luck. He was still squirming and muttering when I made my way to his side. I tapped his shoulder. “Aza?” nothing again. I shook him, “Aza?”
He screamed. Sitting up he hit at me. “Get away from me! Get away…” I stumbled until I was no where near him. What the hell…? “Salem!”
The door burst open to show Salem and his parents in the door. “I don’t know…” I started. Salem cut me off by dragging me from the room. His parents were already at the bed trying to calm Aza down. “I didn’t…he was having a nightmare. Did I…?”
He ignored me. I just know he’s going to try and blame this on me. Was it my fault? Maybe I shouldn’t have shaken him like that but he’d been having a nightmare and I didn’t like hearing him make noises like that. I should have just gone and got someone.
Amy and Jessica peered out of her door as Salem dragged me past. “What’s going on?”
“Nightmare,” was his explanation and then we were in his room again. He shoved me into his chair and pointed his finger in my face. “Did you do something to him?” I knew it.
“No!” I pushed his hand out of my face. “I didn’t. He just started talking at something so I tried to wake him.”
“That’s when he started screaming?” I nodded and he let out a sigh. “The heck set him off?” I could barely see his face, the light of his table lamp was behind him. “He hasn’t had a nightmare in three months.” I had a feeling he wasn’t talking to me anymore.
“Hey,” his dad had appeared in his open door. “I’m sorry Jeremy. I don’t think it would be a good idea to put you back in Aza’s room,” the older man look exhausted. “Do you mind if we move you down here?”
“I could just go home,” I suggested. It might not be a good idea for me to stay at all.
He shook his head at me. “No, there is no need for that.” He told Salem to get the bed before disappearing.
Today was just all around weird. First I end up coming to a dinner party thing for my bully’s younger brother, their dad thought I was dating one of them, most likely everyone who was here thinks/knows I’m gay, I ended up kissing Salem (he started it!), and now I was going to sleep in his room. I really hope he doesn’t get it into his head to make anything else happen.
Salem came back in dragging the cot, pillow and blanket sandwiched into it. “I think I really should just go home,” I muttered, watching him unfold the bed in front of his closet.
He raised an eyebrow at me, “Worried?”
“That you’ll attack me in my sleep? Very.”
The look he gave me was odd. “I would not…” he stopped and took a deep breath. “You’re an idiot.”
“So are you. Want to start a club?”
“Go to sleep.”
I paused to try and think of a witty reply. I had nothing. “Guess that's as good an idea as any.”
Salem had already switched off the light and was burrowing under his blankets. I shrugged and made my way to my cot. "You better not snore," I informed him.
He grunted back in reply. I'm serious. If he snores, I'm killing him. Aza can snore all he likes, he wouldn’t do it on purpose like I know Salem will.
When I managed to get comfortable in the cot I realized I wasn't tired at all. Instead I felt as though I were on hyper alert. Damn it, I want to go home. I kicked at edge of my blanket, this time practically grinning when the cot squealed at the motion. Oh yeah. I had a great weapon to annoy Salem with.
I shifted again and listened happily as it squeaked once more. This might be fun after all. I kept it up for another five minutes, waiting for his reaction. It wasn’t until a very loud squeal that he said anything.
“If you don’t stop fucking moving I am going to tie you to that goddamn bed,” I could see the vague outline of him sitting up.
“I’m not comfortable,” I whined at him. I shifted again to make the cot squeak again.
“I don’t fucking care,” he snapped. “Make it do that again and you’ll regret it.”
I made it squeal again. Okay, I’m an ass. I understand that, most times I like being one. Really though I should have listened to his warnings, because as soon as the squeak split the air he was up and moving.
“Sorry! I won’t move anymore!”
He was there already; his hand already wrapped around one of my arms. “It’s to fucking late.”
This time I echoed the squeak of the cot as he climbed into it with me. He now had hold of both of my hands, pinning them back above my head, while he leaned down to attack my mouth. He was nibbling at my bottom lip like before and I pulled back from him and ended up biting my own in my haste to get away.
“Ow.”
He chuckled and pressed his lips back down on mine. His tongue flicked out along the place I had bitten before sliding past to tease at my tongue. I tried to pull back only to have him nip at me again and again when I tried. I gave up.
He let go of my hands, sliding his down to play at the bottom of my shirt, one sliding up to rub at the skin beneath. The other began to tug lightly on my pants.
I managed to pull my mouth away. “Wh-“ he tried to catch my mouth. “What are you doing?”
“Punishing you?” he murmured. He gave up on my mouth, nipping at my earlobe and neck.
“Stop.”
“No.”
He cut me off with a hard bite beneath my ear and kissed me again. His hands moved independently of everything else, one sliding up my shirt and around till it rested beneath me on my back. His other still played with my waistband until finally it slipped under, beginning to play with the fabric of my boxers until he finally slid his hand under them as well.
His fingers trailed along my skin. I gasped at the awkward feel of it. His fingers teased around, playing with the skin of my stomach and thighs in a circle until his hand moved to wrap itself around my erection and began to rub slowly. I let go of everything and paid attention only to his hand.
Thanks to everyone who reviewed. Love always. Review again? Please? Even if I really, really sucked. Tell me what can make it better. Oh and I UPDATED :P.
I won't promise when the next update will be here, but I will update, eventually. I am going to finish this story no matter what. It's my baby. A weird, distorted, monster but my baby monster.
Love and Luck.
