Embracing the Future

Chapter 9: Haunted

A/N: SORRY SORRY SORRY SORRY SORRY! I HAVEN'T UPDATED IN FOREVER! I AM SOOOOO SORRY! PLZ FORGIVE ME! I HAD SEVERE WRITERS BLOCK AND THEN I JUST FORGOT BUT THEN PIRATEBABE AND ANIMEGIRL REVEIWED AND I REMBERED AND THE GUILT IS IMENSE. So once again, SORRY FOR NEGLECTING U ALL! On with the story…

Pony's POV:

I paced the room biting my lip as I watched Arri sleep. I should've taken her to a hospital, I thought angrily, she probably would've refused to go though, knowing her. I sighed and continued pacing, as I paced I saw my old run down acoustic guitar in the corner of my room. I couldn't help it, I wondered if it would still play.

I sat down on a chair and picked up the guitar, I was rather good at improvising, so I strummed out a random tune. After about half an hour I sighed and stopped playing.

"Pretty song," I heard a soft voice say.

Arri's POV:

I smiled weakly as he jumped almost dropping the guitar and turned to look at me.

"Arri," he said turning to look at me, "you're awake!"

"Ya," I mumbled sitting up. "Whoa…" I breathed taking in how I looked.

"Oh," said Pony, "Uh, you remember where the shower is?"

I blinked and then remembered. I couldn't help but smile as I remembered how I knew. That had been an interesting encounter… I giggled "Very well." I replied.

Pony gave a small smile and I got up and left to go shower, only a little bit of dizziness and weak knees. It felt so good to wash away the blood and dirt. Suddenly I remembered everything that had happened, I had known, I just hadn't really thought about it. Now it was sinking in. My Dad taking me, Pony saving me, and My Mom leaving to go and find us a new house, coming to live-WAIT! My brain seemed to screech at me as I backtracked on my list. NEW HOUSE? I felt like crying. I can't leave! It'd mean leaving Pony, and I can't leave him! I can't! I can't! I can't! It's ridiculous! It's absurd! It's…for the best…

I finished showering and wrapped a towel around myself. I opened the door only to trip over my suitcase that Pony must've left in front of the door. You'd think he knew me better by now. I slowly got back up cursing my suitcase as I dragged it into the bathroom and got dressed.

As I walked up the stairs I thought about leaving here. The thought was almost unbearable but I'd have to face it sooner or later. I walked back into Pony's room to find him in the chair, asleep slumped over the guitar.

He must've gotten almost no sleep. I thought as I walked over to him gently taking the guitar from him he fell onto my shoulder, nearly knocking me over with his weight. I managed to drag him to the bed. I was surprised he hadn't woken up through that whole process. I stared at him as he slept for a few minutes before going downstairs.

I went into the kitchen and opened the fridge. God, they have bad diets. Lots of chocolate cake and chocolate milk. I found eggs toward the back and pulled them out to make scrambled eggs, and there was a bit of bread for toast. I put the pan on the stove for the eggs and put toast in the toaster and started rummaging through the drawers to find a knife to spread the butter.

I finally found the silverware drawer and pulled out a knife. I stared at my reflection on the cold reflective surface of the knife. I suddenly remembered the feel of that knife of my fathers piercing my flesh. The scar on my side itched and my hand started to shake slightly, making my reflection in the knife waver. The only clear thing was the dark blur of my wet hair and my piercing green eyes. Those green eyes I hated so badly…

I carefully put down the knife and turned off the stove (I didn't want to start a fire. Jeez.) before sinking down with my back against the counter and closing my eyes and telling myself, "Breathe in, breath out". It worked pretty well and still shaking slightly, my back to the kitchen entrance, I put everything away. I wasn't very hungry anymore.

I turned around and saw Pony standing there, leaning against the door frame, looking at me with a concerned look. "You ok?" he asked me quietly.

I gave him a wary smile, "I'm ok, really." He didn't look convinced but nodded and sat down at the table.

Sitting down across from him, I looked him in the eye. My eyes widened as I looked, there was something in his eyes…it was the same look I had…that haunted look. Why was he haunted? I shook my head and forgot about it. "So, is it ok with your parents that I'm staying here? I don't want to…uh…what's that word Pony?"

He smiled and said, "Intrude?"

"YES! I don't mean to intrude."

He shrugged a sad look in his eyes, "I would ask them if I could but they're dead."

I nearly fell out of my chair, "I'm sorry, I think I heard you wrong. They're what?"

"Dead." He said the emotionless look he had the first time I met him back in his eyes. "They died a while ago."

"Oh, my God. I'm sorry-I just-I never. Oh screw it. What I'm attempting to say is that I didn't know, I never even guessed that they might be." I felt a tug at my heart for Pony, I had never known.

"It's fine." Pony said flatly giving a smile that didn't reach his eyes.

"So is that why," I said rather timidly, "You look haunted?"

"I look what?"

"Haunted. Like something keeps bugging you and won't leave you alone."

"Oh, well that's half of it, I guess."

Pony's POV:

"Half of it?" Arri said a puzzled expression on her face. She cocked her head to the side slightly like a dog. Why must she do little things like that? It makes me wanna smile when we're talking about death. Lot of sense that makes.

I shifted in my seat uncomfortably. She caught on and came over to me and stood behind my chair. I felt her wrap her arms around my shoulders and I smiled slightly and put my hand on her arm.

"You can tell me another time." She whispered in my ear.

I turned to look behind me slightly and found myself face to face with her deep green eyes. "How do you do that?" I mumbled fully aware of how close her lips were to mine.

"Do what?" she said so quietly I barely heard her. Was it just me, or were her eyes fixated on my lips that were slowly getting closer to hers?

"Make me not care about anything but you."

She smiled slightly eyes half open, "It's in my nature." She whispered as I pressed my lips against her.

Sorry if this sucks ass. I'm trying. And that's what counts, right? ….right? Oh well.