Hey, thanks a lot for being patient. it means a lot to have you guys read. I hope you guys enjoy this.

Chapter Sixty-One: Paranoid And Hypocritical

"Feel the rain on your skin

No one else can feel it for you

Only you can let it in

No one else, no one else

Can speak the words on your lips"

~Unwritten

Sunday…

I whispered, softly, as I peered into the bedroom, "Is he asleep?"

Vivian nodded as she stood up and turned to me, "Finally." I never had seen her look so upset and frightened. She looked down at Jackson's sleeping body. He was curled up in a tight ball in his bed. He was holding on to Rabbit for dear life. Luckily, the dog was understandable of Jackson's need and fear.

She sighed as she went to caress her son's cheek. The boy flinched at that and held Rabbit tighter. Rabbit whined slightly before he readjusted his body so he wouldn't suffocate under Jackson's deathly grip.

I walked into the room and put my hand on her shoulder, "It's going to be okay."

Vivian said, angry with herself, "This is my fault. I made him run away."

"It was not your fault…If you're going to blame anyone, blame that son of a bitch brother of his," I told her as I led her out of the bedroom.

It had been a few days since Lucas had kidnapped Jackson. We still don't have all the details of what happened. I remember finding Jackson. My mind assumed the worst. I assumed that Lucas was planning of putting Jackson into that L'Amore business.

Shannon told me that it wasn't out of the ordinary for children as young as four years old to be put into L'Amore. The pretty ones were trafficked around the world to be sex slaves while the others were sent to labor camps back in Italy. Either way, I did not want Jackson to be put into that. I mean, who would?

I wanted to kill Lucas. For one thing, how could he do this to his own brother? I tried to look for Lucas after I got Jackson home, but he was nowhere to be found. I staked out the casinos and his mansion. There was no trace of the bastard.

The more I find out about what is going on in the outside world, the more I wish that I was confined to the house. When I was with Sam, I had no contact with that world. I was safe in that small apartment. I was at peace with the world. And now, I'm forced to deal with this world. Betrayal, greed, and that blazing hot sun surrounds me.

I miss those four walls of my room. I miss the air conditioning that breezed over me as I worked on my computer. I missed the days of solitude and peace. I missed all of that.

I missed Sam.

There are nights that I find myself wide-awake, thinking of Sam. I thought about the days we spent as teenagers. Teasing each other, joking each other. Our arguments that would last for hours and get into heated debates. We would get into each other's faces and all that anger and passion made me want to grab her and kiss her.

And then I turned over in the bed and see Vivian's sleeping form. She's pretty when she's asleep. Her hair is loose on her pillow. I like it when it's down. I hate how she would put her hair up when she was going out. Vivian's face looked so peaceful and so sweet. When I was with her, I felt like I was a man. She was adoring and submissive. I wasn't used to having so much power.

"Freddie?" Vivian called out, snapping me out of my thoughts.

"Yes?" I asked as I turned down to look at her. She was a shorter than I was so I always felt like I was looking down at Vivian.

"I never really thanked you for what you did," She said as she placed her hand on my shoulder.

"I did what anyone would do," I told her as I went to sit down on her bed.

Vivian shook her head as she stood over me so that now she was the one looking down at me, "Not anyone would risk their life to save a child that isn't theirs."

I felt the heat rise in my cheeks, "I…uh, well, I guess so…"

She then took her hand off my shoulder and put it on my cheek, "You're my hero."

Those three words… "You're my hero…" Where have I heard that before?

When I saved Carly's life years ago, she called me her hero. She thought of me as her savior and there was that brief period where she was affectionate towards me. I should have known better, but I was brought into her fantasy. I still had a crush on her and I wanted to be with her. But I knew that when everything calmed down, Carly would leave me faster than you can say "Sorry, Freddie". I was saving myself heartbreak and pain.

I then felt lips on my lips and I tasted chocolate. Sweet, dark chocolate.

Vivian pulled away from me and smiled, "Guess what Thursday is?"

I tried to think of what was going on Thursday, "Um…I'm not sure…"

Vivian prompted, "It will be February fourth…Your birthday."

I blinked, wondering where she was going with this.

She frowned at my lack of reaction, "I…I want to know what you want." She looked down and started to play with the ends of her nightshirt in a nervous fashion.

"You want to get me something?" I asked, confused.

Vivian's face became confused as she stammered, "I…well, yes I do. I know how much you like those techno gizmos and I was wondering if you wanted a laptop or a camera or something like that."

I didn't know why Vivian was being so generous. I did nothing to deserve it.

"You don't have to get me anything," I told her, sighing softly. It didn't feel right.

My relationship with Vivian was confusing. I loved her, but whether it was true love or just caught in the moment love was the problem. I tried to make a choice and make a decision, but my mind would go to Sam. I was still attached to her and I think I still love her in a crazy way.

Vivian sighed as she sat down on the bed next to me. She then leaned against me in a girly fashion, "I want to give you the world."

I sighed, "Well, I guess that a video camera would have to do," I told her, a smile on my face.

She grinned as she reached up and gave me a kiss, "No problem."

After we made love that night, I was awaken by the feel of someone tapping on my forehead. My eyes opened and I looked over to see Sam staring right at me. My heart started to panic as I saw her blue eyes stare at me. "S-sam?" I choked out.

Sam smiled slightly, "Yeah, dork, it's me." I then noticed that she had a bright glow around her like she was an angel straight from heaven.

I reached over to touch her.

She laughed, "Freddie, you're dreaming…Your hand will go right through me." I saw as my hand went through her arm.

I frowned as I sat up in the bed, "I'm dreaming?"

Sam nodded, "Yeah…" She looked over me and said, "Your black hair is going away…Good. I hated it black." She leaned over until she sat on the bed with me. She put her hand on my hand. It felt so real.

Her blue eyes wandered over to Vivan's own sleeping form. She frowned slightly before she took in a deep breath, "…She makes you happy, doesn't she?"

I stayed silent.

Sam looked down before her shoulders started to shake. I could see the tears well up in her eyes.

"Don't…don't cry," I told her as I reached up to try to wipe the tears away. My hand just went through her face.

Sam pulled away all the same, "No, this is how it was always meant to be. You were always destined to be with Miss Perfect." She looked back at Vivian and whispered, "Do you know who she reminds me of?"

"…Carly," I answered.

There was a silence as I watched Vivian's body morph. I saw her hair grow longer and lighter. I saw her body stretch out. I watched as her face angled more. The changes were so subtle that I barely distinguished between Vivian and Carly.

I looked back to Sam and I asked her, "How…are you doing now?"

She put a smile on her face, "Better…I'm actually sleeping now…It's hard to sleep alone. Two years of sleeping in the same bed with you…I was so used to feel of your body, the sound of your breath…"

I then saw that Sam was beginning to fade. I reached out to her, "Wait, don't go."

Sam sighed as she touched my cheek with her dissolving hand, "I love you, Freddie…"

It was then that she finally disappeared from my sight.


Monday…

I groaned as I woke up that morning. I looked over and saw that Rabbit had found his way on the bed. I smiled slightly as I rubbed his head. I looked out the window and saw that Jackson was getting on the school bus. That meant that it was about seven fifty.

I closed my eyes and I felt Rabbit lick my cheek. "Stop it," I mumbled as I turned over. I then felt his paws dig at me from over the covers. I opened my eyes to see that the dog was staring at me with a confused look in his eyes. I sighed, "Come on, don't be like that…I'm trying to sleep…" Rabbit crawled over and licked my forehead. "Go bother Vivian," I told him. Rabbit whined softly when I mentioned her name.

"Fine, I'll get up," I told him as I sat up in the bed. Rabbit barked happily before jumping off the bed and sitting down on the floor. I got out of the bed. I smiled as I let my feet touch the cold floor. It sent a cool shock through my body that woke me up. Rabbit followed me as I went into the kitchen, wondering if Vivian was up.

I saw her fully dressed body standing in front of the counter. She was using a long knife to cut some vegetables. I felt my body jump as she slammed the knife through the tomato like it was butter.

"Good morning, Freddie," Vivian greeted, sweetly, "I'm making an omelet, would you like one?"

Still fazed by the knife, I shook my head, "No, I'm not hungry."

Vivian began to dice the tomato, "So, how did you sleep?"

With the dream in my mind, I just told her, "I slept well. You?"

She replied as she put the tomatoes in the frying pan with the eggs, "I didn't sleep. Jackson had another nightmare. I stayed up with him all night."

I frowned at that. This had to be the third night in a row that she hasn't slept. That couldn't be good for her. "Why don't you sleep during the day? I can watch Jackson," I offered, concerned for her health.

Vivian grabbed a cucumber and rapidly began cutting the poor green vegetable, "The thing is that even when I sleep, I have nightmares, too. I left New York to get Jackson away from that. I left Seattle because I thought that the family would find me. Yet, it's not the family that scares me. It's Lucas."

I sat down at the kitchen table and watched her cut the vegetables, "Why? Is he really that powerful?"

She paused before she delivered another whack of the knife, "Lucas is next in line to take over the family. However, he only has a small bit of power. The don wouldn't trust him to handle all of the Las Vegas business, so someone else has to be pulling the strings. His power doesn't scare me. He scares me."

I wondered why, but I didn't press it. Vivian finished the cucumbers and threw them in the pan. She finished cooking her omelet. There was a somewhat comforting silence that filled the room.

Vivian then took the pan and slid the omelet into Rabbit's food bowl. The dog barked, happily as he began to gobble the omelet.

I looked at her, questionably.

Vivian turned to me and sighed, "I…wanted to cut something…"

That sounded like something Sam would say.

Feeling guilty about these thoughts I asked her, "So…calling the cops about all this is out of the question."

Vivian snorted as she walked over and sat down next to me, "Definitely. I don't trust the police…"

I shrugged before I asked, "Do you want me to stay with you today?"

She shook her head, "No. I have to go out shopping today. Why don't you go have fun with your friends? Get your mind off all this nastiness."

Deciding that I could go over to Jared's, I nodded, "Sure."

Vivian looked at me and I felt myself melt at her gaze. She was like one of those goddesses whose mere gaze made you feel like a completely different person. God, she was beautiful.

"Have fun," She whispered as she moved her mouth near my ear.

I started to feel shivers as she began to suck the outer shell of my ear. It was an extremely pleasurable feeling. I loved it. I was very ticklish around my ears. I let out a high-pitched giggle and that made Vivian dart out her tongue. She then started to kiss the neck area under my neck. I let out a moan as I reached up and ran my fingers through her dark hair.

Vivian was a very affectionate person. Sam wasn't like that. She preferred our teasing banter to making out. Though she would not object to playing tonsil hockey. Sam loved her tonsil hockey…

I whined slightly when Vivian pulled away. She laughed at me and kissed me on my forehead, "I have to go. See you later." She stood up and started to leave the kitchen.

"I love you," I called out to her.

There was a pause as Vivian opened the door and walked out of the house. I then heard it. "I love you, too."

I felt my heart well up at that.

There was no better feeling than someone telling me that they loved me. I felt needed and wanted and desired. I felt like I was the only key to that person's happiness.

Later…

I walked down the street to Jared's house. It's barely February and this heat is killing me. Stupid Las Vegas desert heat. I feel like I'm in the middle of Egypt. Anyway, I knocked on the door to Jared's house and Jared's little sister answered the door. She stared up at me with a bored expression, "Yeah?"

I asked her, "Hey…is Jared home?"

She blew a bubble gum bubble and popped it, "Jared got his ass kicked out. He's with his girlfriend now."

A silence passed over us before I asked, "…Where does his girlfriend live?"

She said, smacking on her gum, "My memory is hazy. I think that Mr. Andrew Jackson could refresh it."

I pulled a one twenty-dollar bill out of my wallet and gave it to her.

She pocketed the bill and told me, "She's got a place on West Street. Ugly house. Painted lime green. Got an even uglier dog chained out front…I'd be careful around it if I were you." She then slammed the door in my face.

West Street…That's over in the seedy part of Las Vegas. If my mother knew I was going there, she would have a heart attack. Oh well, it couldn't be that bad.

I walked down the street, listening to the sounds of the city. It calmed me down. I then noticed something in the air.

Church Bells…

St. Peter's Cathedral

The church that Lucas goes to.

Why didn't I think of this before? He's a religious guy. He would be there if he wasn't at the casinos or his mansion.

I practically ran down the sidewalk to the cathedral. I opened the doors and there he was. On his knees praying in front of the alter. Mumbling in Italian. I walked over to him. I had the state of mind to yank him off his feet, but he was praying. I wasn't crude. I wouldn't interrupt a person when he was in a religious setting.

Lucas finished his prayer and opened his eyes. He sighed, "I figured you would find me, Freddie…"

"…Explain to me why you tried to sell Jackson," I demanded, furiously. That image of finding Jackson tied to that bed still haunted me. I had assumed the worst. Images of Shannon crossed my mind. The stories Shannon told me were beyond description. I would rather die than have Jackson live that sort of life. He was just a child. He was barely starting his life. He didn't deserve it. To be raped and sold and used.

Lucas smirked as he stared at the alter, "…It was out of anger. An emotional thing. I would have calmed down before he was even out of the country. He was in no real danger."

"You scarred him for life," I told him as I grabbed his shoulder, "He's your little brother. Where's your heart?"

Lucas let out a harsh laugh, "My heart? Mmm…kneel with me, Freddie."

Not feeling I had a choice, I kneeled down next to him in front of the alter. I wasn't Catholic, so I felt a bit uncomfortable.

"Do you believe in God, Freddie?" Lucas asked me.

I turned to him and I saw that he was smiling at me.

"I believe in a God that burns people like you," I told him, seriously.

Lucas smirked, "You are under the impression that I'm going to hell. People who don't ask for forgiveness go to hell."

I rolled my eyes at his logic, "So…you do these bad things, ask for forgiveness, and resume doing these awful things."

The only light in the cathedral came from the candles surrounding the area.

"God does not seem to mind. You shouldn't either," Lucas told me.

There was a silence before Lucas told me, "Vivian…my stepmother…she is not what she appears to be. The peacock is gorgeous until you step outside its hold. Greedy and cruel and cunning."

I scoffed at this, "Vivian is the kindest, most caring-"

Lucas snapped, "She is a witch. She does what she can to control and manipulate a situation. She's a girl in an adult's body."

I rolled my eyes as I stared at the hard stone floor.

"…Did you know that my father couldn't even go on their honeymoon? My grandfather had put him in charge of this shipment in Seattle. Dad was always eager to prove himself to the don. So, he left Vivian in the middle of a hotel room in Rome. I felt sorry for her…So I took the next flight to Italy….What was she going to do by herself?" Lucas said.

I don't think that he was really talking to me. He had a dazed look in his eyes.

"…It must have been hard to call her your mother," I said, feeling a bit of sympathy for him. Just a bit.

Lucas let out another laugh, "She wanted to be my 'friend'…I was seventeen. She was eighteen. Of course it was hard to call her 'mom'."

There was another pause before Lucas asked me, "What is it about L'Amore that offends you so much? It is a business base on pleasure and it has been around for decades. Some presidents have enjoyed our services, in fact. Regan, Kennedy, Bush, Clinton."

I glared at him in disgust, "You force people to have sex against their will."

Lucas said, "They are repaying a debt. There is nothing immoral about it. Besides, if we didn't do it something else would. It's a service to society. And everyone wants it. Everyone wants their piece of paradise."

If anyone's paradise was raping under age girls and screwing little boys, they didn't deserve to have any happiness.

It was then that Lucas asked me, "Freddie, if you had the money and the connections to do and have anything you wanted, what would it be?…You would bring back Carly Shay wouldn't you?"

My eyes widened in surprise. How did he know about….

Lucas said, smirking, "I knew that name. Freddie Benson. So I looked it up. When I was a teenager, I watched iCarly on a daily basis. You guys were very funny."

Not knowing if I should be flattered or insulted, I stayed quiet.

"Especially your pathetic plays. Ingenious and hilarious," Lucas chuckled before he continued, "When Carly died, a part of you died, didn't it? Wouldn't you do anything at all to bring her back? And what if you had to do some things that you wouldn't do otherwise?"

He then stood up and he shook slightly. He held on to the alter for support. I stood up and tried to help him stand up.

Lucas sighed as he ran his fingers through his blond hair. He turned to me and told me, "Be careful around her…Vivian is one of those people that will turn on you in a moment."

I left him in the cathedral. I couldn't look at him anymore.

Later…

I looked at Molly's house nervously. The dog that Jared's sister told me about was a vicious rottweiler that was chained to a small pole in the middle of the yard. It was sleeping on the green grass, but I knew that if I got anywhere near that monstrosity that it would maul me like a wolf on a rabbit. Speaking of Rabbit….

I had gone back to Vivian's and I brought Rabbit with me. My dog was whimpering behind me at the sight of the rottweiler.

"It's okay, boy," I assured him as I walked with him up to the porch.

It was then that the rottweiler woke up and snarled at me. It then started barking and it lunged towards me. I yelled out as I ran back to the sidewalk. Rabbit was frozen in his place. The rottweiler was only a few feet away from mauling him.

I then heard the door to the house open. Molly peered from the house and yelled, "Angel! Heel!" It was then that the rottweiler stopped in its tracks. It sat down and glared at Rabbit like he was a piece of meat.

Molly went over to the rottweiler and rubbed her head, "Whose Mama's good girl? Angel is, yes she is." Angel panted as she rolled over and allowed Molly to rub her stomach.

I waved my hand, "Hey! Your dog tried to kill me!"

Molly cooed, "Angel is just protective of her mama. Isn't my precious Angel so protective? Yes she is…"

Rabbit watched the two curiously before he walked over to Angel.

The rottweiler growled and snapped at Rabbit.

Rabbit whined and ran back to me. I glared at Molly, "Control your mutt. Where's Jared?"

Molly stood up and said, "He's in his room. He can't see anyone. He has the flu."

I rolled his eyes, "Just let me see him."

The dark haired woman sighed as she walked up to the house. Rabbit and I started to follow her. Molly then turned around and said, "Leave that rat of yours outside. I just got the carpet cleaned." I glanced at Rabbit who looked at me with a 'please don't leave me here with that monster' expression on his face.

"…Just keep her chained up," I told Molly.

Rabbit whimpered as Angel snarled at him.

"Angel, be a good girl," Molly told her as she walked into the house. I went inside and followed her down the hallway. She knocked on a door in the hallway before she opened it and came in. I went in after her.

The first thing I noticed was the sling that came down from the ceiling. It held up Jared's broken leg. The second thing I noticed was the eye patch over his left eye. The third thing I noticed was that the right eye was black and swollen. The forth thing I noticed that white bandages covered his entire stomach and chest. The fifth thing I noticed was the smell of disinfectant in the air.

Being the son of mother with a germ phobia, I had become a connoisseur of disinfectant. Whether it is simple anti bacterial spray or the heavy-duty stuff, I can identify it simply by smell.

Boric acid was what I smelt. It's used to treat burns. I remember one time when I was young, I had touched the stove while it was on. My mother used boric acid on my hand every day for weeks. It was a smell that I was all too familiar with.

"Oh, hey Freddie," Jared greeted as he grabbed a tissue off the end table and sneezed into it. He threw it into a trashcan that was filled with tissue. He laid back down on the bed and groaned.

"…See, he's sick," Molly pointed out.

"What happened to him?" I demanded to know. I had a feeling that she was involved. Wait, scratch that. I knew she was involved.

"What happened?" I asked Jared.

The blond smiled at me, "Nothing. I just fell down the stairs…"

I rolled my eyes, "What stairs? This is a one story house."

Jared's face turned white before he stuttered, "I didn't fall down here…I…I fell down somewhere else…"

"Where?" I pressed him.

That's all I ever wanted. Every excuse I had ever made, I wanted them to poke holes in it. I wanted them to tear apart my little world.

Molly snapped at me, "Jared doesn't have to tell you a thing, Fredguardo."

I was about to snap back when I stopped myself, "…Did you just call me Fredguardo?"

"Do you have a problem with that, Freddifer?" Molly asked me.

Yes I have a problem with that…Sam is the only one allowed to mess with my name. Sam and Sam alone.

"…No," I told her as I looked back at Jared, "…My birthday is this Thursday…I was wondering if you want to hang out tomorrow. Just the six of us. Me, you, Whitney, Lucille, Vivian, and that." I pointed at Molly.

Molly glared at me as she got out a cigarette and lit it. She blew the smoke in my face, "I have a name, Fredwick."

I waved the smoke out of my face, "Really? I must have forgotten it. What was it again? Smokey?"

Molly blew another puff, "…Laaaame. If you're going to insult me, Fredbag, get drunk. That's the only time you're funny and/or sexually appealing."

"Anyway, we can hang out here if you can't leave," I told Jared, indicating the sling.

Jared shrugged, "No problem…You just want to hang out? That's it? Shouldn't you have a bash like the rest of the Las Vegas mini celebrities?"

I rolled my eyes, "Get drunk with five hundred strangers? No thanks."

Molly smirked, "So, you'd rather get drunk with a racist, a Stepford wife, a hottie, a party animal, and a tool?"

Jared looked at Molly, hurt, "I am not a tool."

Molly smiled and ruffled Jared's hair, "You know I love you, babe."

"I'm out," I said as I exited the room. I wasn't in the mood to watch this crap.

God, if I had to watch this for three years like Carly did, I would have starved myself to death, too.

I left the house and found an interesting sight.

Angel and Rabbit were nipping at each other and playing with each other.

"Rabbit," I scolded as I walked back to the sidewalk, "Don't go near that thing. It could kill you."

A low whine was heard from Angel as Rabbit and I walked away.

She was probably upset that her dinner was walking away.

…Did Molly just call Vivian a Stepford Wife?…

Later…

"Do you know when your mother is coming home?" I asked Jackson as I glanced up at the clock. Five…She should be back by now.

Jackson looked at me and shrugged, "I don't know…And I didn't know at four o'clock and I didn't know when I came home from school…What makes you think I would know now?"

He had a point.

The kid got up from the couch and informed me, "If you need me, I'm going over the Charity's house to make cookies." He looked at me, pleading, "Don't. Need. Me." He left the house quickly and slammed the door behind him.

I wonder if he has a crush on this Charity girl. He plays with her an awful lot…

I sat down on the couch and I drummed my fingers on the armrest. I didn't like not knowing where Vivian is…I didn't like it when she was away from me.

I got up from the couch, feeling restless. I went into the kitchen and opened the cabinet and looked over my small stash of wines. I pulled out a bottle of Shiraz and I opened it. I went back to the couch and sat down. I then poured the wine down my throat. I wasn't in the mood for taking it slow.

I could see these images in my head…

It was then that I finally heard the door open. I turned to see that Jackson was coming in. Hiding my disappointment, I asked, "Why did you come back so soon?"

Jackson looked at me, weirdly, "It's seven o'clock. I came back because I want dinner."

I frowned at that and stood up. I walked into the kitchen and asked, "What do you want?"

The red headed boy followed me into the kitchen, "I want my mother to cook me something."

Jackson could be difficult at times. "Well," I said, patiently, "She's not here. I don't know when she's coming back. Are you sure I can't cook you something?"

There was a short pause before Jackson said, "I'll make a sandwich." He went over to the refrigerator and pulled out the sliced ham.

The faint scent of ham tickled my nose. I instantly thought of Sam.

"So, if you had to chose between me or ham, who would you pick?"

"…Never make Mama chose between her two loves."

"Come on!"

"I'd choose you, of course. And then gorge myself on fried chicken."

"Sam!"

"Freddie!"

"I love you, Sam."

"Love you, too, dork."

I reached for the cabinet and pulled out another bottle of Shiraz. I need to make these thoughts go away. Usually all I need is Vivian's mere presence to whisk me off into dreamland. But she's not here. Where is she?

Jackson finished making his sandwich and disappeared into his room. I was alone in the kitchen. I opened the bottle of wine and poured it down my throat.

Chug…Chug…Chug…

That's when I heard it. The opening of a door. I perked up instantly and went to the living room.

Vivian came inside with several bags in her hands. She looked at me and smiled, "Hey, Freddie, how are you-"

"Where were you?" I asked her. Why did my voice sound so harsh? It was a just a question.

Vivian paused before she answered, "I was out shopping. There was a car wreck on the way home. I had to take a detour."

I walked up close to her and asked, "Why didn't you call?"

She looked up at me with an unsure look in her eyes, "My cell phone was dead. Freddie, are you okay?"

I looked her over. She looked that same as when she left, but I smelt something different. I smelt cologne. I smelt several different types of cologne.

"…Where was the car wreck?" I asked.

Vivian set down the bags and looked at me, strangely, "It…It was on Johnson Lane. I had to circle the whole city to get here…"

I asked, "You can just go down South Avenue and take a right down Brighton. It would take you right into our neighborhood."

She looked away from me, "I haven't been in Las Vegas as long as you have. I don't know my way around."

That smell of cologne got stronger as she moved past me. She picked up the bags and went into the bedroom.

I followed after her and asked, "So…what did you buy that took all day long to get?"

Vivian put the bags up in the closet and she said, quickly, "Oh, nothing. Just this and that. I spent most of my time exploring. Las Vegas is interesting, isn't it?"

A frown formed on my face as I wondered why she was doing that.

"…Why couldn't you have called me? I was in the city, we could have gone out together or something," I pressed as I went up to Vivian.

Vivian started to back away from me, "I told you. My cell phone was dead."

I walked closer to her, wondering why she was backing away from me, "Why are you going out without a charged cell phone? What if I need to get up with you? What if Jackson gets hurt?"

It was then that Vivian had finally backed up against the wall. She then asked me, "Freddie…have you been drinking?"

I rolled my eyes, "Barely two bottles. And don't change the subject. I hate it when people do that."

Vivian's head was pressed against the wall and she looked up at me with wide eyes. I love it when her eyes get big. It's the anticipation that wells them up to near abnormal size.

I leaned down to kiss her and I felt her press her small hands against my shoulders. She pushed me away and went over to the other side of the room.

Vivian turned to me and she told me, "I can't talk to you like this." Her eyes went down to their original, small size.

I don't understand. What was I doing that was wrong? I was just asking her some questions. Legitimate questions, mind you.

She's lucky. I know that if I came home late without a plausible story, Sam would press me and press me until I cracked like an egg.

"Why do you smell like cologne?" I asked her as I walked over to her.

Vivian's eyes widened once more as she said, slowly, "I don't smell like cologne."

Liar. I could smell it. Spicy, rich scents that tickled my nose. Some like chocolate, some like aftershave. How did she get these scents to stick to her body?

"…Whatever," I told her as I went over to the bed and lied down.

Maybe I am imagining it.


Tuesday…

"So, explain this to me again. What is the point of this?" Jared asked as he went to sit down on the couch. He set his crutches by the end table and propped his leg on the ottoman.

"To win. Every sport's point is to win," Whitney explained as he pointed to the screen where he decided that we were going to watch football.

"I thought the point was to have fun," I accused, smirking at him as Jared handed me the bowl of popcorn.

"What kind of fool has fun losing?" Whitney asked me as he leaned back and stared at the game.

I looked over to see that Vivian, Molly, and Lucille were sitting over at the table. They were looking away from each other with a bored expression on their faces. Vivian was filing her nails, Lucille was reading a trashy romance novel, and Molly was smoking on a cigarette.

Besides from introducing themselves, I doubt that the girls spoke one word to each other.

"So, Freddie, how old are you now?" Whitney asked me.

"Twenty-three next Thursday," I told him.

"Aw…" Jared cooed, "You're just a kid."

I rolled my eyes as I grabbed a handful of popcorn and threw it at him, "I'm not above insulting the cripple kid."

"So, how are things with you and Lucille?" I asked Whitney.

Whitney sighed before he took a handful of popcorn and ate it, "Not good. She thinks I'm cheating on her with Valerie out of all people."

I laughed at that, "Valerie? Don't you two hate each other?"

He shook his head, "What? I don't hate V-Girl. She doesn't like me. But the-"

"…Wait, did you just call Valerie "V-Girl"?" I asked him. Isn't that slang for something vulgar?

"Yeah. That's my pet name for her. V-Girl. Valerie calls me "that damn hooligan Freddie hangs out with", so I figured I would give her a name. See, V-Girl is one of those acronyms. V is for Valerie can. G is for Go die. I is for In a. R is for Ravenous. L is for Lagoon. So I'm calling her "Valerie can go die in a ravenous lagoon," Whitney said, proudly.

"Whitney…can I buy some pot from you?" Jared asked with a serious expression on his face before he laughed.

I laughed before I looked back to the girls. Instead of ignoring each other, they were talking to each other. Smiling and giggling. I frowned at that, wondering how they could change so quickly.

"How do three girls that have nothing in common laugh like that?" I asked.

"Are you sure they have nothing in common? Maybe they like those true crime love novels that all women like," Whitney said.

"No. I'm pretty sure that the last book Molly read was Boogey Bear III," Jared said, seriously.

"…They have us in common," I mused, "They might be talking about us."

"Someone's a bit self-centered," Whitney joked as he punched me playfully.

Lucille laughed, softly as she reached over and touched Vivian's arm before she whispered something to her.

Vivian blushed red before she looked over at the three of us. She let out a loud giggle before turning back to Lucille and Molly.

"What are they giggling about?" Jared wondered as he took a look at them.

Whitney shrugged, not concern, "Make up and glitter and Edward Cullen and Facebook and Lysol and how painful childbirth is. You know, what women usually prattle on about."

"I have never heard Vivian talk about those things," I said.

"Molly neither," Jared told us.

Whitney sighed, "Women just go on and on and on. I just tune them out after awhile. Just grunt and say "yeah" every couple of sentences and you are fine."

I asked, "Whitney, what's it like to have absolutely no sensitivity? Does it feel good?"

"Yep," Whitney nodded. He looked over to Lucille, "Hey, babe, why don't you fix us a couple of martinis?"

"I ain't your damn maid," Lucille snapped before she went on talking to Molly and Vivian.

Whitney looked over at Jared and sighed, "Since this is your place, you should be supplying us with drinks. Por favor?"

Jared sighed as he looked over at Molly, "Um, Molly, can you get us some drinks? If it's not too much trouble?"

Molly glanced over at us and said, sarcastically, "Sure. And then, I'll clean the house and cook all the meals and fix that light bulb in the bathroom and work on the roof and slave away in the fields while you laze around like some bum."

"She's a keeper," Whitney said as he nudged Jared.

I then looked over at Vivian and started, "Vivian, can you fix us some drinks?"

"Okay," Vivian said as she got up and went into the kitchen.

Whitney and Jared looked at me with an amazed expression.

"How did you do that?" Whitney asked.

"Probably because I treat her like a person. Not an annoyance or the plague," I said. I didn't mean to be mean.

Whitney grunted before he took another handful of popcorn.

Vivian came back with six shots of whiskey. She gave us our whiskey and went to sit back with the girls.

I drunk my whiskey and looked over to the girls once again. There they were again. Laughing and giggling.

Whitney sighed as he looked over and asked, "Hey, what are you girls giggling about?"

"Um, lighthouses?" Molly said, her face red. The three girls looked at each other before they laughed.

"See, Freddie, they're talking about lighthouses," Whitney said as he looked back to the television.

"…And people say I'm gullible," I muttered as I asked, "Come on, girls, what are you talking about?"

"…Race cars," Lucille said, bluntly. She couldn't keep a straight face before she laughed, wildly.

"This is going to bother me," I mused before looking at the television.


Wednesday…

Ring…Ring…Ring…

I groaned as I rolled over in the bed and held the body next to me. I tried to go back to sleep.

Ring…Ring…Ring…

I opened my eyes and found myself lying next to Vivian in our bed. Her body fitted nicely with mine as I held her close to me. I closed my eyes and tried to go back to sleep.

Ring…Ring…Ring…

Vivian groaned as she reached over towards the phone on the end table. I frowned as I felt that body leave me. "Don't. Let them leave a message," I told her as I pulled her back.

Ring…Ring…Ring…

She sighed, "The phone has been going off all morning. They are never going to stop." Vivian reached over and grabbed the phone, "Hello?…Okay, here he is." She handed the phone to me.

I sighed as I said into the phone, "Hello?"

"Freddie! How is my favorite son?" My mother asked me, with a peppiness that I didn't need at six thirty in the morning.

"Hey, Mom…I'm fine. What can I do for you?" I asked as sat up in the bed.

"Valerie tells me that you have a new girlfriend," My mother said.

I rolled my eyes, "Yeah…I do."

"When do I get to meet her?" My mother asked, excitedly.

"…Um, I don't know, Mom. She's…pretty busy," I said.

Vivian laid her head in my lap and I smiled down at her as I stroked her hair.

My mother pressed, "Freddie, this might be the girl that will give me grandchildren. We both know that Sam isn't equipped to be a mother. So this girl's our only chance."

I held back my anger and said, calmly, "Hold on. Let me ask her." I put the phone down before I looked at Vivian who was looking at me, curiously.

"How do you feel about meeting my neurotic mother?" I asked her.

Vivian smiled, "I would love to."

She's going to end up regretting that. I just know it.

I picked the phone back up and said into it, "Vivian would love to meet you."

My mother said, pleased, "Fantastic. I'll be over there at seven o'clock tonight. I love you." She then hung up on me.

I sighed as I put the phone up.

Vivian looked up at me, concerned, "Are you okay?" She asked as she sat up and grabbed a pillow.

"Yeah, I'm fine, it's jus that-" I was cut off when she hit me with the pillow.

"What was that for?" I asked, laughing slightly at her smile.

Vivian teased, "Pillow fight." She hit him again with the pillow.

I picked up a pillow and hit her again. We stood up on the bed and started to hit each other with the pillows. Our laughs filled the room. I was in a moment of bliss until something happened.

"Freddie, promise me something."

"Whatever you want, Sam."

"Promise me that you will never leave me."

"I promise. I love you, Sam. You're the only girl that I would want."

"And you're the only boy I want."

Sam, why did we mess up what we had?