Birthday Surprise
Morning came and Aubrey was tempted to skip practice; call in sick. Today was her birthday and she really didn't want to be a sweating mess when Charles takes her to his house for dinner.
Aubrey called her band director, told him the truth about her being out. She told him her mother had committed suicide and he excused her for a few days. She then called Charles, telling him she wouldn't be at practice.
"Chucky, it's Aubrey. I won't be at practice today because of my mother's death. So, you can pick me up today at my house. I'll run out then we can go." She hung up.
Derek walked into her room. "Happy Birthday, Brat!"
Aubrey turned around to see Derek holding a box with wrapping on it. "What did you get me?"
Derek sat the present on the bed. "It's a surprise, duh!"
Aubrey shoved him playfully and sat on the bed. She ripped the wrapping off then stared at the present blankly. "Derek, what the hell is this?"
"It's a Good Guy doll! I saw it at the toy store and I thought it would be cool." Derek shrugged.
Aubrey took the doll out of the Play Pals box then held it up to her face. "It's kinda creepy."
"Hi, I'm Terry! And I'll be your friend 'til the end! Hid-e ho! Haha!" The doll recited.
Aubrey put the doll up to her window and made it stand, scaring anyone who drive to the house.
"Thanks Derek." She hugged him.
"No problem. Maybe it will help you cope with Mom's death..." He mumbled.
Aubrey nodded. "It will. Where's Dad?"
"Downstairs making us breakfast. I'm glad you two made up." Derek admitted.
Aubrey sighed. "Yea, whatever." She walked downstairs with Derek trailing behind her.
"Hey kids! Hungry for some bacon?" He laid the bacon stripes on a paper towel.
Aubrey sat down. "I'm STARVING!" She put her hand on her stomach.
Derek sat next to her. "So, what do you want to do for your birthday?"
Aubrey sat quite for a minute. She didn't want to tell John and Derek she was going to someone else's house for dinner.
"I'm going to hang out with Lola. She's taking me to the Olive Garden." She lied, although didn't sound like a bad idea.
John sat this cup of coffee down then took a seat. "You're not going to spend it with your family?"
Aubrey shook her head. "I will come home tonight, don't worry! But, you can have a cake here ready for me."
John looked at Derek. "I think we can think of something." He smiled at Aubrey.
Aubrey smiled back. "Awesome!" She took a bite of bacon.
The clock read 6pm when Aubrey got finished curling her hair. She rummaged through her closet and sat out her outfit to impress Charles. She wore a bow cage skater dress. The bow was rather large and the color was a bright teal. She lifted up her bed to find a box. Inside, there were black 6in Gladiator Booties with black ribbons at the top. She sprayed Coconut Fruit Spray on her wrists and behind her ears.
Derek walked into her room. "You're wearing THAT to go to Olive Garden with Lola?"
Aubrey finished applying liquid eyeliner. "Yea, so? I'm eighteen not fifteen."
Derek sat next to her. "Okay, where are you REALLY going?"
Aubrey looked around then at Derek. "Promise you won't tell John?"
Derek shrugged. "Sure."
"No, I mean it. You stick to the BS story I told you two." Aubrey grabbed Derek's shoulders.
Derek shook her off. "Ok, fine! Where are you actually going?"
Aubrey took a deep breath. "There's this guy, who, is madly in love with me. And, weirdly, I feel the same way. I love Chucky."
Derek nodded. "Okay..."
"He's picking me up and taking me to his house to make me a spaghetti dinner."
"How old is he?"
"I don't know but if I were to guess, probably young thirties." Aubrey nodded in approval.
Derek laughed. "Wow! Wait 'til Dad hears this!"
Aubrey pounced on Derek then managed to sit on him. "I'm not getting up until you promise you won't tell John!"
Derek was a scrawny boy with no muscles so he had to agree. "Okay, Godzilla! You're squeezing my insides out!"
Aubrey stood to her feet then helped Derek up. "It had to be done."
Derek rubbed his neck. "You're a bitch."
Aubrey smiled. "Thanks, bro!"
Soon, a honk came from outside her window.
"He's here!" Aubrey quickly put red lipstick on and ran out the front door. She jointed Charles in his small, black car.
"You look lovely tonight." He stroked her cheek.
Aubrey held his hand. "Thank you. I like the suit. Hey, you don't mind if I smoke, right?"
Charles backed out of her driveway and onto the road. "Not at all."
Aubrey rolled down the window and lite her cigarette. "Thanks." She smiled at him, trying to keep her hair back.
Charles smirked. "You should try this. Open the glove box."
Aubrey opened the compartment and a bag of weed fell onto her lap. "I didn't know you did stuff like this."
He nodded. "Oh yea! You should try some sometime."
Aubrey put the weed back into the glove box. "I don't think so, Chucky." She took a hit.
Chucky nodded. "That's fine. Hope you're not upset with me."
Aubrey put her hand on his lap. "I'm not upset with you. I don't care what you do as long as you don't get caught with it."
Chucky looked at Aubrey's smiling face. "I love you."
Aubrey took her hand away then giggled. "I-I love you too."
/
9:15pm
Aubrey and Chucky walked into his old apartment building. On the walls were paintings of people, mystic moons and spells on the walls. Hanging on the walls, were shelves that held voodoo dolls. In red paint, the wall said: "OH THANK YOU MIGHTY DAMBALLA FOR LIFE AFTER DEATH"
"I didn't know you were a painter." Aubrey smiled at him.
Chucky lite a few candles. "Yea, I paint sometimes. You like it?"
Aubrey held his hand. "I love it." She looked around. "But, what's that saying on the wall? Who's Damballa?"
"I have a present for you." He tried swaying her away from the questions.
Aubrey sat her purse down. "You do?"
Charles went into his bedroom and came back with a small box. "I think you'll like it." He held her hand out and sat it on the palm of her hand.
Aubrey carefully opened the box. Her face lite up when she saw what was inside. She took it out and held it in front of her face.
"It's a treble clef necklace. I love it." She lifted up her hair and turned her back to him. "Could you put it on for me?"
Charles nodded and took the necklace. He sealed the clasps and he turned her around. "You look so beautiful with that necklace around your pretty neck."
Aubrey looked down at her chest then back to Chucky. "It's perfect. But, I have nothing to give you."
Charles shook his head. "No, you've given me everything."
Aubrey slowly smiled at him. "No ones ever said that to me before."
Charles grabbed Aubrey's hand. "You like to dance?"
Aubrey nodded. "I love dancing."
Charles turned on a radio next to the couch then walked back to Aubrey with an outstretched arm. "Would...you like to dance with me?"
Aubrey nodded. "I would like that."
Softly, Broken by Seether ft. Amy Lee played from the small radio.
Charles put his left hand on her waist and clasped her left hand. Aubrey put her right hand on his left shoulder and took Charles' right hand.
"I wanted you to know, that I love the way you laugh. I wanna hold you high and steal your pain...away."
Aubrey rested her head on his chest while they gently glided through the room.
Charles kissed the top of her head. "Can I trust you to keep a secret?"
Aubrey nodded. "You can tell me anything."
"First, tell me something about you."
Aubrey chuckled. "Fair enough. Well, I've actually never had an actual relationship before. I had a boyfriend named Trevor but it didn't end well between us. Ever since then, I've had trust issues."
Charles sighed. "I'm sorry."
Aubrey couldn't help but laugh. "Don't be sorry for my screwed up life. Now, what did you want to tell me?"
"I practice voodoo." He confessed.
Aubrey looked around. "I can tell. But, I don't care. I still love you."
He nodded. "I know. I'm actually just rambling because I'm afraid to tell you my secret."
Aubrey looked at him. "You can tell me. Whatever it is, I'll still love you."
Charles smiled then put both hands on her waist.
Aubrey put her hands on his shoulders.
Charles stopped dancing then looked into her eyes. "I'm the Lakeshore Strangler. I'm Charles Lee Ray."