The Haunting

Chapter Seventeen

Jason and I spent the rest of the day enjoying each others company. He was actually really funny, and smart. And, damn him, he's even good at math.

Other than that, we really were twins. He was basically the male me, and it was really interesting. We had almost identical looks, only he's a boy, and I'm a girl. He was a tiny bit taller than me, and his hair was blonder than mine.

We had similar interests, only I was more into movies, and he was more into acting.

He really was my twin.

"Hey, Chloe," he started, "I just wanna ask you a question."

I smiled. "Sure, hit me."

"Is Derek . . . abusive . . .?"

I reeled back, and stared at him in shock.  He was just looking at me seriously, and I couldn’t say, well, anything.  How does one even reply to that kind of question?

I opened and closed my mouth like a fishes, and sputtered incoherently.

“Where did a question like that even come from?”  I asked in part outrage, part shock.  “Why would you even consider asking me that?  I’m not a rug, you know.  I know when to stand up for myself, and trust me, is someone was treating me badly, I’d dump them like yesterdays trash!”  By the end of my little declaration, my voice was high and squeaky.

“Derek is awesome, and you ca—” My little rant was stopped when his hand slapped over my mouth.  I felt my eyes narrow into little slits, and I just knew my face was tomato red times three.

He silenced my outraged mumbles with a look in his eyes, and when he knew I wouldn’t try to hit him, he let me go.  I crossed my arms angrily, and started stonily out at the scenery behind him.

I turned my glare onto him as he opened his mouth to speak.

“I-I just got some in-information from s-someone, and I had to verify i-it.  Th-that’s all.”  He blushed, and a stony expression lit his face.  It was my turn to smile.  So much for him “overcoming” that stutter.

He shot a little glare in my direction, and when he schooled his expression into a neutral mask, he looked back at me.

I glared again, and turned away.  But, after a few minuets of extremely awkward silence, I left to go back to the main house.  He made no motions to stop me, and as I silently tromped away from him, my rational mind started to scream at me.

What the heck are you doing walking away like that?  He obviously wants to be your friend, but your shoving his attempts right down his throat!  Okay, well it had a point, but that didn’t mean I should listen to it.

Soon enough, I got back to the safe house, and after I opened the door, I walked into a wall of stone.  My already injured nose screamed in protest, and my hand immediately shot up to cradle it.  I groaned, and large, warm hands wrapped around my shoulders.

“Sorry, I didn’t see you all the way down there.”

I shot Derek a glare, and rolled my eyes.  “Not all of us are gifted vertically, you know.  Many of the people of today are quite petite.  You’re just a giant.”

I snorted, and smiled up at him.  He was grinning, and he enveloped me in a hug.  A not-so-delicate cough interrupted our conversation, or lack of thereof for the future, and we looked over to see Claire standing in the doorway.

She gave Derek a very slow once over, and smiled.  “My some of us are looking good today.”  Then she looked at me.  “And others...not so much.”  She wrinkled her nose in distaste, and lifted her head.

I tried my hardest not to glare at her, but I think I failed.  Miserably, at that.

She walked away, and I swear, if her hips shook any more, the house might sway.  I giggled quietly, and looked up at Derek.

He had a weird expression on his face, and looked distanced.  I poked him, and got no response, so I tried climbing on him.  It didn’t really turn out so well, seeing as I fell on my tush, but it snapped him back to reality.

He smiled at me, then as he leaned down to give me a peck on the head as he helped me up.  The distracted look was back on his face, but he looked more...alive, I guess.

“I gotta go see someone, I’ll be right back.”  His voice rumbled powerfully, and I pouted.  His strides were long, and powerful as he walked away from me.  And, just as I was leaving, I saw Marissa.  She looked like good company, so I walked over to her.

“Hey!”  I said brightly to her.

She grinned at me cheekily, and held out her hand.  I slapped it happily, and she laughed.

“What’s up shorty?”

The question, or rather, the way she phrased the question, was weird.  Then I finally noticed how tall she was.  She stood at Derek’s height, maybe even taller.  Goes to show how well my powers of observation work.  I blinked in shock for a moment, and mentally shook myself.

“You know, I just had this conversation with Derek.  You’re just a giant.  And that means that your just gonna have to deal with the rest of the normal sized people of the world.”

She laughed, and her eyes twinkled.  “Well, your right about that.  I guess I will have to, ‘get used to it’, as you so kindly put it.  But, you never answered me, so I’ll ask again:  What’s up shorty?”

I stuck my tongue out at her, and smirked.  “I’m just fine, so how’s the weather up there?” I said.

“It’s just great, lots of birds and sunshine.  Hey, I’m short on money, could I borrow some?”

“Nah I don’t have any right now.  But, hey, I heard the clouds were looking a bit stormy today, could you look down and check for me?”

 So on we went swapping some of the best, and worst, height jokes that we could think of.  Soon afterwards we were laughing so hard we were gasping, and had at least five stitches in our sides.

I wouldn’t have expected the Marissa in ripped up black jeans, black combat boots, and a ripped black tee-shirt, could be so funny and awesome.  Honestly, I kind of expected her to be angsty, and overly dramatic, but she was just pure awesome. 

And then Simon walked in.  And I swear to god, something almost...hovered about him.

And it looked like...Simon....