The Patron Saint of Monsters

Chapter Seven Part Three

Oleander was sitting in her bed across from Trent, they were in the middle of an intense game of concentration. Oleander's parents were asleep in their room, it was a half an hour to midnight. They were beginning a new round.

Snap, clap, snap. "This is a game." Said Oleander.

Snap, clap, snap, "Of concentration." Continued Trent.

Snap, clap, snap, "The name of the game." Oleander

Snap, clap, snap, "Is concentration."

Snap, clap, snap, "The game is."

Snap, clap, snap, "Song titles." Trent said.

"Special Death." Oleander started.

"All I want."

"Giddy up."

Trent was about to complain about Oleander's choice in song titles when a knocking on the window startled them. He turned his head, "I win!" Oleander chanted.

"Did you hear that?" he asked.

"No?" Oleander answered confused.

"There's someone outside." He told her.

She shivered flashing back to the horror films she was always watching. Someone outside never ended well. "No there isn't. You're trying to scare me because you lost!" She argued.

"Shh." He shushed her.

Ping. Ping. Ping.

She heard it too this time, "Something is hitting my window." she whispered, unable to mask her fear.

Trent stood up and approached the window.

"It's Ian." He sighed.

"Awe." Oleander giggled feeling instantly relieved. She opened the window and leaned out, saying "What are you doing?" in a shouted whisper.

"Can you come out?" Ian replied.

"Yeah." Oleander answered, "But it'll be better if you just come up."

Ian threw a thumbs up at Oleander walking over to the large tree in front of her room. He began to climb up. Trent secretly hoped that Ian fell and broke his neck, he knew that no guy sneaked into a girl's bedroom with good intentions, no matter how romantic girls found pebble tossing.

"Go outside the room?" Oleander asked Trent with a sweet smile that caused an ache in his stomach. He nodded politely.

Ian crawled in through the open window, he leg stuck on the sill and he tripped slightly. Oleander giggled, she liked that he wasn't accustomed to breaking into girl's rooms at night. She liked that Ian seemed as inexperienced as she was. They greeted each other.

"Is there a guy in here?" Ian asked as soon as their hug parted.

"Yes." Oleander answered.

"Who is he?" Ian asked.

"You? My boyfriend? I'm not sure what answer you're looking for." Oleander responded.

"No," He smiled, "a guy besides me."

"No, who would be here?" She asked. Oleander hated lying to Ian but she couldn't think of a way to explain Trent that would not completely freak him out, and make him completely uncomfortable. No one really wants to hear about the cute guy who lurks in their girlfriend's bed and in always in her general proximity.

"I thought I saw that guy from your party in your window." Ian said as if he realized how crazy he sounded.

"Well my house is haunted." Oleander joked.