We both headed down the stairs to see Jayne's father. Leo was in the kitchen making a sandwich for himself. All we heard was hollering from the kitchen letting us know exactly where he was. But after realizing there was a second then a third voice with him in the room. Jayne peeked around the corner to see what the commotion was, but was greeted by a pair of arms around her waist hoisting her over the body's shoulder.
I peered around the same corner, expecting the same outcome for me if I did, but I still proceeded. I saw Ian holding Jayne over his shoulder while rooting to the football game on the television next to the dining table. Ian and his father were over watching the game, which meant it was already after noon. I can't believe it was that late. But I guess it means the day will go by quicker than I thought.
Ian let Jayne down gently back to stable ground before walking towards me. I crossed my arms watching him, "If I hear anything stupid come from your mouth…"
Ian's lips parted for a second before he closed them again. He pulled on one of the safety pins then took a look over at Jayne, "Really? You guys have to have matching eyeliner styles? You never change that dramatic wing do you?" His make up was less clowney today, almost seemed to coordinate the vibes from each other. Ian honestly looked less threatening today rather than yesterday but still dark and brooding with the perfect sleekness.
"It's honestly the best look to ever do!" Jayne skipped over to her father butting into the men's conversation easily, "We're leaving now. If you hear anything on the scanner I'm not promising you it won't be my doing."
Leonard hugged his daughter a bit around the shoulder before handing her a Benjamin dollar bill, "Go get something special to eat. You three deserve it. Have fun tonight. Understood?"
Jayne's whole personality changed, she nodded, stood straight up, then held her hands palms down on her thighs, "Sir, yes sir!" The room grew silent after Jayne belted out as if she was in a drill. She accepted the money and quickly stuffed it away in her bra.
Both of the fathers finally saw me all gothed up. Ian put an arm around my shoulder and eyed his father, "I think Jayne did a great job. Don't you think so?"
I shrugged a bit, letting my eyes fall to the floor. I didn't fully look up until I saw Jayne's feet next to mine. She bent over in a way to look up at me instead of down at me. "You need to toughen up, girl. You look hot. I'm going to wake you up every day at four in the morning, make you up, dress you up, and get your confidence up!" Jayne linked arms with Ian and kissed his bicep. Probably the only part she can reach being so short compared to his size. "Hey, dad? We'll be out late anyways. You don't have to wait for us to come home either. We might stay over at Lil's so we can go with her to school in the morning. Her parents' house has enough rooms for all of us."
I gave a nod and held onto Jayne's arm swinging from side to side on it. I was ready to leave and wander around. I never liked sitting or just standing still unless I'm either sleeping, or actually doing something important. Or I'm in such a tizzy that my brain can't function. That's normally when I know I need to start doing something. I can't handle being alone inside my head some days, and to help that I use dance to escape that aspect of my unwanted life.
It was a minute until we left, Jayne made sure she had everything. Ian gave a subtle nod to his father good-bye. It was at that moment I realized how much Ian and Jayne actually matched. They looked like they both walked out of another century. Jayne wore something almost Victorian era styled dress with of course a corset. This girl loves them. It was strange to see Ian dressed more fancily as if he was going to a ball. I'm not sure I ever saw him look this cleaned up. Even his hair, which was faded into an almost mohawk and ear length for the top, was slicked back. There's a reason for Halloween they won the couple's costume as Grease's Sandy and Danny.
We got to Ian's '72 Cutlass Supreme, silver, black SS stripes, and with a black hard top that he only had on when it was raining or snowing. The ride around town gave us girls in the back to just relax. We cruised the back roads around the town and crossed the border from South Dakota to Wyoming. If we would've kept driving, we would've driven right to the Devil's Tower, four hours later or so, but all we were aiming for was to visit a small café in Beulah, the next town over.
"Jayne, are you still thinking of moving out of Bellows?" I kept my eyes on the rows of trees that make up the outskirts of the Black Hills Forest.
"Oh, for sure. I love it here, but I might wanna go somewhere less snowy and maybe even more rainy. Maybe we can find somewhere to live that conjured the dead to rise around us? What do you think babe?"
"I dunno. Maybe we can just move to England or something? Paris the love capital of the world? I don't mind really staying here too." Ian adjusted his mirror in order to look at us girls in the back. He gave a soft snicker then pulled into the café and ice cream shop.
The three of us hopped out of the car, careful not to trip or mess anything up. Some of the people knew us from visiting throughout the years. I got some looks from people, but quickly realized they were just looking at us three as a whole instead. I carefully looked around, I'm normally the normal one of us, but today I matched the two of them.
We ordered something small to eat, mainly to expect to have a good large supper later on tonight before we go to the club.
I ate my ice cream banana split, Jayne had an ice cream fruit parfait, and Ian stuck with a warm cherry pie slice ala mode. We all got a large order of fries to share with our ice cream after already eating something first.
It wasn't long before we all finished, yet I'm pretty sure we sat and chatted for another hour after yet while finishing the left-over fries. A smile crept over my face towards the end of the date. I noticed the whole time we were there, this kid, maybe more of Ian's age, dressed pretty similar to us three, sat in the farthest corner alone facing us.
After a minute of realizing it, he sat almost exactly opposite how I was sitting on that horrid Saturday. As if he was the emoji ghost in the post of me on social media. It was more saddening at first, but it got creepier when he just sat and stared rather than eating or talking to anyone.
I leaned into the table getting their attention, "Guys. See that guy in the corner? I don't think he's stopped staring at us. I don't get what's the big deal. He looks just like us." Ian shifted his weight to look over at the guy, leaving me to almost jump out of my skin, "Don't look!" I nearly screamed at him, though hushed enough to stay incognito about it in the end.
Jayne giggled and shook her head, letting her bangs shake around her face. Her bangs framed her face, and something in her eye caught Ian's attention that made him grin wildly. Ian paid for all of us, then gathered his keys ready to head out.
As we made our way maneuvering around chairs and other guests, I let my eyes shift to the man in the corner again. To my surprise, he wasn't there anymore. I think I was more confused than anything. I never saw him leave, so how could he have left without me realizing it. I was keeping a close watch on everyone around in the room.
Upon getting to the car again, Ian leaned back against the passenger side door crossing his arms watching us girls approach him. "Ok, Lil. You have some explaining to do. Who is this mysterious man that you saw? Was he at least cute?"
I gave a concerned and quite confused look at him. Ian opened the door for Jayne so she could sit inside behind him and then me next. "You totally looked over at him. How did you not see him?" I leaned over from the bucket seat in the back to the front two seats. "Ian, tell me you saw him." My eyes widened when I saw Ian turn around from the driver's seat and face me.
Ian shook his head and a smile crept over his lips, "You're seeing things now that you're finally all gothed up? Or are you just pulling our legs?"
I smacked him with my left arm along his shoulder, "You're joking right? You're lying. You totally saw him sitting over in the corner. Stop it!" I sat back down and grumbled crossing my arms at the same time, "Seriously though…"
Jayne gave a snort of a laugh then hugged me around the waist, "Honey, if I saw anyone that fit in with our style I would've asked him to join us for a bite while we were there," Jayne pretended to bite at my neck then retreated laughing as I pushed her away with a roll of my eyes. She kissed Ian's shoulder softly. "If you know what I mean I suppose."
I gasped quickly and jerked away from Jayne. "I definitely will not! Jayne, why would you make such a suggestion?" I sighed more dramatically than ever and pushed Jayne's shoulder into Ian. "You're so gross."
"Well, tell us what you saw then?" Ian started the car only to listen to the radio softly in the background.
"I'm not for sure about it all. Ya, know. He looked like a normal guy." I shrugged and looked away in order to think. "I mean, he wasn't bad looking. But he had his hair in his face, so it was harder to see him anyways." I shifted in the seat and let my eyes wander, "Why does it all matter anyways?"
Jayne laughed a bit looking over, "Neither of us saw this man. Seems like only you did. Maybe he was a ghost of a kid there? I mean there have been a ridiculous amount of missing persons cases along this road strip. It's always been that way from the Black Hills to the Devil's tower."
"Jayne, you know it's the aliens!" Ian raised his arms in the same way as comical Ancient Alien's tv show cast member, Giorgio Tsoukalos, would do with both hands out in front of his chest and his fingers filleted apart.
"Tell me more, boo." Jayne played with my curls, calming me down slightly. I always loved when she would play with my hair.
I thought for a minute, "He was at least dressed in something dark all over. I know I saw he had a hood on behind him. He had longer hair maybe past his collar bones. It was, like, parted way over on his left side and the rest over his face. He looked like your age, Ian. Maybe? I dunno how old, but he had some serious bearding showing. Trimmed at the edges but fuller around his mustache and chin. Light eyes. He kept staring the whole time but had dark hair too. Seriously, neither of you saw him? I swear, every time I looked over, he was just watching us."
"Oh, what if he was a serial killer? Like, I bet if we left you there alone, he might've approached you or something. How awesome would that be?"
"Jayne! Do you really want her to be murdered?" Ian adjusted his mirror once again before he shook his head. He waited until we both sat back to buckle up, I grabbed a blanket and covered my arms a bit but watched the trees go by. As we started back, my mind tried to recall the guy in the corner. His face started to fade from my memory as we drove. I really didn't mind going for long drives. South Dakota's badlands are beautiful to just drive all day. You can travel the same road every day and see something new each time. There was wildlife like you wouldn't believe, but some of the best trails to hike on throughout. Even horse riding trails, or ATV trails alongside the road.
"I'm pretty sure I'll kill anyone before that happens." Jayne laid her head back and listened to the local rock radio station.