The Citizen Soldier (DNF)

29) Preperation

*George POV*

Clay had messaged me again today, a few days after my big problem, and invited me to a talent show that his mental hospital was hosting. I found it intriguing, then noticed the times that were posted for the competition. 6 PM-2 AM. What the heck were they doing over there, live exorcising? Then it occurred to me that a lot of these people would probably have trouble with doing acts and need more time to prepare.

I decided that I would go and invite Skeppy too, and Bad. The two stuck together like glue as of recent, playing some game called MineWorld or something. I didn't have any clue, or any interest really, so I didn't say anything. Creepers sounded genuinely terrifying though, and apparently, wolves were nice or something. Another thing that I didn't understand.

I shook my head, I didn't need to understand everything to have fun with the pair anyway, and the thought of seeing Clay again made my heart soar. I wasn't sure what to do, and I was way too scared to face him after my problem with Fundy. Now that he'd taken the first step and invited me to see him, I felt a bit more confident in myself for some reason. I was still nervous about him finding out what I did, but I didn't care about that now.

I put my phone back in my pocket, break over. Putting my knife in my mouth, blade out to the air, I got back to tying the fishnet that had recently broken.

~~~

When I messaged Bad that I was going to the talent show, he called me over to his house immediately, giving me his address and telling me to get my butt over there now. He hung up after that and I stared at the phone for a couple of seconds before getting into the car and starting to drive in his direction.

I was on my way now, stopped at a red light. It had been a little while since I drove out into such suburban traffic. Honestly, I hated traffic, I felt like I was going to crash at any second. The driving tests I could pass with no issues, barely even any stress. But the moment I was alone on vast highways I felt like biting my nails off.

I didn't have any other choice, so I told my brain and fear to stick it in the bin.

When I finally showed up at Bad's door about fifteen minutes later, he took a minute to get to the door. I looked around at the place and realized that I was probably only a little while away from the park that Ammon took me to earlier, and I thought that it was neat. I smiled at the clouds that were drifting by, and the breeze reminded me that it was soon to be winter and I would be cold again.

I frowned at the thought, until the door suddenly opened, or not so suddenly as I wasn't quite paying any attention at the moment, and I jumped about a meter into the air. I clutched my heart and panted, then looked over to an apologetic Bad and a Skeppy that was absolutely laughing his butt off over my startle. I rolled my eyes and laughed along too after a moment of calming myself.

Bad ushered me inside and led me to the couch, which had so many fluffy pillows and comforters that I was half afraid I would sink into it if I sat on it, and urged me to sit. I looked at it for another second, then decided that it had to be safe or it wouldn't even be in the living room and I sat down. I did in fact sink a little into the couch, but it didn't startle me.

It was quite soft and warm, fluffy, and honestly quite welcoming. I smiled at nothing in particular. Bad stepped authoritatively into my view as Skeppy sat on the kitchen island nearby, looking on with a smirk and waiting for something to happen. I didn't know what was going to happen, but Skeppy, who had been hanging around Bad so often lately, giving me that look made me feel more than a little nervous.

Bad hummed, making me snap my attention to him once more and I saw that he had his pointer finger rapidly tapping his right cheekbone, his thumb cupping his chin. I felt the uncomfortable feeling of being judged. I swallowed at the boy in the presumably red crop top looking down on me until after a minute his tapping stopped and he started to pace back and forth with his hands behind his back.