==Hi, everyone! I'm back early AGAIN. So, apparently it's not good to update your story in less than 24 hours, because it literally didn't acknowledge the new chapter I posted. I'm sorry, silent readers! I'm going to blame my limited knowledge about this website for not already knowing that XD It hasn't been a year since I've started using this account. I'm fairly new, but I know better next time! Since I still have a few days, I'll write you all one more chapter :) For now, I hope you enjoy this one!==
Krewella - "Come & Get It"
Pull my heart out of my chest. Train my mind so I'll forget. Sink your teeth into my bones. Dig me out then fill the hole. Tear me apart. Tear me apart and watch it burn. Tear me apart. Tear me apart and watch it burn. All that's left is a window to my soul. Falling faster, you've made my heart your home. Come and get it one more time if you wanna lose your mind. Come and get it one more time if you wanna lose your mind. Come and get it.
Haunted: Collapse into Caliginosity
Chapter 66:
Party At My Place
There was a warmth in my arms as I stepped onto the Bounty. "Don't trip," Cole cautioned, allowing me to traverse the steps before he did.
I didn't reply, but only because I was overwhelmingly happy for some reason. Every stair step to the bridge was tested before I applied full pressure to it. Whatever I was holding was special cargo. The last thing I needed to happen was to disturb it.
Cole opened the door for me like a gentleman would, and we were greeted with excitement from the others. "How are the new parents doing?" Kai asked.
"We're exhausted," Cole emphasized, "but our little Boomer is catching up on the beauty rest he took from us."
"You named him Boomer? That's so cute!" Nya commented.
My phone vibrated next to my head, causing me to suddenly open my eyes from my dream. With the big stuffed frog wrapped in my arms, I rolled onto my back to greet the sunlight streaming in from the window that I locked after last night's recreational event.
So Zane sees me completely naked last night yet I dream about having a baby with Cole? How the heck does that work? I wondered.
God, I was so mad about what happened. I lived by myself! I had no reason to put clothes on immediately after my shower was done. Since when does the Boogie Man actually exist and hides in my closet? Since Zane, apparently! Now I was going to be paranoid about my empty apartment. So much for thinking that having friends as ninjas was awesome.
The only reason I cooled down for his question was because of pity. I'd never seen him so scared of something, especially of me. It was pretty clear that the circumstances weren't in his favor; all he wanted was to ask me to hang out, not get a glimpse of what the cookie jar was hiding inside of it.
Wait, I take that back. Zane was so trying to ask me out on a date. That was exactly what he was doing, but I couldn't just shoot him down. A night out in the city with him seemed fun to me. Of course, I'll have to find something fun for us to do after we eat, but I was definitely not going into this with the intention of starting a relationship. He was still my friend. I loved being around him and I loved him as the awkward yet sweet person he was, but I just couldn't be with him like that. If I did, I would lose him like every other guy I've been with, and that was the last thing I wanted.
Going into this so-called "date" with him would require some avoiding when it came to certain questions. The hardest part would be being honest about how I felt and trying to not be rude about it whatsoever. I couldn't push him away, and I couldn't make him think he wasn't worthy of my time. What I really needed to do was have him view things in a different perspective, if all possible, but the task at hand would be difficult. The image of his saddened expression to being rejected made me dread being alone with him. Alone together in the same room would give him the opportunity to practically corner me when asking about our future. The truth was that he was my best friend and he always will be my best friend. I loved him that way...
I suddenly got an idea. Picking up my phone and ignoring the social media alert that woke me up, I began to do some digging for a possible gift that would better help him understand what I meant.
The card Rollin gave me last night was pretty straightforward. I plugged the address into my GPS and spent twenty minutes driving in Ninjago City traffic to get to the designated skyscraper. Seeing what building the penthouse topped surprised me. Usually skyscrapers are completely vertical, but this one seemed to spiral all the way to the top. The composition of fairly new shiny metal and glass created some kind of optical illusion to my vision, forcing me to look away before my eyes crossed.
I quickly parallel parked in front of the grand entrance, where the upper class of society were making the scene a busy one. Nobody paid much attention to me as I went inside the wooden-laid lobby. The front desk was busy with business people, so I wandered toward the immense chandelier in the center of the room. It had many levels of intricate glass that seemed to drip down to a bulb on each segment. I found myself staring in awe as bodies in suits and expensive clothes avoided me. This place was ridiculously fancy, and I felt very out of place.
Pulling out my phone, I dialed Rollin's number for some directions. There were three elevators in front of me. If I was getting to a penthouse, that meant only one went to it. A special key was usually needed to even access the upper part of the shaft, but since I didn't have one, he had to allow me up himself.
It didn't take long for me to get him to answer. "You in the elevator or the lobby?" he asked.
"The lobby..." I trailed, my eyes wandering to a celebrity and her yapping dog as she didn't acknowledge my presence. "This place is intense."
"Oh, trust me, it's quite the experience first time around. Take the elevator in the center. I'll let you up."
Following his directions, I stepped into the exact elevator after it emptied of men and women on their cell phones making business calls. My fingers tapped the button leading to the top level. Then I got put in the very back, and my height made me virtually undetectable to everyone else. "Okay, I'll see you in a minute," I finished, hanging up.
As the movement of going up put pressure on my head, I relaxed against the wall. White marble with black flecks decorated the floor while the rest of the interior was lined with the same brown wood from the lobby. One floor after the next, the people in front of me exited. And soon enough, I was the only one remaining.
The doors split open to a vacant hallway. I pressed a button that made them close back up. Viewing the light on the wall indicating my location made me indecisive about how this would be done, but despite my suspicions, the button with a key lock in it lit up. As a result, the elevator continued to move upward, taking me to the private residence of Calico Pat.
The doors split open again. "Hey, Macca," Rollin greeted me.
I stepped out, barely accepting his hug, but only because I was so mesmerized by the main room. It was expansive with two sets of stairs going up to a second level. The floor itself dipped down into a circle because of the unique sofas built in around a circular table. A big curved television mounted against the wall. "Whoa," I breathed, taking it all in.
"You really haven't been here before," he concluded, genuinely surprised.
"I've never really hung out with your brother," I informed him. "Why does he live on top of the most wealthiest business center in Ninjago City?"
"Business hub by night, party hub by night. He just made this the headquarters."
"Where is he now?"
"He's got a music video he needs to record today. I got the whole place to myself."
"So you're housekeeping?" I joked.
He shrugged and smirked. "I kind of live here, too."
"Really?"
"Yeah. He owns the place. I pay him rent. My room is down there," he explained, pointing down a corridor to our left. "Want a tour or just my basic synopsis of the party?"
I thought for a moment, a little bit tempted. "...Party."
"Okay, right this way," he said, leading me past the living area. My eyes licked everything in sight, from the detailed ceiling to the simplest flower vase. The childish apartment I loved in didn't compare to how incredible this penthouse was.
"Kitchen in is there," he gestured under the right staircase. "There will be a staff of chefs in there making all the food."
I stepped to the mysterious glass wall, gently pressing my palm against it. My reflection stared back at me, but past it was a distant wall in a blue hue. Looking up showed more glass with the morning sky shining through.
"That's the swimming pool," he explained, already halfway up the stairs.
"The swimming pool?"
"It's not on right now, so the water's still. It's pretty cool seeing someone underwater from there. Just imagine how it'll look with up to fifty."
I remained in that exact place until he wanted me to continue following him.
The second floor of the penthouse had a single hallway full of more rooms and an entrance to the pool patio. The pool was pretty big, but the depth was unbelievable. The rest of the stone patio was welcome to minor changes, like a buffet table to be set up or something like that.
"I was thinking about setting up your DJ booth over here," he shared, waving his arms at the area directly in front of the pool. "The bar will be over there and another one will be downstairs. Just think about this place being packed with drunk babes in bikinis having a great time swimming and dancing to your music."
I slightly laughed and shook my head, already familiar with the thought. Out of curiosity, I approached the side, leaning against the thick black half wall. Below us was the streets with moving dots on the sidewalks. Rollin came up beside me. "All of that will be full of neon lights and partiers tonight," he visualized.
"This really is a headquarters," I agreed. "I'm pretty sure this will be the craziest party I'll ever do."
"And that why I wanted you," he replied, stroking his fingers up my spine.
A shiver went up my back, my skin crawling with goosebumps. "I-I said no, Rollin," I reiterated, stuttering.
"Aw, c'mon, Macca Soxx," he softly urged, pulling me closer. "You can trust me."
"I don't care about your reasoning. I'm going to say no."
He pretended to whimper, making me face him. "That's kind of harsh."
"Sorry, but that's the way it's going to be," I painfully admitted.
His finger traced the bottom of my chin. "It doesn't have to be that way." He leaned in closer. "Just let go," he whispered.
I got lost in his amber eyes, knowing what he was doing was wrong. Paralysis took over my body as his lips kissed mine.
"Macca," a female voice whispered into my ear. "Don't do this."
I hesitated. Candy was still on my case.
Finally, I stepped away. "I can't," I confirmed. "When I say no, I mean it. It doesn't mean keep going."
We stood in silence for a moment. He had conflicting feelings running through him, but I knew I had to keep a solid foundation.
"I gotta go," I unexpectedly declared, turning and hurriedly leaving the penthouse.
Maybe Rollin has a problem with the word "No." What do you think? Post your reviews below! Thank you RandomDragon2.0 and SpitfirewaterNinja for reviewing yet again :) Now I mean it this time: Happy New Years!
RandomDragon2.0 - Whoa, how the heck did you get your letters to be upside down?! XD