My body screamed with anger and hatred as I moved in my bed like a ghost wafting through old haunted halls. I looked up at the dusty popcorn ceiling, screaming internally as the wooden fan ran in circles like a dog chasing its tail. It wiggled from the sheer force of its movement, causing the bead at the end of the rusted chain to dance in the air with the rest of the dust.
"Are you working today?" Conner's voice cut through my boredom and pain, and my head rolled to the side to see him glancing down at me from his old computer chair. His floppy hair fell over his darkened eyes, staring at me with eyes almost dead. They were cold and unloving, as if he was staring at a doll rather than his girlfriend.
"No, Tiffany hasn't called in yet to my knowledge so here I am." His eyes glistened for a moment, and I thought it was because I finally had some free time.
"Do you want to do something today?" He screwed his mouth into a quizzical look as he looked towards the ceiling I had been staring at for so long.
"We could have a movie night? We haven't had one in a while." He gave me a crooked smile, reaching out to me and grabbing my hand gently. The small gesture warmed my heart and I grabbed back.
"Sure. The brothers promised me a free meal yesterday, but I never grabbed it. How about we walk to the diner and grab some food, then put a movie on?" He instantly lit up at my suggestion, and did a small dance in his chair. He looked like he was shimmying, wiggling on the spot like a worm. I smiled at him, but felt almost hollow and fake.
"Can you go pick it up? I had a league game in ranked scheduled with the boys and we are about to start." I almost felt like I was a deflating balloon at the proposition. My body was quaking like I was a newborn kitten, and I wasn't even moving. I couldn't even think about walking to the restaurant and back, but I mustered up my resolve looking at the bare white walls mocking me incessantly.
"Yeah. You want a burger?" He nodded, pulling his neon green and black Razor headset over his floppy red hair, making it stick out like an elf in any Christmas movie.
"Bacon cheeseburger, with fries and a coffee flavored milkshake." I pushed myself onto my wiggling elbows as he spoke, swinging my fawn legs over the side of the bed, feeling the cold air on my skin. The beginning of autumn was in the air, the cooling September weather sending icicles in my marrow. I had fell asleep still half dressed in my pants and a baggy long sleeve I had managed to change before collapsing. It did nothing to fend off the chill in the air, feeling like a darkness was creeping under my skin. My bare feet stepped onto the floor as I bent down to pick up my abandoned black hoodie, pulling it over me in an attempt to gain some warmth. It worked, the fleece lining in it melting the ice in my bones. I sighed, zipping up the steel zipper and tumbling out of the bed. I made my way to the cheap black dresser right next the computer desk, tearing open the top right handle and plucking out a random pair of tied up socks.
"Conner," I turned to him and leaning against the dresser out of breath. He turned to me, the discord loading screen still looping on the desktop as he attempted to log in. He looked at me, holding the socks like my life depending on it.
"Can you hold me upright so I can put my sock on?" He chewed the inside of his lip and turned the chair over to me. He used a crooked finger to motion me over and I hobbled over. His stiff hands wrapped around my waist to hold me up as I doubled over, the muscles in my back unable to hold me up for too long. My head landed on his shoulder, comforting me as I pulled the cotton socks over my feet.
"You almost done?" He asked me almost immediately. I annoyed me, but I stayed silent and pulled the socks up quickly.
"Okay, I'll be back then," I croaked at him and he turned away immediately.
It was a hollow and unsatisfying existence, but it was a existence. That was all that mattered.
I sat at the bar, fiddling with my thumbs as the kitchen staff fooled around in front of me. I saw buns flying away, pots and pans banging, and loud roaring laughter. The booths weren't full, but there was three groups of four sitting around and doing average university student shtick. Studying, joking around, and ruining the tables with little to no remorse. The strawberry blonde waitress-- a very well looking Tiffany-- stood over the bar, smiling devilishly at her phone.
"New boyfriend?" I called out to the gymnast, her beach curly hair falling over her face like liquid rose gold. A unknown emotion crossed her face, before she smiled evilly.
"Something like that." She turned her attention back to the cell, typing away while grinning like the Cheshire cat. It sent needles down my back, and I turned back towards the kitchen with a wince.
"You okay?" Chris leaned over the bar, coconut and lime wafting over my senses like forced aroma therapy.
"I'm okay. Just looking forward to curling up with Conner for our movie night." I hummed, my heart making a similar thrumming noise. He looked a little worried and guarded, his bird like nose scrunching at my cheerful words.
"What are you watching?
"I don't know. It's getting close to Halloween, so maybe something spooky." I grinned, imagining all of my favorite slashers and ghost movies I loved to watch.
"I forgot how crazy you get around Halloween." He reached out and pinched my cheek with his soft fingers.
"I love horror movies."
"People are too stupid in those movies."
"That's what makes them great! Plus, I like the historical aspects in things like ghost stories. There was one about the Butterbox Babies I saw a bit ago and it was great."
"What were the Butterbox Babies?" He saw my smile and knew he was in for a ride. Before I could open my mouth the explain the horrors, the door rattled open.
"Afternoon, sir." A thick and strong voice boomed out. My body instantly tensed up like a cat that heard a dog bark. It was the quiet vampire from last night. Chris noticed and straightened up, his body language becoming protective as if he was trying to shield me from view with his bird like stance.
"Afternoon. You can sit wherever you would like. Can I get you anything?"
"Coffee." The man stalked past me, and towards the familiar booth at the back. Tiffany was almost drooling, and the group of four girls he past stopped their chattering to gawk at the insanely tall and dark stranger. I put my hand over my face, embarrassed to be seen by the vampire I had met yesterday. I happened to look over for less than a second so see him still dawned in his trench coat as he ignored my entire existence.
"Do you know him?" Chris whispered.
"He came in yesterday. He seems fine, he was a little off." My face was screwed into an unsure pout, and Tiffany immediately dropped her phone and rushed over to him the moment his rear touched the booth. I rolled my eyes at the desperation as she began trying to converse with the man. His hat was noticeably gone, and he stared at the cute blonde with so much disinterest she might as well have been the dust flying in the air. Time seemed to slow down, the dust freezing. Every breeze, every hair that moved looked like it was underwater. My chest burned and my breathe hitched in my throat as I watched Tiffany basically throw herself on him.
What was this feeling? It felt like my chest was being branded.
"Here you go my love." The words tore me from my thoughts and the burning lessened I turned to see a familiar plastic bag filled with Styrofoam containers in front of me.
"Can you stay late tomorrow?" I nodded almost lifelessly at Chris's inquiry, wrapping my hands around the handles. I wanted to get out of there. I gave his hand a small squeeze and mustered a small smile before waddling out. As soon as the September air hit my skin and his presence was away, my chest cleared as did my head. I took in a deep breath, shaking off the ominous feeling as if the past was rushing up to meet me.
I was worried about what it would bring.