Chapter 12: Dinner and a Theater

"I can't believe it!"

Pip steps forward carefully.

"You... you could, maybe, stay... y'know at my house..."

What? This boy is fucking nuts.

"...No."

"But where are you gonna stay?"

I look at the notice. It's clearly marked: Eviction of Zitch, Joanna. Yup... it's for real.

"Man, this sucks."

Pip ripped the notice off of the door and read it silently to himself.

"Where are you going to stay?"

"I'll stay at a shelter."

Pip grabs my shoulder roughly.

"No. I forbid it! You will stay at my house. End of discussion."

When did he become so forceful? Man... weird.

"...Oh... okay...?"

Pip pulls out a cell phone.

Pip leads me down to his car. A long, black car. A... limousine, I think. He opens the door for me and practically shoves me in. He shuts the door, comes to the other side and gets in. What's gotten into him? He's acting really weird. We sit at the end of the limo side by side, silent. The car jeers into motion quickly and we are on our way. Oh shit! My stuff! ...Oh well, I barely had anything. Except the book, the sketch book.

"We need to go back!"

"For what?"

No! If I say what it is he'll think I'm so kind of, like, obsessed freak!

"I-I forgot the book."

He looks at me, confused.

"What book?"

I heave a sigh.

"The drawing book you gave me."

He chuckled softly.

"I didn't realize you liked it so much... Hey! Michael can we turn around real quick?"

"Yes, Sir."

"Thanks."

After the short trip back I get back into the car. Pip and I sit in a semi-awkward silence. Then he turns his head to look at me.

"Thank you for coming with me."

Huh? Didn't he force me to? That's strange.

"No problem."

We sit quietly for another minute. Pip chuckles.

"What are laughing at?"

"Nothing."

"Then what is it?"

He looks at the roof of the car.

"I just got the craziest idea."

He shifts in his seat to face me. He reaches up and touches my face delicately. I blush hotly. His face nears mine. Where is this coming from? Why is he so secure? This is bizarre. He kisses me gently. ...Oh... He pulls away slowly. He's blushing very, very red.

"Just a crazy idea."

His other hand reaches up and touches my lips. What's going on here? He kisses me again. More confidently this time. I push him away this time.

"That was creepy..."

Pip withdraws his hands and places them onto the seat.

"I'm sorry... I really don't know where that came from..."

"Master Pippin we're home," the driver announces.

Oh my god! He was there the whole time! I put my head in my hands. Aw, shit! I feel like a slut!

"Thank you Michael."

Pip opens his door and gets out. I hear my door open.

"Miss?"

Michael is holding his hand out. I think he wants to shake. Yes? I shake his hand. He looks at me curiously. He took me hand and helped me out of the car. Oh! That's what that was. I feel stupid. I grab my sketch book.

"Kim over here!"

Pip points at a HUMONGOUS house.

"Is that a mall?"

"Welcome home!"

I walk to his side in bewildered silence. Holy shit. He lives here?

"Oh... my..."

"Nice, huh?"

He runs to the front door. I get it. He's lying. He doesn't really live here. He probably lives in a shack in the back of it as the gardener or something. But then he whips out a key and unlocks the door. He isn't lying?

"Come on Kim!"

I race up to him inside the house is even more impressive than the outside. White marble floors, two elegant rounded staircases parallel, and a tasteful dining room with dark, cherry wood furniture. I can't help, but stare.

"Darling? Are you home?"

What? Padma's here? She comes trotting into the foyer in a skimpy little swim suit. I heave a sigh. I knew this was too good to be true. There's always a catch! Padma stops skipping and stares balefully at me.

"What is she doing here, Darling?"

Pip shrugs.

"She's has no where else to stay."

"That doesn't mean she can stay here!"

"I invited her! And I live here!"

"But-!"

"Just... shut up Padma."

Padma gasps sharply. Like no one's ever told her to shut up. She snaps angrily. Sunder Lal ran speedily to her aide, babbling in their made up language. Padma and I lock eyes again. Evil bitch. God, I hate her! Prissy whore.

"Is she staying here, too?"

I ask. Padma grits her teeth angrily. Pip replies optimistically.

"Yes, of course!"

Sunder Lal's attention snaps to me. My heart beats faster and a chill run up my spine. The venom in his eyes makes me cringe. I reach out for his hand and interlace my own fingers in his. I sort of scoot behind him. Pip blushes slightly, chuckling quietly.

"You!"

Our attention is redirected to the outside. The door had been left open in carelessness. None but my mother walks into the room. Booze in one had and a beer in the other. What the hell is she doing here? She's positively trashed... She hiccups.

"Oh!"

She sees Pip and smiles fiendishly. She saunters up to him placing a finger to his cheek and brings it to his chin with a horny purr. Pip has a look utter surprise. He backs up a bit. That stupid bitch!

"Quit, woman!"

My mother spins on her heel and scowls at me. She slaps me about the face.

"You quit, whore!"

She giggles shamelessly. Damn you! Why must you make my life even more miserable that it already is? I slap her back.

"Kim, don't."

Pip says in a meek, quiet tone. Mother throws her bottle to the ground in rage. She punches me in the face. It makes me stagger back.

I curse myself silently. Hit her back what are you waiting for? Intervention. Which, this time, comes in the form of Pip's hand on my shoulder. Stupid drunk... Again she giggles. I hear Padma make a comment to Sunder Lal in that bullshit language of hers. It almost makes me want to laugh... Like, this is how fucked up my life is. Pip puts on a happy expression and asks,

"Would you care to come in?"

Mother looks at him like he's a talking dog. She giggles gaily and walks further into the house. Padma watches my mother, scowling.

"Awful!"

Pip follows mother hurriedly, trying to keep her from breaking things.

"Please don't touch that, Mrs. Zitch!"

"Where do you plan on putting her?"

I ask Pip mundanely. I twirl the fancy wine glass full of water set out by Padma. He looks at the embroidered tablecloth cheerlessly.

"I don't know... This house is big enough. But, I must admit, I'm really scared of her..."

"She'd be better off at a shelter. Or better yet, living in a cardboard box in some random, dark alley."

I let a chuckle slip. He seems surprised at my total lack of empathy. Well, I guess I can understand... his parents actually gave a damn. Sorry to disappoint.

"How can you say that? She's your mother!"

I take a small sip of water.

"Now she's not. I disown her from this moment forward."

Pip sighs unhappily.

"Why can't you learn to forgive and forget?"

I grind my teeth. You know damn well!

"You've seen only the good side. She gets violent sometimes. She'll rape you."

Pip looks at me like I'm joking.

"That's funny."

I smile sarcastically. His face twists into an expression of extreme horror. I take another sip of water. Pip sits quietly for a while.

"Really?"

I laugh inwardly. He really doesn't know anybody that's really all that bad. I almost feel bad ruining his image of other people... actually... ah, no.

"It's a shame you have to put up with her, Pip... I'll try and figure something out by nightfall."

Pip glances at me then back at his own glass. I hear him heave a disheartened sigh. He glimpses at me then returns his gaze to his glass, smiling.

"That would be nice."

"Don't touch me, bitch!"

Mother giggles again.

"Get up you stupid hag! Come eat!"

I tug at the pillow she's resting her feet on.

"Get offa Pip's couch!"

Mother laughs uproariously. She swigs more of the wine she'd stolen from Pip's parent's liquor cabinet.

"You named the puppy!"

What the hell is she babbling about now? Puppy? What puppy? What...? Damn drunk.

"Do you want to eat or not?"

Mother breaks into a fit of giggles. Oh, for crap sake! I grab her legs and pull her off of the couch, letting her fall painfully on her back. She moaned in agony.

"Food, now!"

I turn and walk out of the room. Dumb whore. I sit at the place set for me by Padma. She's already sitting across from me, glowering. Pip seats himself at the head of the table between Padma and myself. Sunder Lal stares blankly ahead. He's so big that his hand is almost the size of the plate. Padma doesn't seem to notice that he's right next to her. Finally, mother drunk-ly saunters in. She plops into the seat next to me. Padma raises her eyebrows in distaste at my mother. Everyone is silent. It's all rather awkward. Pip keeps looking out the window behind him. Padma picks at her salad and chats with Sunder Lal in her stupid made up language. I hear the word 'key' mentioned in sarcastic, angry tones. They're talking about me. Mother on the other hand... downs her food with no control what so ever. And has random laughing fits. Pip stands up and slams his hand on the table, demanding the attention of everyone present.

"Padma, Sunder Lal, Kim, please take me to the room."

Padma and Sunder Lal stand and start walking away. I quickly get up and follow. The four of us head towards the left staircase in the foyer. Padma pushes aside the potted plant that rested below the staircase. She pulls aside the small tapestry. Behind it is a small door.

"Where does this go?"

Padma glares at me,

"That was a stupid question!"

"Don't scold her, she doesn't know."

Pip opens the door and couches to get through. Padma follows then Sunder Lal, then me. Once we're all in I shut the door behind me. Now we're a short dark hallway. I notice another small door. Pip looks back at me. He smiles sadly. I don't understand. Why does he look so sad? I guess he's just one of those split personalities... I barely get what I just said.

"This is it."

Pip says softly. Auuugh! Why is he being so... depressively annoying? Padma reaches for a shoe box by the door.

"I got the chains."

Chains? Pip nods and undoes one, two, three, four, five, six, seven... eight locks. EIGHT locks? Two chain locks and six deadbolts. Damn! What are they keeping in there? Pip gently pulls the door open. Behind the door is another room Pip hops in. The doorway was up in the middle of the wall. There was a few good feet between the floor and the edge of the door. If ever there were a room to describe 'personal prison' this would really be it. It's a small room, no windows or doors. There is blood. Bloody writing is etched on the wall. An anarchist symbol is finger-painted in dry blood. More obscene statements are dyed into the walls. Blood is splattered across every wall and across the floor, each trail of spatter leading to large, pooled stains. The bones of animals and people alike are strewn carelessly across the floor. A severed human hand lay in the corner. A dark blue sheet is crumpled up in the middle of the floor, also stained with blood. This room is a murderous pit. Pip looks about a sad smile on his face. It's like he saying, "This is how low I've sunk". It actually made me feel bad for him.

"Well... I guess I'll see you in the morning. Sleep well, Kim. You too Padma."

Padma blows him a kiss.

"Good night."

Sunder Lal grunts in response. Padma shuts the door and does up the locks.

"Back up."

We all backed out of the passage.