Hey everyone, here's the third chapter. And before you read this, yes it was rushed. I apologize. I wanted to get this part over with as soon as possible, I'm not slice of life fan, but it does get some key points into the story. And with that enjoy,

p.s. I'll upload another chapter in a few days, and it will be the longest chapter so far.

It was a slow drive back to his house and was doing his best to stay focused. But this still made him think about what had transpired and almost didn't believe it.

'no way, she's going to live with me?'

he was still having trouble believing this. But while he was having his nervous thought, Marie looked at double d and could only stare. She was now out of her little phase and was feeling back to normal, her heart warm and fuzzy.

'this is the nicest thing he's done, no anyone has done for me in a while, better than… '

she was lost in thought when she thought of a large pain that was preying on her for 3 years. Double d took out another cigarette and lit it. He passed it to Marie. This shook her out of her daze and she accepted it, putting it inter her mouth she tasted something odd.

"what kind is this she asked, he replied with "its ice, feels like it too."

'better than Marlboro reds.'

She blushed now knowing that this was an indirect kiss, double d didn't think of it that way, but it made her happy. 'am I falling for the dork?'

she asked herself but decided against this. Marie thought of a question that plagued her mind now. "double d." she said to get his attention.

"hmm, what is it Marie?"

he said in a soothing tone while keeping his focus on the road.

"why do you still live here? Near the culd-I-sac I mean, it's just I figured you'd go out and go to better places than this small shitty town."

She waited for an answer but the only thing that she got was a pained moan. But shortly after he replied with

"what can I say, I like it here."

He said this not convincing and Marie called him on his bluff.

"yeah right, like id believe the ed that got scared at everything, me included."

They both started to laugh. But edd only looked at her for a moment.

"I'll tell you another day, I promise."

After he said this, the apparition appeared behind double d again and he saw it this time. "fuck." Edd screamed and scared Marie.

"what the hell, what's wrong?"

double d started to get nervous because of what the apparition was doing. He looked in the rear-view mirror in disgust. It turned itself into ed, his childhood friend that had blood covering his face. Ed wore a dead look while staring at double d, then smiled.

Fear gripped edd with such intensity.

'It's fucking with me again.'

Marie was tired of waiting and started to become concerned.

"double d, what's wrong, you look like you've seen a ghost."

Edd looked at her and only said that he would tell her later. Marie was now generally worried about him. 'what the hell just happened.' He calmed down after a little while and apologized to her for his outburst. A little while later they passed his truck and double d sighed.

"now how am I going to get this fixed?"

Marie took notice of this and an idea came to mind. "well, I can lend you my car until you get it back, with interest of course." She smiled devishly, only to flirt with him. not meaning what she had just said with the interest.

"thanks, I'll think about it."

Edd said but couldn't focus on her because of the hallucination that haunted him. it was starting to play dirty and he hated it. More than most things but not completely, he knew that he can't be broken easily. But still made his life a living hell. Marie saw the look in his eyes and almost felt afraid. His green apple eyes dulled and became dark.

'what's wrong with me, I feel sick, I shouldn't let Marie see me like this.'

He pulled his hat slightly down to cover his eyes, but Marie took notice. She shifted in her seat, looking out of the window to see the culd-I-sac come into view. It took a little longer because of an accident that occurred on the corner of a grocery store. A drunk driver t-boned another car at a high speed. Edd took notice of this and looked away, anger took over his mind. He didn't expect to talk until they got to his house, but Marie wanted to lift the mood.

"life's a bitch huh?"

she said this not really thinking of the karma of what she had said.

'I'm not sure to laugh or cry.'

Edd thought to himself as they got a few blocks from a certain place.

"turn around."

Marie almost shouted startling edd. "why, what's happening?"

edd said confused. "just turn around, it's the trailer park." Double d slowed down and turned into a drive way to turn around.

Getting a certain distance, Marie had a sigh of relief, she never wanted to see that place again. Edd finally got to his house pulling into the garage. He pressed the button that he grabbed before he left his truck.

Parking the car edd went to exit the car but Marie stopped him before he did.

She had her hand on his arm making sure he didn't leave.

"is this real?" her question caught edd of guard by her statement. "if this isn't real then I'd like to stay asleep."

She blushed at this and backed away to hide her blush. 'did he just say what I think he just did.' She smiled at him.

"yeah, I want to stay in this dream too."

They smiled at each other for what seemed to be hours but the connection between them broke as they heard a buzz dinging sound come from Marie's pocket. She pulled the phone out to only stay there for a few moments which got double d's attention.

"Marie, what's wrong?"

she didn't stop looking at her phone that she held clutched in her hand.

'Marie's scared, I can tell, but what is on that phone.'

He put a hand on her shoulder to shake her from her stupor. "let me see it, that is if you trust me in helping." He didn't know why he said it in that way and was sure to get a response of a cold shoulder from the way he said it.

Now getting back to reality from the nervous breakdown that she almost had, she looked at him. without a word she gave him her phone with cold stare. Her empty eyes were back again.

'be careful about what you wish for.'

He couldn't believe what he was looking at. But he understood why she was quiet. {text: just so you know slut, I saw you in a guy's car today, I hope you know that isn't going to stop me from what is mine, even if you don't live here anymore. You're still my property and I plan to take it back, and your boy toy can't stop me. Oh, one more thing, I'm going to use your room for when I'm lonely, I'll be thinking of you when I'm in here.}

Double d was disgusted, he didn't know who it was, but he felt pissed. Marie looked at him in shame, regretting heavily that she showed him what was in the phone. Sadness filled him but that was soon replaced with anger.

He was never one to get angry, but it showed more than he ever would thought possible. Marie looked at him to expect his usual actions of doing the right thing and reporting misconduct and let the cops deal with it. But all she got was a sight that she couldn't understand.

Edd now outside of his car with his hands to his face. He turned his back while placing the phone back on the seat. He walked out of the garage and opened the door.

Marie looked at where edd had left, she didn't know what she saw but it was familiar. She sat there now thinking of the event that transpired.

'I understand why he was angry, but why did he leave. I might as well go check on him.'

she exited the car, not caring for her bags, her only priority was to make sure that he was ok. Marie neared the corner of the car and walked outside closing the door behind her. Heading to the front of the house, she entered the house with no sign of edd anywhere. She then closed the front door but heard a sound upstairs. "edd?" she yelled out to see if he was still here and not her imagination. Deciding not to make things worse, she walked towards the couch in the living room and sat down looking at the text on her phone that had made edd disappear.

"smooth Marie, real smooth." Saying sarcastically to herself.

Marie didn't know what to make of edd, he was fine one moment, and crazy the next. But that text still didn't leave her mind. What was she supposed to do now? Edd disappeared to do who knows what leaving her alone.

Upstairs, edd was washing his face, to get a grip on reality. He didn't know what happened, he was looking at her phone, the next moment he was running out of the door.

'I left her alone, great, she might want to leave now.' The water dripped off his face, looking at himself in the mirror. Red mist seeping from the corners of his eyes.

'what's happening to me?'

edd didn't pay attention to the apparition, it sat on the counter next to him with its classic evil smile. The events that just happened almost don't even seem real, even if they do look ridiculous. Edd looked again at the red mist that was now slowly going away. He rinsed his face again to look up and the mist was gone.

"damn I need a cigarette."

Drying himself off, he left the bathroom with a cigarette in his mouth. Coming down the stairs he saw Marie on the couch, passed out. He chucked and went to the closet to grab a couple blankets. Wrapping her up, he noticed something. A tattoo behind her left ear. He wouldn't be able to see it with the hat in the way as well with the hair.

The tattoo was a heart with a crack in the center.

'cute.'

He thought as he headed outside. Lighting the cigarette, he heard the voice again from the garage.

"hey, you gonna come here or what?"

the apparition said as it disappeared through the door. He couldn't see where it went but I noticed the light on in the car. The most rear car door was open, but no one was there. Double d noticed Marie's bags still in the car. Going inside the car he pulled the bags toward himself and put the pack on his shoulder, grabbing the duffel bag, he left the garage to go back inside.

He passed Marie to see that she was sleeping peacefully. He had a room picked out for her, it was beside his room. It was originally the guest room, but he needed her room close, so he can keep an eye on her. after reading that text, he knew that he didn't have to help but he was always like this. To keep a person safe was something that everyone should stand by.

Feeling the sense of pride in his thoughts, he didn't notice that he was in front of the door that he needed to be.

p.s. the next chapter will be better worded i promise and hopefully will make more sense. hope you enjoy, have a great day guys