The Patron Saint of Monsters

Chapter Six Part Two

Oleander was sitting in front of her vanity, while Valerie applied her makeup. Rebecca was pacing the bedroom floor chattering away on her phone nonstop. She was seeing who was coming to the kickback and who would be bringing what.

“Bex, we have enough stuff for tonight. We don’t need bottles upon bottles of tequila and rum.” Trina said with an eyeroll.

“Don’t fucking call me that. Mark calls me Bex. That’s our thing. Siblings fucking only.” Rebecca snarked.

“Voila.” Valerie said, “Look in the mirror.”

“Val! I’m hot!” Oleander laughed excitedly.

Having your hair and makeup done by another person was one of those pleasant experiences that made every girl feel utterly glamorous. It was the perfect pick me up for Oleander’s pre-date jitters. “Think he’ll like it?” She asked her friends.

Trent looked at her longingly, “You’re always beautiful.” he told her.

Oleander rolled her eyes, Valerie agreed with Trent and reminded Rebecca that they were not to have very many people over for the kickback.

Ian rubbed his hands against the thighs of his jeans, trying to dry his slightly sweaty palms. He was nervous and anxious, he was finally going on a date with the girl that he had been imagining dates with for years. This was his moment, he had finally found the quest he had been seeking. He was on a quest for Oleander’s heart.

Ian had debated whether or not he was going to smoke before her arrived to pick her up, now that he was sitting in his car parked in her driveway. He was simultaneously glad that he hadn’t and sad that he hadn’t. He felt like showing up high would have left a bad impression, and he felt like driving stoned wasn’t really the best idea. It didn’t really properly convey the message of “I am a guy you should totally and completely trust with your heart and hopefully one day your vagina.”  and Ian desperately wanted to convey that message.

He opened the door and stepped out, taking deep breath that was shaky with nerves he collected himself and approached Oleander’s heavy wood front door. It was a matte black, that appeared to have once been a deep red, he noted as he picked up the knocker, slamming it down hard twice.

Rebecca opened the door quickly, “Ole! It’s Ian!” She yelled upstairs.

Oleander walked down the stairs and Ian sucked in a gasp. She was beautiful and tonight she was his.

“Hey.” She greeted him breathily.

“Hi.” He responded with a smile.

Ian awkwardly reached out and clasped her small hand into his, leading her out to his small four door sedan. It was an older dark green car with a large trunk and roomy backseat. Oleander could see Trent comfortably perched in the backseat. He gave her a sarcastic wave and she had to suppress her urge to stick her tongue out at him. Both Ian and Trent were cute but where Ian was introverted and insecure, Trent was cheeky, confident, and clever, Rebecca had said earlier that Trent had the confidence that only comes with being more than competent in bed. Oleander had laughed her off, Rebecca was always analyzing boys, trying to figure out who was worth her time and who wasn’t. Oleander hoped that Rebecca didn’t make a move on Trent, but only so that there would be no conflicts of interest should they need to rid their lives of him. At least that’s how she justified things to herself.