Chapter Eight – Cleaning up

I tossed the bag into the garbage can outside, it banged loudly, and I could hear the vase pieces shatter. "That should be about it." I checked my watch; it was twelve forty five, just in time since Mr. Morris should be home any minute now. I headed back for Heather's apartment. She was sitting at the table, holding her head. I sat down across from her. "Dad should be home any minute now." I leaned forward. "You going to tell him about this?" She quickly looked up at me. "Definitely not, it'd just worry him." I stood out of my chair. I needed to head home, to think all this over, plus I was getting sick of seeing Heather so bent out of shape, and maybe she just needs some time alone right now. "I'm going to go ahead and head home, you sure you're going to be ok?" She nodded her head slowly. I smiled and walked towards the front door. As I reached for the knob, I took one last look at her. She said she was ok, but she still looked like shit. I walked back and crouched beside her. "It'll be ok, everything will work out." She turned towards me. "That's easy for you to say! You didn't see the things I saw, feel what I felt!" I stood up and stepped back a little. "What the hell? I'm trying to help, and she just shoves me away?" She shook her head. "Just leave already, I'm fine, ok!" I walked back to the doorway, but I didn't leave. Heather was not ok; I couldn't leave her like this. She kept glancing at me. I sighed. "I don't like this, but if she wants me leave, I will." "Bye Heather." I shut the door behind me and started back to my house. As I climbed the stairs, I heard a noise and stopped. "Kyle, Kyle wait!" I turned around to see Heather running towards me. She climbed up the stairs and met me halfway. "Kyle, I'm sorry, I didn't mean what I said." I shook my head. "Heather, it's ok, I know you didn't." She leaned against the wall. "I'm just so pissed at this, everything going on. Nothing makes any sense." I sat down on the stairs. She looked at me. "The weird thing is, I almost feel like this is familiar."

"What, have you had dreams like it or something?" She sat down beside me. "No, well, it's just, it looked like something I've seen before, that's all." "How could it be familiar, I doubt she's seen any horror movie like it." I took my cigarettes out; Heather snatched one without thinking. "I don't get what you're saying, since…" I paused to light my cigarette and hers. "Since I don't think you've ever seen any movie like that." She blew out a stream of smoke. "Yeah, I've never SEEN anything like it, but there's just something about it." I took a puff. "Like déjà vu?" She nodded her head. I stood up and started again for my apartment, Heather following beside me.

I searched my pocket for my keys while she snuffed the cigarettes out on the floor. After unlocking the door; she followed me in. We both stood in the doorway, not knowing what to say. "She still looks scared, but I know she'll be fine, she's strong." "If you need anything, come by, ok?" "I'll be fine, it's ok…" I reached for the doorknob. "You sure?" She nodded her head slowly. "Shit, I know I shouldn't leave her like this…" "It'll be fine, we'll get through this…" She shook her head. "I can't Kyle, I can't…" She leaned against the doorway and held her head. "I'm not, scared of what I saw. It's…" She wiped her eyes. "How could a dream hurt me, how?"

"What can I tell her now? I have to tell her it wasn't some monster, that it was all me. I can't explain what she saw, but she can't be afraid, she needs to know." If only I had the nerve to tell her, but I can't, it'd make things worse. It'd kill her; she would breakdown, knowing I hurt her. I shrugged my shoulders. "Maybe you just hit your head?" She scoffed. "I didn't just hit my head! I saw that thing attacking me! I'm not making this shit up!" She grabbed my hand tightly. "Go ahead, feel my head, feel it!"

I felt my hand trembling. "What the hell is she doing?" She put my hand on the back of her head with an angry look in her eyes. I felt something warm and wet, a gash maybe. My fingers grazed it; she winced with tears in her eyes. "You see Kyle? I didn't just hit my head, ok!" She threw my hand back, a faint amount of blood where I felt her wound.

"I did that to her? I thought it was only a bump or something? God, what the fuck did I do to her!" She breathed quickly, staring at me. "You believe me now?!" I merely shook my head. She took a deep breath and wiped her eyes, ready to cry. "I'm, sorry, I just…" She hugged me. "I'm so fucking scared Kyle, I just want to go to sleep, but I can't even do that."

I kissed her forehead lightly, rubbing the back of her head. "Do you need me to stay up with you or something?" She shook her head and sniffed. "No, I'm just exaggerating, I'll be alright." I walked her back to the stairs. "Take it easy, ok? If you need anything, call me." I hugged her one last time, afraid to let go. "I love you Heather." She looked deep into my eyes and spoke softly. "I love you Kyle." I finally saw those peaceful, beautiful eyes that I love, and that was all the proof I needed that she was ok

I had it all planned out. The next day, we'd watch a movie at my house, and hang out at the mall, just like we've been doing for all these years. Hopefully we would forget what happened today and have a good time.