My friend, Demise

Chapter 7

We made it to the end of the lunch period, but when he actually bought my lunch I ate so fast that I nearly choked for the second time today.

Amanda sat with us. "Your legs are shaking, Demi."

"I ran to school this morning. Faster than usual too, I'm pretty proud of myself."

Yeah that's not true at all. They're shaking because I railed him in the school bathroom. If that's true though, why am I the one that's embarrassed right now?

I shook my head fast enough that my thoughts went away and I continued eating. Amanda handed me her water bottle. "Drink this, you'll choke."

"Wouldn't be the first time." I scoffed.

Demise coughed, which made me stifle a laugh.

He hasn't told me where we were going for dinner, nor did he tell me what to wear. I'd been asking for the past week but he kept dismissing it and saying it was a surprise. It kinda made me nervous.

"I have a date today." I looked at Amanda and sighed. "I don't know what to wear."

"Well where are you two going?"

"What makes you think it's us?"

"I mean you and the guy." She laughed. "But now that you point it out, is it Demi?"

"No!" We both spoke at the same time, glaring at each other afterwards. "I-....no...it's not him."

"Oh so you'd be disappointed if it was?" He asked.

"No."

"Okay so it's Demise." She sighed. "Just ask him what to wear."

"Okay. Demise what should I w-"

"Wear nothing."

"Yeah see? That's why I can't ask him." I rolled my eyes.

"How about I come over and help you?" She smiled softly. "I'm pretty good at these things."

"I have one request to make if you're helping him decide what to wear." Demise stood up and plopped down beside her, holding a hand over his face as he whispered in her ear.

"If you're telling her to make me go naked, it's not happening."

"I'll take what I can get." He laughed and sat back down beside me, sliding his hand up my thigh. I grabbed his wrist tightly and glared at him.

"You'll get nothing and like it."

After school ended and Demise walked me home, I realized that my parents weren't home. Which is weird because they're always home when I get there. "Hey, Demise?"

"Yeah?"

"Did you see my parents leave this morning?"

"Yeah. Why? They drove by like always."

"They're not home." I pointed to the driveway.

"Just call. I'm sure they're fine."

I went inside, leaving him to walk home as I called my mom and listened to the line ring. When she picked up, I recognized her broken voice. "Hey baby!"

"Mom, where are you?"

"I'm at the police station. Your father got in a fight at work."

"How bad was it?" This has happened before, which might explain my own behavior.

"Bad. He's in a cell."

"For how long?"

"More than just overnight this time."

"Shit, what was the fight about?"

"He won't say. The police might show up at the house so just try not to be there, okay?"

"Yeah. I'll leave." I hung up, that lonely feeling filling my chest again. Dad...you idiot. I went to leave the house but found an officer right in front of the door, about to knock.

"Oh. Hello."

"What do you want?" I scowled, looking for a fight to lose the anger that was growing within me by the second. Did he really have to do that today? "I'm leaving."

"I was going to ask about your father."

"I haven't talked to him today." I walked by and shut the front door.

"Wait! Sir!"

He reached for me but I immediately turned and kneed him between the legs. His knees his the ground. "Sorry....shit- I'm sorry!" Realization kicked in and I quickly helped him up and into the house. I brought him an ice pack, watching him set it in his lap. "Sorry... I didn't mean to kick you like that."

"Not the first time." He laughed softly. "You're not the first reactive person I've met."

"You must have met my dad then."

"Yes. A fight broke out in the workplace today. I was wondering if you knew anything about that."

"No. Sorry. Dad woke up and left for work in a hurry, that's all I know."

I ended up going to Amanda's. She had bought an outfit for me to wear on this date but now I wasn't even sure I'd go. "Wear this. Oh. And keep the choker on."

"Why? It would stand out."

The outfit she'd bought was completely white, which made me nervous. But I liked it due to the way it would hide most of my body. "That's the request he made. Keep the choker."

"That horny bastard." I rolled my eyes. "Fine. I'll wear it."

"I have to ask..." she stood up from her bed and placed a hand on my cheek. I flinched hard enough to mark her pull away. "You seem upset. Did something happen?"

"No. Nothing happened."

"I don't believe you."

"Okay so maybe something happened but it's not your business."

"There you go, there's the truth!"

I shook my head, looking down before straight up at the ceiling as tears filled my eyes. I tried to make sure they didn't fall. "Can we please talk about something else?"

"Come on, let's get you ready."