Phantasmagoria
Phantasmagoria by definition is a scene that is something like you see in a dream.
Nine
"Don."
He ignored her voice.
"Don."
He shut his eyes, pretending to sleep, willing for her to just go away.
No such luck.
"DON, GODDAMNIT! WAKE UP! I DON'T HAVE TIME FOR THIS!" She was shaking him hard that his whole bed moved. She was angry. Her fingers around his shoulders were a deathly grip that he knew it was going to bruise if he refused to open his eyes any minute now.
This woman sure can grip! So he had no choice but to open his eyes and pushed her away from him. "What do you want, Aiden!"
She sat herself in front of him on the bed and smiled innocently. "I want to talk. Can't a friend talk?"
"You're dead. You're not supposed to t—OW! Don't slap me!"
She shrugged back at him. "That's what you get for being insensitive."
He scoffed. "I'm not insensitive."
"Yes you are," she argued.
He rolled his eyes. "Is that it? That was what you want to talk to me about? To tell me I'm an insensitive jerk? Okay, you got your message across. I got it. Now go back to wherever you came from because I need my beauty sleep."
He slammed himself back down on the bed and pulled a pillow over his head before he heard, "You're too vain."
"Go back to your grave!" he screamed from under the pillow. "Go ho—"
She had lunged herself on him, ripping the pillow away from his head. Slapping him again across his face, she leaned into his ear and screamed, again. "I AM NOT FINISHED, DONALD FLACK! YOU ARE SO ANNOYING, DO YOU REALIZE THAT?"
He rolled her over so now he was on top of her, pinning her down. "I told you not to slap me, didn't I! You women are psychos!—fucking psychos!"
"You're mad," she giggled.
"Of course I am! I've been slapped four times now!"
"Whose are the other two from?" she asked, grinning.
"I don't have to tell you," he mumbled, letting her go and lying back down on the bed, next to her. "You know it, anyway."
"So that brings me to Isabelle. You see, the problem with her is," she propped herself up and looked at him, "she's confused with her feelings. There are times she hates you so bad she wants you dead. There are also times she loves you that she regrets she ever hurt you intentionally." She sat up and smiled at him who looked back at her, confused. "Go make things right, Don. Only you can."
"Me?" he sounded pathetic asking her that.
She nodded. "Only you can make things right because it was your fault and don't you dare argue with me on that. Oh before that, I need your help to help her return a box. You know him." She stood up and stretched. "Now, I'm going to go and leave you alone – for now. And oh, you better help her return that box or I'm making both of your lives miserable."
"Wait, who's the 'he' we're talking about here?"
She smiled and slapped him again. "Aw, that was fun!"
Don woke up startled in bed, holding his cheek. He felt her hand. It stings! I can't believe this! He got slapped when he was awake by someone who was alive, which was not that bad. Now, he got slapped when he was asleep by someone who was actually dead. She even threatened to make his life miserable, too.
"Why can't the dead just stay dead?" he mumbled, moving to get out of bed only to realize that his legs got all tangled up with his sheets that he ended up falling on the floor – again, hitting his head.
I'm too damn tall.
X
Isabelle opened her door after several thunderous knock. She was about to yell at that person about a thing called patience but found out that she needed not to. It was Don after all. He would never understand. So she waited for him to say something.
"Did you receive a box?" he asked, making sure her hands was out of reach for him, in case if she decided to give him another slap. His eyes went down her legs – barefooted. That was even better.
"I'm up here," she snapped. He looked back at her. "Yes, I did."
She's angry, he thought. No, pissed off. He sighed. "Oh, come on, it was just a little lie. Would you rather I tell her you kissed me and we fell because you're just that aggressive?" He crossed his arms, looking at her.
"A little lie?" she repeated, looking at him with arched eyebrows. "That little lie of yours has got my mother planning it all out. You know what she was on about all night?" She opened the door wider and pulled him in. "She was picturing about how our engagement party would be like and how big and fabulous our wedding is going to be. She was already suggesting a specific number of grandchildren. How many you ask? She wants four annoying kids running around. I can't even stand you and I have to endure four spawns of Flack? You've got to be kidding me! I'd end up killing them—"
"Belle, you talk too much."
"—all before I drop dead! All thanks to you and your stupid little lie! You could always come up with something else rather than saying we're dating!"
"How the hell was I supposed to know if Danny was going to tell everyone in the next thirty seconds!" he snapped. "I was trying not to embarrass the both of us!"
"Just say you fell—"
"That doesn't explain how you end up sitting on my lap." He knew that he had won when her face softened, looking as if not knowing what to say. So he changed the subject. "Alright, listen to me, where's the box?"
"Behind you," she mumbled. "You know any Pearce?"
X
"Wait, wait, wait," Isabelle stood in front of Don, blocking the elevator entrance. They were at the apartment building of Jason Pearce – the owner to the box and also the man that Don met once. He had told her that Jason dated Aiden a long time ago. "So, they dated and she didn't say anything to me?"
"Isabelle, you're really annoying." Pushing her out of the elevator, he gestured her to walk down the hallway. "Quit pestering me about that. Maybe she didn't want you to know."
I feel so loved, she sardonically thought, walking straight down the hallway until she was yanked back to standing next to Don who was already knocking on a door.
"You could have just called me," she mumbled bitterly rubbing at her upper arm where he had gripped earlier. "No need to yank me back and forth."
"I don't want to waste my voice on you." He turned and looked at her. "Okay, here's the plan. The door opens, we ask for Jason Pearce, leave the box with him and leave, got it? I don't want Aiden appearing in my dreams anymore."
"Seriously, she slapped you?" he gave her an annoyed look. "Alright, okay, I was just asking." When the door was yet to open, she knocked.
"Then I can return you your box. After that, I'm not going to bother you anymore. You can call up your mom, say we broke up. So she won't stay up all night fantasying about us being married to each other and giving her grandchildren. I can't stand four spawns of DeFranco, too."
"Jerk," she muttered as the door swung open, revealing a petite blonde donning only a bathrobe. It was obvious she was previously in the bathroom with all her hair plastered to her face. No wonder it took her long to answer the door.
"Yeah?" the woman asked.
Yeah? What kind of greeting is that? Isabelle thought crossing her arms.
"Is Jason Pearce in?"
The woman scoffed at the mentioned name. "Are you kidding me? He's gone – for good."
"What do you mean, ma'am?"
"He left New York, that's what I mean, mister." She looked at Isabelle and then back at Don. "What do you want?"
"Where can we find him?" Don asked, passing Isabelle the box, which she hesitantly took.
"Excuse me, but who are you asking me all these questions?" she snapped.
Don sighed. He was afraid he had to play detective even though this was not an official work. He showed her his badge. "Are you going to co-operate now?"
"He's in Miami," the woman sighed. "Is he in trouble?"
"No," he shook his head. "Do you have an address?"
"Yeah, give me a sec."
"Miami?" Isabelle whispered. "I'm not going to Miami."
"So am I."
They were quiet for a moment, thinking. Then she said, "Aiden is so going to slap you tonight."
X
demolished-soul – Haha…with all the falling he brought upon himself, I think he needs more than just kisses for his head. He needs to see a doctor to make sure everything is all right inside there. XD Oh, I hope their little conversation in Belle's apartment has been cleared on who said that last sentence. Thank you for reviewing!
ilovemygelding – Yes, you did mention you love Isabelle. :D I hope the conversation they had has made it clear how they explained their 'situation' in the kitchen. Thanks for the review!
sarramaks – XD. I think I have an idea. Thanks for the suggestions!