THE PART WITH STELLAR TELLING PARTY HER STORY WAS WRITTEN BY MY FRIEND.

Chapter 10

What had he done? Ghoul sat in his chair out on the wooded patio smoking a new cigarette he had taken from the stash Dr. D had. He laced his fingers over and around the cigarette. Feeling it over and over like a tick. He was drunk. He knew that. But why had he taken it out on Stellar? She didn't deserve that. But Ghoul was so MAD! Why did everything she did have to be sexual? He loved her but it wasn't worth it. Was it? He felt down to his pants. His whole member was quivering at the thought of Stellar's body. He moved his hand up and down moving in and out, imagining Stellar grinding on him. He pushed and pulled, rubbing it as his whole member got harder and harder and then, "Uh." He moaned. Ghoul fell back in his chair his pants still unzipped. He started to laugh. He was so fricken drunk. But then it hit him.

Oh God I've given her up. What if Party gets her now?, Ghoul stood up and ran to the nearest bathroom. He threw open the toilet lid and puked scotch and tar up into the toilet. He hadn't eaten anything which made the convulsions worse. When finished he laid down on the floor and fell asleep. It was hard to continuously keep his eyes closed but somehow he managed it.

*_*_*_*_*_*_

Party awoke to the sounds of sobs. By the time he could pull himself to look over, the sobs had ceased. There sat the one and only Stellar Zombie. Party didn't understand why she was crying. What, Ghoul? Party began to get up to give her a blanket. Stellar fluttered her eyes open and barely muttered a "Sorry." Party dismissed her, "C'mon, let's bring you to bed."
"Party, I'm fine." Party shook his head, "No. No you aren't. Can I help? Please." Party pleaded as he helped Stellar to his bed. He wrapped her in a blanket, then laid beside her. Stellar looked at him with wonder, she didn't deserve him. She had been lying to them; well not lying. But definitely no telling the while truth. Stellar told Hollow about some of the torture of Jonny. She never ever would tell anyone what he actually did. For some reason she felt that she could trust Party. He was the leader of the Killjoys, so that counts for something, right? Stellar placed her head on his chest and he stroked her hair.

"I think Ghoul is drunk." Party just glared at Stellar, "Ok. That doesn't explain why you are crying." Then Party thought, Maybe he told her how I felt… Stellar let one tear fall before she violently wiped it away with that back of her gloved hand, "My father was always drunk. He would beat on my mom." Party frowned, "I'm really sorry Stellar." Stellar dismissed it, "It's fine." Party met her eyes, the big brown doe eyes, "Is that all that is on your mind?" Stellar shook her head angrily, "Can I tell you everything? I have kept it in for so long, I don't think I can anymore." Party tilted her head up, "Stellar, what are you talking about? You know you can tell me anything. I am here for you." Stellar nodded, "I'm gonna have to start from the beginning." Party understood.

"When I was in middle school I was picked on, like every other kid. The names and blah blah blah. Not a big deal. I never had friends. Which was fine with me. I had my music, that was all I needed. One day, in seventh grade there was a new boy, Jonny." Stellar visibly shivered, but continued, "Jonny was great. We had liked the same things. We became best friends. I could trust him.
One night I came home and my father was home, drunk. I tried to walk past him. He gave me the usual lecture, 'You're not good enough. Lesbian whore. I hate you.' All that stuff," Party was confused, Lesbian? What? Stellar saw the confused look, "I am not a lesbian. I am bisexual." Party nodded and Stellar continued, "But this time it was worse. Instead of the hits I saw blood. He was pissed. So I ran up to my room. I picked up the phone and called Jonny. I asked if I could go over to his house, of course I was. I snuck out of my room and ran to his house.

When I was there he asked if I needed to loosen up. I did. My father was beating my mom. And yes, we did call the police. My dad paid them off. We were quite rich. My mom tried to leave. He just found her and slammed her head against a wall. There was no escaping him," another tear fell from Stellar's eye. This time Party wiped it away, "so Jonny's house was the only place I could go. He told me her like me. I never liked anyone and no one ever liked me. So one thing led to another and we were on his bed. He got up when he took his shirt off and grabbed a bag. A bag of cocaine. I told him hell no. I went to leave and he pulled me back to the bed. He tied me down and forced the cocaine down my nose. So much white powder everywhere. It was terrible." Stellar paused again to regain composer. Party pulled her in close. This time, he let out a tear. The thought of seeing her tied down having coke pushed inside her made him shiver, but she continued, "Then he cut my jacket off. He saw the scars that were already there from me. From me cutting myself. He pulled a knife out and told me this 'Deeper you slut.' Then he took the knife to my arms and cut. He cut so fucking deep, Party. It was unbearable." Stellar pulled her arms out from under the blanket to show four purple reddish scars on each arm, "The ones I inflicted have faded, most of them. Jonny's—Jonny's hasn't." Party placed a kiss on her forehead, "Stellar, you're safe now."

Stellar looked at him and giggled, "I'm not done yet." Party gaped, and Stellar continued, "Jonny let me run. I ran and ran. I couldn't go back home. I lived in buses and at school. But what Jonny did got me addicted. So I went to the projects, to see if I could get some. The only way to get coke without money is sex. So yes, I fucked dudes for cocaine." Stellar cried in shame for a few minutes. She took some breaths, Party was speechless. Stellar, the tough, perfect, ass-kicking girl wasn't always tough, "I met a girl. She got me clean. She was my everything. Her name was Ana. She was the most important thing to me. I can never forget her. She brought me to her high school, which wasn't that bad. That was when I met her brother, Cade and his girlfriend, Lux. Or you know her as Hollow Firefly." Party was still speechless. "A few years later, Ana told me she wanted to be with me forever, so I guess she wanted to "marry" me. And I said yes. When Cade, Lux, Ana and I were at Cade's house, we wanted ice cream. So Cade and Ana went out to get some. That's when the bomb happened. Cade and Ana died. Me and Lux survived. Now I'm Stellar Zombie instead of Blake, and she's Hollow Firefly instead of Lux." Stellar sighed, "Thanks for listening Party. You're something else." Party laughed, "You are amazing Stellar. Wow… That was, um, sad. I am so sorry." Stellar smiled and fell asleep moments later, happy. For the first time in a while. A story never told in full. Never released from her lips. With it off her chest she didn't dream bad dreams that night. Only good ones with her and Party.

Hollow heard distant voices. In and out. In and out. Voices trying to tell her something. In and out. In and out.

"HOLLOW WAKE UP!" Hollow jolted awake to see Kobra leaning over her, hands on her body as if trying to shake her awake. Hollow looked around and didn't see anyone around except herself and Kobra. Kobra was petting her face, stroking her cheek. He looked around himself to check if anyone was around and then leaned in. He kissed her passionately until they needed to take a breath. Breath. The breathing turned into moaning and wanting. Longing. Hoping. Hollow felt ecstatic. Manipulated in a way that made her feel good and strong. Not in a way leukemia manipulated her. She felt wanted and needed. Hollow and Kobra meshed their bodies together as if two snakes intertwining together. Pun intended, Hollow thought. She sighed and moaned and cried out softly. Kobra leaned into asking to enter her fragile body. Hollow jumped for a kiss as if letting Kobra know it was okay. And then the whole world vanished. Muscles clenched. And the moment was over. Hollow and Kobra started to laugh and then zipped his pants back up. Hollow hadn't even noticed them down.

Stellar woke up and noticed a faint smell coming from beneath the door. She groaned and threw her pillow over her head. Wait a minute, She thought. This is Party's room. She looked around and didn't see him anywhere near. Stellar closed her eyes again not wanting to get up. Wanting to sleep like she just had for the rest of her life. But then it hit her. That smell... she knew it from somewhere... Stellar threw the covers over to the other side of the bed and ran towards the bottom floor, pulling the door almost completely off its hinges. She ran to the "kitchen" and saw Party standing near a stove frying something. He had an apron on and was whistling or humming (or something inbetween) to "Girlfriend In A Coma" by The Smiths. Fucking Morrisey, Stellar thought as she went and looked over his shoulder at the juicy, crispy bacon frying deliciously in the pan. She could taste the grease in her mouth as she inhaled the smell of the fryed pork. Party picked up an already finished piece sitting on the counter nearby and fed it to Stellar. He hadn't said a word. Nothing about the night before. Stellar opened her mouth and bit down on the crispy sensation.

"Mmmmmmm!" Stellar crowed with delight. Party started to laugh and Stellar gave him a huge side hug and screamed, "Your the best Party! Where would I be without you?" The side hug didn't feel awkward like most side hugs did. It felt right. Like no hug could ever be wrong with Party.

"Well take some bacon and eat it fast. We roll outta here to BL/IND in about 30 minutes. The others are already awake but are refusing to come downstairs." Party changed the audience he was talking to, "GET YOUR ASSES DOWN HERE!" Kobra and Hollow walked into the kitchen. They both looked dishelved. Stellar knew what was going on. She didn't like it. Not one bit. Kobra squealed in delight. "BACON!" Hollow passed it off muttering something about not liking bacon. Everyone in the room gaped at her, even Jet Star who had just turned the corner into the kitchen, had his mouth wide open.

"What? You guys are looking at me like I killed someone... " Hollow tried laughing it off. Kobra walked over to her and kissed the top of her head, "You are an absolute fucking nut, babe. But I love you sooooo much!" At that point he spread his arms as far as he could and everyone laughed, except Stellar. She didn't trust him. Not with Hollow. Stellar loved Hollow too much to let anything happen to her. Hollow pissed her off sometimes but she was like a younger sister. Stellar had to protect her.

At that moment Fun Ghoul walked in. His hair was frizzed and messy. His eyes wore bags like the local bag lady and he was going through a SERIOUS fucking hangover. Everyone stopped talking or moving when he came around the corner. Ghoul looked across at his crowd and mentioned something no one understood. He walked behind Party, grabbing a piece of bacon, and sat opposite Stellar.

"How are you Starlight?" Ghoul looked at Stellar continuing to eat his bacon.

He doesn't remember anything does he?, Stellar thought. She knew the routine. Party turned around when Ghoul looked over at him following Stellar's gaze. Party finished frying all the bacon. He dumped the grease into a bucket and asked Jet to dump it in the desert sand out back. Party took his apron off and offered everyone another piece of bacon. Party went over to Stellar and asked if she wanted one.

"No thanks..." Stellar murmured. Ghoul jumped up, screaming "SHIT", he walked down the hallway. Halfway down he started back and said, "I'm gonna go get ready. I hope everyone's not pissed at me." Then he smiled. He smiled that brilliant smile. Only one man could smile a smile like that. No one else in the world could muster something so beautiful and authentic.

The whole world had just stopped. Fun Ghoul walks in the room and everyone just STOPS. They needed to get ready to leave but no one was moving. No one was making a step or anything. Kobra's patience level ran out and he picked up Hollow and carried her into a room and you could hear shuffling of getting their stuff ready. Ya never know what else they're doing, Stellar thought. She hated herself for doubting Kobra but she couldn't trust him. She didn't know hin and couldn't judge whether or not to trust him so she did what she always did. She didn't trust him.

Jet Star had already exited the room. Stellar felt bad for no one ever being there for Jet. She got up and went to follow Jet but something caught her eye. Party was staring out into space standing over the "kitchen" sink. No movement. No blinking. No talking. "Party?" Party jerked almost as if waking up. He hesitated and looked around. Party started to blush and then quickly exited the room. Again. No talking. Kobra walked back in and screamed, "TIME TO GO!" Stellar never had time to talk to Jet and later on would wish she had.