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Through this maze of ugliness and greed…
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"He's in jail now?" Julia asked.
"Yeah," I didn't know why I was so sad about it. Gingerly I switched the phone to my other ear, and rotated my cramped shoulder carefully. "He's in there for assault."
"Well, at least you won't have to worry about him anymore," Julia pointed out. I smiled slightly; well, she had a good point.
But still, I couldn't help feel guilty. "Pat took over…" "I'm sorry…"
I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. "I guess not."
"I have to go. Grandma's having a fit over trying to work the television again."
"Good luck with that."
"Thanks." Julia said sarcastically. "Bye."
"Bye."
I hung up the phone and went downstairs to find something to eat. Carefully I walked down the stairs, trying not to shift the bandage on my back too much. Turns out the wounds weren't as bad as the doctor had thought; the mirror shards had only cut shallowly into my skin. Nothing a little disinfectant and polysporin couldn't fix.
The only problem was that I'd have to keep the bandage on for a week so everything could heal properly. The bandage itself was itchy and often very uncomfortable.
I pulled at the bandage some more as I rummaged around the cupboard, looking for junk food.
Spying a bag of Doritos, I grabbed it off the shelf, and opened it up. Glancing at the bag wearily, I knew I was going to regret eating those chips later.
Then I shrugged and dug in. I deserved a treat after all the stress I'd been through.
Ding-dong.
I stiffened, a chip shoved half way into my mouth.
"Shit!"
It's Jeff, oh my god! He's come back to kill me!
I panicked, ducking under the kitchen table, hiding.
Then the more sensible part of my brain kicked in. "Jeff's in jail!" I mumbled, half angry at my self for reacting in such a way.
Then I went to the door and opened it.
"Rob!" I exclaimed, about to give him a big hug. Then I remembered that he'd seen Jeff and me kissing and that I had a really hurting back, so I decided against it.
"Emily," Rob smiled tightly. "Hey, can I come in for a sec?"
"Sure," I chirped, holding the door open. For some odd reason I was really happy to see him. Maybe it was because he was so… I don't know. Normal.
As soon as I shut the front door, Rob wrapped me in a big bear hug.
"Ow!" I yelled, right into his ear.
"Sorry," he let go of me, and I stretched my back awkwardly to make the stinging go away. "This is all my fault."
"What?" I looked at the guilty look on his face. "Oh, don't be silly, Rob. If it's anyone's fault it's Jeff's."
I slipped past him and made my way down the hall. "You hungry?"
"No," Rob grumbled, following me a bit too closely. "This is my fault, Em. I should have beaten the shit out of him when I saw him talking to you! Then none of this would've happened."
"Rob, you couldn't have beaten the shit out of him," I grabbed the Doritos bag and continued eating.
"Why not?!" he was a bit miffed now. "I'm stronger than him!"
"Uh," I swallowed quickly. "He had a knife."
"WHAT?"
"Yeah. Like a big, scary kitchen knife. Tucked under his shirt," I paused. "Hence why I kissed him right in front of you."
"He threatened you with it?"
"No," I said truthfully. "He threatened you with it."
Rob closed his eyes for a second, sitting perfectly still.
"Hey Rob, you okay?"
When Rob still didn't move, I walked over to the kitchen table where he was sitting, and slapped him lightly across his arm.
His eyes shot open, and he looked at me in wonder.
"You went along with his plan because he threatened to hurt me?"
I thought about it, and then nodded.
Gently, Rob reached forward and captured both of my hands in his. Immediately I cursed my choice of eating Doritos- cheese crumbs were all over my fingertips.
See, I told you I'd regret eating them.
"Then this really is all my fault," Rob murmured, his eyes sad. Then he leaned forward and kissed me.
The kiss was soft, light as a feather. A weird tingling feeling filled my stomach, and I felt almost giddy as he deepened the kiss. My hands rested lightly in his, and I felt very safe, right then.
Rob pulled back, and licked his lips.
"Mmm," he murmured. "Doritos."
I blushed like crazy as he cracked a smile.
Curse those Doritos.
I smiled shyly back at him.
"I'm sorry about everything." Rob murmured.
"You're forgiven," I smiled. "Jeff's in jail anyway. We won't have to worry about him for awhile."
"How long?"
"A couple years."
"Well then," Rob paused, and then pulled me closer, his hands on my hips. "You know, we still haven't finished our second date yet."
I giggled like the teenage girl I am. "Maybe I could interest you with one of our movies? There's no one home…"
Rob grinned again and nuzzled my neck. "Sounds good."
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I was sitting by the river, staring down at the water. I was looking for someone; waiting for them to come. But I couldn't remember who it was. I stood up to leave, but a hand stopped me.
"I'm here, Emily," Pat said, his hair shining in the sun.
"I'm going home." I told him, turning away. But he wouldn't let me leave.
"You don't want me anymore, Emily?"
"You took too long," I told him.
He looked angry now, but I managed to wench myself away. I headed up the yellow brick path, up towards my house.
"I'll find you, Emily!" Pat yelled, stepping back into the lake.
I looked back down at Pat, and watched as his face morphed into that of Jeff's; he was half himself, half Jeff.
"You look weird," I told him, before opening my back door and going into the house.
"Emily!"
I sat up in bed, sheets tangled around me. I could have sworn I'd felt someone kiss me.
My eyes searched my room, but there was no one there…
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Disclaimer: I don't own Doritos. But I think I will go eat some right now. :P Do you think a cute guy would show up if I did? Hmm…
Thanks to all my reviewers: Ihaconch, Bumbledbee, porkypick, Italiangurlinamessedupworld, LaLaFaery, UsagiMiyuki, Skylar Kaulitz, Tenshi.Kimiko, and raeroochella. Love you guys!
Ps this was definitely a filler chapter… Because I'm trying to decide which way this story will go. I have one option figured out but it's not very original, so I'm trying to figure other ways out…
-Through this maze of ugliness and greed- One Headlight, by The Wallflowers