Connected (slow updates!)

Chapter 17

Aspens POV

I groaned in annoyance at the repetitive tapping noise that seemed to be coming from my window. Ivy had left on some sort of date with that kid Reggie and I had fallen asleep finishing my English homework soon after. I closed my textbook, setting it on my nightstand as I stood to investigate the incessant noise. As I made my way to the window I noticed a dark figure standing in the yard, tossing rocks up towards the glass causing the tapping. I squinted, confused at first as to who was down there but quickly recognized him as Patrick.

Rolling my eyes I pulled my window up, the coldness from the outside hitting my face like a slap. "What the hell?" I questioned the boy, clearly agitated from being woken. "Well hello to you too." He chuckled. I rolled my eyes once again. "What do you want?" I grumbled resting my elbows against the window seal as I leaned further out in order to hear him better. "Come down. I gotta show you something."

I looked back at my bedroom door. It was already starting to get late. I assumed mom had already fallen asleep on the couch with her nightly glass of wine. Shrugging, I grabbed my coat from where it hung near the closet and tossed it on. I quietly closed the bedroom door incase she came to check on me, knowing that she would just think I was sleeping.

"I'm coming down." I called, sticking my leg the window and feeling around for the tree branch that sat near the house. I climbed carefully outside and down the trees trunk, jumping after I was close enough to the ground not to break my ankles. Patrick smirked at me, flicking on and off the zippo he always seemed to have in his hand.

"Well? I thought you had to show me something dumb ass." I said, giving him a look. "Not here. Follow me." He said, his usual creepy smirk plastered across his face. I groaned, god now we have to walk somewhere to. I hurried to catch up to him as he took off down the sidewalk. "Where are we even going?" I huffed, burying my hands down into my coat pockets as I shivered from the cold. "You'll see" was his only response.

The only sound as we walked were the crunches of snow beneath our feet, the white substance glittering in the orange light of the sunset. I brought my hands up to my mouth, breathing against my skin to warm myself as best I could. After what seemed like a lifetime we made it to a fence, I recognized the structure as the gate to the junk yard me and ivy had come to to find victor.

"What the hell are we doing here?" I scoffed, noticing that the gate was already padlocked for the night. "I told you. I gotta show you something." Patrick replied, as if becoming annoyed with my questions. He grabbed the edge of the dumpster and hauled himself up so that he was standing on top, now tall enough to climb his way over the fence. Oh hell no, he was crazy if he thought I was going to do all that. "Are you insane? Get down your gonna break your neck." I scolded, looking around to assure no one was there to catch us.

"Jesus Christ. I thought you were the fun twin." He replied before promptly tossing his leg over the fence and climbing down into the junkyard with ease. "Patrick!" I whisper screamed, now panicking that he had left me out here all by myself. "God fucking dammit." I cursed, jumping to make my way up the dumpster to catch up with him. I gasped as I tossed my body over the fence, losing my grip a bit and tumbling to the ground on the other side with a loud thump. "Shit."

"Nice of you to join in." He laughed at me, reaching his hand out for me to take so he could assist in helping me up. I took it reluctantly, dusting myself off. "We gotta be fast so old man Henderson doesn't notice us or he'll let the dog out." I glared at him as he spoke, I couldn't believe he got me into this mess.

Crouching a bit he took off into the piles of junk that where crowded into the lot, ducking around rusted old cars and hunks of scrap. I crouched moving as quietly as I possibly could. Bad enough that I had to climb a fence and almost broke my back I was sure as hell not about to get bit by a dog too. Once we had snuck our way to the very far edge of the junk yard we stopped right next to an old looking fridge.

The vines had grown in around the object and rust decorated the metal pieces. Patrick stopped, his once playful mood now seeming almost nervous. "If I show you this you can't tell anyone, if I find out you told I'll kill you." He said. I laughed, not looking up at his face as I naturally assumed he was joking, but as I turned and noticed his dead stare I realized he wasn't.

"What is it?" I questioned, becoming a bit scared as I thought about the fact that I had followed a complete stranger, a male stranger, a creepy stranger, into a locked junk yard. He didn't reply to me, only approached it and pulled roughly on the handle. The first thing I noticed was the smell, a rotten bloody smell like when you go hunting and they have to gut an animal.

I backed up now terrified of what I might see, ready to take the dog bite over this. "I saw your paintings so I though maybe you wouldn't be so freaked out by this" the dark haired boy shrugged, his expression unreadable. Moving slowly to the other side of the fridge I was met with the sight of not one, but many, dead animal carcasses. I didn't know how to react so I just stood there, unmoving for what seemed like an eternity.

The feeling of Patrick's presence behind me made me tense. "Your not gonna tell anyone, are you?" He said, the sentence coming out more as a warning then a question. I quickly shook my head, not wanting to end up being the next dead thing to go in there. "When did you see my paintings?" I questioned. I keep them in a box in the shed, ivy is absolutely terrified of them and refuses to let me hang them in our room, not that I blame her.

He shrugged again. "Sometimes your mom forgets to lock the shed." It almost felt violating knowing someone else had looked at them. They weren't exactly something I flaunted freely for everyone to look at, and for good reason. I reached forward and slammed the fridge door shut, not wanting to have to continue to look at the boys awful creation.

"You don't have to be scared, I would never hurt you." He laughed, his tone almost sarcastic. "I would hope not" I replied, shooting him a look. "My paintings are privet. And I sure as hell didn't want you," I shoved my pointer finger against his chest, feeling much less intimidated by him with the fridge shut. "Touching them." He took as step back as if startled by my sudden change in attitude. He smirked, grabbing my wrist and yanking me toward him.

"But, I like them."