Of Shields & Trees [BxB]

15 | Family | Soft-Core

We ordered gyros for dinner. They weren't anything special but I ate mine without complaining. Kalina tended to pick the meat out and set it aside just so Mr. Andonov can devour it later on in one swift bite.

Alejo and I retreated to my room to watch some of his favourite scary movies on my laptop. He changed into sweatpants and a T-shirt and situated himself under my bedcovers as if he was at his own home.

He started me off easy, according to him, with an old movie about a creepy doll, containing the soul of a serial killer. After we were done watching what appeared to be only the first film in a series of seven, I was eyeing the dino plushie that decorated my room with distrust, grateful I didn't have any hammers casually lying around.

"Awesome, huh?" Alejo gushed while I scooted down further under my covers. "I watched the remake first but the original movie is so much better!"

If you say so...

"Do you want to watch the second movie or go with another slasher series?"

"Anything else, please!" I whined.

Boy, was I wrong! The butt-ugly guy butchering people left and right made creepy doll look like a little angel compared to him.

"No more!" I begged, covering my eyes. To be honest, I was surprised I could last that long.

Alejo thoughtfully paused the movie, petting my hair for comfort. "We can watch a comedy if you like?"

"Yes, please!" I muffled, still not daring to look.

He sighed and started browsing through his favourites.

My traumatised eyes settled back on the screen as a decent-looking chick woke up in some nerd's bed. I could almost sympathise with the guy with how fast she bailed out of his dorm room. There were still people getting killed, mostly sorority chick, but it wasn't so gruesome so I felt myself relax after she died a couple of times, reliving the day of her death over and over again and failing to save herself each time.

As interesting as the movie was, I dozed off before the end. Unfortunately, dreaming about a menacing Alejo trying to kill me. Only the Alejo from my dream wasn't the cute narcissistic nerd that I knew. This one was bigger and broader, and had a creepy smile on his face, amber eyes gleaming with murderous intent. And of course, I woke up screaming, nearly banging my head on the nightstand, trying to run away from real Alejo, the poor guy looking at me as if I grew a second head.

"Never... again," I wheezed. "No more horror movies! Ever!"

The bastard chuckled.

Right then, Mr. Andonov barged in my room, his fists balled for a fight. He scanned the area with crazy eyes before assessing there was no real threat around and crouched to my side.

"Rado? You ok? What happened?" He asked in a firm but gentle tone, his misty grey eyes full with concern.

"I'm fine." I managed to smile. "Just a nightmare."

"Of your father?" He asked.

"Uh, no." It wasn't like I never had nightmares about my father but at least this one wasn't about him.

Mr. Andonov's cloudy grey eyes kept assessing me, trying to read my soul.

"I'm fine. Really!" I tried to reassure him.

"Ok..." He said, helping me up. "We're having pancakes for breakfast." He turned towards Alejo, my friend's eyes lightning up like Christmas lights.

"Great!" Alejo squeaked and clapped his hands, my little freak out long forgotten.

And this very morning, while I ate pancakes with my foster parents and my best friend, I felt... Peaceful.