Fright Night 2011
Another Prequel
Part Two
Smells Like Teen Spirit
At Da Races
(Author)
Well, Jerry Dandridge has officially moved into my old neck of the woods! Hope the dialect ain't getting y'all screwed up! That's how I used to talk before I moved to Georgia and its part of my Yooper roots! Oh, and the blue house on the hill actually exists; place has been empty since I moved there back in 1988. Once had a vanity mirror and antique vanity mirror frame from that house's back porch. Oh and there was a motorcycle parked inside the house! Did Jerry Dandridge once live there? Hmm? That's too creepy! Everything put in here basically exists and I've been there! SHOUT OUT TO DA YOOPER FOLKS!
It was just so damned peaceful; Jerry thought to himself as he stood on the balcony set on the side of the three story house. Three weeks had passed since he moved into the house and work had been steadily going on refurbishing the well structured home. Also, he took time out to work on the Harley parked in the dining room. He enjoyed the evenings there; no looming city lights to affect the brightness of the stars. And since his arrival there have been some tragedies; poor hikers on the trails surrounding the Porcupine Mountains found themselves attacked by a vicious animal. There were a few locals too having washed up on the Lake Superior shore; possibly a boating accident; they having been missing for a few days after their boat was discovered crashed up on the shore. Mother Nature had her way of assisting him in covering up his secret nightlife and taste for blood. Yet, he had to play it cautious within such a small population. Thankfully with the animal attacks were blamed on the booming Timber Wolf population; apparently there had been such things with household dogs and farm stock in the past and those wolves just moved on to the human stock. His lips smirked as he eyed the lovely and peacefulness that was his vacation location.
He found the residents quite friendly; especially the single ladies. Every time he stopped at the little Elm's store the only employee Shelley was on him with one single wink of an eye. He was saving her for last before he pulled up roots to again return to his life's true mission. He left the balcony and made his way out of the house. It was Friday night and apparently the nightlife of that community swarmed around either the stockcar races located at the Adventure Mine Speedway nestled behind Mass City's sister Greenland. The Dodge Ram pulled out onto the little road that attached the two villages and rolled in the direction the sounds of racing cars came from. Time to check out the local entertainment; he drove until he found the large wooden sign pointing him in the direction of the speedway that was attached to the county fairgrounds. He parked the Ram amongst the long string of vehicles. The races having already started there was no one strolling around.
The walk up the dirt road was nice with the sounds of racing cars grew louder and louder. He paid the small fee and stepped into the image that looked as if the entire county clustered around the grassy hills and minimal stands. There was one single building where the concession stands were located beneath the announcer's booth; he purchased a beer, popped it open, and started scanning all the many faces. The races weren't of any real interest to him but the people were. He's been around events such as this where it becomes a social event but amazingly all the adults were focused on the races while many of the real young children were running and tumbling playing with one another. People there seemed to have no problem allowing their young ones run amuck; apparently everyone knew everyone and amazingly trusted everyone; he smirked then wrapped his lips around the beer bottle. So many walked by him and gave a nod or a 'how ya doing' and he respectfully did the same. As for the ladies; typically the same with their eyes immediately on him and taking in every inch of his tee shirt, black denim, silver buckle belt, and boot wearing body. Always a thrill have all those married or unmarried feminine eyes checking him out and most likely imagining what was underneath. He knew and understood how refreshing he was for those wide and flirty eyes; an ego, of course.
"Hey!" he heard a loud and familiar voice yelling his direction through the loud revving and speeding engines. His eyes shifted and there was tubby Otto Garvinen waving at him while sitting in a folding chair. He smiled and moved towards the round bellied man. His eyes immediately spotted that man's step daughter seated on a blanket next to another young teen. "Hey, Otto," he sang and shook Otto's thick hand; the short and chubby man didn't bother getting up.
"Eh, so ya finally got out to da races, eh?" Otto peered up at the new resident.
"Yeah, decided to take a break remodeling and check it out." Jerry explained while sipping his beer with his eyes glancing down at the quite ripe young teens seated in from of Otto and who he believed was the little wife.
"Oh, ya," Otto nudged his wife, "Carla, dis is Jerry Dandridge; da one who basically paid for our vacation." He heartedly chuckled then looked Jerry, "Ya, Jerry, dis is Carla, my wife."
Jerry smiled with his charm and reached passed Otto shaking hands with the slim later forties or early fifties woman. "Pleasure, Ma'am," he sang pleasantly with his eyes continuously glanced at the hooded back of Maddi's head.
"Nice to meet you, Mr. Dandridge." Carla chimed.
"Please, call me Jerry." Jerry offered then finished his beer.
"Eh, need another one, Jerry?" Otto asked then nudged Maddi with his wide sandaled foot, "Eh, Maddi, fetch Jerry a beer, would ya."
Maddi grimaced and glanced over at Tori kept taking glances at the latest stunning addition to 'small-ville'. She saw the snicker all over Tori's face and, her back to the guy, she stuck her tongue out at Tori who went into a giggle fit. "Thanks that'll be great." She heard the new guy say then she lifted up on her knees and reached to the cooler lifting the lid. She slipped her hand inside the cooler and began digging around in the freezing mixture of ice and water; Otto had already consumed most of the beer but way at the bottom her frozen hand found one. Her hand slipped back out; she placed the beer can in the other hand while sitting back down on her rear and simply raised her hand high without looking at the guy.
Jerry found Maddi's manners lacking but amusing; he reached and took the wet and icy can from her hand but not without grazing his fingertips against hers. "Thanks, Maddi," he sang with his charming voice and she responded by pulling her hand back as soon as possible. There was nothing like making the younger ones squirm; confused between attraction and awkwardness. He watched the girl closely; she quickly stood up keeping her back to him then reached down grabbing her friend by the arm. He popped the tab; like popping a cherry, swift and smooth. He listened closely as she practically mumbled taking only a look at her mother and Otto, "Give me some money; we're gonna go get some nachos or something." His eyes shifted back and forward between Maddi's open hand and Carla. Carla fetched some money from a purse then placed it in the girl's hand. Within seconds both girls were off but that little friend's of Maddi eagerly smiled back at him which he obliged with his own smile and a quick wink.
"Oh, been meaning to tell ya, yer more den welcome to come on over anytime." Otto offered Jerry.
Jerry smiled; too damned easy with those people; got an invition. "Thanks," he cheered Otto with the given beer.
"Oh," Otto spoke up, "I know you're new here."
Jerry turned his attention to chubby, "Yeah."
"Well, da wife and I are heading out in two days." Otto explained, "I was wondering, since dat girl won't suspect ya, if ya be a pal and keep an eye on Maddi while we're away."
How trusting these folks really were; Jerry thought; he gladly smiled, "Sure, the least I could do since you were nice enough to work with me buying the house." He took a long swig.
"Thanks a lot!" Otto smiled happily, "But ya can't let on yer watching, okay. Ya, I know, she's eighteen soon but I don't want her throwing some party or having boys over while we're away." He took a drink from his beer stuffed in a beer cozy labeled; #1 Deer Hunter.
"Oh, I understand completely." Jerry continued to smile; he was more than happy to keep a real close eye on the girl. As for the guys; he predicted he'd be the only one invited over. His head turned and eyes peered through the passing race enthusiasts spying Maddi her friend huddled by the concession stand. Nope, he had no problem keeping a very watchful eye on that awkward little thing. His eyes focused on her while continuing to consume the beer. He was curious what was hidden under that hood and every other stitch of clothing. His eyes shifted down; across her rear written in bold red glittery lettering was a bold statement; Smart-Ass. He gave a slight chuckle finding the statement was probably correct by the girl's demeanor. He caught glimpse of the friend who caught him eyeing Maddi then nudged Maddi with her elbow. His eyes didn't shift away and watched Maddi peek over her shoulder at him with most of her face hidden behind the hood. His lips formed a more cunning grin which forced Maddi to quickly look away, fetch her nachos then hurry in the opposite direction he stood; obviously going to hide and gossip with her friend.
Maddi moved around the backside of the building feeling all sorts of awkward. "Oh my god, he was totally checking ya out!" she reluctantly listened to Tori shout. "Shut up!" Maddi responded shoving a nacho cheese drenched corn chip into her mouth. "He's hot, Maddi," she listened to Tori point out the obvious, "Yer gonna be eighteen in three days and ya won't be jailbait. Ya gotta go fer it!" She looked to her friend with disbelief, "What? Are you nuts!" she mumbled with cheese sauce caking the corner of her mouth, Tori grabbed a chip, "He's what? In his thirties or something, that's just weird."
"Nah, it's not." Tori disagreed, "Ya said yer-self ya liked older guys. Ain't that why ya were always checking out Mr. Hanson, huh?" She leaned back seeing the looker still standing near Otto, "He ain't left."
"Great," Maddi whined rolling her eyes, "I'm not going back until he's gone."
"Oh, yer such a pussy, ya know?!" Tori laughed, "Da best looking guy we've ever seen checks ya out and obviously into ya, yer gonna act like a chicken shit."
"Am not!" Maddi denied, though it pretty much seemed she was chicken, "Just it's weird, alright. He's older than me by, what, like twenty years and I'm only turning eighteen in three days. That's just weird."
"Hey, freaks!" shouted a rude voice from the crowd aimed at Maddi and Tori.
Maddi darted her eyes scanning the crowd and saw the smug face of one of the many dickheads from high school; Kip Peters. "Oh, go fuck yourself, Kip!" she shouted not caring who heard, "You stupid assed jock!" She shook her head and grumbled hating dealing with the likes of the popular crowd who always stepped on her like she was some reject just because she wasn't part of their lifetime crowd of jocks and cheerleaders. "God, I hate that asshole." She continued to shove chips into her mouth, "That's exactly why I like older guys because of those douche bags."
"Awe, so ya do like da guy." Tori leaned closer, "So, would ya let him, ya know?"
Maddi frowned and slowly leaned forward to spy on the new guy. Oh, he was more than just doable. He was everything those local assholes weren't. He was from out of town, had a huge pickup, money too, and, damn, he was more than smoking hot. He put all those local dipshits to shame with all his superior looks. Yep, he was pretty damned comparable to those tasty vampires she watched all the damned time as a morbid version of porn. Would she let him, ya know? She'd let him do more than, ya know! But would she really? She was so damned awkward around him that she couldn't imagine him being that interested for very long unless she showed some real interest. But how in the hell was she going to do that? There was a difference between real and fantasy and he sure was real!
"Ya know, I got an idea," Tori spoke up leaned against Maddi, "I live just up da road from him. Stay at my house tonight and we'll go welcome him to da neighborhood."
Maddi sort of liked the sound of that but could she truly go through with it. "Okay," she gave a short nod, "I'll do it."
Maddi and Tori returned to Otto and Carla and the mysterious new guy Jerry. Maddi continued her refusal to even give Jerry one bit of eye contact; his presence alone was overbearing and she probably couldn't handle looking him in the eyes. The two girls sat side by side texting one another; mostly about their plan for the evening after the races which circled around the looker. Text after text they went back and forth while giggling in response to one another's thumbed words. They would occasionally bump into one another continuing their text fest whirling around the gorgeous guy who now was crouched down beside Otto's chair. Tori was on look out and every time she would bust the guy looking at Maddi, boom, she texted her findings; easier to just text instead of whispering words he could possibly hear. Maddi was keen on sensing the guy's eyes aimed at the back of her head; she was finally becoming a bit more accustomed after each bit of information Tori texted and sent to her cell. She started feeling kinda of special knowing this implanted stud muffin was checking her out persistently.
Jerry had his eyes full alright; for a while there he could easily read each text Maddi wrote and sent which made him smile knowing that just him standing there was getting to the teen. He would occasionally slowly sniff that gradually heightening aroma that the young lady unknowingly radiated; hers seemed much stronger than most which was intriguing. He saw each time the friend would peek his way; didn't let on he saw her attempt at being sneaky, just kept his eyes on Maddi. There was nothing in the world like having such young and ripe teens quietly swooning; the greatest ego boost for any vampire who's been around the block over a million times throughout close to four centuries. The texts couldn't be read when he was crouched down but the manner they giggled and nudged one another said it all; also brought him a little closer to sniff more and more that sweetness. Well ripened teens were the best tasting and it started to flutter that hunger inside him. Unable to take any more of that overwhelming sweetness he rose up and looked down to Otto; "I'm gonna head out," he stated to the fat man who nodded, obviously well liquored up by then, "Got some things to finish up before it gets too late." He offered his hand to Otto who eagerly shook it, "Thanks for the beers." He looked down at the backs of two heads, "See ya, ladies." He watched Tori be the only one to look up at him and flashed a little wink down at her. "Bye!" he listened to Tori chirp while watching Maddi simply lift a hand giving a wave goodbye.
Maddi slowly shifted on her rear making sure Jerry was walking away. She looked to her mom and step father. "I'm staying at Tori's tonight." She didn't ask just stated.
"Dat's fine." Otto said with a slight slur with his eyes focused on the final race.
Maddi looked to Tori and they smiled mischievously at one another.
The girls were dropped off by Carla who had to drive since Otto was in no shape. Maddi and Tori raced into Tori's family home then upstairs into Tori's messy bedroom. They had it all planned out; they were going to change and spruce up a bit, especially Maddi then tell Tori's parents they were going for a walk which was true but planned to end up on the new guy's doorstep. They raided Tori's closet throwing clothes all over the floor; they shared clothes all the time and many of the items belonged to Maddi. Maddi wasn't an extreme dresser; mostly casual and really didn't think it fit that they showed up at the guy's house all dolled up, too damned obvious. Maddi made the determination they needed to just maybe make it seem like they just happened to walk by the infamous blue house on the hill and decided to say hello. So, they agreed they'd throw on simplest thing possible as if they were dressed for a slumber party of sorts. They threw on their almost matching baggy plaid pajama bottoms; Maddi the green and black plaid and Tori the blue and black plaid. They pulled on their matching black tank wife-beaters; Maddi still wore her hoody; and slipped their toe painted feet into matching black flip-flops. Tori's medium blonde hair was cut below the ears and simply clipped back her even length bangs then Maddi pinned her lengthier chocolate brown hair messily atop her head. Yep, just casually strolling the barely lit streets at night; just the two of them.
Out the door they marched almost in sync with their footsteps. They moved down the slight hill with their flip-flops flopping against the rugged and pothole dotted paved road. The looped arms and started playfully skipping down the road doing a little Wizard of Oz themed skip forward then backwards singing together, 'we're off to see the hot guy'. Their skipping slowly down to a slow walk as they neared the somewhat secluded location of the blue house; the pines surrounding it made it seemed secluded along with it being on a hill. Together they moved standing across the street adjacent from the driveway that was slightly canopied by two large pines. Maddi was already having second thoughts as Tori stepped forward literally jerking Maddi with her. "Don't ya dare chicken out." Tori scolded Maddi, "This'll be good fer ya, come on!" Tori gave Maddi a good pull and they both stepped onto the somewhat trimmed back driveway.
Tori again moved forward and Maddi started pulling back; "What if he's busy?" Maddi said with her voice low, "What if he's not alone?"
"Eh, enough of da 'what ifs'!" Tori gave Maddi a good tug forcing her friend to stagger pass her, "We're doing dis and dere's nothing yer gonna say or do to get ya outta it!" She released Maddi then gave her a big shove forward with both hands against her back. "Get a move on." She laughed watching Maddi practically trip.
"Bitch!" Maddi smirked then spun around shoving Tori in the shoulder, "Stop it!"
"No," Tori continued to laugh, "I'll keep shoving ya all da way up dere."
"God!" Maddi whined, "Fine, just cut it out, you whore!"
"Oh," Tori quickly gave Maddi a harder shove forward, "Yer da one gonna be da whore if I have my way or he has his!"
Inside the blue house; Jerry wasn't alone. High up in the third floor of the large house; the attic space was the perfect place to stash his snatched up meals. Tonight he was having seconds; that was the second evening and typically by the third the meals expired. The night before he picked up a slobbery drunk passer through at the local tavern named Tige's; wasn't no teenage dream and beyond ripe but it did the job. He pulled his fangs back from the side of the meal's bruised neck upon hearing the distinct sound of youthful voices approaching his lair. His eyes looked across the large attic space at the little square window facing out front. He rose up allowing the meal to drop to the floor then moved across the sturdy wood floor while wiping the access blood from the corner of his mouth. He stepped to the window and peered down just as he sucked the blood from the tip of his thumb. "Well, well, what do we have here?" he questioned aloud then heard his meal moan. On the soles of his boots he turned then marched back towards the meal. With swiftness he gathered the meal up under the arms then dragged it towards a metal foot locker. The lid flipped open and into the foot locker the meal was dropped then the lid slammed down and locked with a steel padlock.
Maddi was occasionally shoved forward as she continued to drag her flip-flops. "Gah," she whined again, "Stop already, I'm going, damn it." Her shoulders were slumped while approaching the front of the poorly lit house. Since she came to town there were urban legends surrounding the old house and the reasons it stayed vacant for so long; murder of an entire family was the claims. She and Tori attempted trespassing a few times but chickened out the moment they heard any little sound; went running down the driveway and back to Tori's. Now the house was occupied but still looked creepy with its blue pealing siding and still lacking a front porch. She stopped and pointed at the front door lacking steps, "Look no steps." She turned around and flung her arms up in the air, "Guess this was a bust." She went to step passed Tori but Tori grabbed her by the arm and dragged her backwards.
"No, ya ain't getting off dat easily." Tori scolded her friend, "Dere's a back door, remember?"
"Yep, unfortunately," Maddi huffed then turned around walking beside Tori towards the shadowy and creepy side of the house. She dragged her flip-flops with her head somewhat leaned back really not wanting to go through with the plan. "I wanna go back." She whined while Tori continued to lead her along the side of the house by the upper arm, "This is stupid." Then she went to a dead stop the moment the back screen door flung open and there he was. "Ha-ha," she listened to Tori laugh with a whisper, "Too late."
Jerry was pleasantly surprised as he leaned against the door frame with his hand holding the screen door open. "Well, hello, ladies," he chimed then took a meaty bite from a red apple.
"Hiya, Mr. Dandridge," Tori was the one who spoke up, "We were just out walking; I live up da road; and Maddi said we should stop by and say hi." She glanced over at Maddi who had her mouth open in shock to her pinning their scheme on her. She looked to the looker and instinctively swatted herself upon feeling the bite from one of those damned U.P. unofficial state birds called mosquitoes.
"How nice," Jerry commented and gave a chuckle witnessing Tori's attack on the local naturally born bloodsuckers. He continued to chew then wiped some juice from his bottom lip, "Sort of late at night to say hello, hmm?" He watched the two friends step before him in the light coming from inside the back porch and quickly noticed Maddi's reluctance needed her friend to hold her in place by the arm. He then watched Maddi quickly swat herself because of the bloodsucking pest. It was amusing since he was probably the most unimaginable bloodsuckers.
"Nah," Tori waved her hand, "Ain't much else ta do around here. We ain't bothering ya are we?" She again smacked herself on the neck; heard Maddi again do the same.
"Nope," Jerry shook his head shifting his eyes back and forth between the chummy best friends, "Just finished up with supper." He took a step to the side, "You ladies care to come in? Looks as if you two are getting eaten up." He tried to hold back his amusement; the tiny insect versions of him were getting their fill with the pretty ripe young ladies, unfair.
"Sure," Tori took a step forward but stopped by Maddi's feet being firmly planted. She turned around and gave Maddi a scolding expression. She watched Maddi shake her head. Her lips pursed together then dug her nails into Maddi's arm.
"Ow," Maddi blurted then reluctantly stumbled forward rubbing where she was clawed.
Tori spun around and smiled wide at the guy she wanted so desperately to get with her best friend. She stopped before the steps then forced Maddi forward and again nudged her friend forward. She tried to silence her giggle; amused by Maddi's growing awkwardness and watched her best friend practically stumble up the porch steps. She quickly followed keeping her hands planted on Maddi's back. She giggled with a big smile keeping Maddi moving forward onto the porch; "Thanks," she sang passing the hot new guy.
Jerry broadened his smirk; no, thank you; he thought then allowed the screen door to slam shut. He took another huge bite of the apple stepping up behind the girls. "Go straight in and don't mind the mess." He urged them and watched Tori literally shove Maddi through the main back entrance. He entered behind them and closed the door holding that almost snickering smirk while chewing.
Maddi was horrified, a nervous wreck wishing Tori would quit being both emotionally and physically pushy. Her eyes stared forward the way she entered; terrified of even looking at the center of her friend's persistence. "Can I get you ladies anything?" she listened to his lovely voice offer while she took notice of the Harley parked in the next room. "A beer?"she again heard him offer and quickly her friend accepted. Oh, great, now her friend was going to get them drunk in a stranger's house; her brain screamed. Tori again grabbed her arm and spun her around but she refused to look at the guy. Her eyes did watched the movement of his boots as he stepped to the old fridge swinging the door open; that was all she cared to look at. She watched those boots leave the fridge and step up to she and Tori and listened to Tori chime a thank you then she reluctantly took the beer in her sweaty hand. Had she drank beer before? Yeah, she and Tori stole some from Otto and got a little buzzed out back by the old barn. But right now it would take probably a whole six pack to make her more at ease; she really wanted to throw the bottle and run for the nearest exit.
Tori could almost feel the awkwardness and nervousness radiating from Maddi; even Maddi's face was blushed. She shook her head and sipped the beer. She looked to Jerry; again caught him looking over at Maddi. Her lips curled into a huge smile; "Eh, Mr. Dandridge," she spoke up prepared to start getting things going.
Jerry glanced over at Tori; "Jerry, please," he said then took one last final bite of the apple with his eyes again drifting to Maddi's awkward direction. He tossed the apple into the open trash can then opened his beer.
"Okay, Jerry. Oh, ya I'm Tori." Tori spoke loving how the guy was persistent on eyeing Maddi though Maddi not once lifted an eye to the guy, "Where ya from?"
"Hello, Tori, and all over really," Jerry finished chewing the piece of apple then took a drink washing it down, "I'm do construction so I basically go wherever it takes me."
"Well, what brought ya here?" Tori continued starting to get annoying by Maddi's overly shy behavior, "Oh, ya…" time to bring Maddi into it, "Maddi's from Cincinnati; ever been?"
"Yeah," Jerry nodded waiting for Maddi to do something besides stand there without drinking her beer, "I'm here on vacation."
Tori nodded; she was beginning to feel as if things weren't going to go as planned. "Hey," she spoke up having a good idea, "Ya mind if I use yer bathroom?"
"No," Jerry answered having caught on what the girl was up to and was willing to go along with it, "Just up the stairs and the furthest door to the right." He gestured the direction with the hand holding the beer. "Thanks," he listened to Tori sing followed by a little snicker; his eyes focused on Maddi.
Maddi wanted to freak out; she quickly looked to Tori who smiled so damned smugly she wanted to race up to her and shove her into the wall! She didn't want to run and follow Tori; that would look more pathetic than she already did. Her eyes narrowed at her so called best friend who practically skipped towards the direction of the stairs. Now it was that horrible moment of awkward silence. She lifted the bottle and took maybe less than a sip then nervously finally looked over at the guy as he stood leaned back against the kitchen countertop. She forced a smile though it felt as if it looked as awkward as she felt. What the hell was there to say? Why she was so easily put into an awkward position when it came to guys? Sure she's told asshole guys from high school to take a flying leap but that was out of self defense, no attraction at all. Then there was that teacher Tori mentioned; she was just as tongue tied around the teacher too.
Jerry stood there with his senses overrun by the heat emulating from Maddi. Her scent truly was powerful; more so than even her friend's. He cleared his throat; time to unleash the charms and see if he could crack this strongly scented teen out of her awkward shell. Proudly he was well equipped to drag little vixens outward from the meekest of shells. "So," he spoke up giving his voice that typical cunning tone, "How'd you enjoy your movie?" he asked breaking that layer of slick ice then took a nice and slow swig.
"Um," Maddi finally found some sort of voice; practically had to spit it out, "Well, it was as good as I remembered it." She took another slight sip wishing Tori would get her damned ass back.
"Remembered?" he asked enjoying the little crack of nervousness in her sweet tone; not as rude as before.
"Yeah," Maddi hung onto her voice, "Tori and I went to the theaters to see it. It's really good."
"So, you watch vampire flicks often?" he asked trying to keep the rhythm going.
"Yep," Maddi nodded, again taking another sip; a bit bigger, "We both do. Watching movies is pretty much the highlight for either of us living here."
"I like it here." He stated then finished off his beer tossing the emptied bottle into the trash. He stepped away from the countertop and slowly walked across the kitchen floor moving towards Miss Awkward, "It's so quiet and peaceful." He explained keeping his eyes on Maddi, "The people are so friendly and," he kept his cunning tone stepping even closer to the teen who was frozen with the bottle pressed to her lips, "One in particular I find attractive." Her pale brown eyes were so adorably wide; she was the definition of a deer caught in the high beams. He paused maybe a foot in front of her and watched her slowly lower the bottle.
"Huh," Maddi mumbled; practically made speechless by the insinuation, "Shelley…" She listened to him give a little laugh.
He leaned a bit and brought his hand flat against the entryway frame she stood next to. "No," he slowly shook his head then lightly tilted it with his brows lifting creating those curious lines across his forehead.
"Um," Maddi still mumbled; this was the closest she has ever been to a guy, let alone an older guy. Where the hell was Tori; she shouted in her head; shifted her eyes looking for any sign of her friend's desired return.
"You mean the chick from the store." He commented but knew who she meant and watched her slowly nod, "Nah, but that particular individual was in the store at the same time and in the same spot." He knew she wasn't clueless just stunned. He reached his hand the used just the tip of his index finger to tuck back a loose strand of hair behind her ear. There was just something that smelled so damned good about this one; he couldn't quite figure it out but her scent was beyond sweet.
"Well," Tori shouted coming bouncing in the kitchen; she had seen and heard the whole thing and believed Maddi had enough torment for one night. She skipped around Jerry and snatched the bottle of beer out of Maddi's numb hand then set it on a butcher block island. She grabbed Maddi's hand, "Well, sorry but Maddi and I have ta get back to my house." She pulled Maddi away from the wall, "Thanks for the beer, Jerry, and welcome to da neighborhood! Right, Maddi?" She tugged Maddi with her towards the door.
"Um, yeah," Maddi mumbled but was relieved Tori took the initiative to get her out of the awkward situation.
Jerry turned around and moved towards the girls as Tori opened the door and pulled Maddi with her. "You're more than welcome to stay longer." He offered lifting his hands palm up.
"Dat's okay," Tori sang loudly moving both she and Maddi towards the screen door as Jerry stepped into the main doorway, "Night, Jerry! Say goodnight, Maddi!"
"Night," Maddi stammered a bit while being shoved down the porch steps.
"Night, Ladies," Jerry sang to them stepping to the screen door, "Come back, any time."
"Will do!" Tori yelled while guiding Maddi away from the house.
Jerry watched them closely as they moved down the driveway and listened to Tori laughing loudly. Well, another time will certainly pop up, especially when Maddi's mom and step father left town. He stepped back slowly closing the screen door. He was looking forward keeping a really close eye on that sweet young thing. People in that particular area were so stupid, too damned trustworthy with strangers; perfect in so many ways. He stepped back into the porch and returned into the house. He moved through the kitchen then the dining room and into the front living room. His eyes, now glossy black, peered out the window onto the driveway watching the best friends begin to shove each other back and forth. He just adored teenagers; especially the girls and when they were pure and innocent. It wasn't just that innocent sweetness he sniffed from Maddi; something so much more was deep inside her that seemed to be on the verge of bubbling to the surface. Oh, he truly wanted to be there the moment she burst. His lips spread into that sly grin as he grabbed and closed the old traditional wooden blinds; took one last look at the playful duo stumbling onto the road then closed the blinds.
Maddi had removed one flip-flop and ran behind Tori swinging. "You're such a bitch!" she yelled with some laughter, "How could you?!" She slapped Tori in the ass with the flip-flop.
Tori laughed loudly, "What did I do?!"
Maddi aimed and waved her flip-flop in Tori's face. "You left me alone with him!" she desperately tried not to smile, "That was wrong!"
"Oh my god," Tori belted out another laugh, snatched Maddi's flip-flop and smacked her in the arm with it, "Ya should be thanking me!" she continued to laugh and slapped Maddi again on the opposite arm, "I bet if I hadn't come in dere he woulda kissed ya!"
"Thank god you did come in there!" Maddi snatched her flip-flop back and slipped back onto her foot, "You really think he would of?" she asked more calmly feeling her face blushing again with such an image in her mind, "He did get really close."
"Oh, he woulda," Tori smiled wide while stepping backwards, "And I bet the next time he sees ya, he will."
"No he won't," Maddi walked forward while Tori turned and walked beside her, "I pretty much blew it."
"Nah," Tori shook her head looping her arm with Maddi's, "Guys like it when ya play hard to get. He probably wants ya even more now." She giggled, "Oh, I bet he's up dere right now in dat big old lonely house thinking about ya while, ya know."
"Ewe!" Maddi laughed though it sounded so wrong and disgusting, "Tori, Jeeze, you got your head too far up your perverted ass."
"Hey," Tori leaned against Maddi, "Ya probably be doing the same when ya think I'm asleep."
"Ewe, again!" Maddi grimaced while blushing then hip bumped Tori away from her, "You're sick!" Tori gave her a huge hip bump in return then bolted up the road and she went into hot pursuit.
