Chapter Five
After the fun with Tate I got home around 3, crept up to my room and slept until 10. My Mom appeared earlier and tried to get me to spend a day out with her but I made up an excuse about homework and she went out by herself. It was only later that I remembered I did have homework due. So around 11 I made myself a sandwich grabbed my homework and worked away with my music blaring, hoping Tate would hear the music and come help me study. But after an hour of Biology I was still alone so I decide to see if Tate was home and wanted to continue our game. Just without fires. But maybe more nudity.
I walk next door to Tate's house and knock, hoping it's not Constance who answers. Thankfully it's Addie who opens the door.
"Hi Violet! Come in." Addie pulls the door wide for me to walk in.
"Hey Addie, is Tate home?"
"Yeah he's upstairs." She points to the stairs then leans in to whisper, "No funny business my Mom's in the kitchen and she wouldn't like it."
"Addie who is it?" Constance's voice comes from close by and Addie's eyes go wide. She pushes me towards the stairs.
I disappear up the stairs as quietly as I can. As I have no idea which room belongs to Tate, I carefully open the first door I find. It's not Tate's room must be Constance's; I close that door and quickly move to the next.
"Tate?" It's Constance again; I hope she isn't planning on coming up the stairs. "Addie and I are taking the dogs for a walk. We won't be too long. Alright dear?"
There's no answer and the front door closes with a click. I breathe out a sigh and open the door I'm in front of. Looks like Addie's room, I don't see Tate as a fan of florals. I'll try the next room then. I slowly turn the handle and peer through the crack in the door. Dark walls, looks like I've found it. I creep open the door a bit further expecting to hear him shout but nothing so far. I can see a lump under the sheets on the bed when I peer my head round the door. The lump is moving under the sheets. It's groaning. Oh that's what I've crept up on. I give a small laugh just as the floorboards creek under my feet and the movement under the sheets stops.
"Violet?" The lump enquires.
"Yep."
"Oh."
I turn and head down the stairs in a fit of laughter. A few minutes later Tate, flushing a violent red, finds me at his kitchen table. I pull a cigarette from my pack, light it and take a drag.
"Truth or dare?" I ask as I blow out the smoke.
"Truth." Tate looks at the floor and shuffles his feet as he answers me.
"Have you ever been caught?" Now he's looking directly into my eyes.
"Yes." Tate walks over to stand next to me, leans down and whispers into my ear.
"Truth or dare?"
"Truth."
"Why didn't you join me?" He smirks then leans in to plant a kiss on my mouth. It's rough and too quick as he pulls away from me to sit down at the table. I lick my lips and take a few breaths then take another drag of my cigarette and blow the smoke out in his direction.
"Thought it seemed like a private party. Next time send me an invite." I try to sound like I'm not fazed by his question but now I wish I hadn't left his room.
"Noted." Tate's still looking at me with his dark eyes and dimpled cheeks.
"Truth or dare?"
"Truth."
"What were you thinking about?"
"Huh?" He feigns confusion tilting his head to the side.
"When I walked in on you."
"Oh...well..." he looks at me and the glint is back in his eyes. "You. Dressed up like cat woman crawling around on your roof meowing."
"It's supposed to be the truth you know." He laughs and shakes his head.
"Was that not convincing?" I shake my head. "Well you were there but you weren't wearing anything."
"Go on." I lean in resting my elbow on the table and my chin on my hand.
"You were on my bed naked and sweaty." He licks his lips and mirrors my movements putting his elbow on the table and resting his chin in his hand. "I was on top of you and you were..."
The door slams and Constance's screech fills the air. "That fucking mongrel I've a right mind to call the pound have it destroyed! It's a danger to all dogs!" Tate grabs my hand and pulls me from the table out the back door.
"What do you think she was shouting about?" I ask as we run around the side of Tate's house.
"Who cares?" Tate leads me my garden and up to the gazebo where he perches himself on the railing. "Truth or dare?"
"You didn't really finish the truth you were telling me." He shot me a dark smile.
"Maybe later I'll show you." He raises an eyebrow at me and I can feel myself blush a little.
"Fine, truth."
"Do you believe in ghosts?" He looks serious
"No!" I laugh at him, "Why do you?"
"That's a question you know."
"Fine truth or dare?"
"Dare." He leans back and forward on the railing.
"Hmmm." I jump up onto the railing next to Tate and think. "Call up Bloody Mary."
"So because I believe in ghosts you want me to call one up?"
"Yeah. Come on you can use my bathroom my parents are out." I jump off the railing and walk towards the house, Tate doesn't move. "Not scared are you?" Tate glares at me.
"Nope never." He follows suit and we walk into the house. I lead the way up to the bathroom, we walk in and I close the door behind me. I position Tate in front of the mirror then stand behind him.
"You're staying?"
"Yeah gotta make sure you really do it. Go on then." I look at him in the mirror. He sighs.
"Bloody Mary. Bloody Mary. Bloody Mary."
Nothing happens; the room doesn't go cold, the lights don't flicker and Bloody Mary doesn't rip Tate's face off.
"Told you there's no such thing as ghosts." I shrug.
"Just because an urban legend isn't true doesn't mean ghosts aren't real." Tate sticks his tongue out at me in the mirror.
I walk to the bathroom door and turn the handle but it won't twist open. Then I jump as the shower starts running. I turn to glare at Tate who hasn't moved from in front of the mirror.
"How did you do that?"
"I didn't do it." Tate stares at me not at all looking worried that the door won't open or that the shower is running all by its self. I twist the handle again and the bathroom lights flicker. There's a scurrying noise behind me and I turn to find its source. But I can't see anything. I try the handle again and the scurrying noise is now accompanied by a low growl. I stop moving, standing completely still and taking a deep breath.
I don't believe in ghosts, sparkly vampires, little green men or any of that shit. I am not going to panic, the house is old that's why these odd things are happening, old pipes, wood and electrics.
Suddenly the lights stop flickering, the shower shuts off and the door pops open. The power of positive thinking or some other bullshit. I pull open the door and step out of the bathroom turning around to look at Tate. He's still looking into the mirror with a grin spread across his face.
"Not scared of anything right?" He laughs as he walks pass me and down the hall to my bedroom.