I SAID DON'T MAKE A JOKE.
You guys are just so dirty. Your reviews are greatly appreciated as always but these latest ones…I just had to close my eyes and think of your poor parents going through your history on the internet and finding that chapter. I just have to respond to these because I'm still laughing my ass off and also crying in agony at the loss of innocence you guys have. XD
Crazy Hopeless Romantic, yes, I really did say that. Thank you for noticing.
You guests...I bet you're hiding behind an anonymous profile so no one would notice your DIRTY MIND. Nonetheless I applaud you for your joke. Your reviews made me laugh and my teacher gave me a weird look.
I MEANT MY FINGER SLIPPED OFF THE KEYBOARD GEES YOU GUYS ARE SO IMMATURE. You want a joke along with that? Fine. My finger slipped out of nothing but I know where Pitch's finger has been.
THERE. YOU HAPPY? I CAN PLAY ALONG TOO.
I love all of you. :) You all made my day by your hilariously dirty reviews. Just limit it so it doesn't draw too much attention. ;D
Ok! Now that I'm cheered up and we all had our laughs, let's get to the next chapter.
Also I've been a little under the weather with a really bad stomach bug, so if there's minimal updates you'll know I'm busy puking up whatever demon crawled into my stomach.
Happy Friday the 13th! :D It's time for some ANGST!
Sadie and Sandy were at the house by the time we arrived, and something told me it would be a challenge getting by the both of them without them noticing the bruises and bitemarks on Alice. Thank God she had most of her body covered with those long pants and long sleeved shirt, because otherwise she'd be doomed.
Alice opened the door, and practically danced in towards the kitchen where Sadie sat, doing her homework. Her little sister looked up, curious as to why we were outside and not at home when she got back from her friend's house. Alice greeted her and Sandy, who was helping her, and then walked into the bathroom to take a shower.
"Is she okay?" Sadie asked, looking at me.
I nodded, smiling, "Of course she is. Why wouldn't she be?"
Sandy gave me a hairy eye, Because the both of your are acting too giddy for your own good.
I glared at him, "Shut up, Sandbag."
I plopped down on the couch and opened a book, hoping Sandy would finish and leave so it would just be Sadie and Alice and I again. When Sandy was around, I felt powerless, like the child that ends up in time out too many times. In technical terms, I have. Mostly by Sandy's hand. Though on better terms with him than before, I still held a grudge against him and he against me. He's not very good at hiding that.
"So did you get my letter?" Sadie asked him.
...What? That made me look up at the sliding glass door where I could faintly see Sadie leaning over the table for Sandy's attention. What letter? Since when did Sadie write letters?
I heard the tiny sound of jingling, meaning Sandy was talking. I watched them in the reflection, and when I saw Sandy look in my direction, I bent my head down as if I was engrossed in the book. Only Alice's running water in the shower filled the silence along with her humming.
Sandy must've said something, because I heard Sadie say sadly, "What do you mean it's wrong?"
Silence…
What. Did. Sadie. Do?
"But...I'm not being silly, I'm being serious. I like yo-"
That made me almost choke on my own breath. I must've made some sort of movement because it suddenly got quiet, but I pretended to scratch the back of my neck as I flipped a page. The book wasn't interesting at all, just nonsensical bullshit about some fellow staying in a house with a horrid man named Heathcliff. I felt like slamming the book shut and throwing it at Sandy. I wasn't sure why yet, but I knew whatever he did or said made Sadie shut up.
"Fine. I don't care…" Sadie whispered, and Sandy must've asked something that irked her because she snapped at him, "I said I don't care, Sandy. Just lemme finish my homework."
It was quiet after that, just the sounds of Sadie scribbling on her paper and flipping a few pages in her history textbook. Sandy soon joined me on the couch, staring straight ahead and holding his feet, a frown on his face.
...Now I know pain. Believe me, I know every form of it. Love pain, hate pain, loss pain, you name it. I also know defeat like the back of my hand…
But it was so odd seeing that defeat and pain on Sandman's face.
If Alice and Sadie were not around to teach me to become more 'relatable' and 'kind' to Sandy, I would've taunted him for that. He's seen it so much in me it was going to be my time to glorify in his pain.
...But it was relating to Sadie. I couldn't do that.
"Want to go for a walk?" I asked him, standing up.
He nodded, not looking at me even for a second. Just staring into space with that broken frown.
We walked outside and strolled down the sidewalk, the sun blazing against our backs. The light slightly hurt my eyes, but it was manageable for the time being. We weren't going to be outside for long. Sandy floated beside me, walking a few steps before jumping up lazily to fly a bit before walking again. Probably because I take long strides.
"So...Sadie wrote a letter to you?"
Yeah. He looked down at the dusty sidewalk, not at me.
"...Anything particular that bugged you about it? You know, for example...her handwriting or something?"
I don't want to talk about it.
"Sandy," I stopped him, giving him a serious look, "If anything Sadie is the closest thing to a daughter I've had in a long, long time. I know you mean a lot to her. Something you said made her push you away, and because she has no father to protect her, I will. What. Did. You. Say?"
Sandy wasn't afraid, I could sense that and plainly see it on his face. He pondered for a minute, playing with his fingers as he looked down at the ground again. With hesitation, he looked up with sad eyes, Sadie's getting older…
"I've noticed. She's going to be eleven in a month," I folded my arms, "What's your point?"
He awkwardly rubbed the back of his head, and silently coughed into his fist. She um...she told me she likes me.
"So? That's just a little crush, nothing to worry about." I said, rolling my eyes.
But that struck something in Sandy. He looked up at me, horrified. With newfound anger, he pointed a finger at me, and he was so furious he was mouthing along with the text above his golden head.
Did you just hear what you said?! Pitch, I most definitely have to worry about this! Spirits can't have connections like that with humans!
"Sandy, she's just a ten year old kid!" I snapped, standing my ground, but he edged closer in fury.
She may be but those feelings stay over time! I can't be around if she's going to get those feelings, because she's going to grow older and not mature like the rest of the humans, all because of me!
I was about to tell him he was the one being immature and nonsensical, but he was able to strike terror inside me. This sandbag thought it was my fault! Whatever I said scared him and made him burst like that.
You've been hanging around Alice too much, and now your world is blending into hers. That's bad. It's bad for you, and if you don't distance yourself like a spirit should, the Guardians will find out, he struck his open hand with his fist in irritation, I should've told them about you and Alice when I had the chance. I let this relationship of yours get too far.
"Don't you DARE!" I screamed, grabbing his jacket and shaking him, "If I kept my promise to restore belief for you guys with Alice then you can damn well let me be with her!"
Pitch, you're endangering her and you're endangering yourself! Sooner than later I'm going to have to tell them. They're already wondering why they've seen you but never doing your duty as the Boogeyman. They're questioning, and they're asking me because I visit Sadie so much!
That hurt...knowing that I had no choice in this matter. What I was doing was illegal in ways humans would never know, the definition varying to theirs. Punishment would be memory wipe, and Alice would be broken hearted if she ever saw me again. I'd be forbidden to go near her, and the Guardians would put up a shield on her house that would keep me out for good…
My grip must've loosened on Sandy's jacket because he finally pried my hands off, dusting off his front with a hurt expression like I had.
I didn't want to do that, Pitch. Sadie means the world to me, but I don't want to torture Sadie with the fact that it could never happen. Pitch….you need to do something. Before I do.
"You blew this up out of proportion," I glared at him, "Alice is mine, and I'm hers. If you can't handle that then stay away from Sadie and Alice. Because if you're going to break her heart...I can't stand the sight of you."
Sandy opened his mouth, shut it, and then took off into the sky. I watched his floating cloud turn into his signature plane, dreamsand flying from the propellers. Without a backwards glance, he took off.
Alice said that our fight was symbolism. I didn't know what she meant by that, but even Sadie understood it when she got older. It was a battle between heart and mind, a fight between doing the right thing and following your heart. Thinking of me as the one fighting for what I keep dear to me, it was hard to believe that the Boogeyman would take that position. Or both, even.
Three years passed after that.
None of us had seen Sandy since.
But he should be thankful. Because I know somewhere he was hurting, saddened that he wasn't there to see Sadie turn into a young lady...and the girl still believed in him despite disappearing for so long.
And she still loved him.