55
[Patrick]
It was after 9 by the time we rolled into Kat's driveway.
I sat in the car for a few moments and the dread I'd left behind came roiling back like a bad case of heartburn.
Someone tapped at the window and I was surprised to see Wally. "You OK?" he called through the glass.
I shrugged and got out. "What do you think?" My home life sucked, and we both knew it.
Kat came striding over and glanced between us with wide eyes. "What?"
That was 'is everything cool' and 'what the hell is going on' all rolled into one. "Nothing," I said, glad to duck my head as I pulled out my duffel bag from the back seat.
I felt someone touch my shoulder and looked down at Wally's hairy fingers. When I looked up, he dropped his hand and said, "You're welcome to sleep on our couch."
Something stirred the sludge in my gut and a shard of gratitude pierced through. "Yeah?"
"It's a time-limited offer. Tick tock," Wally said, lips quivering slightly as he waited for my answer.
"Hmm, that's a tough one," I said, as if trudging home was first on my list.
Wally whistled a few bars of the Jeopardy theme. "Well, son, what's it gonna be? Flopping on our couch, or sneaking your way past an abusive drunk?"
"I'll stay here."
Kat cocked her head. "Are you punking us, Dad?"
He made a face and pointed at the house. "Are you kidding? Get moving."
She looked over and smiled before following her Dad up the walk.
I grinned back and decided I'd endure whatever Wally put me through if it meant spending more time with her.
The world is a vampire, sent to drain
Secret destroyers, hold you up to the flames
And what do I get, for my pain?
Betrayed desires, and a piece of the game
Bullet with Butterfly Wings, Lyrics by Billy Corgan
[Patrick]
I awoke to find myself face down in the grass behind Kat's house. Dew drenched my T-shirt and I shivered in the cool evening air as I got to my feet. An empty Doritos bag crunched under my toes and as I scooped that up, I swore under my breath.
The sleepwalking/eating pattern was starting up again, and I'd only been home for a few hours.
With a glance to see if the coast was clear, I snuck back into the house and grabbed my cell phone.
The downstairs bathroom was a safe haven, and I locked the door and put on the fan to cover the sound of my voice.
Jess was on speed dial, and being the night owl that he was, he picked up on the first ring. "S'up, dude?"
It was great to hear his sunny voice. "You got my stuff?"
"Hmm...yeah, safe and sound." I could hear the sound of sketching and then the swipe of his eraser.
"Did they give you any crap?"
"Naw, the door was wide open and they were out cold."
That wasn't even funny anymore. "Figures. Did they come looking for me?"
Jess dropped his pencil with a clatter. "Yeah, what's up with that? Lauren was a nasty bitch and tried to grab your cello."
"It's complicated."
He snorted derisively. "Of course it is."
"It's all about the money, dude."
"As in, you don't have any?"
My jaw clenched slightly as an angry laugh escaped my lips. "Not yet, but I will soon."
"You're shitting me."
"Not this time."
"You rob a bank or something?"
"Something like that," I said with a laugh.
"Next time, can I be the wheel man?"
"Shut up." My voice was mild as I looked at the ceiling and noticed a water stain on the ceiling (my next project, no doubt).
"Anything else you need? Like maybe dropping your stuff back at the Lauren love shack?"
"No," I said forcefully. "I'm not going back there."
"I see. So are you camping in the park?"
"Naw, I've graduated to my girlfriend's couch."
"Ooh, sounds like your little road trip paid off."
I loved Jess like a brother, but he was as shallow as they came when it came to matters of the heart. "Totally. Can you believe I have a baby sister?"
"How is that even...no way, really?"
"Really. She's Rachel's daughter."
There was a metallic clunk as Jess dropped the phone. When he picked it back up, he said, "So that means..."
"Yeah, she's my Mom."
"Dude, that's epic."
"Tell me about it. Stop by the shop tomorrow and I'll fill you in."
"'K. Any other secrets you want to spill?"
"Some other time. Later."
